[Music] Allan Holdsworth, Greatest ever British guitar hero?

exKT17 · May 31, 2018

AIF

He died about a year ago.

IMHO he was as great a guitarist as Brian May or Mark Knopfler, probably a bit superior...

I got into him when I heard Bill Bruford's album 'Feels Good to Me' (1977)

The track 'Adios a la Pasada' is a perfect illustration of his brilliance.

Problem was, he had no ego, he couldn't care about his image or his wealth...

...he played at Sussex Uni in 1979 or 1980 and I had a couple of pints with him.

The loveliest geezer... but - had he had a bigger ego or more selfishness we'd all know about him!

Funny old guitar world

severnside gull · May 31, 2018

Peter Green. Thread over.

vegster · May 31, 2018

exKT17 said:
AIF

He died about a year ago.

IMHO he was as great a guitarist as Brian May or Mark Knopfler, probably a bit superior...

I got into him when I heard Bill Bruford's album 'Feels Good to Me' (1977)

The track 'Adios a la Pasada' is a perfect illustration of his brilliance.

Problem was, he had no ego, he couldn't care about his image or his wealth...

...he played at Sussex Uni in 1979 or 1980 and I had a couple of pints with him.

The loveliest geezer... but - had he had a bigger ego or more selfishness we'd all know about him!

Funny old guitar world

He had a crap publicist.

studio150 · May 31, 2018

See

http://www.northstandchat.com/showthread.php?363542-Who-was-is-the-best-rock-guitarist-of-all-time&highlight=best+guitarist

for NSC conclusion

GT49er · May 31, 2018

exKT17 said:
AIF

He died about a year ago.

IMHO he was as great a guitarist as Brian May or Mark Knopfler, probably a bit superior...

I got into him when I heard Bill Bruford's album 'Feels Good to Me' (1977)

The track 'Adios a la Pasada' is a perfect illustration of his brilliance.

Problem was, he had no ego, he couldn't care about his image or his wealth...

...he played at Sussex Uni in 1979 or 1980 and I had a couple of pints with him.

The loveliest geezer... but - had he had a bigger ego or more selfishness we'd all know about him!

Funny old guitar world

Over the years I have come to realise it is pointless - and a bit foolish - to use the adjective 'greatest' - or 'best' - for any guitarist. 'Good' is fine; there are many who are very good, and even words like brilliant or fantastic are occasionally appropriate.
But the greatest? - Nah. There isn't one. Sorry, never heard of your boy; Knopfler's a pretty good shout, but better than Richard Thompson? Better than Page or Beck? More imaginative and inventive than Townshend? And what about Rory Gallagher? - and never mind the likes of the Edge and Slash, who some of the (slightly) younger NSCers might idolise.

Bevendean Hillbilly · May 31, 2018

severnside gull said:
Peter Green. Thread over.

This. Pissed all over Clapton.

I think we established this on the 72 page thread last month? Or did I dream it?

Gwylan · May 31, 2018

GT49er said:
And what about Rory Gallagher? - and never mind the likes of the Edge and Slash, who some of the (slightly) younger NSCers might idolise.

British?

GT49er · Jun 1, 2018

Gwylan said:
British?

British Isles. Good enough.

Megazone · Jun 1, 2018

Why do people like to associate musicians with rankings?

There's no such thing as the greatest guitarist or the all time number 1 and it's impossible to prove. Music is all a matter of taste. When people ridicule a quality guitarist by claiming some other quality guitarist is a millions times better, it's just ridiculous. It's almost as if people would rather support their chosen guitarists and then choose the guitarist who's going to rival it.

I just see the likes of Hendrix, Santana, Page, Green, Rory Gallagher, Clapton etc all as guitar legends.

Razzoo · Jun 1, 2018

GT49er said:
Over the years I have come to realise it is pointless - and a bit foolish - to use the adjective 'greatest' - or 'best' - for any guitarist. 'Good' is fine; there are many who are very good, and even words like brilliant or fantastic are occasionally appropriate.
But the greatest? - Nah. There isn't one. Sorry, never heard of your boy; Knopfler's a pretty good shout, but better than Richard Thompson? Better than Page or Beck? More imaginative and inventive than Townshend? And what about Rory Gallagher? - and never mind the likes of the Edge and Slash, who some of the (slightly) younger NSCers might idolise.

Can't believe you didn't mention Hendrix ,who was the greatest.imho.

Super Steve Earle · Jun 1, 2018

Martin Lancelot Barre. Occasionaly chubby, bit of early hair loss, so struggled in the 'hero' category. But certainly one of Britain's finest guitarists. Remember Tull rivalled Led Zep as biggest band in the world for a brief period and the Aqualung intro is as recognisable as 'Smoke on the Water'.

maltaseagull · Jun 1, 2018

Super Steve Earle said:
Martin Lancelot Barre. Occasionaly chubby, bit of early hair loss, so struggled in the 'hero' category. But certainly one of Britain's finest guitarists. Remember Tull rivalled Led Zep as biggest band in the world for a brief period and the Aqualung intro is as recognisable as 'Smoke on the Water'.

There were so many good /very good guitarists from that era.
I haven't seen Steve Hackett mentioned. Thought he was very good too.
Really though it's subjective and impossible to rank.

aolstudios · Jun 1, 2018

Razzoo said:
Can't believe you didn't mention Hendrix ,who was the greatest.imho.

A tad less British than others mentioned.
Lists are silly anyway. Especially as they tend to value (very much as perceived & simplified by the layman) 'technical abilty' over more important virtues, like timing, soul, feel & originality

The Sock of Poskett · Jun 1, 2018

A few others well worthy of mention:
Peter Haycock (Climax Blues Band)
Dave Edmunds
Dave Kelly (Blues Band)
Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
Richie Blackmore (Deep Purple)
Wilko Johnson (Dr Feelgood)
Alvin Lee (Ten Years After)
Nic Jones
John Renbourn
John McLaughlin

All bring something different in their style, feel, technique and creativity, I reckon.

Is it PotG? · Jun 1, 2018

Blues Rock DJ · Jun 1, 2018

Snowy White, David Gilmour, as far as I'm concerned, hate pigeon-holing any musicians..........all about what mood I'm in as to who I play.

Boys 9d · Jun 1, 2018

Doesn't the plaudit depend on the type of music played. Is John Williams a lesser talent because he plays classical music or Martin Taylor who is a jazzman?

pearl · Jun 1, 2018

GT49er said:
British Isles. Good enough.

Rory Gallagher was from Ballyshannon

Icy Gull · Jun 1, 2018

I’ll just chuck in Robin Trower too, grossly under rated

pearl · Jun 1, 2018

Bernard Butler

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