Axe Factor Top Guitarists
Posted by: winkyincanada on 12 April 2010
BBC6 "Axe Factor" readers' poll. "Top" guitarists of the past 30 years.
1. John Frusciante – Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Slash – Guns n’ Roses
3. Matt Bellamy – Muse
4. Johnny Marr – The Smiths
5. Tom Morello – Rage Against The Machine
6. Kirk Hammett – Metallica
7. Jonny Greenwood – Radiohead
8. Prince
9. Jack White – White Stripes
10. Peter Buck – REM
11. The Edge – U2
12. Thurston Moore
13. John Squire
14. Josh Homme
15. Graham Coxon
16. Omar Rodriguez Lopez
17. James Dean Bradfield
18. Jeff Buckley
19. Noel Gallagher
20. Kurt Cobain
Quite a limited range of music covered, but within the apparent genre restrictions...
Tom Morello and Jonny make sense to me. Not so sure about Slash, The Edge, Noel, Jeff and Peter Buck. I guess it all depends on what one means by "Top".
1. John Frusciante – Red Hot Chili Peppers
2. Slash – Guns n’ Roses
3. Matt Bellamy – Muse
4. Johnny Marr – The Smiths
5. Tom Morello – Rage Against The Machine
6. Kirk Hammett – Metallica
7. Jonny Greenwood – Radiohead
8. Prince
9. Jack White – White Stripes
10. Peter Buck – REM
11. The Edge – U2
12. Thurston Moore
13. John Squire
14. Josh Homme
15. Graham Coxon
16. Omar Rodriguez Lopez
17. James Dean Bradfield
18. Jeff Buckley
19. Noel Gallagher
20. Kurt Cobain
Quite a limited range of music covered, but within the apparent genre restrictions...
Tom Morello and Jonny make sense to me. Not so sure about Slash, The Edge, Noel, Jeff and Peter Buck. I guess it all depends on what one means by "Top".
Posted on: 12 April 2010 by Lontano
None of them would make my top 20 - guess I am not an Axe factor listener.
Posted on: 12 April 2010 by winkyincanada
Like I said, it's a narrow range of genres they're drawn from.
Posted on: 12 April 2010 by graham55
I'd go with Jeff Buckley and Kurt Cobain, but it's easy to see why they limited the choice to the "past 30 years".
That said, Beck, Clapton, Page and Townshend are still out there, yet apparently don't rate a mention.
Simple fact remains that Hendrix was the best: always was, always will be.
That said, Beck, Clapton, Page and Townshend are still out there, yet apparently don't rate a mention.
Simple fact remains that Hendrix was the best: always was, always will be.
Posted on: 12 April 2010 by winkyincanada
quote:Originally posted by graham55:
Simple fact remains that Hendrix was the best: always was, always will be.
Yep.
Posted on: 12 April 2010 by DIB
They should have a poll for the "Top 20 Lists".
.
.
Posted on: 12 April 2010 by droodzilla
Not ever so interested in most of the music represented here, but I'd give the Radiohead guitarist some credit for coaxing new sounds from an old instrument on The Bends, and OK Computer.
And respect to Johnny Marr, for old time's sake.
And respect to Johnny Marr, for old time's sake.
Posted on: 12 April 2010 by winkyincanada
quote:Originally posted by droodzilla:
Not ever so interested in most of the music represented here, but I'd give the Radiohead guitarist some credit for coaxing new sounds from an old instrument on The Bends, and OK Computer.
And respect to Johnny Marr, for old time's sake.
If you can get past Zack D.L.R's anger, listen to the sounds that Tom can make on his guitar on the R.A.T.M. stuff.
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by Earwicker
Never heard of most of them and I've played the guitar since I was 6 years old!
Noel Gallagher gets a mention but not Rory? Someone's just having a laugh, what a load of b0l1ocks!
EW
Noel Gallagher gets a mention but not Rory? Someone's just having a laugh, what a load of b0l1ocks!
EW
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by Chief Chirpa
It's a 6Music poll, hence the result.
You missed David Gilmour off your list of 60s relics. Talking of which, personally, I much prefer Keith's simpler style.
Calm down, grandad. While I've heard of everyone on that list, I can't say I'm all that familiar with more than half a dozen of them.
So for me, Graham Coxon is the best guitarist of his generation. His solo stuff is really interesting, but here's one of his better known songs: Coffee & TV.
Nothing showy, he just plays.
quote:Originally posted by graham55:
That said, Beck, Clapton, Page and Townshend are still out there, yet apparently don't rate a mention.
You missed David Gilmour off your list of 60s relics. Talking of which, personally, I much prefer Keith's simpler style.
quote:Originally posted by Earwicker:
Never heard of most of them and I've played the guitar since I was 6 years old!
Noel Gallagher gets a mention but not Rory? Someone's just having a laugh, what a load of b0l1ocks!
EW
Calm down, grandad. While I've heard of everyone on that list, I can't say I'm all that familiar with more than half a dozen of them.
So for me, Graham Coxon is the best guitarist of his generation. His solo stuff is really interesting, but here's one of his better known songs: Coffee & TV.
