The 10 Greatest ROCK GUITAR GODS | Ranked
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- Опубликовано: 18 окт 2022
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Andy is a drummer, producer and educator. He has toured the world with rock legend Robert Plant and played on classic prog albums by Frost and IQ.
As a drum clinician he has played with Terry Bozzio, Kenny Aronoff, Thomas Lang, Marco Minneman and Mike Portnoy.
He also teaches drums privately and at Kidderminster College 
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Honorable mention and hat tip to my personal favorite Alex Lifeson!
"I'm going off the subject now..." This is why I love this channel.
Glad to see Richie Blackmore up there. Anyone remember Alvin Lee? Those rippling guitar runs were sweet.
I remember Albert Lee. He was a superb Welsh guitarist.
I saw Ten Years After several times. Saw Alvin solo once. One of the greats.
@@majorpayne8373 Albert Lee and Alvin Lee. 2 different guitar players.
Andy totally gets it from my perspective. He recognized Schenker and leaves off Clapton. Love it.
That's why why my top tens bring all the boys to the yard...
I am OK with leaving Clapton off because he is really a blues player, but with Cream he and his band invented extended playing and is MUCH more influential than any of these guys with the possible exception of Hendrix. Hendrix agreed with his manager to go to England only if he could meet EC--not Beck, not Page, not Iommi, not Blackmore, not any of those guys.
Well, Townsend does windmill his arm around
Peter Green was ahead of Eric Clapton, in the late 60s, in my humble opinion.
Who is Schenker?
Love your intro man. You get it! You have to look at the whole package because that’s what propels the guitar culture and inspires young people to play and rock out!
Another great video. Thanks Andy your students probably don't realise how lucky they are to have a teacher who is so enthusiastic.
You know who was really good. Terry Kath of Chicago. Wow. That guy could really play. Sad he died way too early.
Great call. Kath has largely been forgotten, and it's a damn shame. He was a monster!!
@@tommonk7651 yeah!! I loved his playing on Chicago 2. :)
I won’t forget him.
Andy, you have inspired me and a few of my musician friends to start making and debating these "best of" lists! Thank you so much...cheers, mate!
Wonderful!...its just fun really...I plan to re do these lists as time goes by...
All in all, I love Jimmy Page. As we all know, his chops in the purest sense aren’t always as clean as some of the others, but he plays with such balls, urgency and abandon live, and with such charisma (probably the most charisma of all the greats in his prime years). And then in the studio - unrivaled! I just listened to Ten Years Gone - a masterpiece among several he composed - and totally unique. But this list is awesome and on point. And I agree with your assessment of Clapton. Love Cream, but he’s Dockers Rock.
I'm relatively new to your channel and our tastes in music often diverge, but I've loved every single video so far and this one is an all timer!
Awesome, thank you!
Great list Andy thank you for sharing.👍
Glad you enjoyed it
I couldn't agree more about Ritchie Blackmore. Even just his sound is amazing. His presence is ominous. His riffs are iconic and his solos are pure art.
"and his solos are pure art." Except when they sound like guitar lesson tutorials. Which is half the time.
thanks man. love the close up camera. great nose hair shots. :-)
Glad you like them!
Great video! Glad you mentioned Tom Verlaine.
It's the ranks that make this channel a cut above. Keep it up, man! =)
Thanks, will do!
Really enjoyed this one.
Totally agree with the Clapton comments, Always very safe in my option unlike the entire 10 you picked, next Video I guess will be 10 more that nearly made it ! Great engaging video once again.
Beautiful! Totally agree on your points
Great list, totally agree about Clapton.
Hi Andy, great video as always. It's difficult to argue against any of those choices. My favourite cakes? probably Madeira or Angel Cake. Time for a cake ranking vid 😁😁😁😁
This is a perfect list, in terms of seminal influencers of iconic styles, past and future iterations... and by the end of your video, you're so right, guys like The Edge (and Andy Summers), innovators of the dotted 8th note delay, or Tom Morello, Thurston Moore, and Kevin Shields, i.e, pushing the limits of guitar sound effects, or even Robert Fripp and his dalliances in soundscapes and ambient tape looping deserve mention. Perhaps another video? Love your channel.
Omg he finished the guitar talk with biscuits!! I’m in stitches. Lol.
