[fbshare type=”button”] [tweetmeme] GIBSON reports that an expert panel assembled by Rolling Stone has named Jimi Hendrix the greatest guitarist in history. The panel included some of rock’s finest-ever players, including Brian May, Kirk Hammett and Ritchie Blackmore, among others.
In praising Hendrix, Tom Morello cited “Purple Haze” and Hendrix’s rendition of “The Star-Spangled Banner” as key tracks. “Hendrix exploded our idea of what rock music could be,” Morello said. “He manipulated the guitar, the whammy bar, the studio and the stage.” Rounding out the top 10 selections were Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Eddie Van Halen, Duane Allman and Pete Townshend.
Members of the panel contributed comments about their choices. Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready praised Eddie Van Halen as “a master of riffs,” while Joe Perry hailed Jimmy Page for his “vision of how to transcend the stereotypes of what the guitar can do.”
The making of any top ten list is an arduous task beyond any doubt, there will always be somebody left out that deserves to be on that list, according to fans. Jimi as the winner, would always be our first choice, but it’s the rest that leaves us flabbergasted. So we’ll get straigh to the point.
We at Jamsphere Magazine, are shocked to say the least, that on that list 3 names synonymous with the history of the guitar are missing.
Do remember, that the list alludes to “the greatest guitarist in history”.
Quite frankly when talking about the history of the electric guitar, we cannot imagine in our wildest dreams, that Stevie Ray Vaughn, Carlos Santana and Johnny Winter played a lesser role, than let’s say, Chuck Berry or Pete Townsend, with all due respects.
We bet you’re missing some names too!
