[TheAllusionist]

Since we have some guitar players around here, I thought it would be fun to do list of who we think were the greatest guitar players were. I then thought, well I am getting old, so I better make mine of the last century since I don't necessarily know who is really hot now. I look forward to other's list, I tried to include the music I know, of course there are other nationalities and styles that I am unaware of and thus plead ignorance. These are just axe grinders that blow me away, whether it is old delta blues all the way to heavy metal, the emphasis was how good they are (I even put in Frank Zappa, who I don't like, but have to give him his props!)

The younger generation probably has opinions based on the game "Guitar Hero", but I have never played it, and I didn't focus on just killer rock artist.

So without further ado, I give you "Russell's Top 40 Greatest Guitarist of the last Century"

1. Stevie Ray Vaughn (Sorry, I just don’t think it gets better than this, actually I know it! LOL)
2. B.B. King (He is the King of Blues)
3. Buddy Guy (In the trenches for years, he is the shit! Check out BG & Junior Wells play the blues)
4. Eric Clapton (Mr. Slow Hand himself)
5. Jimmie Hendrix (I do live in Seattle after all and he is a legend and SRV built off of him)
6. Les Paul (Can you say Solid body)
7. Eddie Van Halen (His forced harmonics/tapping alone put him here)
8. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin just have to give him his dues lots of great riffs)
9. Jeff Beck (His instrumental Album is considered one of the best rock guitar instrumentals)
10. Carlos Santana (Legend of Woodstock and collaborator extraodinaire)
11. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top - One of my favorites – Jimmie Hendrix’s favorite guitar player)
12. Angus Young (AC|DC Mr. Heavy strings, tune low and play hard! Live Album one of the best!)
13. George Benson (Legendary guitarist Jazz/Blues Guitar Player of the Year)
14. Robert Johnson (Old School Delta Blues)
15. Freddy King (If you don’t know who he is and play, you should)
16. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straights, deserves to be on the list)
17. Duane Allman (Allman Brothers Band)
18. Robben Ford (Prodigy that you may not know of)
19. Brian May (Queen – Probably most under rated/appreciated)
20. Robert Cray (My favorite, but technically perhaps doesn’t deserve to be on the top of list)
21. Yngwie Malmsteen (Is this guy fast or what?)
22. Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy and his solo blues album)
23. Frank Zappa (I don’t like him, but he is good)
24. Joe Satriani (Many would put him towards the top, personal taste puts him here)
25. Slash (Guns N’ Roses)
26. Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
27. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
28. Steve Vai (Another that may deserve higher ranking, but he seems to take credit for too much)
29. Kirck Hammett (Metallica)
30. Chuck Berry (Can you say Johnny Be Good and Duck Walk?)
31. Bo Diddley (Pioneer of Electric Guitar)
32. Allen Collins (Lynard Skynyrd – Southern rock which Country music now copies)
33. Peter Townsend (The Who)
34. Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac – I was surprised the guy can really play)
35. James Burton (Old School/Rockabilly – Elvis Presley, Rick Nelson, Jerry Lee Lewis…)
36. T-Bone Walker (Old Blues)
37. Chet Atkins (Behind the scenes as a producer – Created ‘Nashville Sound’ should perhaps also be up top)
38. Jeff Healey (Another one of my favorites – Featured in movie ‘Road House - Highly underated)
39. Kenny Wayne Sheppard (Next generation of electric blues artist - Just married Mel Gibson's daughter)
40. Johnny Lang (Blues Prodigy that has unfortunately moved to Christian rock)


Of course I reserve the right to make changes once I see your answers or actually think about this! LOL Darn, I didn't squeeze Albert Collins, David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Randy Rhodes (Ozzy), John Mayer, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass and Stanley Jordan in there, crap! I will obviously have to make this a top 50 when I get a chance.