I was 17 years old and playing in a band in 1966 when the John Mayall's Bluesbreakers with Eric Clapton LP came out. Maybe you weren't even born yet but it is impossible to overestimate the impact of Eric Clapton at that time in that context! He changed all music for all time. Everybody...and I mean everybody followed him. Eddie van Halen said "I worked very hard to sound like Clapton" It was akin to the emergence of Charlie Parker and bebop in the 1940s. Chet Baker said "Man that was a rude awakening!" But everybody had to go Charlie Parker's way. In San Francisco Bluesbreakers introduced us to Eric Clapton! We had no knowledge of him before that. I had heard a little of Eric Clapton and the Powerhouse on a compilation LP "What's Shakin'" I really dug the guitar sound and approach. Warm, punchy sustain like a horn or a voice. At that time the guitar heroes were Mike Bloomfield and Jeff Beck. As you said Clapton introduced distortion, tone and extreme bending. He also introduced the Les Paul craze. Gibson was no longer making Les Pauls. People were on Les Paul hunts searching for original vintage Les Pauls. And they were finding them in garage sales, pawn shops etc. In 1968 Gibson re-introduced the Les Paul line. After Clapton lead guitarists and there licks became the focus in rock bands. And the shit got loud as more and more amps came out like the Marshall stack. Clapton's influence from those times is still pervasive with little kids dreaming of being guitar heroes, the toy "guitar hero" I can even hear Clapton's influence --from that time--in elevators from Musak! I can understand why you left Clapton off the list. If you require constant innovations then Clapton hasn't done that but all the guitarists on your list ae not innovating any longer either! I know Hendrix is not making any innovations! But after making the biggest contribution ever in rock music Clapton has just made enjoyable and tasteful music. And he's made some money.
I agree with Andy though, Clapton started a guitar journey, he started building roads, blazing trails, and then just took the off-ramp and went on the freeway on cruise-control.
@@geographyinaction7814 yeah, that’s why people say listen to ‘early’ Clapton. For the last 40 years, his solos haven’t been very inspiring.
I love the list... I love the insights and I agree with you almost exactly. Well done! I was just going over the great guitarists with my uncle. He didnt understand why Hendrix was known as the greatest rock guitarist. I'm happy to as, my analysis is very similar to your comment (just not as good) haha!
No nastiness. Come on, talking about music is like what I did with my high school and college buddies. And ever since. Thanks Andy!
Rock God's Jimmy Page Blackmore,Jeff Beck,Gibbons,Rick Derringer. Joe Perry ,Whitford Downing/Tipton,Johnny Winter, Tony Iommni.Malcom/Angus Mark Farner,
Very good. I didn't get into the bands some of these guys played with (AC/DC e.g.) but interesting to hear your choices and reasoning. Thanks.
Was good to hear you mention Thurston Moore. Would love to see an Andy video on Sonic Youth. Btw, you're so right about the Stooges.
Loved the Battenberg bit at the end.
Saw Alvin Lee a couple of times
Great list - glad you included Pete Townsend in this and Jeff Beck as high up as you did. Your idea of doing a video on 80s/90s experimental or underground guitarists (Thurston Moore, Tom Verlaine, even someone like John McGeogh) would be very interesting. Thanks for the great videos and don't let the trolls get to you!
I actually get a lot of inspiration from the trolls...
Pete Townshend is a master blaster! Great guitar player, singer/songwriter and showman.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummeronly two legends can play every instrument at the professional level, sing great, harmonize, write hundreds of songs, dozens of hits, are movie stars, living legends, authors, businessmen, showmen, perfomers, been around for over 60 years, milestones, longevity, influence, radio play, tickets sold, producers, highly respected and they are Pete Townshend and Paul McCartneym
I enjoyed your list and opinion. Thanks for the rant! Lemon drizzle is number 1 for me!
I'd include David Gilmour, who easily slipped from avant garde to mainstream rock, and much in between. He is one of the greatest melodic soloists, always picking just the right note and intonation.
What Gilmour lacks in innovation and technical proficiency, he certainly makes up for in the quality of his solo melodies - just the right notes at the right time. In modern times, I love John Mitchell's melodies - though too close to Andy's home to be a hero!
Gilmour, Frusciante, Prince and Mick Ronson would have all made my top 10.
This guy will never include the master of tone, he is as anti Floyd as it gets, and he does it on purpose lol, he is a funk man, a jazz man. this is why EVH and VAI are on the list, when you consider EVH was a pop guitarist and his band were pop according to Angus Young lol, but he has funk. I suppose we allow some technical in the list.
I think Mark Knopfer deserves an honorary mention
@@Sanctified57
He's an absolutely fantastic guitar player, composer and lyricist...but not really a Rock God.
Spot on! I usually go into a video like this expecting some glaring omissions or brutal rankings, but I found myself agreeing with you on every point. I might have flipped positions for Eddie and Jimmy only because Jimmy came first and influenced the guys of Eddie's generation, and his body of work is so complete whether it's playing on Sunshine Superman with Donivan or playing Rumble at the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Kudos for the honorable mention of Robin Trower too! Great video!
Well done Sir!
Spot on, Mate!
