Guitar World Magazine Respons To Rolling Stone Magazine:Top 100 Rock/Metal Guitarists List GW Style

Guitar World Magazine -March 2004 Issue | 2-16-04 | my favorite headache

[My Favorite Headache]

March 2004 Issue Guitar World

Guitar World magazine has responded with their Top 100 Guitarists Poll of their own. In response to the outrage of many due to the Rolling Stone magazine issue which left off many names Guitar World conducted a poll of readers and internet browsers to vote for the Top 100 Guitarists of All Time. Here are the results:

01. Tony Iommi (BLACK SABBATH)

02. Kirk Hammett & James Hetfield (METALLICA)

03. Angus & Malcolm Young (AC/DC)

04. Randy Rhoads (OZZY OSBOURNE)

05. Eddie Van Halen (VAN HALEN)

06. Jimmy Page (LED ZEPPELIN)

07. Dimebag Darrell (PANTERA, DAMAGEPLAN)

08. Zakk Wylde (OZZY OSBOURNE, BLACK LABEL SOCIETY)

09. Adam Jones (TOOL)

10. Kerry King & Jeff Hanneman (SLAYER)

11. Dave Murray & Adrian Smith (IRON MAIDEN)

12. Jimi Hendrix

13. Glen Tipton & K.K. Downing (JUDAS PRIEST)

14. Ace Frehley & Paul Stanley (KISS)

15. Slash (GUNS N' ROSES)

16. Ritchie Blackmore (DEEP PURPLE, RAINBOW)

17. Yngwie Malmsteen

18. Joe Perry & Brad Whitford (AEROSMITH)

19. Dave Mustaine & Marty Friedman (MEGADETH)

20. Chuck Schuldiner (DEATH)

21. Brian May (QUEEN)

22. Michael Schenker (MSG, UFO)

23. Nigel Tufnel (SPINAL TAP)

24. Jeff Beck

25. Tom Morello (RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE)

26. Head & Munky (KORN)

27. John Petrucci (DREAM THEATER)

28. Kim Thayil (SOUNDGARDEN)

29. Vivian Campbell (DEF LEPPARD)

30. Daron Malakian (SYSTEM OF A DOWN)

31. Scott Ian (ANTHRAX)

32. Tom G. Warrior (CELTIC FROST)

33. Chris Degarmo & Michael Wilton (QUEENSRYCHE)

34. C.C. Deville (POISON)

35. Marten Hagstrom & Fredrik Thorndendal (MESHUGGAH)

36. Alex Lifeson (RUSH)

37. Paul Gilbert (MR. BIG, RACER X)

38. Jerry Cantrell (ALICE IN CHAINS)

39. Mantas (VENOM)

40. Jason Becker (DAVE LEE ROTH)

41. Phil Collen & Steve Clarke (DEF LEPPARD)

42. Mikael Akerfeldt & Peter Lindgren (OPETH)

43. Fast Eddie Clarke (MOTORHEAD)

44. Nuno Bettencourt (EXTREME)

45. Warren DeMartini (RATT)

46. Mick Mars (MOTLEY CRUE)

47. George Lynch (DOKKEN)

48. Ted Nugent

49. Jake E. Lee (OZZY OSBOURNE, BADLANDS)

50. Rudolf Schenker & Uli John Roth (SCORPIONS)

51. Oystein "Euronymous" Aarseth (MAYHEM)

52. Scott Gorham & Brian Robertson (THIN LIZZY)

53. Steve Vai (DAVE LEE ROTH,WHITESNAKE)

54. Reb Beach (WINGER, DOKKEN)

55. Trey Azagthoth (MORBID ANGEL)

56. John Sykes (THIN LIZZY,WHITESNAKE, BLUE MURDER)

57. Hank Shermann & Michael Denner (MERCYFUL FATE)

58. Richie Sambora (BON JOVI)

59. Jon Donais & Matt Backhand (SHADOWS FALL)

60. Stephen Carpenter (DEFTONES)

61. Alex Skolnick & Eric Peterson (TESTAMENT)

62. Brian Tatler (DIAMOND HEAD)

63. John Christ (DANZIG)

64. Scott "Wino" Weinrich (THE OBSESSED)

65. Pepper Keenan & Woody Weatherman (C.O.C.)

66. Tommy Victor (PRONG)

67. Leslie West (MOUNTAIN)

68. Vernon Reid (LIVING COLOUR)

69. Glen Buxton & Michael Bruce (ALICE COOPER)

70. Bjorn Gelotte & Jesper Stromblad (IN FLAMES)

71. Jim Matheos (FATES WARNING)

72. Gary Holt & Rick Hunolt (EXODUS)

73. Donald Buck Dharma Roeser (BLUE OYSTER CULT)

74. Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY)