Nothing showy, he just plays.
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by mike/dallas
What about John Mayer, Lindsay Buckingham, Dave Alvin, and Robert Randolph? Surely better than Noel and Kurt as guitar players imo.
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by Earwicker
Prince (lord above!) weighs in at 9th but no mention of John McLaughlin? To be honest, Paul Rose could wipe the floor with most of the 3rd raters on that list.
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by irwan shah
Something is seriously wrong with the list. I love the Manic Street Preachers but 'you cannot be serious' (to borrow a famous quote from John McEnroe) with James Dean Bradfield at no.17! He is 'merely' brilliant a songwriter arranger who happens to play some guitar in arguably the biggest Welsh band ever!
Serious 'guitar God' omissions include: Pat Metheny, John Mclaughlin and Larry Carlton.
Serious 'guitar God' omissions include: Pat Metheny, John Mclaughlin and Larry Carlton.
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by Thorsten_L
* Early Michael Schenker, preferably SOBER...
What a great axe-man...what a pity..
* Angus & Malcolm Young
* Vivian Campbell
* Rhandy Rhoads
* Tony Iommi
* Ritchie Blackmore
* JImmy Page
What a great axe-man...what a pity..
* Angus & Malcolm Young
* Vivian Campbell
* Rhandy Rhoads
* Tony Iommi
* Ritchie Blackmore
* JImmy Page
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
John Fahey, Robert Johnson, Chuck Berry...
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by kennth
of course prince should be on the list , i also think randy rhoads should be on there with the young brothers but so should vernon reid from living colour
Posted on: 13 April 2010 by The Strat (Fender)
quote:Originally posted by Mike Lacey:
Robert Johnson,
Good call Mike. I wonder if any of that list realise that Robert J is where it all began? I think the problem is the 30 year bit making it post 1980. Eric C is my alter ego but the reality is his best recorded work - with exceptions most notably the Unplugged and Robert J Sessions - was pre 1975. Must say though albeit with rose tinted glasses on as pure musicians that lot are pretty limited - none of them are anywhere near the Clapton, Cooder, Knopfler, Green, McLaughlin, Santana, Kossoff league. Take the Edge - listen to his attempts at playing an acoustic.
Posted on: 14 April 2010 by Earwicker
quote:Originally posted by Fender:
none of them are anywhere near the Clapton, Cooder, Knopfler, Green, McLaughlin, Santana, Kossoff league.
Quite. Knopfler's probably the most underrated guitarist of our time. Sadly guitar airheads seem to think that because he doesn't play every note on his axe in each solo that means he's in some way deficient.
Posted on: 14 April 2010 by Colin Lorenson
Bill Frisell - Guitar God thats looks like everyones favourite uncle.
Posted on: 14 April 2010 by BigH47
I always equate 'Axe' with rock/metal, but we seem to have spread out a bit.
So with that in mind, a few others:-
Richard Thompson
Joe Bonamassa
Larry Carlton
Jerry Douglas - Dobro and lap steel
Robert Randolph - Steel guitar.
So with that in mind, a few others:-
Richard Thompson
Joe Bonamassa
Larry Carlton
Jerry Douglas - Dobro and lap steel
Robert Randolph - Steel guitar.
Posted on: 14 April 2010 by The Strat (Fender)
quote:Originally posted by BigH47:
I always equate 'Axe' with rock/metal, but we seem to have spread out a bit.
So with that in mind, a few others:-
Richard Thompson
Joe Bonamassa
Larry Carlton
Jerry Douglas - Dobro and lap steel
Robert Randolph - Steel guitar.
All good calls H - Larry Carlton superb.
Posted on: 14 April 2010 by Premmyboy
Robert Fripp!! Unique and genius.
Posted on: 15 April 2010 by tjb
Source first and BBC6 "Axe Factor" readers' poll doesn't really cut the mustard.
Posted on: 15 April 2010 by Earwicker
quote:Originally posted by tjb:
Source first and BBC6 "Axe Factor" readers' poll doesn't really cut the mustard.
Well, it's from the BBC, what do you expect!
Posted on: 15 April 2010 by DIB
Another vote for Richard Thompson from me. I've seen him so many times, yet I'm never left anything other than awestruck - Electric or Acoustic it doesn't matter.
As for pure blues, went to see Buddy Whittington last year. What tone and control!
Heard a guy for the first time on this weeks BBC Radio 2 Paul Jones R & B show, Matt Schofield. Wow what a blues player. I'm going to see him in a couple of weeks. Fantastic, check him out on Youtube.
.
As for pure blues, went to see Buddy Whittington last year. What tone and control!
Heard a guy for the first time on this weeks BBC Radio 2 Paul Jones R & B show, Matt Schofield. Wow what a blues player. I'm going to see him in a couple of weeks. Fantastic, check him out on Youtube.
.
Posted on: 15 April 2010 by Guido Fawkes
Secondedquote:Originally posted by Lontano:
None of them would make my top 20 - guess I am not an Axe factor listener.