Underrated Guitarists

[stripersnipr]

On the topic on of great local guitarists Neil Vitulo of Young Neil and the Vipers must be near the top. He's been known to catch a couple of fish too.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

scratch the eddie coment.. eddie made 43

should be higher

ever hear "Super Stupid" off Maggotbrain? Eddie is awesome, I read he died a poor junkie, what a waste.

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

ever hear "Super Stupid" off Maggotbrain? Eddie is awesome, I read he died a poor junkie, what a waste.

one of my go to albums. great song... but i have to go with maggot brain off that album.

yep he had bad drug habit, spent time in jail....rough go of it.

youtube search for eddie. tons of good stuff

[BigFish]

Mark Knopfler is awesome and way under rated!!!

Lindsey B#^&#^&#^&#^&#^&gham from Fleetwood Mac is way under rated!!!

Robert Cray is a great guitar player in my opinion....I am a fan but live he is always a disappointment! Just going through the motions!

I saw the Cray/John Hiatt show at the South Shore Music Circus 2 seasons ago and I went to see Robert Cray.......John Hiatt stole the show as the lead act he set the place on fire and had the crowd going nuts and then Cray came out and everyone fell asleep!!! Cray needs a horn section with him which I have never seen him tour with the 6 times I have seen him....it leaves a huge void in his sound!


John Hiatt won me over big time....that was one of the best performances I have ever seen and I have seen SRV about 7 times, Clapton about 8 times, BB King, Van Halen, AC/DC, Pink Floyd, Mark Knopfler with Clapton, Jeff Beck with SRV......John Hiatt was just awesome!!!

Buddy Guy was awesome when I saw him too!!!

[Rockport24]

what about buckethead? not really for the playing, but the guy wears a damn bucket on his head!
Seriously though, for more modern guitarists (not from the "classic rock days)
Slash from Guns and Roses and now Velvet Revovler is just incredible in my opinion.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

Kurt Cobain absolutly deserves a spot if you take into account what he did during his time in music history.

Not trying to be a wise-ass or stir up trouble, this is a serious question but....just WHAT did he do. I have always felt that he was one of THE Most Overrated people in Music.

I've had this argument with my brother-in-law and am interested in another take on it.

[BigFish]

He died tragically at a time when he had a cult following which thrust him into a group of greats who died too young as their star was rising!

Not a huge Cobain fan but from what I understand there was some genius there!

[Rockport24]

I'm sure Mr. Hunters has a lot to say about Kobain, but really, he started the whole "grunge" music scene which totally took over the industry for a long time and is still very influential today. At the time Nirvana came out, rock music was dominated by the "hair bands" whose focus was on sex, drugs, and rock and roll, then Kobain comes along with this new, raw sound and starts whining about reality and all of a sudden rock turned around and came back to it's roots. No more glam, just the music was important all of a sudden.

I am not a huge Nirvana fan but I do like the music and appreciate for what it is. I always thought rock should have an element of "glam" in it, I'm not talking about big hair and all that, but it's gotta have a swagger about it that says "listen to me", Kobain just kind of got by on sheer anger and some great songs to showcase it.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by The Dad Fisherman

Not trying to be a wise-ass or stir up trouble, this is a serious question but....just WHAT did he do. I have always felt that he was one of THE Most Overrated people in Music.

I've had this argument with my brother-in-law and am interested in another take on it.

DF - Im not a Nirvana fan at all, but can appreciate Kurts impact. Sometimes you have to focus on the world of music before and after someone plays. Look at Jazz before Louis Armstrong or Charlie Parker, once they recorded, it changed all the other artists. I think Cobain had a similar impact on "modern" rock. Nirvana hit like and ateroid and suddenly popular rock bands of the late 80s disappeared. Alternative music became mainstream. His songwriting is unique and his guitar playing different. Its not my thing, but I can appreciate its impact.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by BigFish

He died tragically at a time when he had a cult following which thrust him into a group of greats who died too young as their star was rising!

Not a huge Cobain fan but from what I understand there was some genius there!

