UGH...The tired, "BEST" Rock guitarist thread

I lost most of my interest in lead guitarist with the advent of arena rock in late 70's. I was more into the blues, blues/rock guitarists. Once that blues based feel gone, the soul left. That's not to say, other forms of lead still interested and continue to interest me today. I got into Prog rock, and still listen, the new Jam bands carry on that torch, some very fine leads in this genre. And then I like Celtic, International, Americana, bluegrass, old country, blues, I could go on and on. Some of best lead guitarists are NOT rock guitarists. If some of these guys chose or had chosen to be rock leads they would have been rock gods.

I have loved and admired many of the great and well known guitarists, but I think that it’s important to realize that because there’s so little room at the top where a player becomes famous, there are many brilliant players that never become known.

One example that comes to mind occurred about 4 years ago. I went to see Chris Isaak I think, and the opening act was Jesse Colin Young. I was expecting a snorefest, but actually, he was excellent with a great band. He had in his band a young Asian guitarist in his twenties that I thought was one of the most technically advanced players I had ever seen in my life...and I’ve seen a lot of the greats.

My point is that many who are famous are great, but many who are great aren’t famous.

@larsman Thank you for the background. The search begins in the morning!

@whitefishpoint1175 - fyi, I haven't heard Dweeze on record, just at some of his live shows. You ain't heard Zappa till you've heard 'Black Napkins' with the featured instruments being 2 baritone saxes! But you should be able to find plenty of live stuff from him on YouTube. 

@larsman Thumbs Up and Dweezil will go on my to listen list.

Best regards. 

"Blues Breakers/Cream era Clapton"

edcyn-

can't remember exact articles, but I've read many over the years of 70's era players citing the "Beano" BB album as their inspiration. 

  You probably know those Clapton BB runs were essentially juiced up riffs rom all his Blues heroes, which Eddie listened to. I picked up on it in the early 80's and finally understood what it meant to go backwards to understand R&R history.

@whitefishpoint1175 - Love me some Phil Manzanera and all the work he's done on his own and other projects, including Roxy, Eno, etc! And if you like FZ's guitar playing, have you heard his son Dweezil? I think he's even better than his dad....

Blues Breakers/Cream era Clapton remains my favorite electric blues guitarist. Those recordings are the reason I bought an electric and hunkered down to learn to play. Ardent.Mellifluous..

What EVH represents is the R&R guitarist who came out of the dying Classic Rock  period(which doesn't go beyond mid 70's or so, IMO) and introducing  things truly revolutionary that just about ALL Rock guitarist moving forward, acknowledge.

I quickly lost interest in VH after their 2nd LP. Saw them in 78 when their debut came out and they were doing their first rounds of arena concerts not long after doing Pasadena backward parties and Holliday Inns and the LA clubs.

Ted Templeman produced  the debut LP-Anyone who also listened to early Montrose knows the BIG SOUND of those albums. No audiophool LP needed.

Alvin Lee.

Frank Zappa.

Phil Manzanera

If Nuge says it's so, I'll trust him on this issue. I'm not a big Van Halen fan and I like more soul than flair on the electric guitar but no doubt Eddie is admired by many.

Sigh...oh dear

My post misunderstood. My fault since I always think most will " get it"

I believe a typical 20 something would see Mr Nugent as musically irrelevant. That all that  was meant. Good grief!

For those who aren't guitar players/admirers...never mind(as Emily would say)

Thank you, grannyring!  

I'm so sick of look-at-me-I'm-so-cool guitar solos, I could hurl. Sure, bad taste is often good taste. But bad taste is bad taste more often.

Ted is as relevant as any of us. Why the anger? Don’t like his point of view on things? He is both relevant and free to have his views.  

stereo5- I imagine if one’s beliefs followed a certain orange haired,red capped genuis, he might be?

I just admired his playing and knowledge/experience as a R&R geetar player in the 70’s. He is the real deal as far as R&R musicianship.

Otherwise, if were in my 20’s I likely would see him as some old, irrelevant white dude.

I have NO love for Ted Nugent. Is he even relevant anymore? He is just an old rocker who still thinks he is relevant, sad.  I remember he had a couple of hits way back when but......