75. Robert Fripp (KING CRIMSON)

76. Andre Olbrich (BLIND GUARDIAN)

77. Joe Satriani

78. Frank Hannon & Tommy Skeoch (TESLA)

79. Ty Tabor (KING'S X)

80. Mark Morton & Will Adler (LAMB OF GOD)

81. Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY)

82. Pete Townshend (THE WHO)

83. Jon Schaffer (ICED EARTH)

84. Timo Tolkki (STRATOVARIUS)

85. Neil Young

86. Abbath Doom Occulta (IMMORTAL)

87. Kai Hansen (GAMMA RAY)

88. Uffe Cederlund & Alex Hellid (ENTOMBED)

89. Leigh Stephens (BLUE CHEER)

90. Jim Martin (FAITH NO MORE)

91. Michael Romeo (SYMPHONY X)

92. Bill Steer (CARCASS)

93. Piggy (VOIVOD)

94. Tony Bourge (BUDGIE)

95. Sammy Hagar (VAN HALEN)

96. Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM)

97. Akira Takasaki (LOUDNESS)

98. Michael Angelo

99. John Kay & Michael Monarh (STEPPENWOLF)

100. Nick Bowcott (GRIM REAPER)

[garyhope]

Am I blind or was there no mention of Eric Clapton here? I assume most of those polled never heard of Chris Spedding.

11 people ahead of Jim Hendrix? Ridiculous. Clapton not even on the list? Dumb and dumberer. Insane.

[dfwgator]

Did I just scroll too fast?...No Pat Metheney??

I'm sure Pat is perfectly happy to just have the 16 Grammys he's won over the years, including another one this year for "One Quiet Night". And he's back in the studio with Lyle et al for another Group album, can't wait.

[sushiman]

" Any list that doesn't have Richard Thompson and Junior Brown "

Dittos on that ! My buddy DM will be touring the states with RT this year ! Check them out !

[My Favorite Headache]

LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dfwgator]

Or Sorrow from "Delicate Sound of Thunder

I saw Floyd's last tour 10 years ago, and my ears are still ringing from that one.

[SBprone]

Ever heard of Steve Cropper? Most of the players on this list have.

[RosieCotton]

Oh, yeah! Definitely Chet Atkins!

[DaughterOfAnIwoJimaVet]

Obviously a list of rock guitarists. I didn't see (maybe I missed it?) Mike Stern, Django Reinhart, John Scofield...so, no, no Pat Metheny. : )

[TheBigB]

Remember GTR?

[RobRoy]

So many different styles.

It's like asking, "Which is better, a Hummer or a Porsche?"

[BallyBill]

No John McGlaughlin and no Keith Richards but Leslie West? Why not just make Mark Farner #1...

I DID vote for Mark Farner.. GFR Lives!!

[FreedomCalls]

No Andrés Segovia or Les Paul?

[GOPyouth]

Sorrow is a cool song live to hear/see. The PULSE dvd should be coming out this year. I can't wait. My vhs is totally worn out.

[RobRoy]

I really wouldn't want to be on the list below Nigel Tufnel.

Although I understand he likes surgery.

[SBprone]

By the time the kids that voted on this discover Les Paul they won't be reading this rag anymore.

[Geronimo]

This is a metal/rock list...

Not a blues player on it.

[Musket]

Any list that doesn't start off:

1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Jimi Page

just can't be taken seriously.

[Liberty Valance]

A great list for metal fans. Any list that doesn't include Stevie Ray Vaughn is suspect :^)

[Lancey Howard]

Jimi Hendrix is completely in a class of his own. These kinds of polls are generally ridiculous, but Jimi at anything but #1 is the most ridiculous part. (But, whatever - - these polls are always great fun.) Also, no Reverend Horton Heat? That's simply lame.

