Greatest Guitar Band


I thought just before Christmas I'd get a good thread going. IMHO,the greatest guitar band was the Yardbirds, not because E Clapton,or J Beck, or J Page was in it but because Chris Deja, and Paul Samwell-Smith were great rhythm and bass guitarists that could rock and keep up with the above. Plus Jim McCarty the drummer could keep the group in line and fine harmonica work from Keith Relf(ok not the greatest vocalist, more of a finesse singer).They had it all, I cannot think of another band that had three great guitarists in the band at one time(J Beck, C Deja, P Samwell-Smith). In 1967, when J Beck and J Page were in the band togther as co-lead guitars, they were the lead in band for the rolling stones, they just blow them away,ok, that is not a fair comparison considering the rolling stones still cannot play their instruments very well. But in comparison to say Led Zepplin, LZ did not have a rhthym guitarist(except J Page would overdub that part on recordings). That made them sound not as well rounded live as far as guitar work is concerned. I am not saying LZ was a bad band on the contrary,they put on probably the best show ever, but I do not consider them a guitar band per se. Besides, J Page stole vitually from his former band anyway. Remember "How Many More Times" is a repackaged version of the YBs "Smokestack Lightning", a Howlin Wolf tune. YBs version is in my mind the best rock song ever. So what do you think????
shubertmaniac
Duanegoosen mentioned TJ kirk...you want to hear one guy sound like 3 check out solo stuff by one of their guitarists charlie hunter. Shylock eh?, been a looonnnng time since anyone mentioned them. some body asked for guys you never hear of much. By far the most jaw dropping guitar fireworks...The hellecasters hands down and i have heard a ton of killer guitarists, you may not like the music but th eplaying is unreal. If you like surf check out the straight jackets. The original Tubes with Roger Steen and Spooner
Al Dimeola from "Return to Forever". John McLaughlin. Lary Coryell. Eric Clapton vs. Robbie Robertson in "The Last Waltz".
Hey Piezo, maybe I shouldn't have ditched those Hellecasters discs so soon (seemed way too ordinary, kinda like Chet Atkins meets the Ventures). Anyway, it wouldn't be the first time I screwed up on a discard. Was lucky enough to have caught the Charlie Hunter Trio once at the Music recital hall (CSUS). You almost never see a working electric band in that kind of environment. Also saw TJ Kirk live a couple of times. I agree w/ Piezo's assessment of Hunter, but C.H. often assumes a bass player or keyboard role (w/ his guitar). John Schott and especially Will Bernard administered most of the flamethrowing fretboard attack in T.J. Kirk.
After Shylock split up their guitarist formed Philharmonie. Some of their stuff is pretty good, sort of like the Crafty League of Guitarists but less robotic.
Has anyone who mentioned Coryell been able to find a cd version of the live Fairyland record?