Fantastic video once again! I have a question for you. What are the 10 greatest (intentionally) comedic songs in rock? In my mind there are certain artists like Morrissey and Zappa and Ian Dury that might make the list. But interested in your thoughts. PS. can't wait for the 10 Greatest Cakes| Ranked.
Good one Andy but I’d have to put Duane Allman in there somewhere :) ✌️
So glad you mentioned Fair Warning as a magnificent album.
Robin Trower, one of my top favorites! Great topic like your insight!
Yes, really happy Robin Trower was mentioned.
Loved the end of the video Andy! I'd love to see you, Rick Beato, Pete Pardo, Norman Maslov and some others do a livestream where you discuss your favourite music. My tastes are very similar to yours and certainly with this video it seems we like the same guitarists in the same order, more or less. I grew up idolising Ritchie Blackmore and Jimmy Page, then looked backwards towards Hendrix, loved Schenker and Alex Lifeson, then EVH, then Steve Howe. Discovered Al Di Meola and Allan Holdsworth and went back to Jeff Beck. Loved Adrian Belew, Robert Fripp and Tom Verlaine. Loved John McGeoch, Will Sergeant and The Edge. Over the last 20-30 yrs my favourite guitarists have been Richard Thompson and David Rawlings and alsoappreciated the guitarists that contributed to Steely Dan like Denny Diaz, Skunk Baxter, Jay Graydon and Larry Carlton. Most recently I've been enjoying Robben Ford. This video was a great nostalgic trip for me!
Love seeing Jeff Beck so high on the list. And you have one more joining the _no-Clapton chorus._
When you are making these lists you can maybe include an Honorable Mention section of 3-5 too.
You have mentioned Clapton, Verlaine, Gallagher but would they make the HM list?
The "Battenberg" inclusion started to feel like a Monty Python bit. I got a big grin on my face. Cheers, Andy.
Thanks for the list!
I also think the same about Clapton, but Layla with Derek and Dominoes and Blind Faith are great like Cream
Nice list, Andy, I completely agree on your top 2, but now I'm curious about your opinions on John Frusciante, Prince and Mick Ronson.
Mr. Andy Edwards who so eloquently discusses fusion, jazz, prog and rock, you once again have put together a top 10 list that is superior and insightful. I agree with you about Clapton post Cream and about Jeff Beck who arguably is the best rock guitarist over the last 50 plus years. I cannot describe what it was like listening to Jimi when he first broke on the scene, it was mind blowing. Keep up the good work Andy! Brit Rock Rules!
I am in total agreement about Clapton except I would recognize the album Layla And Other Assorted Love Songs for the masterpiece that it is.
@@JohnJarpe I agree with you 100% about Layla and would also say Blind Faith as well. Both guitarists are great in their own right, I just think that Jeff Beck kept enhancing his craft with new avenues up to his untimely death last year.
@@vinmorgan2454 Thank you and amen to your comments. You were in London in The swinging 60s huh? I would have loved you have heard Hendrix at any time but I really would have loved to have seen the who back then has some of those clubs or early concerts you know what the in the seventies that that just would have been incredible. You take care sir!
@@JohnJarpeI was a young teen in USA who was captivated by the British invasion and one group that was a personal to fave was the Yardbirds.
Love your list! Love the fact you rated Beck, Blackmore and Schenker as high as you did. Wondering what's your take on Lifeson. I think him and Satriani give you so many different moods and great but totally different songs that can give you 100 songs and they would all be great but totally different from each other. Lifeson gives you so many enjoyable rhythms be and a master on guitar effects.
Alex Lifeson is the guitarist who often creates parts with a producer's ear. Filling space, creating space, using open strings and early modulation effects to support the tracks. One of the best players ever. A musician. Blowing over a blues rock jam just wasn't going to be his thing.
Great hearing you explain why you choose these guitarists. Many who put up lists are not able to do that, and that makes it nor really interesting. This was very interesting.
Thanks Bjorn...that was the original reason why I started doing this...
I totally agree with what you say about the need of technical skills. I think it was the punk scene that ruined the appreciation of skills.
I worst you sounded the better.
I remember when I started buying records around -72, there was a lot of talk about that the music must develop and that it was just not doing that. Very strange looking back now, but that was the feeling, that rock music did not develop.
Then came punk and the critics said:
-Finally, something complete new is coming.
I remember the first time I heard a punk song on radio.
The voice said:
-Now we are going to play a punk rock song!
How exciting, I thought, finally I will listen to something new.
But, w.t.f. It’s sounding exactly like Creedence “Fortunate son”. Whats new about this? It’s sounds old!
After that, I lost my confidence in music critics. An it just became dumber and dumber.
