At 44 years of age, I personally feel fortunate to have lived in an era along with some of the finest guitarists who have ever lived. I have always had an overwhelming love of music. As I look back to my earlier years of music appreciation (I took formal piano training for 17 years) I remember how my instructor would suggest exposing myself to the many different styles and disciplines of music.
These were such valuable words of wisdom. Considering the fact that this suggestion, more or less, forced me to be more open to musicians other than those that played in strictly rock and roll bands.
Wow, was I surprised to find that I could be as entertained by Chet Atkins and Les Paul as I could be by Ritchie Blackmore or Carlos Santana. Just think about some of the finest from our time. Jimi Hendrix, John McLaughlin, Robin Trower, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Johnson, Steve Howe, Al DiMeola, the list could seem almost endless. All such incredible musicians.
Although it's very hard to pick one person or style in particular, let's remember the key words, "overall favorite". I would probably have to say that my overall favorite would have to be Steve Morse (from Dixie Dregs fame).
I just flipped through the thread and saw that no-one has mentioned Bill Kirchen (once of Commander Cody's Lost Planet Airmen). I'll stick with Gatton, Thompson, Rundgren and Buckingham as my favorites, but Kirchen is worth mentioning. His live shows are amazing and the solo in "Hot Rod Lincoln" (in which he plays several dozen short licks associated with various great players, most of whom are already on this list) is both hilarious and a wonderful musical tribute.
Another name not mentioned is Jesse Gress, the music editor of Guitar Player magazine. He tours with Rundgren on occasion and is awfully impressive.
I just bought the very fine new Matthew Sweet cd which features Matthew Sweet, Greg Leisz, Richard Lloyd, and Ivan Julian on guitar. Julian is a quintessential NYC gig guy and shows up at a ton of shows as a "guest axe". Can't say he's my overall favorite, but he deserves mention as a terrific player.
Two of my favorites for rock/metal not mentioned so far (I think, because I only went through about half of the posts!) are Micheal Schenker and Tony McAlpine.
Most of my other favs (along with every guitar player in history I think!) have been mentioned - impossible to narrow it down too much!
Thought Schenker gets a bad rap a lot of times, I think he is one of the most under rated players out there. His MSG project with Robin McCauley was solid...
I really enjoy Buckethead right now. I dig the mask and bucket gear but the talent level is really up there. Love when he and Les Claypool jam, very lively.
I just cannot five obe bame as there is no best but here is a list of people I really like and why Django Gypsy genius amazing playing great melodies and rhe beat really swingsHendrix Jusr made the electric guitar what ot os today Sjawn Lanesaw him before he died and just sat in amazement Jeff Beck Great tone and phrasing Alan Holdsworth Al Di Meola Charlie Christain Larry CarltonBuddy Guy Nicola Hall Julian Bream
Clapton reigns supreme. Between 1966 and 1968 Clapton sold 35 Million albums with the Cream. During that same time period Hendrix sold 8 Million albums. Cream was the first power group in history, and the first group to stack Marshall amps on stage putting out over 100,000 watts. They were the first rock group to do long jam sessions on stage which influenced The Greatful Dead, Jefferson Airplane, and Big Brother and the Holding company. Their drummer Ginger Baker was the first drummer to use two bass drums on stage. Cream's powerful sound is why they are known as the inventors of hard rock, heavy metal, and hard blues, which is why the Beatles had Clapton play lead guitar on two tracks on the White album, which were " While my Guitar Gently Weeps" and " Yer Blues ". Fans in England would hold up banners at Cream concerts with the slogan " Clapton is God ". Hendrix went to England in October 1966 and copied the Cream putting together his own power trio. Make no mistake about it, Clapton was the Pioneer who everybody followed including Hendrix. In August 1968 Cream's album " Wheels of Fire " and the Beatles " White Album " were the two top selling Albums in the States. Too date, Clapton has sold more record albums than any other guitarist in history.
^^^^Audiozen - where on earth are you getting those figures? There is no way Cream sold 35 million albums from 66-68 - even MJ did not do that on any single record? At that time, a good album was lucky to sell a few hunderd thousand. Even the Beetles or Elvis didn't sell at that level. It was not until the 1980s that albums began to sell above 10 million copies on a regular basis. [ULR/]http://digitaldreamdoor.nutsie.com/pages/best_sold_albums.html[URL]
100,000 Watt sound system from basic head units? Please give a reference. What did they use exactly? You would need like 1000 JCM800 (or what ever they had in 68) and I cant imagine the speaker cabinet set ups. FWIW, when you see bands with a wall of cabinets - it is a stage prop- most are MT boxes and hooked to nothing.
