Rolling Stone Poll: 25 Most Underrated Guitarists

Livia · #1 10-03-2007, 11:20 AM

http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdail...ed-guitarists/

Statistics show that the average rock fan spends roughly 4.7 hours per year arguing over who’s the greatest guitarist of all time (see: Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time). We asked you who’s most criminally left out of those discussions — in other words, who are the most underrated guitarists ever? Here are the results:

1. Prince
2. Kurt Cobain
3. Neil Young
4. George Harrison
5. Ace Frehley
6. Mike McCready
7. Lindsey Buckingham
8. Mick Taylor
9. Nels Cline
10. Johnny Greenwood
11. Tom Verlaine
12. Carrie Brownstein
13. Mick Jones
14. Robert Fripp
15. Johnny Marr
16. John Frusciante
17. Izzy Stradlin
18. Daniel Johns
19. Vernon Reid
20. Robbie Robertson
21. Mick Ronson
22. Billy Corgan
23. Elliott Smith
24. Eddie Hazel
25. Phil Keaggy

face of glass · #2 10-03-2007, 11:32 AM

Bernard Sumner - and forget about the rest.

Chrislit18 · #3 10-03-2007, 02:40 PM

How did Harrison make the list

!!!!
Normally when pepole bring up guitarists, he is usually one of the first names I hear!
Right after Hendrix usually....

and I didnt even know Prince played guitar

Thanks for the post Livia! Glad to See Linds getting some recognition for once

Sarah · #4 10-03-2007, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrislit18

and I didnt even know Prince played guitar

O_O

Prince is amazing.

Chrislit18 · #5 10-03-2007, 02:43 PM

I knew he played synth, but not guitar.

I only really know him from his songs...and the movie Purple Rain.
Then after I heard he played synth on Stevies Stand back did I know he played ANY instrument....

Im not really a Prince fan though.
So sue me

Sarah · #6 10-03-2007, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrislit18

Then after I heard he played synth on Stevies Stand back did I know he played ANY instrument....

He kind of does everything. I understand people not liking songs, but to me, he deserves way more credit for his talent. He is truly gifted.

trackaghost · #7 10-03-2007, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by face of glass

Bernard Sumner - and forget about the rest.

I'm afraid he didn't even make this list

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrislit18

I knew he played synth, but not guitar.

I only really know him from his songs...and the movie Purple Rain.
Then after I heard he played synth on Stevies Stand back did I know he played ANY instrument....

But he plays guitar in Purple Rain, especially in the famous scene where he actually plays the song Purple Rain, which ends in a long guitar solo.

Prince is actually pretty famous for being able to play lots of different instruments, apparently he played all 25 instruments featured on his debut album.
He really is an amazing guitarist. Hearing him play live recently just confirmed that fact for me.

shackin'up · #8 10-03-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I'm afraid he didn't even make this list

But he plays guitar in Purple Rain, especially in the famous scene where he actually plays the song Purple Rain, which ends in a long guitar solo.

Prince is actually pretty famous for being able to play lots of different instruments, apparently he played all 25 instruments featured on his debut album.
He really is an amazing guitarist. Hearing him play live recently just confirmed that fact for me.

I hate prince. Not that I don't recognize his incredible talent, but as a leadguitarist I think he's too much of a hendrix-ripp off. If you hear the guy play bass and drums you'd shoot him for using drummmachines and keyboards most of his life. Oh, and the guy CAN sing, but that highpitched falsetto he uses ALL the time, just drives me nuts. No, a guy with so much talent should have been way better than he showed us.

Chrislit18 · #9 10-03-2007, 05:55 PM

Just because ive heard of Purple Rain, it doesnt mean Ive ever seen it

camchristo · #10 10-03-2007, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrislit18

Just because ive heard of Purple Rain, it doesnt mean Ive ever seen it

But, if you reread your post that I quoted just below, you sure made it sound like you'd seen it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrislit18

I knew he played synth, but not guitar.

I only really know him from his songs...and the movie Purple Rain.
Then after I heard he played synth on Stevies Stand back did I know he played ANY instrument....

Im not really a Prince fan though.
So sue me

See what I mean?

Chrislit18 · #11 10-03-2007, 07:40 PM

I know. I word things funny.
but the movie I have only heard of a few years ago on Vh1...maybe like 6 or 7 years ago. I wasnt very old.

The Purple Rain thing was brought up when his album came out....like two records ago.

But no, I have never seen it. nor do I plan to.
I have just heard of the title
Sorry for any confusion about my wierd wordings.

trackaghost · #12 10-04-2007, 06:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shackin'up

I hate prince. Not that I don't recognize his incredible talent, but as a leadguitarist I think he's too much of a hendrix-ripp off. If you hear the guy play bass and drums you'd shoot him for using drummmachines and keyboards most of his life. Oh, and the guy CAN sing, but that highpitched falsetto he uses ALL the time, just drives me nuts. No, a guy with so much talent should have been way better than he showed us.

I could not disagree with you more on this, the sheer diversity of his material means that would make it hard to just be a Hendrix rip-off guitar-wise. Also he doesn't use falsetto all the time.
Parade, Purple Rain and, especially, Sign O' The Times are three of the greatest albums ever made IMO.

shackin'up · #13 10-04-2007, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I could not disagree with you more on this, the sheer diversity of his material means that would make it hard to just be a Hendrix rip-off guitar-wise. Also he doesn't use falsetto all the time.
Parade, Purple Rain and, especially, Sign O' The Times are three of the greatest albums ever made IMO.

Ah cool! we disgree!

.

I'm sorry Sharon, but I didn't mention the fact that the whole Prince/Tafkap/Sex/Religion/Slave-bull of his persona and his whole public image irritates the hell out of me too.

face of glass · #14 10-04-2007, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trackaghost

I'm afraid he didn't even make this list

I'd actually rate Bernard above all the guitarists in this list and also make the statement that he's probably the least skilled guitarist that makes the most of what he has. Capable of making powerful themes like in Joy Division with one or two strings, and also capable of playing in perfect time with a sequencer. Unlike the most guitarists listed, who are, as someone aptly put it, "timeless muppets".

Of course one of Bernard's most important contributions as a guitarist was to ditch the guitars altogether and use only machines.

David · #15 10-04-2007, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by face of glass

I'd actually rate Bernard above all the guitarists in this list and also make the statement that he's probably the least skilled guitarist that makes the most of what he has. Capable of making powerful themes like in Joy Division with one or two strings, and also capable of playing in perfect time with a sequencer. Unlike the most guitarists listed, who are, as someone aptly put it, "timeless muppets".

Of course one of Bernard's most important contributions as a guitarist was to ditch the guitars altogether and use only machines.

That is interesting. I did not know that.

Beethoven himself had absolutely no skill with the guitar. His manuscripts contain no identifiable parts assigned to electric lead guitar. I could not in good conscience nominate him for this list.