That I understand but it seems that he is set at a much higher plateau than what his actual accomplishments really were.

Think about it does he deserve the 12th Spot on the greatest guitarist list ahead of people like Bo Diddley or Carlos Santana.....and would he have been placed that high if he was actually still alive and not tagged with the "Tragic Genius" moniker.

I do like Nirvana's Music so I'm not saying this for any specific reason

[OnTheLedge]

Originally Posted by stripersnipr

, and then John Hiatt came out and blew the tent away. I think it was the "Tiki Bar is Open" Tour. Anyone else catch that?

I'm usually a lurker around here because I don't consider myself an expert fisherman, but as a guitar player I'll chime in on this.

A few years ago I saw Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and a Texas songwriter named Joe Ely at Vets Aud. in Prov. They each played solo acoustic, took turns doing a song of their own and accompanied each other. Hiatt was fabulous! Halfway through the show my wife said, "Who's the guy in the middle? He's a way better guitar player than the other two."

When the "best guitar players" question is asked acoustic players are largely ignored. IMHO it's a hell of a lot easier to crank up the distortion and start bending strings than it is play an acoustic well, that is, to finger pick a melody and bass line together with the RIGHT hand. My additions to the list:

Leo Kotke
David Bromberg
Willie Nelson.....yes, that Willie Nelson. The man can play!

[Nebe]

gene ween should be on that list

[SAXATILUS]

Who ever made that top 100 list is quite an idiot in my opinion. I have seen tons of shows in my day. For Eddie V to be # 70 come on. I have never seen any body play like that dude. Steve Vie and Yngwie Malmsteen would play most of the others right off stage.

[Rockport24]

Originally Posted by Robert

I'm usually a lurker around here because I don't consider myself an expert fisherman, but as a guitar player I'll chime in on this.

A few years ago I saw Lyle Lovett, John Hiatt and a Texas songwriter named Joe Ely at Vets Aud. in Prov. They each played solo acoustic, took turns doing a song of their own and accompanied each other. Hiatt was fabulous! Halfway through the show my wife said, "Who's the guy in the middle? He's a way better guitar player than the other two."

When the "best guitar players" question is asked acoustic players are largely ignored. IMHO it's a hell of a lot easier to crank up the distortion and start bending strings than it is play an acoustic well, that is, to finger pick a melody and bass line together with the RIGHT hand. My additions to the list:

Leo Kotke
David Bromberg
Willie Nelson.....yes, that Willie Nelson. The man can play!

I totally agree with your comments on acoustic players, acoustic guitar is really the true test of a great guitarist if you ask me because it is just the man and the guitar. That said some of the great rock/blues guitarist could also play a great acoustic, Clapton, Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend among others, all did some amazing acoustic stuff.

[Nebe]

robert, leo kotke is awesome!

[MrHunters]

as rockport said the late 80's early 90's where filled with sex drugs and rock and roll.. unfortuneatly in that order... You can say but Kurt was a heroin addict.... but the difference is, it wasnt glorified. The music was. Cobains genius lies in the simplicity of the songs he wrote.. He's not the first to make simple songs sound amazing. A little band called the Beatles built their empire on I IV V.

Great guitarist, probably not in my top 10. Greatest creative mind... number 1. He, Nirvana, single handedly put rock music back on track killing the hair band scene.(we should all be thankful for that) By definition they left the alternative genre when Nevermind hit. But that's what music needed at the time. He tapped into that teenage angst and ran with it.

Basically Im just thankful rock and roll was pure again for quite a while. If nirvana popped up anywhere else in time i doubt they would have been as huge.


Right now I think e-mo might kill me.