Stupendous video
Completely agree regarding Clapton. However, there are some things I like about him, such as the solo he contributed to While My Guitar Gently Weeps and, in addition to his writing and playing with Cream, his writing for some of the Derek & the Dominos stuff (e.g., Bell Bottom Blues and some others). On a separate topic, I highly recommend searching out the band Chicago’s performance at Tanglewood from 1970. In their early incarnation they were white hot, extremely tight, energetic, and inventive. And Terry Kath was quite the guitarist.
You must be old, man! 😄 Seems only us old-timers remember Terry Kath. His playing on that Chicago double album is outstanding.
Live Evil, I'm so happy you mentioned (and revere) it, it was my very first ever LP and to this day I still think Ronnie gives one of the best all-round vocal performances of his recorded career.
First single I ever bought..I can see for miles... saw them live , they were great
From the perspective of musicians, I think your list does speak to some objectivity. Once you got to #6 on your list, I knew you'd have to include Hendrix and predicted he would come first. There are always great honorable mentions - I agree with another viewer about David Gilmour - yet when you are tasked with discussing 10 specific players, there's just no way to not offend someone. What I love about your list is that while I'm not a big Van Halen or AC/DC fan, I do like their music and appreciate them from the perspective of superb guitar work. Great list here. Cheers!
Good stuff. Been a Beck fan since Cosa Nostra and Truth still a fan.
Not really a Slash fan but he had the look and the persona and that big Les Paul tone.
Definitely hovering outside the ten for me...
You rock Andy! Absolutely wonderful List.
I think Hendrix was heading for a new jumping off point.
A new place , less pop , more into where ever he could expand.
Or, a safe place to enjoy a tasty Biscuit.
Your analysis and insight are brilliant. Although I don’t agree with some of your comments (especially about the drumming of Keith Moon) I respect the criteria that you use to validate and quantify your perspective.
I’m old enough and fortunate enough to have seen live performances of: Cream (1967), Jimi Hendrix (1968, 1969), The Who (1969, 1970, 1971 & 1973), Jeff Beck (1968, 1975), Black Sabbath (1972, 1975), Pink Floyd (1970, 1972, 1977), ELP (1971, 1972, 1977), Yes (1971, 1974, 1977) and many many more. Those performances (especially the guitarists and drummers) forever changed my musical evolution and perspective. Thank you.
Nice to see Eddie Van Halen. People really need to listen to his rhythm work. He's like a metronome. His timing was exceptional.
spot on.It’s understandable his soloing gets all the attention but EVH was the complete package.
Yep. I'm not actually fussed by his solos, ground breaking or not. It's that amazing rhythm playing that I love.
@@Mogwaithegreat You're no Joe Sixpack, am I right? You're not the shirtless sweaty trucker hat Van Halen fan, that's for sure. You separate yourself. You care not for surface flash solos. Your ears go deeper, man.
Yeah, that's what I noticed about him. A great player and very interesting. Maybe this was how he started? Jamming with his amazing drummer brother.
Eddie Van Halen was a game changer. As was Tony Iommi, and he had 2 fingers missing.
Enjoyed your video. Just a few off the top of my head. Rory Gallagher. Steve Hillage and Paul Kossoff
Great episode. Jeff Beck would be my #1 though. It has been almost 60 years since the Yardbirds and Jeff has only improved as a player. He was fantastic in the Yardbirds and is so incredible and much more thoughtful now. Every album and every tour he does he plays better and better. And seems to be having so much fun while doing it. I love Hendrix. But he is # 2
Agree. I'm 74 and have seen every guitarist on Andys list. Jeff Beck is fluid, unpredictable and can't be copied..
YES. He is a true artist with wide-ranging musical interests and top-notch skills.
Agree...one of his best albums not with attendant commercial success is Rough and Ready. It's all in there - no R&R no Blow by Blow....
You are one of the few that agree with me. Rough and Ready is such a great, funky album. That second iteration of the Jeff Beck Group, in my opinion, is better than the first with Rod Stewart and the Truth album. Sadly, Beck didn't think too much of it and went the fusion route, which ultimately worked out for him.@@sealisa1398
Just started watching it. Nice close to the heart topic ,one name immediately comes to mind and that is Gary Moore 🙏
Stevie Ray, Is an honorable mention. As far as playing in the moment. No one could naturally flow like Stevie. That being said, I understand he leans more towards blues than rock.
Too Derivative tho .
@@davidmontgomery5047 Derivative = having parts that originate from another source , couldn't you say this about every rock guitarist? They all use parts and pieces from previous musicians. Some use these parts better than others, Stevie is one that used them better than most were even capable of.
I saw Jeff Beck in concert about 4 years ago. He is a true guitar god if there ever was one.
Greatest guitar God without a doubt. The only guitarist who is completely undiminished by having Johnny Depp on vocals...
