Best Rock Guitarists.......Part 2 - The Classic (Rock) Era

OK peeps - so I did my 1st part of this 2-part blog about the greatest and most influential guitarists in rock. The first part looked at those guitarists of the Modern Rock era (see link (http://longhairedboy.blogspot.com/2009/10/best-rock-guitarists-according-to.html)

The second is going to look at some of the more classic rock guitarists - the list is obviously highly debatable but as I said - it's based on "SteveA" - hehehehehe. So I look forward to your comments and of course feedback. Have fun sexy bodies whilst reading.

(As a pre-cursor - I sort of made this list based on those artists I have listened to and who have influenced the modern guitarists and whose sound was really considered artistic and visionary).

10. Keith Richards

Captain Jack Sparrow?

Keith Richards - eccletic and some of the most memorable riffs in rock's library - from that dancy deep sound on "Satisfaction" to some of the more modern tracks from the band like "Start Me Up" - you can't deny that Richard's contribution to some of the most memorable rock tracks in history.

Not only could Keith play some of those blusey riffs he can also keep it simple on tracks like "Wild Horses" and "Angie" - two ballads from this timeless band.

Keith also has a die-hard persona - he is so loved by the music industry and he is really one of those timeless people who would always be associated with Rock history.

9. Jeff Beck

Jeff was part of the band "The Yardbirds" along with Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page (see higher in chart) and had a classic blues feel to his guitar stylings. Like many good guitarists his sound and styling evolved and fused many genres including jazz and hard rock.

Jeff, along with Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton was one of the amazing guitar-trio from the Yardbirds. 

8. Pete Townsend

Pete is a member of "The Who" - and don't ask who "The Who" are because you know who they are. If you don't, well there songs are the intro-tracks on CSI (Miami / NY and my fave Vegas baby).

"The Who" have a number of rock classics but the band was one of the first to experiment with theatre and electronics to give them a new and dynamic sound. On "Won't Get Fooled Again" - the intro starts with a "fiddling" of the guitar amp and then comes in the drums of Keith Moon (I had Keith in my Top 5 fave drummers - see link (http://longhairedboy.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-favourite-drummers.html) and the simple, hard-rock riffs from Pete.

On "Behind Blue Eyes" the guitars are classic and acoustic and then picks up the pace and intensity as the vocals of Roger Daltry changes the mood and meaning of the song.

7. Carlos Santana

Carlos Santana as far as I am aware (and I am subject to correction) may have been one, if not, the first Latin artist to make it big in rock. He was not afraid to merge the Latino sounds with classic rock and was not guided by commercialism with such a brave venture.

"Oye Come Va" is my favorite along with "Black Magic Woman" are classic Santana tracks, and showed his Latin styled guitar work. In the 80's his sound and music became a bit more commercial, and in the 90's/2000's he has returned to success to reach a whole new generation of rockers.

He is respected and well loved in the music industry.

6. Stevie Ray Vaughn

I first heard Stevie Ray Vaughn play in the mid-80's on TV and it completely blew me away. I was quite young then and by that single site of how simple he handled the guitar and the complexity of sound that emerged I was instantly inspired and wanted to play like that.

I have to say that at that moment I was inspired to play guitar and no other artist has really made me feel so inspired as Stevie (probably because "Stevie" was my nick name and we both shared this).

Unfortunately Stevie died in 1990 is an aircrash (RIP).

5. Eddie Van Halen

If you read my blog you probably realise that I am a fan of Van Halen but more so of "Eddie Van Halen". See attached link for my blog post on Van Halen http://longhairedboy.blogspot.com/2009/10/van-halen-wow-when-i-first-heard-that.html.

In the 70's classic rock had it's own sound as defined by the blusy and sexy sounds of Zep to some of the more traditional classic 70's bands like Deep Purple; Sabbath to name a few. But then came in this hard rock-edged new comer and in my opinion he introduced the sound of modern hard rock/metal that was so popular in the 80's with metal bands.

The sound coming out of Eddie's guitar was not something I had heard before - it was clear and seemed digital - but in a good way. It made me feel to play air guitar because I can tell that these guys were having fun as well as starting a new wave of hard rock.

4. B.B. King

BB King is an American Institution and has fused rock; country; jazz; and gospel to produce a unique and characteristic sound that no other artist has been able to match. BB is visionary and really is associated and synonomous with the "BLUES".

BB can make his guitar narrate a story that anyone can relate to - his style and classic "finger bending" on the strings provides both atmosphere and skill - it has influenced so many - if not all - of the artists on this list.

3.  Eric Clapton

"Slow hands" himself as he is nicknamed by many of his fellow artists in the music industry.

Clapton's career spans the 60's to present - his many incarnations includes "The Yardbirds" ; "Cream"; "Derrick and the Dominoes" and of course as a solo artist. On each incarnation he has a characteristic and unique "blusy" style meshed with classic rock, but his most characteristic sound - that of rootsy, stripped down blues and rock n'roll really stuck in his solo career.

Clapton's sound is timeless.

2. Jimmy Page

Anyone learning the guitar wants to aspire to "Stairway to Heaven". This is often regarded as the Top rock track of all time, and I have to agree.

Zeppelin were the blueprint of rock - they were truly a four part band that played as one. The voice of Robert Plant along with the classic blues rock and sexy styling of Jimmy Page; the sweet and stern bassline of John Paul Jones and the unforgettable drumming of one of rock's best drummers John Bonham (see my link to the Top 5 drummers - http://longhairedboy.blogspot.com/2009/09/my-favourite-drummers.html).

Each member was as much a part of the success of the Zep. But Page had some of the most intricate and memorable riffs in classic rock. The sound of Page has influenced generations since and the music of Zep will always be a part of the architecture of rock.

1. Jimi Hendrix

The introduction to "Purple Haze" says it all. Part hard-rock, part blues, part every other style in music - Jimmy's contribution to rock is set in the pages of music history.

I have kept Jimi's narrative to a minimum because his music says it all - I don't need to say anymore.

Well peeps - feedback welcomed and thanks for reading.