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by Nebe

gene ween should be on that list

deaner

[Nebe]

captian fantasy will melt your face off

[MrHunters]

Originally Posted by Nebe

captian fantasy will melt your face off

we could start a whole other topic on this

[ProfessorM]

Danny Gatton to me was probably one of the most talented,unknown guys out there. He is gone, took his own life, much like Roy B. and similar but way more chops. Les Dudek, F.Z., Grant Green, Gary Moore, Dave Mason, Robben Ford, Robin Trower, Albert Lee, Joe Satriani, Tony Rice, Greg Howe, Alan Holdsworth, I mean you could go on forever. When you say underrated do you mean guys that are not commercially popular or do you mean people that are truley great players but are not household names. Do you consider unknow as underrated? Kind of goes hand in hand I think. P.

[MrHunters]

this thread is exactly why i cannot look at those top 100's

hell, i saw a guy play at the blackburn tavern in gloucester this weekend who was better than a few of those guys on the list

[RIJIMMY]

im with you, music is an art, not a sport, there is no "best".
fun conversations though, I always like to see others opinions, even though guitar is very close to my heart and I get ticked off sometime. To see you mention Eddie Hazel and Prof M, Danny Gatton, I am a happy man

[ProfessorM]

That list is ridiculous. Joan Jett in the top 100 WTF. Flush that list. It is too wide a spectrum to figure out the best. There is no best.

[MrHunters]

do you feel like crap if your #100 AND behind joan jett?

[Nebe]

[Rockport24]

the whole 100 list thing is ridiculous because of course not everybody is going to agree, everybody has different tastes in music, some people like jam band type guitar style, some like blues, some like acoustic. who really cares who is the best? music is meant to be enjoyed, not compared to death.
Nebe, that was some sick stuff there too...

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

He, Nirvana, single handedly put rock music back on track killing the hair band scene.(we should all be thankful for that) .

And Believe me I am Very Thankful of that.......When hair bands were the norm is when I embraced ZLX and all of the older music like never before. But I also don't think they Single-handedly did it. I think that Groups like Sound-Garden and Alice in Chains had a big hand in turning rock back into something worth listening to at the same time.

Originally Posted by MrHunters

But that's what music needed at the time. He tapped into that teenage angst and ran with it. .

Its funny you mention this because this is always one of the Dis-agreements I have with my Bro-in-law. This is the one we become Really Heated about. He always say that Cobain was a genius because he tapped into what the youth were all about, especially in regards to Smells like teen spirit.

I used to say Gee, Teen Angst and a Disregard for the older generation.....like that hasn't been done before....I mean do we label Dee Snyder a genius because "We're Not Gonna Take It" or the Beatie Boys because they want us to "Fight For Our Right to Party"...its not genius to know that Kids are Pissed at thier parents

Originally Posted by MrHunters

Basically Im just thankful rock and roll was pure again for quite a while. If nirvana popped up anywhere else in time i doubt they would have been as huge.

When Grunge came on the scene is when I started to listen and appreciate the newer bands again, Music was raw and actually Meant something again instead of Over-indulgence and Self-Serving BS that the hair bands were all about. and I believe that a lot of his success came from the fact that people were tired of that and wanted something with Substance again.

I guess its just me but I always feel like he gets elevated a lot higher than he really should be because of the Tragedy of his life.

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by Rockport24

the whole 100 list thing is ridiculous because of course not everybody is going to agree, everybody has different tastes in music...

How about this one...Guitar worlds top 100 Metal Guitarists....different look. This is a great Thread to kill the day too. Its good to see what everybody's take is on music.

1. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
2. Kirk Hammett & James Hetfield (Metallica)
3. Angus & Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
4. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
5. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
6. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
7. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera, Damageplan)
8. Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society)
9. Adam Jones (Tool)
10. Kerry King & Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
11. Dave Murray & Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
12. Jimi Hendrix
13. Glen Tipton & K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
14. Ace Frehley & Paul Stanley (Kiss)
15. Slash (Guns N' Roses)
16. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple, Rainbow)
17. Yngwie Malmsteen
18. Joe Perry & Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
19. Dave Mustaine & Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
20. Chuck Schuldiner (Death)
21. Brian May (Queen)
22. Michael Schenker (Msg, Ufo)
23. Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap)
24. Jeff Beck
25. Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
26. Head & Munky (Korn)
27. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
28. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
29. Vivian Campbell (Def Leppard)
30. Daron Malakian (System Of A Down)
31. Scott Ian (Anthrax)
32. Tom G. Warrior (Celtic Frost)
33. Chris Degarmo & Michael Wilton (Queensryche)
34. C.C. Deville
35. Marten Hagström & Fredrik Thorndendal (Meshuggah)
36. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
37. Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big, Racer X)
38. Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)
39. Mantas (Venom)
40. Jason Becker (Dave Lee Roth)
41. Phil Collen & Steve Clarke (Def Leppard)
42. Mikael Åkerfeldt & Peter Lindgren (Opeth)
43. Fast Eddie Clarke (Motorhead)
44. Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
45. Warren Demartini (Ratt)
46. Mick Mars (Motley Crue)
47. George Lynch (Dokken)
48. Ted Nugent
49. Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands)
50. Rudolf Schenker & Uli John Roth (Scorpions)
51. Oystein "Euronymous" Aarseth (Mayhem)
52. Scott Gorham & Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy)
53. Steve Vai (Dave Lee Roth)
54. Reb Beach (Winger, Dokken)
55. Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel)
56. John Sykes (Thin Lizzy, Blue Murder)
57. Hank Shermann & Michael Denner (Mercyful Fate)
58. Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi)
59. Jon Donais & Matt Backhand (Shadows Fall)
60. Stephen Carpenter (Deftones)
61. Alex Skolnick & Eric Peterson (Testament)
62. Brian Tatler (Diamond Head)
63. John Christ (Danzig)
64. Scott "Wino" Weinrich (The Obsessed)
65. Pepper Keenan & Woody Weatherman (C.O.C.)
66. Tommy Victor (Prong)
67. Leslie West (Mountain)
68. Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
69. Glen Buxton & Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper)
70. Bjorn Gelotte & Jesper Stromblad (In Flames)
71. Jim Matheos (Fates Warning)
72. Gary Holt & Rick Hunolt (Exodus)
73. Donald Buck Dharma Roeser (Blue Oyster Cult)
74. Michael Amott (Arch Enemy)
75. Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
76. Andre Olbrich (Blind Guardian)
77. Joe Satriani
78. Frank Hannon & Tommy Skeoch (Tesla)
79. Ty Tabor (King's X)
80. Mark Morton & Will Adler (Lamb Of God)
81. Dino Cazares (Fear Factory)
82. Pete Townshend (The Who)
83. Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth)
84. Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius)
85. Neil Young
86. Abbath Doom Occulta (Immortal)
87. Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray)
88. Uffe Cederlund & Alex Hellid (Entombed)
89. Leigh Stephens (Blue Cheer)
90. Jim Martin (Faith No More)
91. Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
92. Bill Steer (Carcass)
93. Piggy (Voivod)
94. Tony Bourge (Budgie)
95. Sammy Hagar (Van Halen)
96. Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)
97. Akira Takasaki (Loudness)
98. Michael Angelo
99. John Kay & Michael Monarh (Steppenwolf)
100. Nick Bowcott (Grim Reaper)

[MrHunters]

Dee Snyder is actually a very smart guy. I was watching something on Vh-1 the other day about when parental advisory labels were issued to music. He was basically the spokesman for the hard rock bands of the time.

In no way am i saying it hasnt been done before believe me. Im just saying that the style he brought was needed at the time. if it wasnt, then nirvana would still have made music but hair bands would still rule.

I agree said bands help the turn... but you have to say nirvana paved the road.

What are bands tapping into today?? arnt teens still angry.....??? not according to the whiny crap i hear. again.. just an opinion

This is a great Thread to kill the day too. Its good to see what everybody's take is on music.

amen

[The Dad Fisherman]

Originally Posted by MrHunters

Dee Snyder is actually a very smart guy. I was watching something on Vh-1 the other day about when parental advisory labels were issued to music. He was basically the spokesman for the hard rock bands of the time.

Probably the Only Time you would see Dee Snyder and John Denver in the same room......