Top 15 Most Influential Guitarists

[Mac Morganfield]

OK, i've seen a couple of my choices have already been mentioned and can see many of the UK based guys appear to have a different pool to choose from than the US based members with some glaring exceptions. It has certainly given me some names to research. Anyway, here's mine in no particular order but starting off with my obvious favourite:

1: Muddy Waters
2: John Squire (Stone Roses, Seahorses)
3: Jim Peterik (Ides of march, Survivor)
4: Hilton Valentine (The Animals)
5: Brian Setzer (BSO, The Stray cats)
6: Jim Heath (The Reverend Horton Heat)
7: Angus Young (AC/DC)
8: Chris 'CJ' Jagdhar (The Wildhearts, Honeycrack, The Jellys)
9: Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
10: Joe Strummer (The Clash)
11: Roddy Radiation (The Specials)
12: Paul Weller (The Jam, solo)
13: Steve Marriott (The Small Faces)
14: Dave Stewart (The Eurithmics, Vegas, Solo)
15: Jake Burns (Stiff Little Fingers)

I've left out so many it's unreal, but notable additions would be:

Marcus Miller (Bass) (an accquired taste but astounding skill and song writing)
George Harrison (Not a huge beatles fan but love his solo stuff)
Mark Knopfler
Chris Rea (vastly underated)
Bruce Foxton (the first time i was REALLY attracted to Bass)
Greg Brown (Cake)
Paul Simon

The list is endless really..........

[Tig***]

not in any real order

-Jeff Beck
-Carlos Santana
-Jimmy Page
-Eric Clapton
-Billy Gibbons
-Pete Townsend
-David Gilmour
-Jimi Hendrix
-Stevie Ray Vaughan
-Terry Kath (Chicago, back when they were good)
-Frank Zappa
-Eddie Van Halen
-Brian May

Adding
Bill Frisell, Brian Setzer, Warren Haynes, Derek Trucks, Robben Ford, Bob Mould

[cebreez]

Phil Keaggy
Tim Roberts
Ronnie Rushing
Chris Griffin
Chet Atkins
Lenny Breau
Jimi Page
SRV
Eric Clapton
Jeff Beck
Pete Townsend
Albert Lee
Chuck Berry
John Mayer
Marty Stuart
Roy Clark
And many of you guys here. There are some really good guitarist in this forum I love listening to. Keep it up, I'm always hungry for more.

And many many more that I have no idea what there names where. All the big Rock groups of the 70's and 80's, many Jazz and Blues players.

[firebirdfreak]

Mine are

Jimi hendrix
jeff beck
steve vai
wes motgomery
Joe bonamassa
Jonathan "boogie" Long
Shawn lane
guthrie govan
Scott holiday
Eric clapton
joe walsh
my dad haha
Mark Allred My guitar teacher
Tyler bryant
my emotions are what mainly drive me but i suppose that my emotions arent a guitarist.

[firebirdfreak]

Alex lifeson is wayy up there too

[sixstringdrug]

in no particular order:

Robert Johnson
Slash
David Gilmour
Rory Gallagher
Jimi Hendrix
Jimmy Page
Jimmy Haha
Buddy Guy
Billy Gibbons
Joe Bonamassa
Eric Clapton
Neil Young
Mike Eizinger
Pete Townshend
Dave Matthews

Some for different reasons than others and there are soooo many that have influenced me over the years but these guys I have gleaned a lot of licks and tricks from their playing, either in the notes, the tone, the technique or the sounds....they all speak to me.

[sunvalleylaw]

No order, not sure if it is 15. I know I answered this before some time ago, but here is another answer:


Django, Wes Montgomery, Pete Townshend, Neil Young, Johnny Ramone, SRV, Hendrix, Mayer, Gilmour, Stone Gossard, Mike McCready, Pat Smear, Jerry Cantrell, Kim Thayil, George Benson, Nels Cline, Rivers Cuomo. . . and the list goes on.

[NWBasser]

Alex lifeson is wayy up there too

As a direct influence on my guitar playing, Alex would be at the top.