I have promised myself I will not go down this particular rabbit hole. As far as I can tell, RS once again makes itself look foolish. Even expanding the list to 250, it manages to leave off some obvious choices, and is otherwise filled with anomalies. I suppose they like the attention, which might help magazine sales, whether the attention is good, bad, or indifferent.
Rolling Stone 250 Greatest Guitarists
- Thread starter The Knize
- Start date
I’m pretty sure Stevie Ray Vaughan was the best that ever lived. (Yes I was born and raised in Texas.)
I’m a metal guy and not really into the Blues, but he was fantastic. Even his work on Bowie’s Let’s Dance is great.
Lockback
Dull yet interesting
I've seen the list and find it moronic, embarrassing, ill-informed, ridiculous, dumb, meaningless, poorly reasoned, politically correct, and silly.
Other than that, it's a great list.
Other than that, it's a great list.
Where’s Buckethead??
- Thread starter
- #6
SRV was very good. And great with Bowie. I forget where RS puts him this time around. Maybe the best to ever come out of Texas and some fantastic players have come out of Texas. Bur no Hendrix, no SRV. I personally was not all that impressed overall with the records SRV put out! Great tone. A Strat master. Thick strings. Extra points for hand strength. <where's Buckethead?>
heck if I know. it is not as if RS provides a convenient list of just names. Did they leave him off? That should be hard to explain.
Eric Clapton at #35?
The write up tells me all I need to know about this "list":
"These days, nobody really considers Clapton god (his COVID comments clearly rule out any chance of being all-knowing)"
The write up tells me all I need to know about this "list":
"These days, nobody really considers Clapton god (his COVID comments clearly rule out any chance of being all-knowing)"
What in the world does his comments about COVID have to do with skill at a musical instrument??
I don’t think Peter Frampton is on there either, another ridiculous omission.
I don't know how you can include session players without mentioning Reggie Young. And speaking of Clapton, supposedly he said Reggie was one of the best players he ever heard.
I was surprised how low on the list were luminaries like Duane Eddy and Leslie West. Also, as they were including jazz guitarists, I was wondering where George Benson, Stanley Jordan, or Toots Thielemans were.
Agreed.............I would have liked to have seen Roy Clark, Glenn Campbell, Tommy Tedesco...............
- Thread starter
- #12
I have not managed to find a handy one artist per line list anywhere, so I am not confident of who is on this list of 250. I think everyone mentioned above should be on the list. I do not love him, but leaving Frampton off was a blunder. Going by skill Glenn Campbell was as able as anyone. Roy Clark and Tedesco not far behind. Lots of jazz folks left off. I was surprised Clapton was not higher. I think RS has turned on him. To me he has lost his muse. Some time ago, in fact.
- Thread starter
- #13
When Rolling Stone in 2016 (or was it 2018) released a list of the top 100 guitar players it has Clapton at 2.
In 2007 RS had Clapton at 7.
A rather subjective process, I would say.
Last edited:
This is what happens when the people making the list think "guitar" is a task assigned to a road construction crew.
- Thread starter
- #15
This list was supposedly put together by Rolling Stone's staff, if I recall. Rolling Stone's fall from grace, its complete loss of identity seems like a sad, although perhaps movie-worthy, story. In the 60s, RS was important, and some great, cool people worked there. (I was going to say "and Jann Wenner worked there, too," but that is probably unfair. I suspect that Jann Wenner was never all that cool, but I think back in the day he had it way more together and was on a mission to produce a good music rag.) Back then it would have seemed amazing to go to work for RS, to write for RS. Who would aspire to that now? Jann Wenner is kind of a laughing stock, and RS is pretty much a nothing. Although, heaven help us all, it is not like some other music magazine has stepped up to fill the former RS niche. I suppose Guitar Player arguably has part of it. The great Brit music rags, Mojo and Uncut are better than RS ever was.
Can anyone imagine Lester Bangs having anything to do with this list?
No Ben Harper found. I'm out.
