Rolling Stone names Jimi Hendrix the ‘Greatest Guitarist of all Time

NYDailyNews ^ | Wednesday, November 23 2011, 3:44 PM | Jim Farber

[This Just In]

Rolling Stone names Jimi Hendrix the ‘Greatest Guitarist of all Time,’ followed by Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page The rest of the top five are Keith Richards and Jeff Beck

BY Jim Farber

NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Wednesday, November 23 2011, 3:44 PM

Yes, he’s experienced.

Jimi Hendrix has been proclaimed the “Greatest Guitarist of All Time” by a panel of musicians wrangled by Rolling Stone Magazine.

Though dead for more than 40 years, Hendrix’s fiery and distinct style clearly continues to inspire, and intimidate, six-string pluckers the world over.

[death2tyrants]

Augustin Barrios (1885-1944).

[mitch5501]

My top ten faves...

Blackmore
Steve Howe
Uli John Roth
Iommi
Petrucchi
Via
Andre Segovia
Paco Pena
Huw Loyd Langton
Michael Ackerfelt

[anton]

James Burton is the greatest guitarist of all time. Everyone knows that, right?

[The KG9 Kid]

Thanks. I haven’t dug out any old Hendrix albums to check in ages. Now it’s just MP3 playlists with no album cover.

[yarddog]

What happened to Chet Atkins or Roy Clarke?

Oh yest, they are not Black or hippies.

[barnrat]

Mother Maybelle Carter was the greatest. Her techniques have been copied (or attempted to be copied) by countless musicians. Another ignored artist is Duane Eddy. Rolling Stone’s ratings are based on the ages and exposure to music of the existing generation that read that publication.

Listen , hear the applause and then vote:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ENS4nD0vRKI

[LanaTurnerOverdrive]

Pat Metheny is the best guitarist who ever lived.

You clearly are not a musician. Also, if you ever had the chance (which you never will) to ask Pat Metheny who the best guitarist that ever lived was....he would say Jimi Hendrix.

[golux]

Jimi Hendrix was great, okay? I liked the guy. But it was the AMPS that made him; Marshall Amps were the reason Jimi was Jimi. Let’s be real. Yes, I know black and all that. Yes, Yes, and Yes....

I assume you are serious, so I heartily recommend checking out some of the lesser-known Hendrix recordings - here's one messy one I just found by typing "Hendrix Rare" into youtube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ByN1oHmRVrU What you will find is not always technical perfection (He was an envelope-pushing live player) but a dynamism, complexity, and focus that remains as completely, stunningly new today as it ever was. I think it is fair to say that Hendrix was more than "great and black and all that" but remains in a league of his own. Nobody, ever, has ever played like this, or since, or, in fact, quite as well. His phrasing alone, off the cuff is simply mind-bogglingly amazing, and seems to have nothing to do with the limitations of the instrument - he just brushes them aside. There are faster, more technically perfect test pilots for instance, to be sure, but who wouldn't say that Yeager was probably the best ever? That's how it is, I think, with Hendrix... Only Hendrix's work, because it never really has been fully imitated, is as fresh as ever.

[golux]

I am a huge Pat Metheny fan but Lana is absolutely right here. Pat is a serious and deeply respectful musician. By the way, his Statement Regarding Kenny G is one of my favorite pieces of “music related writing” of all time!

http://www.jazzoasis.com/methenyonkennyg.htm

[dforest]

No he isn’t. Stevie Ray Vaughn was the best.

[willyd]

You forgot Buckethead...does he even get a mention? Buckethead

[21twelve]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1b9oddxm3aA

Here's Alex Lifeson playing a cover of “Crossroads” which I thought more fitting on this thread in honor of Eric Clapton who did make the list.

Although one of my personal favorites of his is La Villa Stranglato. And “Malignant Narcissism” is a recent GREAT instrumental. I can't wait to hear what is on Rush's new album.

[hawkeye101]

Yes, the "dude" from Sabbath.

Tony Iommi

[Artie]

Question: What do you have when drool is coming out of both sides of Keith Richard’s mouth?

Answer: A level stage

[Valin]

Wrong!

[animal172]

Just went over to YouTue and listened to Segovia’s Asturias. Beautiful. Had the privilege of hearing him in concert many, many years ago. He stands alone.

[raybbr]

Richard Thompson. Saw him at a an acoustical, one-man show in New Haven, CT. Would swear he was not alone on some songs.

[Aussiebabe]

Any poll that doesn't have Mark Knopfler in the top 25 is pretty worthless.

[Uncle Ike]

Amazing -

100+ posts on this thread, and no mention of Les Paul...

Not only was he seminal in the technical evolution of the electric guitar from a big-band side novelty into the dominant instrument it is today, (one of the, if not the, most popular instruments bears his name to this day) but he also created many of the playing techniques that form the ‘basics’ for every electric guitar player since, from the eminences mentioned on this thread to the kid keeping the neighborhood awake nights with his screeching and sqawking...

If innovation and influence is part of the criteria, Les Paul certainly belongs on any serious list....

[panaxanax]

“I’ll wager that they have never heard of Andres Segovia...”

Glad to see someone chime in that really knows true talent, thank you. Segovia is the master, without question.

In my opinion, Charro, Leo Kottke, John Fahey, Jose Feliciano were/are all better than Jimmie.