OK, I love this thread! Yes, compelling between- working reading, & great info. & leads on new stuff to hear!
But: at times it has been about the "best" guitarists... & the best "unknown" or little- known names that most have never heard of, or their music... but back to the original question Bryan was asking (100's of pages ago!)
... who are the "most underrated?" To me that means, who has achieved the most as a Guitarist in music history (to me, that means "Rock"-- sorry!). WHO has been among the very best, & also has been in bands that sold millions of records-- yet few (even avid) rock fans know their names, though all have heard their playing/ songs?...
My most underrated: 1) James Honeyman- Scott, Pretenders
2) Neil Schon, Santana/ Journey
3) Randy Rhoads
4) Tom Scholz
5) Joe Perry
#'s 2- 4 I've discussed earlier here, as have others.
Joe Perry must be on this list, because most who know his name do so only linked to lame "new 'smith" songs like "Love in an Elevator," etc. All the fans of this "new" Aerosmith would hate the "old" Aerosmith-- because the songs back then were killer audio/ stereophonic assaults!... and Joes' guitar was always blistering! His work on "Toys..." and "Rocks" alone would make him an all- time "heavy" Rock guitarist... but the earlier stuff was even better, esp. the 1st album (more raw & bluesy). IMHO Joe was way better in his prime then were Eddie VH or Slash or James Hetfield, talented as they were/ are! (I'm quite sure Slash would admit he patterned everything-- his look and guitar-style-- after Joe P.! Maybe you'd have to get him drunk first!)
And Tom Scholz?-- WHO knows that name? Yet who doesn't own and/ or love the first Boston album?? Yes, the drums, bass & songs/ lyrics & vocals were all phenomenal too... but Toms' guitar stole the show on every song! Totally unique sound too, another sign of guitar greatness: you KNOW when you're hearing Duane, Gilmour, Beck, Hendrix-- or Tom S.! No mistaking any for any other player! Most of what Eddie V. did in his (so- short) "prime" was mimicking what guys like Trower, Beck & Jimi did before him... in front of the least- talented backing band imaginable (worst rock bassist ever: Michael Anthony!)... with terribly- written songs! ("Jump" stupidest song in "hard/ heavy- Rock" history!)
OK, to our subject: which "unknown" guitarist luckily (or by good choosing) had an AWESOME band behind him... and with one of Rock history's most charismatic front- men (ahem, front- women!). If all you've ever heard of the Pretenders was "Brass in Pocket" or "Back on the Chain Gang" then you'll have to take my word for this ('till your own research!): the Pretenders were one of the greatest bands in Rock history (not "top- 10" but def. "top- 20")-- in TWO albums only!-- and much of this was due to their amazing guitar- player, James Honeyman- Scott!
Again, like poor Randy R., it was two great masterpieces (albums) and gone from this World for poor James (in this case it WAS drinking/ drugs)... so any curious to prove me wrong have little material to hear & judge! "Pretenders (One)" and "P. Two" were the albums... songs to make you instant believers are: "Mystery Achievement"; "The Wait"; "Private Life"; "The Adultress"; "Space Invader"... Hard/ rockin' cuts mix with mellow/ acoustic/ melodic ballads sung with such depth & soul by Chrissy... and James plays accordingly with equal beauty. Sometimes hard & driving & "metal"- ish... sometimes wispy or acoustic or background. The drummers' top- notch, the bassist is amazing (& also died young)... and Chrissy's voice & style back then made her a lasting Rock icon (though she tarnished this by doing crappy pop stuff after James & Pete died).
oke:
Simply listen... or listen again if it's been a while! Yes, there are better guitar- players you'll say... but how great is this guy to be a no- name??... now to be nearly/ completely forgotten?