Searchable list:
Searchable list:
250 – Andy Summers (The Police)
249 – Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes)
248 – Robbie Kreiger (The Doors)
247 – Ricky Wilson (The B-52s)
246 – Paul Simon
245 – Leslie West (Mountain)
244 – Edilio Paredes
243 – Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner (The National)
242 – Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail)
241 – Keith Urban
240 – Erin Smith (Bratmobile)
239 – Duane Eddy
238 – Doug Gillard
237 – Jennifer Batten
236 – Greg Sage (The Wipers)
235 – Laura Marling
234 – John McGeoch
233 – H.E.R.
232 – David Williams
231 – Etta Baker
230 – Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo)
229 – Barbara Lynn
228 – Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
227 – Glenn Branca
226 – El Kempner (Palehound)
225 – Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith and Wayne Kramer (MC5)
224 – Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson)
223 – Joseph Spence (from The Bahamas)
222 – Molly Tuttle
221 – James Blood Ulmer
220 – Courtney Barnett
219 – Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
218 – Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
217 – Thomas McClary (Ther Commodores)
216 – Steve Hackett (Genesis)
215 – Kurt Vile
214 – Keiji Haino
213 – Lucy Dacus
212 – José Feliciano
211 – Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
210 – Kaki King
209 – Gary Clark Jr.
208 – Amadou Bagayoko
207 – Justin Broadrick (Godflesh)
206 – Hugh McCracken (Steely Dan)
205 – Eric Johnson
204 – Lynn Taitt
203 – Grant Green
202 – Vince Gill
201 – Garry ‘Diaper Man’ Shider (Parliament)
200 – Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
199 – Bombino (from Niger)
198 – Jerry Reed
197 – Nuno Bettencourt
196 – James Taylor
195 – Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
194 – Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
193 – David Lindley
192 – Lita Ford
191 – Chalmers Edward ‘Spanky’ Alford
190 – Lightnin’ Hopkins
189 – Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
188 – Marnie Stern
187 – Marc Ribot
186 – Steve Lukather
185 – Peggy Jones
184 – Eldon Shamblin (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys)
183 – Roy Buchanan
182 – Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (Bob Marley)
181 – Larissa Strickland (Laughing Hyenas)
180 – Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
179 – Ernest Ranglin
178 – Skip James
177 – Rodrigo y Gabriela
176 – Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz)
175 – Rory Gallagher
174 – Marty Stuart
173 – Paul McCartney
172 – Chrissie Hynde
171 – D. Boon (The Minutemen)
170 – Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
169 – Jessie Mae Hemphill
168 – John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
167 – James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges)
166 – Johnny Winter
165 – Rokia Traoré (from Mali)
164 – Dave Davies (The Kinks)
163 – Wah Wah Watson
162 – Rosinha de Valença (from Brazil)
161 – Tim Henson (Polyphia)
160 – Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders)
159 – John Lennon
158 – Johnny Thunders
157 – Pat Metheny
156 – Carl Perkins
155 – Yvette Young (Covet)
154 – Bill Frisell
153 – Otis Rush
152 – Ani DiFranco
151 – Pete Cosey (Miles Davis)
150 – Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females)
149 – Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
148 – Ike Turner
147 – Memphis Minnie
146 – Mike Bloomfield
145 – Dickey Betts
144 – Odetta
143 – Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)
142 – João Gilberto
141 – Fredrik Thordendal (Meshugga)
140 – Stephen Stills
139 – Susan Tedeschi
138 – Teenie Hodges (Al Green)
137 – Liz Phair
136 – Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
135 – Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
134 – Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü)
133 – Robert Cray
132 – Nils Lofgren
131 – Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
130 – Joe Walsh
129 – Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper)
128 – Bob Stinson (The Replacements)
127 – Steve Vai
126 – Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
125 – Viv Albertine (The Slits)
124 – Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
123 – Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
122 – King Sunny Ade
121 – Dick Dale
