When I was a youngster the great debate was Clapton vs. Hendrix vs. Green…pathetic really as all three had their own distinctive style.
All three were class acts…all could excite, soothe and raise the hair on the back of the neck but personally, only one could make me cry…Peter Green. He seemed to appear on the scene around 1966 perfecty formed to take over from Clapton in John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, not only did he win over the doubters, for whom “Clapton is God” he matched him and arguably took it up a notch.
So who did it for you? I’ve said '60s Greats because that was the time of guitar led music but if you have later favourites that’s OK too.
Needless to say it’s not who was better because everyone has favourites and music has never been or will ever be competitive.
The Yardbirds could boast Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton as guitar players in the band! My favourite guitarist is Steve Howe from Yes. He has his own style away from the Blues and takes his influences from classical guitar and jazz. Whilst most of the guitar heroes played Strats or Les Pauls Howe mostly played a Gibson hollowbody guitar giving him a different sound. He has also used the pedal steel to amazing effect on some of Yes’s greatest works such as And You And I and Gates of Delirium.
In no particular order - Gregg Allman, Walter Becker, Robert Fripp, Robin Trower, Rory Gallagher, Guthrie Govan, Larry Carlton, Frank Zappa, David Gilmour, George Harrison, Jeff Beck, Joni Mitchell, Jimmy Page, Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaughan - and many more either innovative or just bloody good at what they did, in many cases both.
Wasn’t around in the 60’s, but I think a shout out for Freddie King is warranted. Superb voice mixed with a fairly unique blues style, especially in the later RSO releases.
This guy has played with Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen but much of his best work is his solo stuff. This is a beautiful song with a haunting finale.
Not an electric guitar hero but if you like classical guitar this guy wasnt too bad. He had a hit with this in the 60s and here it is given an interesting treatment.
