1.Jimi Hendrix
2 Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band
3 B.B. King
4 Eric Clapton
5 Robert Johnson
6 Chuck Berry
7 Stevie Ray Vaughan
8 Ry Cooder
9 Jimmy Page of Led Zeppelin
10 Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones
11Kirk Hammett of Metallica
12 Kurt Cobain of Nirvana
13 Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead
14 Jeff Beck
15 Carlos Santana
16 Johnny Ramone of the Ramones
17 Jack White of the White Stripes
18 John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers
19 Richard Thompson
20 James Burton
21 George Harrison
22 Mike Bloomfield
23 Warren Haynes
24 The Edge of U2
25 Freddy King
26 Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine and Audioslave
27 Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits
28 Stephen Stills
29 Ron Asheton of the Stooges
30 Buddy Guy
31 Dick Dale
32 John Cipollina of Quicksilver Messenger Service
33 & 34 Lee Ranaldo, Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth
35 John Fahey
36 Steve Cropper of Booker T. and the MG's
37 Bo Diddley
38 Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac
39 Brian May of Qeen
40 John Fogerty of Creedence Clearwater Revival
41 Clarence White of the Byrds
42 Robert Fripp of King Crimson
43 Eddie Hazel of Funkadelic
44 Scotty Moore
45 Frank Zappa
46 Les Paul
47 T-Bone Walker
48 Joe Perry of Aerosmith
49 John McLaughlin
50 Pete Townshend
51 Paul Kossoff of Free
52 Lou Reed
53 Mickey Baker
54 Jorma Kaukonen of Jefferson Airplane
55 Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple
56 Tom Verlaine of Television
57 Roy Buchanan
58 Dickey Betts
59 & 60 Jonny Greenwood, Ed O'Brien of Radiohead
61 Ike Turner
62 Zoot Horn Rollo of the Magic Band
63 Danny Gatton
64 Mick Ronson
65 Hubert Sumlin
66 Vernon Reid of Living Colour
67 Link Wray
68 Jerry Miller of Moby Grape
69 Steve Howe of Yes
70 Eddie Van Halen
71 Lightnin' Hopkins
72 Joni Mitchell
73 Trey Anastasio of Phish
74 Johnny Winter
75 Adam Jones of Tool
76 Ali Farka Toure
77 Henry Vestine of Canned Heat
78 Robbie Robertson of the Band
79 Cliff Gallup of the Blue Caps (1997)
80 Robert Quine of the Voidoids
81 Derek Trucks
82 David Gilmour of Pink Floyd
83 Neil Young
84 Eddie Cochran
85 Randy Rhoads
86 Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath
87 Joan Jett
88 Dave Davies of the Kinks
89 D. Boon of the Minutemen
90 Glen Buxton of Alice Cooper
91 Robby Krieger of the Doors
92 & 93 Fred "Sonic" Smith, Wayne Kramer of the MC5
94 Bert Jansch
95 Kevin Shields of My Bloody Valentine
96 Angus Young of AC/DC
97 Robert Randolph
98 Leigh Stephens of Blue Cheer
99 Greg Ginn of Black Flag
100 Kim Thayil of Soundgarden


What do you think?

I think its a joke. Eddie Van Halen at #70? Eddie is one of the greatest to ever pick that instrument. His riffs have silenced generations of guitar players. It is an inspiration to record licks like that. Curt Cobain at #12? Agree he is a greatest song writer but guitarist? Whatever happened to Billy from ZZ Top? He was, for crying out loud, Jimi's favorite guitarist. To have Hendrix as your biggest fan deserves some kind of appreciation, don't you think? John Frusciante of RHCP? Duane Allman is ahead of Eric Johnson, Jeff Beck or Eric Clapton? But then again its Rolling Stone for Christ sake.

I havent known most of the names and I dont care. But how is Curt Cobain of Nirvana in 12 number? I agree with krishna that he may be good songwriter but not guitarist.

Really surprised that Bootsy Collins who played electric bass for a funk outfit Parliament, Funkadelic, etc., did not make it.

Amused to death that Johny Ramones of the Ramones (#16) , Kurt Cobain (#12), Lou Reed (#52), originally of the Velvet Underground, and Joni Mitchell (#72) made it to the top 100 AT ALL. They don't deserve to be in the top 100 Guitarists' list. There are many in Kathmandu (including my cousin brother) who swear by Joe Satriani, and he is not even among the top 100. Well well...

Also the people surveyed seem to have either written off (or don't know a thing about) the pre-war blues (only Robert Johnson from that era made the cut) greats such as Lonnie Johnson, B. Willie Mctell, and Rev. Gary Davis.

Rolling Stones list is always a big joke. What do they know about guitar playing, they should ask Guitar World, they know better. Angus Young of AC/DC at 96 Shit! This list can go to hell.

And where is Slash?