120 – Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule)
119 – Donita Sparks (L7)
118 – Adrian Belew
117 – Albert Collins
116 – Ana da Silva
115 – Nels Cline
114 – Robert Quine
113 – Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
112 – Rowland S. Howard
111 – Kelley Johnson (Girlschool)
110 – Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
109 – Mick Ronson (David Bowie)
108 – Merle Travis
107 – Clarence White (The Byrds)
106 – Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
105 – Slash
104 – Ali Farka Touré (from Mali)
103 – Nancy Wilson (Heart)
102 – Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
101 – John Fogerty
100 – Kerry King (Slayer)
99 – Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)
98 – Link Wray
97 – Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
96 – Mark Knopfler (Dire Strais)
95 – Mary Timony (Helium)
94 – Joe Satriani
93 – Leo Nocentelli (The Meters)
92 – Wata (Boris)
91 – Cat Coore (Third World)
90 – Mdou Moctar (from Niger)
89 – Lou Reed
88 – Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
87 – Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
86 – Sonny Sharrock
85 – Larry Carlton
84 – Muddy Waters
83 – Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
82 – Wes Montgomery
81 – Bert Jansch
80 – Derek Trucks (Tedeshi-Trucks Band/Allman Brothers)
79 – Ernie Isley (Isley Brothers)
78 – Charlie Christian
77 – Willie Nelson
76 – Joan Jett
75 – Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow)
74 – J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
73 – Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf)
72 – John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
71 – Franco Luambo
70 – Django Reinhardt
69 – Robbie Robertson (The Band)
68 – Les Paul
67 – Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
66 – Ry Cooder
65 – T-Bone Walker
64 – Carrie Brownstein (Sleeter-Kinney)
63 – Richard Thompson
62 – Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
61 – John Mayer
60 – Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
59 – Robert Fripp
58 – Alex Lifeson (Rush)
57 – Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
56 – Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
55 – Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones)
54 – Bonnie Raitt
53 – Trey Anastasio (Phish)
52 – John Lee Hooker
51 – Tom Verlaine (Television/solo)
50 – Elmore James
49 – PJ Harvey
48 – Curtis Mayfield
47 – The Edge (U2)
46 – Frank Zappa
45 – Steve Cropper
44 – Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
43 – Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien (Radiohead)
42 – Vernon Reid (Living Color)
41 – Bo Diddley
40 – John Fahey
39 – Chet Atkins
38 – Angus Young and Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
37 – Pete Townshend (The Who)
36 – Elizabeth Cotten
35 – Eric Clapton
34 – Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
33 – Brian May (Queen)
32 – Jack White (White Stripes)
31 – George Harrison
30 – Neil Young
29 – Eddie Hazel (Parliament)
28 – David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
27 – Buddy Guy
26 – St. Vincent
25 – John Frusciante
24 – James Burton
23 – James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
22 – Albert King
21 – Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
20 – Stevie Ray Vaughan
19 – Freddy King
18 – Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
17 – Mother Maybelle Carter
16 – Robert Johnson
15 – Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
14 – Prince
13 – Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
12 – Jimmy Nolen (James Brown)
11 – Carlos Santana
10 – Duane Allman (Allman Brothers)
9 – Joni Mitchell
8 – B.B. King
7 – Nile Rodgers
6 – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
5 – Jeff Beck
4 – Eddie Van Halen
3 – Jimmy Page
2 – Chuck Berry
1 – Jimi Hendrix
249 – Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes)
248 – Robbie Kreiger (The Doors)
247 – Ricky Wilson (The B-52s)
246 – Paul Simon
245 – Leslie West (Mountain)
244 – Edilio Paredes
243 – Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner (The National)
242 – Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail)
241 – Keith Urban
240 – Erin Smith (Bratmobile)
239 – Duane Eddy
238 – Doug Gillard
237 – Jennifer Batten
236 – Greg Sage (The Wipers)
235 – Laura Marling
234 – John McGeoch
233 – H.E.R.
