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Rolling Stone top 100 Guitarists - Howe/Van Halen

OK, I just listened to The Yes Album for about the millionth time and I have one question; how on earth did the dudes at Rolling Stone put Steve Howe at number 69 on their list? I realize they tend to be a holier than thou (or smarter-than-thou) bunch, but come on. Didn't this guy win like every guitar award from musician magazines in the 70's? I was shocked as I read through the list and saw the names ahead of him. I just assumed he would be in the top 10 for unbelievable technical skill alone. The guy is simply amazing. I don't want to start a debate on some of the extremely questionable picks, especially in the top 10, but this guy is one of the all time greats.

To me it's like forgetting about Stan Musial because he played in St Louis instead of NY, LA or Chicago. Still one of the all time greats.

That brings me to the most amazing slight on that list: Eddie Van Halen at 70??? Didn't he basically invent speed metal? His tapping technic along with the rest of his unbelievable arsenal should put him in the top 10 if not the top 5, I mean come on. Because they didn't like Van Halen's pop/Rock they shun him down to 70?? I'm not a huge Van Halen fan but I think they had 2 great albums (Van Halen, 1984) and his playing on those alone should get him in the top 10.

I kept thinking that with the exceptions, IMO, of Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Kirk Hammett no one else could play all the music of all the other guitarists as well as VH could. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton or The Edge getting through 'Eruption', 'Ain't Talkin' Bout Love' or 'Hot for Teacher'? I don't think so. I can't think of anything Van Halen couldn't play extremely well, both artistically and technically.

Most the "Greatest" lists are BS, but this instance seemed really egregious to me.
macdadtexas
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,887 posts
 
Was listening to the live version of Close to the Edge on Keys to Ascension. hadn't heard it in a while. Awesome live recording and performance, totally off the charts! After listening to it Howe sits at #1 again for me as he often does when I am properly reminded.

While listening I'm thinking CTTE is the modern rock music equivalent of a Mahler symphony say.
mrmitch
359 posts
 
Macdad, I LIKE your list. Agree totally-dont think anyone can really say Jimmy Page makes EVH look like a child-two totally different guitarists who BOTH pioneered new techniques, Page and his bowing, EVH and tapping. Howe is a standout for me simply because his playing spans so many genres, from rock to jazz to classical. I love Santana's fluidity and use of sustain and his emotional playing. And Hendrix-no need to say a word.
berzin
28 posts
 
Angus Young's guitar playing, though surely not to everyone's liking, is about as good as it gets in my book.

He is so much better than so many other cats listed ahead of him it's ridiculous. And the fact that he blasted out of the gates with one of the top rock anthems of all time ("Back In Black") immediately proceeding the unfortunate demise of Bon Scott shows you what he was made of.
martykl
3,578 posts
 
I just noticed Duane's comments on Ry Cooder at #8. His points are fair, but this particular choice may simply reflect some of the other considerations that (I assume) the Rolling Stone (the magazine) team took in when compiling the list.

My understanding is that Cooder was the main influence on The Rolling Stones (the band) during the period leading up to Let It Bleed. He basically introduced mandolin and slide guitar into the Stones' vocabulary and ...arguably more importantly...moved Keef into open G tuning, which kinda defines his playing.

None of that makes him #8, but it does point out that these ratings may reflect particular considerations (especially as to "influence") that might not be apparent at first glance.

My list would look quite different, but this latest one from Rolling Stone could be worse.

Marty
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