Rolling Stone--250 best guitarists of all time (2023 update)

[GulDukat]

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-guitarists-1234814010/brittany-howard-3-1234848372/

[Timinator]

I think this is all RS does now, isn't it? Publish these annual lists? ;)

Guitar fans could argue all day about whether a particular musician should be at position 100 or 150 on a list this long. I tend to just look at the top 10 and see if they're defensible according to their criteria for the list. It seems they want to measure influence more than anything else. I think that's a good measure and I think their top 10 is fine with this in mind.


In making the list, we tended to value heaviness over tastiness, feel over polish, invention over refinement, risk-takers and originators more than technicians. We also tended to give an edge to artists who channeled whatever gifts god gave them into great songs and game-changing albums, not just impressive playing.

[GulDukat]

This is the third best guitarist list in the last 20 years. I actually think this one is pretty good. I'm surprised that Clapton is #35, that seems really, really far down the list (he was ranked #4 on the 2003 list). I thought that he would be in the top 3. Also surprised that Eddie Van Halen was ranked #4 (in the 2003 list he was ranked #70).

I'm thinking Eddie's death and Clapton's batshit crazy Covid songs may have something to do with it.

[SM Rollinger]

This is the third best guitarist list in the last 20 years. I actually think this one is pretty good. I'm surprised that Clapton is #35, that seems really, really far down the list (he was ranked #4 on the 2003 list). I thought that he would be in the top 3. Also surprised that Eddie Van Halen was ranked #4 (in the 2003 list he was ranked #70).

I'm thinking Eddie's death and Clapton's batshit crazy Covid songs may have something to do with it.

It's 100% his nutty COVID take.

[r_z]

Biggest miss is not putting Knopfler in the top 10, but hey...

[onthewall2983]

I like that they put in duos like the ones in Judas Priest and Pearl Jam. The sound two or more can make can be so good and unique of its own accord

[voidnz]

Rolling stone is an absolute joke. LOL