80. Allen Collins
I’m going to come right out and say it, Allen Collins is on my list because of “Freebird”. Lynyrd Skynyrd had at one point three pretty damn good guitarists, but Collins is the man responsible for writing classic rock’s most enduring solo. Seriously it would be a crime to leave him off of any greatest guitarist list for that song alone. It doesn’t hurt that there were countless other amazing performances to go along with it.
79. Andy LaRocque
King Diamond’s main man on the axe was first made known to me through At the Gates and his mind blowing solo on “Cold”. When I heard more from King Diamond and saw some of the man’s solos I was amazed. His comprehension of harmony, speed, and sadistically overzealous abuse of his whammy bar all come together in a near perfect metal guitarist. One who had a great influence on future death metal shredders like Chuck Schuldiner and Pat O’Brien to name just a few.
78. Chet Atkins
Probably the best respected and best known country guitarist ever (sorry Brad Paisley), Chet Atkins has a career that spanned multiple decades. Despite being known for his finger picking ability, he was incredibly versatile, and ventured into jazz, flamenco, and even pop territory, all displaying his flawless finger picking technique. Another player who would probably be a little higher on my list if I was more familiar with him, hopefully you’ll follow my lead and spend some time watching some of his retro clips on youtube.
77. Mike Keneally
Not exactly a household name in the freak guitarist sub-genre, Keneally was always one of the most overlooked and best players in the business. He was part of Steve Vai’s touring band and anybody who can play harmonized runs with a man like that certainly is no slouch. Keneally got some more time to shine in his own solo group as well as playing lead for Dream Theater front man James Labrie’s Mulmuzzler. Seriously this guy is better than you.
76. Mattias Eklundh
Known for his band Freak Kitchen and making ungodly noises with his guitar Sweden’s highly eccentric Mattias Eklundh is one of the guitarists I discovered while researching this list. His work is perplexing, and his absolute mastery of squeals and harmonics is second to none. A certainly capable shredder whenever he feels like it, this man is in his own world and it’s not too common to find guitarists with so distinct a style emerging in the 21st century.
75. Tom Scholz
Boston’s musical genius was the multi-instrumentalist who brought an unprecedented polish to arena rock. His guitar harmonies, unique solos, and damn near perfect songs helped elevate Boston into one of the biggest bands on the planet. His technical ability might have been on par with others of his generation, but his mastery of all manner of sonic textures, multi-tracks, and harmonies are second perhaps only to Brian May. He also gets bonus points for having one of the most recognizable lead sounds in classic rock.
74. George Harrison
Like I wasn’t going to have Harrison on my list. The Beatles competent axeman never seemed to play a wrong note during his entire tenure with the fab four. Harrison almost completely abandoned lead playing when he went solo, becoming a quite accomplished slide player in it’s stead. The solo for “Let it Be” is still probably in my top ten for guitar performances (the one from the album mind you).
73. Shawn Lane
Considered by some to be the fastest guitarist who ever lived, Shawn Lane was a late discovery by me. A freak guitarist who made his professional debut at age 14 in Black Oak Arkansas, he later went on to his own solo career, and played with everyone from Ringo Starr to Johnny Cash, and Joe Walsh. He passed away in 2003 at the age of 40 but not before leaving behind some mind-meltingly fast lead work. Considered perhaps the master of the legato he was named by the American Guitar Institute as “the greatest guitarist who ever lived”. So if you’re unfamiliar perhaps you should check him out.
72. Jeff Beck
On the list of classic rock legends who get their ass kissed, Jeff Beck is always somewhere near the top. Perhaps a better technical player than Clapton or even Page, Beck never possessed 1/10th of their songwriting or innovation. Beck was great in his own way and can still rip it up with the best of ‘em, but to me he’s never been more than just another really good classic rock player. Perhaps his best work is his fusion work in the mid-70s. Do yourself a favor and pick up Blow by Blow.
71. Justin Hawkins
There are some players I love despite not being too terribly original. I do put a premium on style, but some people just adopt what’s been done before and do it so damn well that I can’t help but love them. Justin Hawkins from The Darkness is in that category. A sick player raised on the same Thin Lizzy/Queen mix of soloing and harmony that so many others were, he has unabashedly adopted the classic rock style to what is truly the best rock band still around. So many memorable solos, his playing is not to be overlooked. In the world of super shredders and freaks who can play rings around anybody, it’s refreshing to hear someone who chooses his notes this wisely, even if he comes off as though he’s totally fucking off, far from it. Doesn't hurt that he's also the most awesomely ridiculous looking person performing music right now.
70. Allan Holdsworth
When researching great guitarists this is a name that always pops up. A jazz, prog, and fusion monster in shredding who is perhaps best known for his work with U.K., Allan Holdsworth is another player I am not terribly familiar with. I’ve heard enough to know that this man is on a separate plane of existence. His finger stretching runs and unorthodox leads are impressive enough, but when you combine it with other worldly speed and people take notice. The man’s a beast.