232 – David Williams
231 – Etta Baker
230 – Gustavo Cerati (Soda Stereo)
229 – Barbara Lynn
228 – Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
227 – Glenn Branca
226 – El Kempner (Palehound)
225 – Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith and Wayne Kramer (MC5)
224 – Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson)
223 – Joseph Spence (from The Bahamas)
222 – Molly Tuttle
221 – James Blood Ulmer
220 – Courtney Barnett
219 – Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
218 – Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)
217 – Thomas McClary (Ther Commodores)
216 – Steve Hackett (Genesis)
215 – Kurt Vile
214 – Keiji Haino
213 – Lucy Dacus
212 – José Feliciano
211 – Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs)
210 – Kaki King
209 – Gary Clark Jr.
208 – Amadou Bagayoko
207 – Justin Broadrick (Godflesh)
206 – Hugh McCracken (Steely Dan)
205 – Eric Johnson
204 – Lynn Taitt
203 – Grant Green
202 – Vince Gill
201 – Garry ‘Diaper Man’ Shider (Parliament)
200 – Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram
199 – Bombino (from Niger)
198 – Jerry Reed
197 – Nuno Bettencourt
196 – James Taylor
195 – Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
194 – Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
193 – David Lindley
192 – Lita Ford
191 – Chalmers Edward ‘Spanky’ Alford
190 – Lightnin’ Hopkins
189 – Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
188 – Marnie Stern
187 – Marc Ribot
186 – Steve Lukather
185 – Peggy Jones
184 – Eldon Shamblin (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys)
183 – Roy Buchanan
182 – Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (Bob Marley)
181 – Larissa Strickland (Laughing Hyenas)
180 – Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers)
179 – Ernest Ranglin
178 – Skip James
177 – Rodrigo y Gabriela
176 – Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz)
175 – Rory Gallagher
174 – Marty Stuart
173 – Paul McCartney
172 – Chrissie Hynde
171 – D. Boon (The Minutemen)
170 – Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)
169 – Jessie Mae Hemphill
168 – John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service)
167 – James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges)
166 – Johnny Winter
165 – Rokia Traoré (from Mali)
164 – Dave Davies (The Kinks)
163 – Wah Wah Watson
162 – Rosinha de Valença (from Brazil)
161 – Tim Henson (Polyphia)
160 – Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders)
159 – John Lennon
158 – Johnny Thunders
157 – Pat Metheny
156 – Carl Perkins
155 – Yvette Young (Covet)
154 – Bill Frisell
153 – Otis Rush
152 – Ani DiFranco
151 – Pete Cosey (Miles Davis)
150 – Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females)
149 – Ron Asheton (The Stooges)
148 – Ike Turner
147 – Memphis Minnie
146 – Mike Bloomfield
145 – Dickey Betts
144 – Odetta
143 – Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo)
142 – João Gilberto
141 – Fredrik Thordendal (Meshugga)
140 – Stephen Stills
139 – Susan Tedeschi
138 – Teenie Hodges (Al Green)
137 – Liz Phair
136 – Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
135 – Roger McGuinn (The Byrds)
134 – Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü)
133 – Robert Cray
132 – Nils Lofgren
131 – Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
130 – Joe Walsh
129 – Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper)
128 – Bob Stinson (The Replacements)
127 – Steve Vai
126 – Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
125 – Viv Albertine (The Slits)
124 – Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)
123 – Steve Howe (Yes, Asia)
122 – King Sunny Ade
121 – Dick Dale
120 – Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule)
119 – Donita Sparks (L7)
118 – Adrian Belew
117 – Albert Collins
116 – Ana da Silva
115 – Nels Cline
114 – Robert Quine
113 – Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
112 – Rowland S. Howard
111 – Kelley Johnson (Girlschool)
110 – Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
109 – Mick Ronson (David Bowie)
108 – Merle Travis
107 – Clarence White (The Byrds)
106 – Peter Buck (R.E.M.)