[dfwgator]

Oh yeah, GTR, "Hackett to Bits" was the only decent song on that one.

[John H K]

Of course, I have the GTR album :-)

[RobRoy]

Pete Townsend is even on the list? Yikes!

[theFIRMbss]

>I detect Media Bias! No Chet Atkins....

How about the guy the guitars most of these guys play are named after!

[SBprone]

Everybody learns from somebody. Jimi listened to Steve Cropper.

[John H K]

So how many of the guys on the list play left-handed, just for s***s and giggles?

[Califelephant]

What about Django Reinhardt? http://www.redhotjazz.com/django.htm

[TheBigB]

[Benrand]

Tommy Victor belongs much higher, Alex Lifeson is int he top 10 and those two morons from Korn belong in the 300's somewhere. They suck.

[dfwgator]

Townsend practically invented the power chord, granted he isn't the best lead player ever.

[TheBigB]

Actually, I liked "When the Heart Rules the Mind"

[dfwgator]

Is that Neal Schon or Bruce Springsteen?

[secret garden]

I was just getting ready to complain about the same thing. Haven't they ever heard White Cliffs of Dover???

[TheBigB]

Ah, here we are...

[John H K]

(Donning flame-resistant suit) I think The Edge should be on the list.

I mean, take a Yngwie Malmsteen? Is he far better technically than the Edge? Sure. Can he play a lot faster? Sure.

But can anyone name or remember a single Yngwie Malmsteen song? Will anyone remember him in 50 years? No. Leaving aside how people feel about U2 and Bono's politics and how cool it became to hate U2, the Edge has an instantly recognizable "style" and contributed to a ton of memorable songs.

[Califelephant]

Whoops, bad link, here's Django:
http://www.pbs.org/jazz/biography/artist_id_reinhardt_django.htm

[No Blue States]

Jimi Hendrix is not in the top 5?

This list is bunk.

[TheBigB]

Schon. Brooooce's hairline hasn't receded that much. ;)

[Dan from Michigan]

No Stevie Ray Vaughan at all?????

[secret garden]

No Stanley Jordan either...

[dfwgator]

The thing I remember about GTR was the fact, that at the same time, all five members of the classic Genesis lineup had a hit at the same time, Gabriel with "Slegehammer", Mike and Mechanics had "Silent Running", GTR with "Heart..." and Phil had a hit, and "Invisible Touch" had just come out, so that got Tony into the mix. I don't think even the Beatles have ever accomplished that feat.

[dfwgator]

Haven't they ever heard White Cliffs of Dover???

Or "Zap!" Nothing like putting the old car radio up full blast for that one.

[NutCrackerBoy]

No mention of Frank Zappa.

Clearly, world-class composers were automatically disqualified. And the unkindest cut: no mention of Dorothy "Dot" Wiggin of The Shaggs.

[BibChr]

Kath is who I was looking for. (I think he'd've shrugged and said, "Figures.")

No Brian Setzer, either.

Dan

[No Blue States]

Good eye.

No SRV, now i really hate this list.

I would compare him to Jimi.

Before the crash I saw him in Dallas, It was awesome.

[aomagrat]

I didn't see Ronnie Montrose on the list.

[TheBigB]

You are the ONLY person who has ever mentioned one of my favorite songs/videos from my youth--"Silent Running" by Mike & the Mechanics. Man, that vid was just so weird, but cool. :-) Now if someone would just throw out "Midnight Maniac" by Krokus, I'd time-warp completely.

[Ol' Sox]

No Jimi Hendrix? No Skunk Baxter? No Leo Kottke?

Neil F'ing YOUNG?! Feh!

[Vinnie]

No Chet Atkins....

No kidding! I doubt many on this list could keep up with Chet in his prime.

And what about the father of electric guitars.. Les Paul

[My Favorite Headache]

Hendrix is listed at #12

[GOPyouth]

Everybody learns from somebody.

Another example of that...Jimmy Page and Steve Clarke. Always wearing the strap too low. :)