So Rolling Stone magazine has a new Top 100 out, and it’s about the best guitarists of all time… Now, I do know how hard it must be to put such a top together, you have to take a lot of things into consideration, and no matter what, people will always be disappointed.
But I really think this Top is overall a piece of shit. I’m sorry, nothing against the magazine, but it just makes me laugh.
James Hetfield is ranked 87th. Dimebag is ranked 92nd. You know what Tom Morello is ranked? Fucking 40th.
I mean I got nothing against the guy, but how can the guy who uses every pedal in the goddamn universe rank about 50 places higher than two of the most influential metal guitarists? He’s even four places higher than Mark Knopfler, and that really is an amazing guitarist. Take away all of his pedals, what does Tom have, anyway, when compared to those three?
Kurt Cobain is also ranked higher than Dime and Jaymz.
Now, about the first places, I do agree with them. Jimi Hendrix is, of course, in first place, followed by Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page. Other wonderful guitarists are very high up, which is another plus for the article — Chuck Berry (7th), Eddie Van Halen (8th), Angus Young (24th) and Tony Iommi (25th).
I do have a problem with Keith Richards getting number four. I mean, I love the Stones, and I think they’re wonderful — they also put an amazing show live. But is Keith really above all those other names? I know it’s probably his writing, not his proficiency, that got him there… But the fourth guitarist of all time? I don’t think so. Are they biased cause they share (almost) the same name as his band?
The whole top is a mess, and metalheads got fucked. Rolling Stone usually has great articles, so how could this happen?
Oh, the guy who plays guitar in Blink-182 was one of the voters. Alongside him, Billy Corgan and a shitload of people I never heard of. Well, with such a roster of amazing talents (such as the dude in Blink), no wonder they screwed it up.
Good job on *most* of the first places, but shame on you for neglecting or underestimating some fine metal guitarists. Hope you redeem yourself, Rolling Stone.
You can read the full article here. Keep in mind that it has that awful image scroller thing, so you can only browse it one name at a time. If you want a headache-free list of the Top 100, make the jump.
100. Lindsey Buckingham 99. Thurston Moore 98. Alex Lifeson 97. Steve Jones 96. Bruce Springsteen 95. Roger McGuinn 94. Peter Buck 93. Paul Simon 92. Dimebag Darrell 91. Dave Davies 90. Tom Verlaine 89. Bonnie Raitt 88. Carl Perkins 87. James Hetfield 86. J Mascis 85. Andy Summers 84. Joe Perry 83. Eddie Hazel 82. Nels Cline 81. Lou Reed 80. Buddy Holly 79. Mike Campbell 78. John Fahey 77. Willie Nelson 76. Robby Krieger 75. Johni Mitchell 74. Dick Dale 73. Kurt Cobaine 72. John Frusciante 71. Robert Johnson 70. Jack White 69. Richard Thompson 68. John McLaughlin 67. T-Bone Walker 66. Leslie West 65. Slash 64. Duane Eddy 63. Johnny Winter 62. Rober Fripp 61. Dickey Betts 60. Ron Asheton 59. Robbie Robertson 58. Peter Green 57. Rory Gallagher 56. Albert Collins 55. John Lennon 54. Joe Walsh 53. Otis Rush 52. Clarence White 51. Johnny Marr 50. Ritchie Blackmore 49. Muddy Waters 48. Johnny Greenwood 47. Stephen Stills 46. Jerry Garcia 45. Link Wray 44. Mark Knopfler 43. Hubert Sumlin 42. Mike Bloomfield 41. Mick Ronson 40. Tom Morello 39. Steve Cropper 38. The Edge 37. Mick Taylor 36. Randy Rhoads 35. John Lee Hooker 34. Curtis Mayfield 33. Prince 32. Billy Gibbons 31. Ry Cooder 30. Elmore James 29. Scotty Moore 28. Johnny Ramone 27. Bo Diddley 26. Brian May 25. Tony Iommi 24. Angus Young 23. Buddy Guy 22. Frank Zappa 21. Chet Atkins 20. Carlos Santana 19. James Burton 18. Les Paul 17. Neil Young 16. Derek Trucks 15. Freddy King 14. David Gilmour 13. Albert King 12. Stevie Ray Vaughan 11. George Harrison 10. Pete Townshend 9. Duane Allman 8. Eddie Van Halen 7. Chuck Berry 6. B.B. King 5. Jeff Beck 4. Keith Richards 3. Jimmy Page 2. Eric Clapton 1. Jimi Hendrix
If you’re wondering, yes, I typed that myself after going through the whole thing. Meal journalism at its finest, I didn’t just copy-paste it from somewhere…
#winning