105 – Slash
104 – Ali Farka Touré (from Mali)
103 – Nancy Wilson (Heart)
102 – Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
101 – John Fogerty
100 – Kerry King (Slayer)
99 – Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)
98 – Link Wray
97 – Stephen Malkmus (Pavement)
96 – Mark Knopfler (Dire Strais)
95 – Mary Timony (Helium)
94 – Joe Satriani
93 – Leo Nocentelli (The Meters)
92 – Wata (Boris)
91 – Cat Coore (Third World)
90 – Mdou Moctar (from Niger)
89 – Lou Reed
88 – Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
87 – Poison Ivy (The Cramps)
86 – Sonny Sharrock
85 – Larry Carlton
84 – Muddy Waters
83 – Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
82 – Wes Montgomery
81 – Bert Jansch
80 – Derek Trucks (Tedeshi-Trucks Band/Allman Brothers)
79 – Ernie Isley (Isley Brothers)
78 – Charlie Christian
77 – Willie Nelson
76 – Joan Jett
75 – Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow)
74 – J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
73 – Hubert Sumlin (Howlin’ Wolf)
72 – John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
71 – Franco Luambo
70 – Django Reinhardt
69 – Robbie Robertson (The Band)
68 – Les Paul
67 – Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)
66 – Ry Cooder
65 – T-Bone Walker
64 – Carrie Brownstein (Sleeter-Kinney)
63 – Richard Thompson
62 – Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
61 – John Mayer
60 – Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley)
59 – Robert Fripp
58 – Alex Lifeson (Rush)
57 – Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)
56 – Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
55 – Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones)
54 – Bonnie Raitt
53 – Trey Anastasio (Phish)
52 – John Lee Hooker
51 – Tom Verlaine (Television/solo)
50 – Elmore James
49 – PJ Harvey
48 – Curtis Mayfield
47 – The Edge (U2)
46 – Frank Zappa
45 – Steve Cropper
44 – Johnny Ramone (The Ramones)
43 – Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien (Radiohead)
42 – Vernon Reid (Living Color)
41 – Bo Diddley
40 – John Fahey
39 – Chet Atkins
38 – Angus Young and Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
37 – Pete Townshend (The Who)
36 – Elizabeth Cotten
35 – Eric Clapton
34 – Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead)
33 – Brian May (Queen)
32 – Jack White (White Stripes)
31 – George Harrison
30 – Neil Young
29 – Eddie Hazel (Parliament)
28 – David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
27 – Buddy Guy
26 – St. Vincent
25 – John Frusciante
24 – James Burton
23 – James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
22 – Albert King
21 – Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
20 – Stevie Ray Vaughan
19 – Freddy King
18 – Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
17 – Mother Maybelle Carter
16 – Robert Johnson
15 – Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
14 – Prince
13 – Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
12 – Jimmy Nolen (James Brown)
11 – Carlos Santana
10 – Duane Allman (Allman Brothers)
9 – Joni Mitchell
8 – B.B. King
7 – Nile Rodgers
6 – Sister Rosetta Tharpe
5 – Jeff Beck
4 – Eddie Van Halen
3 – Jimmy Page
2 – Chuck Berry
1 – Jimi Hendrix
Last edited:
Lockback
Dull yet interesting
No Tommy Emmanuel?
Andy Summers at #250??
Mark Knopfler at #96?
Joe Satriani at #94?
My cat could have done a better job picking pieces of paper out of a basket.
Utterly ridiculous.
As least they have Joni Mitchell in the top 10 and didn't let that slacker Slash crack the top 100.
Yep. They say "Rolling Stone published its original list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists in 2011. It was compiled by a panel of musicians, mostly older classic rockers. Our new expanded list was made by the editors and writers of Rolling Stone. This one goes to 250."
Nothing says good judgement in musical skills like a journalism degree.
- Thread starter
- #20
I thought I had an RS one from 2007. Must have been from something else.
No Tommy Emmanuel seems ridiculous. Knopfler at 96, meh.
Satriani at 94. RS has never given him any respect. Surprised he is on there at all. No Joe Bonamassa, who to me is similarly situated. I personally don't care about those two.
That list is great. Some interesting choices. Lots I don"t know at all.
No Tommy Emmanuel seems ridiculous. Knopfler at 96, meh.
Satriani at 94. RS has never given him any respect. Surprised he is on there at all. No Joe Bonamassa, who to me is similarly situated. I personally don't care about those two.
That list is great. Some interesting choices. Lots I don"t know at all.
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