I saw him right around that same time too, at Maryhill Winery in Washington, closed for concerts now. Buddy Guy opened for him. Beck did A Day In The Life from Sgt Pepper, while two guys got in a fight in the row in front of us. I wasn't a huge fan of the Buddy Guy set, I'm afraid, but yeah, Beck was awesome. When Paco de Lucia died, Beck became the best guitarist alive, on my list anyway.
Fave Rock Guitarists :
Jeff Beck - Richie Blackmore - Angus Young - Michael Schenker - Eddie Van Halen
Those top 2 would also be my own personal top 2 but I actually love listening to Jeff's best work more than I do to Jimi's but both are amazing musicians.
Looks like you've made it to 5K subscribers! Congrats!
(or is RUclips rounding-up the number?)
No I did...now as I write 5004...perhaps one of those is Eric???
Excellent, excellent list, I just have one that I feel that changed the thought process I the 80s nearly at the level of EVH and that's Yngwie Malmsteen ,that first Rising Force and the next couple of albums really inspired the next level neo classical style , he was such an influential force over Vai even in the 80s, I just feel he needs to be on this list, but I can't argue whatsoever of what you decided, one of the best and we'll thought out lists, you even talked me into Pete Townsend
My favorite rock guitarists are Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Richie Blackmore, Alex Lifeson, duo Keith Richards with Mick Taylor, Robert Fripp, Steve Howe, David Gilmour, Mick Ranson, Duane Allman, Dicky Betts, Brad Whitford, Brian May, Tommi Iomi and Pete Townsend. For me at least, Eric Clapton is one of the cleanest, quickest most effortless and soulful sounds I have heard on a guitar. His melodic whining solo in While My Guitar Gently Weeps is one of the most beautiful and melodic but also harsh and cutting for me.
The thing that makes the guitarists on this list iconic is that the music they created with the groups they played with would simply not existed without them. I can't imagine a Led Zeppelin, Who or Jimi Hendrix Experience with some other blues influenced guitarist in the lead roll.
Exactly...and this is where they differ from monster techicians IMO
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer RB once explained how Yngwie doesn't explore the guitar. He just plays it perfectly. Ritchie, it's true, really loves to improvise and innovate. I love how deep purple sounded much better live than in the studio, evidence of a real rock band. 4 minute songs ended up 12 minutes long!
It should also be about composition and with that in mind I prefer Richard Thompson who is this country’s best singer songwriter who can play acoustic gigs as well as electric. He is regarded as one of the best electric guitarists in the world and when he does decide to play a solo the construction is well considered and epic. Try the live version of Living On Borrowed Time from the deluxe release of Shoot Out The Lights.
Always left off and so much better
Richard Thompson should be on every Top 10 List.
My top-ten:
- Ritchie Blackmore
- Alvin Lee
- Ted Nugent
- Michael Schenker
- Tony Iommi
- Gary Moore
- David Gilmour
- Alex Lifeson
- Dave Meniketti
- Jimmy Page
Nice list
Great list, and given the premise of innovation and debt owed by rock music to these guys, I would not argue with any of the choices. That said, if I were compiling such a list, I would have found a way of squeezing Alex Lifeson into it, though I don't know which of the team you picked I would drop.
@ Andy Ewards I respect your list, very close to mine. Don't know who to take off, but SRV, and Gary Moore are top 5 on mine. Probably Schenker, and Townsend. In my top 15, but not top 10. Gary started with rock and crossed over to the blues when SRV (RIP) died. I know he was not flashy like the others, but he could make his guitar weep. SRV @ #2 behind only Jimi. Yes, I love the blues. Honorable mentions to Johnny Winters, Frank Marino, and Duane Allman.
Great list! It inspired me to relisten to Whole Lotta Rosie. That outro!!
RIP Jeff Beck. I can scarcely believe that earlier today, I downloaded a Yardbirds album from Spotify, only to learn hours later that Jeff had died after 'suddenly contracting' bacterial meningitis. Absolutely gutted! 😪. I hope, Andy, you'll next be doing a retrospective of the life and genius of unquestionably the finest British guitarist ever to have lived. Loving your channel, by the way.
Jeff Beck has always held my admiration - as a young teenager I was besotted by Rough and Ready and it's been an interesting enveloping enjoyment since. That right hand....
A fine list... can't really argue with any... even though my prog favorites didn't make the list... Robert Fripp, Steve Howe, Allan Holdsworth. I suppose like Frank Zappa, who described his playing as specialized music that only appeals to certain tastes. Another great video. Keep it up.
In the late '80s we had a heavy metal covers band and needed another guitarist! We got a few guys to audition then this guy (Frankie) just walked in, plugged in and nailed Eruption then dropped into You Really Got Me, we all got in - played it and he was hired!
EXCELLENT !!!
