Image Credit: Neal Preston/CorbisThis weekend, the SIRIUS and XM channel Classic Rewind is showcasing the best of guitar-driven classic rock. To mark the occasion they’ve released a list of the top five “Guitar Greats” from the ’70s and ’80s. Here it is…
1. Eddie Van Halen – Van Halen
2. Alex Lifeson – Rush
3. Mark Knopfler – Dire Straits
4. Mike Campbell – Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
5. Joe Perry – Aerosmith
I actually quite like the mix of the predictable—Van Halen, Joe Perry—and the slightly more off the wall. Mike Campbell, in particular, tends to get overlooked when such lists are compiled, probably due to his mostly flash-free style (though maybe compilers are put off by his unsightly penchant for sporting dreads). Mark Knopfler is another often underrated axeman who seems to be operating in slow motion when compared to the Van Halens of this world (and who would probably shudder at being described as an “axeman” at all). Personally, I would have liked the list even more had it the cojones to include British folk legend Richard Thompson, though I appreciate his oeuvre is hardly awash with classic rock standards.
On the other hand, can you really have a credible top five list that doesn’t feature Jimmy Page? Or Keith Richards? What about Neil Young? Or Duane Allman, who arguably contributed as much to classic ’70s rock as anyone, even though he died in 1971? Or, for that matter, Allman’s Layla guitar partner Eric Clapton? Or Angus Young? Or Dave Gilmour? Or Prince? Or Jeff Beck? Or Brian May? Or… Well, we could do this all day. So, let’s do exactly that! Which fretmeisters from the ’70s and ’80s would you have put in the top 5? And which of Messrs. Van Halen, Lifeson, Knopfler, Campbell, and Perry deserve to be there?
After the jump I’ve posted a clip from each of the five to remind you of their credentials—or lack of them.
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Come on! Any list of the top guitar players which doesn’t include the ‘holy trinity of guitar players’ Page/Clapton/Beck does not deserve to be taken seriously. Alex Leifson? Mark Knopfler? Who came up with this list, Martha Stewart??????
EVERYONE STOP NOW!!!!! Forget about this crap. You’d have to make a Top 100 list of guitar heroes of the 70′s and 80′s. There’s no point in debating this B.S.
1) Eric Clapton
2) Jimi Hendrix
3) Jimmy Page
4) Kirk Hammet
5) Angus Young
Kirk Hammett, Angus Young??? Get a freakin grip dude. Maybe Angus in a stretch.
Didn’t Jimi Hendrix die in 1970? Can’t really be one of the greatest guitarists of the 70′s and 80′s if he wasn’t alive…
BRIAN. MAY. OF. QUEEN.
NO. FREAKING. WAY. BONEHEAD.
You’re a fricken cliche, just like your list.
This is the worst list ever. Mine would be: Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen and Ritchie Blackmore (from Deep Purple and Rainbow). Honorable mention to Tony Iommi of Sabbath.
Prince
1)Eddie Van Halen
2)Jimmy Page
3)Joe Perry
4)Angus Young
5)Randy Rhoades
I think Randy Rhoads just died too young and with too little work product to include him. I would put Jake E. Lee before him.
Steve Cropper, Carlos Santana, Brian Setzer, Keith Richards (always underrated because he doesn’t do the big solo much), and Jeff Beck.
Cropper, Setzer (I’m still laughing about that) and Keith Richards do not belong on this list. Cropper because of genre, the others because of lack of talent.
What do you mean Cropper because of genre? To imply Cropper can’t rock is pretty…naive. Judging by all your previous comments to everyone else, you seem to be forgetting this is an opinion poll. Let us have ours, okay?
Just that Cropper’s talent with Booker T, backing up Sam Cooke guys like that. He may be able to rock but was that the genre he did most of his work. Please, educate me (seriously) I am mostly familiar with him through those works.
But you are right on Beck, should have made my own list too. Surprised no love for Ritchie Blackmore though.
70′s and 80′s?
SRV tops any list, hands down.
Yup, you’re right. Stevie Ray was amazing.
Right, your putting the Mascis douche on the list, but not Lifeson. pathetic
A great guitarist is someone with that is creative, tasteful, and influential.
Let’s go with:
Jimmy Page
Eddie Van Halen
Frank Zappa
Eric Clapton
Duane Allman
Neil Young
David Gilmour
Prince
The Edge
Carlos Santana
Kirk Hammett
Mick Ronson
Dick Dale
J. Mascus
Dave Navarro
Johnny Marr
Randy Rhodes
Jerry Garcia
Allman and Santana both good additions to the debate, some of those other dudes shouldn’t even be allowed to look at this list (The Edge, Dave Navarro, Kirk Hammett, Neil Young, Frank Zappa), not talented enough IMO.
I’d say Zappa is universally understood to be a musical genius, at the very least a technically virtuosic and sonically ambitious artist.
The Edge has innovated the electric guitar while writing some the 80′s most memorable riffs and can melt a face if need be (see solo on Bullet the Blue Sky) Not bad for a guitarist for the world’s biggest pop band, although I’d argue he didn’t become “great” until the 90′s-00′s. He still sounds like no other guitarist other than obvious immitators.
Kirk Hammett’s influence should be apparent, as Metallica’s first 3 (or 4,5) albums are considered landmarks in the thrash metal genre (a genre where guitar/solos is everything). Anytime you write music that is considered some of the most important in that genre, you cannot be denied. Same with Dave Navarro and alternative metal rock. Jane’s Addiction’s influence cannot be measured on 90′s alternative rock.
Neil Young is just great, so I don’t know where the talentless thing came from. Listen to Cortez the Killer, Like a Hurricane, see that grunge was invented by him.
read your list. You forgot to place Jeff Beck at the TOP. Anyone who knows what they are talking about agrees, including Eric Clapton, who consistently points to Jeff Beck as being the greatest he’s ever seen.
No Jeff Beck? That’s embarrassing.
Where’s Dave Gilmour?
How about Lindsey Buckingham???
LMAO!!!!!! Wait, you mean it?
1. Jeff Beck
2. Eric Clapton
3. Eddie Van Halen
4. Jimmy Page
5. Prince
In no order:
Jeff Beck
Steve Howe
Rotchie Blackmore
Dave Edmunds
Carlos Santana
An how about 5 more?
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Robert Fripp
David Gilmour
Duane Allman
Terry Kath
And, yes, Brian Setzer does belong on any Best Guitarist list!
Steve Howe definitely a good addition (and thanks for finally giving love to Ritchie Blackmore) but I don’t understand the Brian Setzer thing, I’ll have to listen to his stuff some more.
1. Jimmy Page. No-one else comes even remotely close.
2. David Gilmour
3. Steve Howe
4. Neil Young
5. Tony Iommi