69. Eddie Hazel
George Clinton told Eddie Hazel to “play like your momma just died” for the song “Maggot Brain”, and well Hazel has Clinton to thank for being included in this list. That solo is one of the most beautiful slow burning solos in music history. Hazel along with being an expert funk player might have used a wah pedal better than anyone in music, and that man could get some killer tones out of it. A perfect fit for Clinton’s P-Funk craziness, Hazel adopted to all levels of eccentricities his insane leader was throwing his way. However “Maggot Brain” is undeniably this man’s greatest gift to guitar playing.
68. Billy Corgan
Billy Corgan was always one of my favorite song writers. Like many people circa 1994-97 I was obsessed with the Smashing Pumpkins. It wasn’t until I knew more about guitar playing that I truly began to appreciate just what Corgan was doing with his axe. A fan of many, many, many, many, many guitar overdubs he created an insanely heavy, rich sound, with occasionally dissonant but sometimes beautiful feedback harmonies, sick blues leads, and a mastery of all things chaotic. He was naturally a May fan as well, and you can hear it. Check out “Tribute to Johnny” for some of the best lead playing 90s rock produced.
67. Rudolf Schenker
The superior of the Scorpions lead guitarists was clearly Mr. Schenker. An early proponent of the neo-classical style, his runs, harmonies, and leads were a huge influence on many later metal players, and he certainly held his own against even the craziest of coked-out hair metal guitarists. I can’t necessarily blame people when they say a little Scorpions goes a long way, but I can listen to Rudolf all night long.
66. Tom Verlaine
Who? The lead guitarist, vocalist, and all around creative force behind Television was a unique entity in the world of late 70s rock. Television came to prominence as another in the string of punk/new wave bands starting in ‘77, but unlike their three chord brethren and fellow musicians who were dedicated to playing mind bogglingly simple songs, Verlaine dared to get weird with it. His leads were unlike any of the classic rock demi-gods of his era, and holy shit a punk guitarist who dared to actually play guitar solos. He had chops for days, and although highly influential he really was one of a kind. Do yourself a favor and pick up Marquee Moon, everything on it is the stuff of guitar legend.
65. Mikael Akerfeldt
Let’s go ahead and say it, this man is Opeth. For better or worse Akerfeldt has controlled the destiny of arguably the best metal band of the past twenty years. A huge proponent of odd tunings, Akerfeldt has found a way to not only play some incredible leads but do it in keys and tunings no one else ever even heard of. His music theory falls into the “this note sounds good so I’ll play it” school, he writes and shreds like no one else. Opeth has had some other great guitarists along with Mikael through the years, but it’s always been Akerfeldt leading the way. One of the most unique and best of all metal guitarists.
64. Erik Rutan
Did someone say metal guitarists? Rutan played on what I think is the best Morbid Angel album, Domination before leaving (and returning) to form Hate Eternal. A lead player who borrows from world music and some of the most unusual scales and phrasings heard in music. He isn’t a shredder in the strict sense of “play fast”, but the man can tremolo pick with the best of ‘em. “Faceless One” off of I, Monarch features some of the most unusual and sickest lead work in all of extreme metal. In a genre known for chaos and speed, it’s truly unique when someone can stand out from the crowd. He also gets bonus points for his great work as a producer.
63. Robbie Krieger
The Doors were a unique assembly of four completely different musicians. Robby Krieger didn’t play like any guitarist of his era. A fan of open blues tunings, he would take those same tunings and turn them into unique sonic structures, perfectly complimenting whatever ramblings Jim Morrison was spouting. Not much of a traditional “lead” player he still had chops for days. One of the more versatile players of the 60s, he was equally adept at playing jazz, blues, folk, and flamenco styles, and he incorporated all of it into his stint with the Doors.
62. Dean Herrera
Dean Herrera of Human Abstract fame has been with the band all the way through. Occasionally joined by either A.J. Minette or Andrew Tapley, Herrera has brought a ridiculous command of complex riffs mixed with mind bending lead work. A shredder in the strict sense of classical based playing, he loves his tight fast harmonized runs, and half the riffs for the band are basically shredded arpeggios and sweep picking. I’ve never been a huge fan of their vocals, but I’ll listen to Herrera play anything.
61. Lindsey Buckingham
Time seems to have been good to Lindsey Buckingham. Once it seemed like he was a criminally underrated and overlooked musician, songwriter, and guitarist, enough people seem to have realized he’s the only reason Fleetwood Mac could ever be called a great band. Buckingham never really dropped his bluegrass upbringing, and used it to full effect with his sweet finger-picked Mac parts. An incredible player who needed two people to replace him when he quit in the 80s, Buckingham joined those illustrious ranks as one of classic rocks most unique and best players.
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