[Music] Who was/is the best rock guitarist of all time ?

Bevendean Hillbilly · Apr 21, 2018

jakarta said:
Just You Tubed Jumping at Shadows to remind myself. **** me what a talent, what a loss...

Good man.

I keep going back to him just because he was just so easy about playing, he never believed he was worth anything and his brilliant creativity was sacrificed on the altar of mental illness.

Just such a humble man.

whitelion · Apr 21, 2018

No one has mentioned Steve Howe.

So I will....Steve Howe.

GT49er · Apr 21, 2018

jakarta said:
Like many people in that part of Manchester he is a First Generation Irish immigrant, the clue being in his Surname... WTF has that got to do with his music of course?

Nothing, of course. What sort of daft question is that? Being a Mancunian has quite a lot to do with being Irish though!

Bevendean Hillbilly · Apr 21, 2018

GT49er said:
Nothing, of course. What sort of daft question is that? Being a Mancunian has quite a lot to do with being Irish though!

Not as much as being a scouse.

Both cities heavily into their Celtic heritage but Liverpool far far more authentically.

When I lived in both cities the Liverpool/Irish thing was far more evident in all the pubs, songs and humour but...I probably met more genuinely Irish heritage folk in Manchester.

Oddly Manchester is far more conscious of being Manchester, Mancunian and proud whereas the scousers are more mawkishly obsessed with events like the spud famine and the Irish exodus from Liverpool to the new world than is good for them.

Liverpool can't forget what Manchester can't remember was the way my girlfriend (scouse) put it.

Uncle Spielberg · Apr 21, 2018

I have to say this is an extraordinary work. I am blown over and thanks for bringing this to me never seen it before https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqutby-Dpq0

jakarta · Apr 21, 2018

whitelion said:
No one has mentioned Steve Howe.

So I will....Steve Howe.

Yes.

Yessongs in particular...

GT49er · Apr 21, 2018

Bevendean Hillbilly said:
Not as much as being a scouse.

Both cities heavily into their Celtic heritage but Liverpool far far more authentically.

When I lived in both cities the Liverpool/Irish thing was far more evident in all the pubs, songs and humour but...I probably met more genuinely Irish heritage folk in Manchester.

Oddly Manchester is far more conscious of being Manchester, Mancunian and proud whereas the scousers are more mawkishly obsessed with events like the spud famine and the Irish exodus from Liverpool to the new world than is good for them.

Liverpool can't forget what Manchester can't remember was the way my girlfriend (scouse) put it.

Yes, but people born in Manchester (or Liverpool) - which qualifies them as being English - if they want to emphasise their lineage and want to be considered as Irish (or Scottish, or anywhere else-ish) usually make a point of doing so. Vini Reilly didn't - more guitarist and musician than Manc, more Manc than Irish.

The Upper Library · Apr 21, 2018

I love Jimmy Page - especially on the Houses of the Holy album.

But for me number one is David Gilmour.

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Bevendean Hillbilly · Apr 22, 2018

The Upper Library said:
I love Jimmy Page - especially on the Houses of the Holy album.

But for me number one is David Gilmour.

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The thing about Jimmy page is that his riffs are epic but...and it's a big but...he really, really needed Plants Vocal and JPG/Bonham to rock.

On his own his stuff sounds like elf magicked Tolkien plop plop.

It's the same with Dave Gilmour...leave aside Roger Waters as the real talent there...on his own its just for the purists.

To my mind Hendrix and Peter Green and, I guess Gary Moore, Zappa and Carlos Santana rocked all on their very own...write the feme toon, sing da feme toon.

Being good on the Axe is not the only definition of "the best rock guitarist" or else we could chuck in Randy Rhoades or pretty much all of Lynrd Skynrd or the Eagles...because, man, they could play.

The best are the best in their own right.

The other musicians

Bevendean Hillbilly · Apr 22, 2018

Double post.

Bevendean Hillbilly · Apr 22, 2018

GT49er said:
Yes, but people born in Manchester (or Liverpool) - which qualifies them as being English - if they want to emphasise their lineage and want to be considered as Irish (or Scottish, or anywhere else-ish) usually make a point of doing so. Vini Reilly didn't - more guitarist and musician than Manc, more Manc than Irish.

I'm sure he did.

It doesn't really matter if he didn't set any store by being anything other than a Manc guitarist...or am I missing something?

Superphil · Apr 22, 2018

Jimmy Page and Phil Campbell

Napier · Apr 22, 2018

I know he was more on the jazz side, but Jaco Pastorius is worth a mention.

boik · Apr 22, 2018

Another vote here for John McGeogh. Magazine, Banshees and the best PiL lineup. Keep a listen out for "Spellbound - the John McGeogh story" a great radio documentary.

I'd probably add Andy Partridge into the mix somewhere too. The albums were simple enough, but live he used to improvise like crazy so things were never the same twice. Very impressive.

Back in the day I used to rate Steve Howe too. Unlike a lot of guitar heroes whose stuff always sounded the same, he had a huge range of styles.

OzMike · Apr 22, 2018

Not a god by any means, but this isn't bad for a one off, always liked it.
Tony Peluso was responsible for the guitar riff.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=jixeE8gkT-s

bobbab5 · Apr 22, 2018

Napier said:
I know he was more on the jazz side, but Jaco Pastorius is worth a mention.

Wrong guitar!

jakarta · Apr 22, 2018

GT49er said:
Yes, but people born in Manchester (or Liverpool) - which qualifies them as being English - if they want to emphasise their lineage and want to be considered as Irish (or Scottish, or anywhere else-ish) usually make a point of doing so. Vini Reilly didn't - more guitarist and musician than Manc, more Manc than Irish.

For what it is worth I had a chance to talk with Vini at the Komedia back in 2005. He recognised a fellow Northern Monkey (admittedly I'm from Cheshire) by my accent while signing CD's before the performance and I said the last time I had seen him was in Manchester with Peter Hook playing bass so we had a few words.

A lovely and quiet bloke (although reeking of dope) I said to him that the only other guitarist I thought was in his league was the late Rory Gallagher and he said - So you only like Irish Guitarists then?

maltaseagull · Apr 22, 2018

Icy Gull said:
Arguably not rock but there aren’t many who can hold a light to Peter Green and Carlos Santana

Just personal taste but for me it’s Neil Young

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=iqutby-Dpq0[/QUOTE

Always loved his music.Not sure I would put him top of the pile as a guitarist though.

Worried Man Blues · Apr 22, 2018

You've overlooked Guitar Shorty and Hound Dog Taylor :shrug:

Megazone · Apr 22, 2018

Impossible to have the greatest guitarist of all time as music is not a competition, but here's some greats:

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