Andy when You mentioned jump by van halen it made me think of something. Another example of him taking a back seat..have you noticed how on VH albums most of his guitar is amazing rhythm guitar on side channels. And i think blackmore did a lot of this too. So much creative rhythm guitar lines the two of them did on top of amazing creating solos.
Very impressive list, and I especially agree on the top five you have picked. I would place those five guitarists in a slightly different order, but only because of my personal preferences, and/ or my view as to their virtuosity: 1) Beck; 2) Blackmore; 3) Van Halen; 4) Hendrix; 5) Page.
You nearly got it right.
1. Ritchie. 😊
@@stevenjohnston2263 Ritchie would be my absolute favourite. For me he is neck and neck with Beck, but I think Beck is just slightly better in certain ways. Ask me on a different day and I would probably say Blackmore is tops.
Agreed with them all Andy, but I never understand the inclusion of Pete Townsend. Agree with the guy below: Alex Lifeson is soooo underrated.
Might not have been the greatest player but no Townsend, no dynamic that led to volume, heavy metal, to the guitarist as the centre of attention and the creativity with better players driven to express that guitar posturing attitude and dynamic Townshend pioneered, in their music. Guitarists including Hendrix would have probably taken their stage behavorial cue from Clapton if not for Townshend and remained more introverted with their stage presence less flamboyant which would have been reflected in their sound and the future sound of rock still dominated essentially by vocalists as the focal point. Townshend needs to be given his due in that regard with less pompous emphasis on his limited technique and skill
I saw a concert in the 90s and MSG was the warmup band for Great White (best known for the Great Fire which happened much later). When Shenker played you knew you were listening to a Guitar God, you were in the presence of greatness and then he was followed by a forgettable hair band. He has never been fully appreciated.
So true...great guitarist but an absolute guitar god...glad you get it too
I don't know if you could include him as Rock Guitarist, although his band certainly played Rock, amongst many other things, but I would include Brian May who is just simply amazing
Theres only one, THE one and only Tony Iommi! And he did it with 2 fingers missing!! Angus Youngs energy was incredible, especially in the 70s. I couldn't take my eyes off him. I just wish I was old enough to have seen Hendrix live!
Andy took the time to listen and comment on one of my Jazz Fusion tracks. That's something Rick wouldn't do.
Andy is a class act.
Andy may be a class act, but you do realise that Rick has 640X more subscribers than Andy? As such, he probably gets hundreds of requests a month to listen or comment on music. He also has to line up guests than Andy can't get, and that takes time.
There's more to Rick's gig than sitting there and opining on music.
@@herculesrockefeller8969 he started somewhere, after he got the popularity is when the stars started coming to him. There is room for both of them, but Andy has a very refreshing way of talking.
When I'm as big as Rick I won't do that anymore...I'll just be there kicking back with Mary Spender and pushing my book don't you worry...
I absolutely love your list 💯👌 Agree with Steve Vai, Angus and Eddie, entertainers 100% I would swap a few in and out, but it's my own personal opinion, Eric Clapton and Michael Schenker Pete Townshend out and pull in Stevie Ray Vaughan like a few in here Blues Orientation but just insane Rhythm and Soloing , his playing is absolutely stunning , Dave Gilmour playing is so clean pure and epic , maybe Joe Bonamassa / Buckethead both incredible , just my humbled opinion
Great list! I agree with you about Eric Clapton - as a young teen I was inspired to take up the guitar after hearing Cream and I became fascinated with the blues as a result. The Bluesbreakers album and Layla are great as well, but as you say, after that EC became a fairly boring middle of the road artist. He did pioneering stuff with Cream but he's basically musically conservative. Cream were true innovators and they could make the hairs on neck your stand up; you could feel them going out on a tightrope; it felt dangerous. But his music after Layla has been 'safe' - like you say, he doesn't make mistakes. Boring
I'm so tired of these stupid ideas...middle-of-the-road is worth nothing...innovation above everything.
Music comes out of love. Who needs to re-invent love? (Mike Stern quote)
Clapton's best stuff is all the way through the 90s. Especially the 24 Nights era. Cream is just mostly pointless crazy jams that lead nowhere. And Jack Bruce's playing in Cream is so annoying and unmusical...
A great list but I would've included Brian May.
Andy - good show & note that when mentioned Jim
Marshall had his shop and Pete Townshend tried out amps John McLaughlin was a sales person then!
OH WOW....I have a sneaking suspician JM secretly invented rock music...He seems to be the Zelig of the 60s British Rock scene
From Andrew Hickey Podcast a History of Rock Music in 500 Songs an excellent and well researched documentary-at 1967 or so now
Nice summation
When you talk about Pete Townshend, I recall something Elton John said about Townshend. He said that when Pete played guitar, he could make one guitar sound like several guitars. And that's so true! Peter Townshend's playing seems deceptively simple. Always loved his guitar playing.