I totally agree....
This list is flawed from every angle...I guess the Rolling Stones consider themselves the experts, but oh well, I don't agree......Eddie Van Halen should be in top 10, if not top 15 all times, No Joe Satraini??, Good to see Kim Thayil at teh bottom (# 100), atleast he made the list !!! Well, we all agree to disagree !!@! Long live Rock n' Roll...

i like the list, but joe satriani is by far one of the greatest guitarist in the history of music... i would say at least and at its worst on top 25. the list is a total disaster without joe satriani. common guys... joe satrini plays songs with guitar, not just music... and they are live.. not just recorded...

What kind of a list is this?
Angus Young of acdc is worthy to be in top 10 with his strong rhythm skills.
James Hetfield is the main songwriter of Metallica. Where is his name?
Like you guys have already said, Joe Satriani is not there though Kirk Hammet (no.11) and Steve Vai (another guitarist technical virtuoso unfeatured here) both learned advanced guitaring skills from him. And Marty Friedman, who is a demi-god when it comes to soloing is no where to be seen.

This list is not only funny, it is also a great dishonor to the big names that is already in the list. How would Maradona feel if he was grouped along with some Tom Smith and Mahisasur Nepali as top 100 footballers?

Kurt Cobain could be a good songwriter and I have lot of respect for his songs and lyrics (though I do not understand most of it!) and melody he comes up with. But he being umber 12 guitarist? Whatever next? Madonna and Britney Spears on top 5?

Guitar World Magazine Response To Rolling Stone Magazine:Top 100 Rock/Metal

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)



This list is more like it. But then again I don't quite agree with Jimi at 12. He should be Number 1 without question and to make him at 12 is a "crime against humanity", period. Jimi is Jimi and there is no one like Jimi. Lets start with Number 2 shall we?

Where in the hell is Clapton? This looks like another flawed list to me again. Joe Satriani at 77?

And what about David Gilmour? He has recorded the most powerful solos ever to be heard and he is not there?

I could have been right there with Eric Clapton. why? well, i read that he also picked up guitar at the tender age of 18, just like me. man! i should have just kept at it, instead i decided to donate my takamini sleek guitar! darn it! next life ma chai, eric dai ko tattoo nai payera janmina parla.

I was hoping, Brian May would land a lot higher. But noone can really come up to par with Hendrix dai. I read an article long ago that what Jimi Hendrix did with his guitar; the guitarists of his generation and beyond only dreamt about!

The rolling stone list is BS. why the hell are guitarists like Mark Knopler and Eddie Van helen way down the list. And whatever happened to greats like Slash, Richie Sambora(Bon Jovi), and Joe Perry(Aerosmith)??? They didn't make the top 100???
Peace.

14 pandra barsa ko kalkalaudo umer ma nakkali guitar banayera ni school ma koshish garya ho. Jhan pachi ta class ni gako ho. Kyarne, pragati ko gadi daudinai lako thiyo, fate had other ideas. :(

Anyways, it is very hard to please all and sundry. My limited knowledge compels me to disagree mostly with Kurt bro in the RS list at all, let alone in no. 12, and also not placing Slash dai in top hundred made me kind-of skeptical.

Anyways, there would not be much difference in the level of skills in most of them; after all they are listed among millions with decades of musical career.

Kasailai samosha maan parla kasaila momo, kasailai sukuti kasaila pizza. Ani yestai yestai :)

IndisGuise:)

Is it a joke or what ?

Kurt Kuabain ? I did not know that he played guitar :) ????

Maybe they mistook for lyrics...but that's depressing too :P

Why don't we start our own Top 10, or Top 20??? My top 10 picks are (they are not in any rank or order): Slash, Richie Sambora, Carlos Santana, Kirk Hammett, Joe Perry, BB King, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Helen, Jimi Hendrix and Mark Knopler. Might have to do a Top 20 next time. I think I left out a few.
Peace.

I agree with Gorkhadogg.

Thanks i_nepali. The reason I picked them was because they are all unique in their own way. Each of them started their own style and had others following them. For example: I think Clapton and Knopler are of the same caliber. But listen to how they play. Got their unique style, and sound so different from others. This goes with all of them on my list: Slash-Hammett, Sambora-Perry, King-Hendrix.
Interesting thread. More opinion guys.
Peace.

My top 15 picks would be:

1)Jimi Hendrix
2)Eric Clapton
3)Eddie Van Halen
4)Joe Satriani
5)B.B.King
6)Jimmy Page
7)Jeff Beck
8)Steve Vai
9)Billy Gibbons
10)Steve Ray Vaughan
11)David Gilmour
12)Eric Johnson
13)Slash
14)Kirk Hammett
15)Ritchie Blackmore

It would be very tough to try to rank the guitarists like we do in SLC and there is never going to be a unanimous verdict. If i were to group guitarists in different tiers, the uppermost tier would be occupied by the likes of Angus Young, James Hetfield, Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, Mark Knofler, Steve Vai, Van Halen, Dave Mustaine, Kirk Hammet, Tony Iommi, Dave Murray, Richie Sambora, Marty Friedman etc.

But I personally would not put Jimi Hendrix in the uppermost tier. Maybe I do not understand the kind of music he plays just like I have never understood what Monalisa is all about though almost everyone tells that it is a masterpiece.