Great guitar players

[tschock]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

For all I know he was mediocre technically, but for making it work in the context of a hit song, Chuck Berry.

Agree. For me, the reverse is true as well. There are a lot of technically great players who lack the ability (or willingness?) to project the 'emotion' of the song they are playing. And I personally prefer those that might be lacking in the technical skills but who are able to drive home the purpose of the song they are playing.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by tschock

Agree. For me, the reverse is true as well. There are a lot of technically great players who lack the ability (or willingness?) to project the 'emotion' of the song they are playing. And I personally prefer those that might be lacking in the technical skills but who are able to drive home the purpose of the song they are playing.

People rave about Prince and While My Guitar Gently Weeps at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (I think), but to me, pyrotechnics notwithstanding, his performance had nothing to do with the mood of the song. I agree with you completely, in a vacuum I could not care less about technical prowess.

Likewise, there are many great singers with not so great voices, and vice versa.

[sthoemke]

Buckethead, seriously.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by sthoemke

Buckethead, seriously.

Took my oldest, then 13 year-old, son and a couple of his friends to Ozzfest in 1999. When Primus hit the main stage, I remember them getting all excited and shouting about Buckethead performing with the group. I honestly did not know who Buckethead was, but quickly found out why they got so excited. Brian Patrick Carroll (AKA Buckethead) is definitely an extremely underrated guitarist who appears to be relatively unknown to a large part of the public at large, despite his many collaborations and accomplishments over many years.

I'm a little surprised that no one as of yet has given any mention to the Motor City Madman, though his politics may have some part in that. As has already been mentioned, technical virtuosity alone does not always a great guitar player make. And politics aside, there is something to be said about listening to the likes of Ted Nugent playing live.

Also, only briefly mentioned so far, Steve Howe deserves a little more attention and credit in my book as well. Someone does not get voted as the "Best Overall Guitarist" by the likes of Guitar Player magazine five consecutive years in a row (1977-81), nor become the first rock guitar player inducted into the Guitar Player Hall of Fame, without being pretty darn good.

As maybe a tangent or aside to this thread, would be curious to hear which and how many of these various acclaimed guitarists many of you have had the pleasure to see and hear perform live. Records are one thing, live performances to me can truly separate the men from the boys.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by tschock

Agree. For me, the reverse is true as well. There are a lot of technically great players who lack the ability (or willingness?) to project the 'emotion' of the song they are playing. And I personally prefer those that might be lacking in the technical skills but who are able to drive home the purpose of the song they are playing.

I like listening to Def Leppard's Hysteria CD and the contrast between the guitarists. Especially on "Pour Some Sugar on Me." You have the technically perfect Phil Collen carrying the piece, but the spirit, personality, essence comes from Steve Clark, with his little bits that sometimes seemed out of tune. One provided the backbone while the other gave the song its emotion.