Saw Jeff Beck in '68 and '76.
My Top 10 of favorite guitarists are mostly of Jazz/Rock Fusion and Prog in no particular order: John McLaughlin, Allan Holdsworth, Al Di Meola, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Larry Coryell, Pat Metheny Jan Akkerman, David Gilmour, Jeff Beck.
In the Rock genre I would list Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Alvin Lee, Jimi Hendrix, Toy Caldwell, Billy Gibbons, Mick Taylor, Danny Kirwan, Dickey Bettd, Johnny Winter, Robin Trower, Mike Bloomfield, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Peter Green, Frank Marino, Duane Allman, Kim Simmonds, Paul Kossoff, Tommy Bolin, Rory Gallagher, Randy Bachman, Ted Turner, Steve Miller, Joe Walsh, Carlos Santana, Tom Scholz, Uli Jo Roth, Eric Johnson, Leslie West, Michael Schenker, Tony Iommi, Eddie Van Halen, Terry Kath, Stephen Stills, Tommy Bolin, Randy California, Lindsay Buckingham, Rod Price, Angus Young, Brian May, Buck Dharma, Frank Zappa, Jerry Garcia, Randy Rhoads, Ronnie Montrose, Ted Nugent, John Cipollina, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Clapton, Randy Bachman, Roy Buchanan, and many more.
10-Schenker, UFO's "Strangers in the Night" is one of the greatest live albums of all time. Amazing live album in an era where it was hard to record a great live album because of production limitations. "Rock Bottom", "Love to Love", "Doctor Doctor", "Lights Out", "Let it Roll". They were all better live than on the studio albums, which was rare.
9-Vai, I always preferred Eric Johnson of those late 80's/early 90's technical guitar players. But Vai is great.
8-Townsend, "Love Reign 'Oer Me" is one of the greatest rock songs ever. I can listen to the live "A Quick One" over and over again.
7-Iommi, Black Sabbath was one of the bands I had to have every one of their albums from the 70's and could listen on repeat. "Spiral Architect" is the one that I always loved most.
6-Young, I was never a huge AC/DC fan (compared to others like Sabbath and Zeppelin), but "Hells Bells" and "For Those About to Rock" are 2 of my all-time favorite songs. "Thunderstruck" is maybe the greatest concert opener of all time. And you can't deny his stage presence.
5-Blackmore, "Highway Star" or "Burn" will always make me drive 20 mph faster...Other great songs that move from the 60's to the 80's with Rainbow.
4-Page, I never got to see Zeppelin live. One of my greatest regrets. He was not only a great guitarist but fantastic producer. Led Zeppelin is my favorite band of all time. As an aside, I flew from LA to London on BA in July and got to talk to an amazing flight attendant from Wolverhampton who knew the Plant and Bonham families. We talked forever.
3-Van Halen, maybe the greatest debut album of all time?
2-Beck, "Bolero" was amazing. Incredible to think that Clapton, Beck and Page all played in 1 very underrated band that was held back by their management. He may have been the best guitarist of the 3, but lacked Page's big picture view. People can take from that what they will.
1-Hendrix, I wouldn't have put him #1, but he was amazing and I see why he's here. No one from 10-2 would deny they were influenced by him or at least blown away by him. Who knows what might have happened?
Great video once again Andy. Is there scope for a list that would include Rory Gallagher?
Or Roy Buchanan....
Andy, love the channel and I love this list. Love your knowledge and enthusiasm. Hard to argue with your choices. However as a huge Gary Moore fan I am disappointed he didn't make the list. Even if one discounts his fusion and blues work Gary was a helluva rock guitarist. Technique and chops for days. A ferocious lead player. And he goes way back. For me no one plays like Gary although someone like John Sykes has captured Gary's spirit.
Keep up the great work!
Check out my favourite guitar solos video...I love GM...but he did not have the charisma or influence as those on my list
Totally agree on Ritchie Blackmore. Very understated genius.
Technically great, very basic and uninspired writer.
Good list. One that is always overlooked and I'm not sure he should be on that list but he's the most under-rated rock guitarist and that is Frank Marino.
I absolutely loved Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush when I was growing up...what a great band and a great guitarist.
Another few names who are underrated/overlooked: Robin Trower, Alvin Lee, Rory Gallagher. Another 70s one who is bluesy like Clapton but a better version is Gary Moore.
Top 10 lists are always impossible, but if you include creativity, charisma and influence, as Andy does, for me the absolute top ones are Hendrix, Pagey and Keith Richards. The inclusion of Keith may sound nuts as he was no virtuoso, but think about it.