I'm a big Clapton fan and his influence can be clearly heard in many who followed him. Some very prominent players like Carlos Santana and Mark Knopfler (when he's not fingerpicking) might even qualify as "followers". But Hendrix?
IMHO, Clapton gets inappropriately bashed in these threads from time to time, and I believe that he is an absolute master of tone and elegant phrasing, but I think it would be very difficult to credit him with the type of technical mastery and innovation displayed by Hendrix (or, for that matter, many other technically proficient players ranging from Steve Vai to Eddie Van Halen, etc).
Personally, I'd almost always prefer to listen to Clapton than to most others, but I do try to keep his contributions in context.
FWIW the allmusic site lists the following as those who influenced Jimi Hendrix:
* Charlie Christian * The Isley Brothers * Charley Patton * Little Richard * King Curtis * Ike Turner * B.B. King * James Brown * John Coltrane * Albert Collins * Bo Diddley * Jimmy Reed * Lonnie Mack * The Beatles * Freddie King * Hubert Sumlin * Little Walter * Buddy Guy * Howlin' Wolf * Chuck Berry * T-Bone Walker
and for Eric Clapton:
* Jimmy Reed * Jimmy Rogers * Slim Harpo * Sonny Boy Williamson * Howlin' Wolf * T-Bone Walker * Otis Rush * Don Williams * Buddy Guy * Muddy Waters * Big Bill Broonzy * J.J. Cale * Chuck Berry * B.B. King * Albert King * The Band * Bob Dylan * Robert Johnson * Elmore James * Freddie King
Lots of common influences by the commonly acknowledged earlier pure blues and also rock and roller guitarists like Chuck Berry, but neither listed as influencing the other. Not surprising in that they were contemporaries during their formative years prior to Hendrix's death.
Marty, I'm not saying that Hendrix used Clapton's technique, but that he copied their format, forming a trio, lots of Marshall amps, and double bass drums in the drum kit Digitaldreamdoor, regarding the "35 Million records sold by Cream ", I got those numbers from an article back in 2002 off the net.The article pointed out that they sold just over 15 million records in the States. Also, their is one guitarist not mentioned in this thread that is always underrated, the ingenious Leslie West of Mountain, who joined up with Jack Bruce after he left Cream, The Group was "West, Bruce,and Lang ". I saw the group in Seattle in 1971.
Kirk Hammett of Metallica. Somehow only mentioned once (that I saw).
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath. I'm not the biggest fan of the band after Ozzy's departure. Actually, I don't like it at all. I haven't seen him mentioned either.
No one IMO played a bass guitar like the late Cliff Burton of Metallica. YouTube search "Cliff Burton for whom the bell tolls."
My opinion- 1. Jimi Hendrix 2. Chet Atkins 3. Al Di Meola 4. Jeff Beck 5. John Mclaughlin 6. Steve Howe 7. Frank Zappa 8. Joe Satriani 9. Steve Vai 10 Eddie Van Halen 11. Robert Johnson 12. Eric Clapton. I've heard and studied most of the great ones and these are the ones who I know are real in the blood, true blue, extra ordinary Guitarists.
After a long and fertile journey through literally hundreds of concerts starting in 1963 which included ALL of the usual suspects, Rolling Stones, Cream, Fleetwood Mac (Peter Green era), Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Rory Gallagher, Clapton, Gary Moore, Richard Thompson (in all of his incarnations), Allman Brothers, ZZ Top, etc.
My current favorite guitarist who I feel can best the best of all of them is Joe Bonamassa. He's still finding his way as a writer/composer but posseses the technical skill to play in any style, cleaner and with more command of tone than any other guitarist I've ever heard and he's only in his 30's.
Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues is a much under appreciated guitarist.
He knows how to embellish music with his playing and has done so on many of my favorite recordings. He can be lightning fast and flashy also when needed, but seldom over does it.
Lately, I've been revisiting the stuff from Pentangle and John Renbourne and Bert Jansch (particularly Jansch) put on quite a display of fancy pickin'. The recent Ron Wood release also serves to remind just how good he can be. I'll stick with my earlier choices for overall favorite, but these guys are all terrific in their own right.
Marty
PS Anyone heard the new Jeff Beck "Rock 'n' Roll Party", yet?
I was surprised by Justin Hayward in concert, kind of like Pete Townsend with the competent, understated licks but occasionally turning it up a notch, very tasty.
I don't think I've ever heard anything quite as mind-blowing as "La Fabulosa Guitarra de Paco de Lucia," an album which he recorded quite early in his career in the mid- to late-60s. Not just technical fireworks, but technical fireworks blazing with some real fire in the belly. Can't recommend it highly enough to any guitar enthusiast. He also did some great work with the flamenco great Camaron de la Isla, most notably their album "Castillo de Arena."
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