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The All-Time Top 20 Guitarists - Part 2
Be it sober or fuelled by alcohol, we all love to pontificate about ‘The Best Guitarists Ever’ and then realise it’s far safer to argue about our ‘Favourite Guitarists Ever’ instead. Having my own column means I can actually put my own ‘favourite’ guitarists down in writing for all to see and assure you that most of then are in fact ‘the best’ players too!
THIS WEEK – GUITARISTS 15 to 11:
15. Joe Satriani
I have never been a complete Satriani convert. Sometimes he bores the shit out of me and I’m not a huge fan of legato. Anyway, he does however do one thing better than anyone else – he is the master of the guitar ballad. ‘Home’, ‘Always With You’ and ‘Crying’ are pure examples of his incredible touch. He can ‘find’ a note and then take it somewhere else with such wondrous drama. He’s also a true pioneer of the guitar, so more ‘nice’ notes please Joe.
14. Steve Vai
Always the virtuoso and groove scientist of the axe. For me, I love him the most on Dave Lee Roth’s ‘Eat ‘Em And Smile’. This is such an essential guitar album I can’t stress it more. It is completely fantastic. Vai’s pure Rock pyrotechnics are a wonder to behold. He has a really dry and honest sound as well, which compliments the wondrous Sheehan, Bissonette and Roth. I have always hated the way he lost that dual in the film ‘Crossroads’ though. I know it was the script but anyway, Vai was the only choice as the devil of Rock guitar!
13. Vinnie Moore
I think Mike Varney once said that ‘Vinnie Moore plays guitar like he is in love with the world’, and he was right. Moore plays with lots of love and joy, while keeping a slight edge to the proceedings. He has a very natural sounding technical ability too and for me, his first solo album ‘Mind’s Eye’ still sums him up best. He’s sort of the Eric Johnson of shred. (Varney also said that ‘Malmsteen plays guitar like he hates the world!’)
12. Brian May
What more can anyone say about Mr. Tasteful – well he may not look too tasteful sometimes but his solos are controlled and considered masterpieces in the art. May’s solo’s are as famous as Queen’s songs. Even the general public know May when they hear him.
I have always loved his sound, harmonies and pure quality. The guitar work in ‘Show Must Go On’ sums it all up rather like Queen did themselves – magical and epic (well, most of the time)!
11. Ritchie Blackmore
My first guitar hero for obvious reasons. His influence is as clear as Hendrix and Van Halen’s. He was the first man to Rock the way I like it. By Deep Purple Mk III, he had got a heavier and more overdriven sound out of his Marshalls before anyone else and he totally nailed it, laying down a template that Malmsteen would go on to conquer.
Ritchie wrote more Rock Classics than nearly anyone else but doesn’t anymore unfortunately. Purple’s criminally overlooked ‘Made In Europe’ showcases Blackmore inventing the way it should be, with the help of Rock’s ultimate line-up – Blackmore, Paice, Hughes, Lord and Coverdale!!!