Hell yeah Bubba! Keef is the ultimate! Guitar does not require virtuosity it requires heart and soul. Monkey Man! Show me on Sabbath tune that gets your heart and blood flowing like that tune!? Or Live With Me. Or Bitch, ah man the list is endless
@@edwardyazinski3858always enjoyed Keith’s rude and dirty playing. He could bring the raunch a la honky to keep woman, can’t you hear me knocking.
Fascinating take on Clapton. I revere him for his work with Delaney & Bonnie and the first two LPs. For the honourable mentions list: Duane Allman. Is it a bit 'colonial' to relegate Neil Young to a showman? Though I get what you are saying and I totally agree: One thing to be wildly popular. Quite another to 'innovate', invent, take it to the next level (or 'to the beyond' with Hendrix). What about Keith Richards? To point to the obvious: the riff on Start Me Up. Even the Edge never quite got one like that. I am curious, from the Canadian west coast (Jimi's grandma lived in Vancovuer, the building is still there... though maybe not for long), what is your take on US east coasters: Dylan, Paul Simon, and Springsteen. There seems to be an implicit bias in the presentation away from folk/classical guitar-and the Jersey street scene-towards straight-ahead screaming sounds. Which is good. However, Day in the Life matches all the criteria fro Prog (except perhaps decibel levels), yet it's not hard edge.
Great to see Michael Schenker on your list. He was my guitar god growing up.
Tony Iommi is THE master of heavy metal riffs.
Very entertaining video but I wish you would have added Tom Morello or John Fruciante as they are more modern and they each have a distinct style. But still very entertaining! Greetings from Chicago.
Clapton had a great, untouchable period between 66 and 69. He gave inspiration to thousands of guitarists around the world; probably the first to do so. He was surpassed. That's life.
He was touchable in that period...Hendrix, Blackmore, McLaughlin, Coryell, Beck, Steve Howe, Peter Green, Alvin Lee, Jimmy Page, Leslie West were all active in that period. But his work in Bluesbreakers and Cream is fantastic...
I’ll add Rory Gallagher from that era too, also with Taste and his own band. Similar musical area and background to Clapton, Rory was also better in my view.
@@AndyEdwardsDrummer I respect your opinion greatly, but I don't think any of the guitarists mentioned demonstrated the improvisational stamina and sustained invention that Clapton did with Cream. Cream was, in essence, the onset of jazz fusion. The recorded evidence, especially between 1966 and 1968 of the guitarists you mentioned, didn't match Clapton in the same time span. I saw both Cream (At their last set of concerts in the United States in Providence, RI) and Led Zeppelin less than a year later (on the same bill with Johnny Winter) at the Newport Jazz Festival. Page was great at fast runs on the guitar, yet he almost never deviated from his recorded solos, whereas Clapton made new solos just as interesting as his recorded solos out of thin air.
As far as strutting on stage goes, Page won.
Clapton was literally playing without a net in Cream. That's rare to find. Other guitarists might have had Clapton's technical proficiency, but not his ability to improvise on the fly. McLaughlin may have had it, but I have recordings of McLaughlin around that period, too and although he had more technique, he wasn't quite as exploratory as Clapton. Cream was a unique kind of a group. It was conversational in the best sense. Only groups like Soft Machine, when it freely improvised, had that level of invention.
All the guitarists you mentioned are great guitarists-but Clapton produced a blistering ending to the live Sitting on Top of the World that essentially showed he was the equal of most of the guitarists you mentioned-but basically restrained himself for more feeling. Gallagher was mentioned as a possible replacement by Clapton in Cream, but when I listen to Gallagher, his sound does not pack as much punch as Clapton's.
Clapton himself said he was tired of the game of fastest guitar in the West. And I think his interests changed in a way I didn't care for. But few guitarists could match Clapton's sound, taste or invention. And performances like the live version of I'm So Glad show that not many guitarists could match his speed either.
I can remember hearing Page on the Yardbirds' song "Think About It" and saying to myself that has to be the best guitarist around! But he repeats himself so much! This became a problem as speed increased-guitarists (with a few exceptions like Jeff Beck, or Frank Zappa) resorted to repeating riffs or scales. There is nothing wrong with that! Clapton repeated himself too, but he made it sound like statements, not babbling. I think the ability to communicate rather than dazzle is lost.
Clapton's place has been overshadowed by Hendrix, but Clapton was really the first rock god. Leslie West, who you mentioned, took his inspiration primarily from Clapton.
I am not saying Clapton was not surpassed after 1968 or even that there were better players before, but Clapton broke open the damn, not with showmanship, but with musicianship. I am sure he would be the first one to tell you there were great players around, but I was 14 when Cream started. He established the mold for what was to come.
I will state that I am a huge Coryell fan and have been since 1969, and loved his work with JCOA in 1968.
@@jimmycampbell78 I'd go more for Rory than Clapton 100 per cent
@@garygomesvedicastrology I think you need to reappraise Ritchie Blackmore.