As we wind our way down to the final three, I find myself looking back on how this list has changed over the years.  There are certainly a few guys that would have been on this list years ago but due to changing tastes and the “broadening of the palette” (so to speak), some did not make the cut.  I’m such a guitar fanatic that I probably could have made this a Top 50 Favorite Guitarists easily but I had to draw the line somewhere.

As for the remaining three, the top two have remained consistent for many years but number three has gained the most traction out of them all.

3.  Michael Schenker

Michael Schenker is an absolute monster player.  It’s a damn shame that it took me until the past twenty years to fully realize the man’s talents but I’ve only got myself to blame.  I had a Michael Schenker Group (MSG) live album and had heard a couple of live UFO tunes (his main band in the ’70s) but I turned a bit of a blind “ear” to the poppier leanings of the McCauley Schenker Group and the relative hair band-iness of his work in Contraband.  But it was his return to UFO in the mid-90s that pretty much sealed the deal for me and made me go back and reexamine that band’s seminal work and to revisit his first few albums with MSG, which left me kicking myself for not picking up the material sooner.  In my opinion, there are three keys to Schenker’s playing (ranked in order):  1)  Tone-  Schenker’s guitar tone is fantastic and one of my favorites from any guitarist, especially with the half cocked wah wah pedal; 2) Melody-  there is so much beauty to go with that classic tone, whether it be electric or acoustic; and 3) Riffs- whether it be UFO, MSG, Scorpions the man has written a boatload of classics that have influenced many a player.  After having periodic difficulties with alcohol, Schenker has cleaned up his act over the past few years and is back stronger than ever.

Choice cuts:  “Lights Out”, “Doctor Doctor”, “Rock Bottom”, “On And On”, “Attack Of The Mad Axeman”, “Another Piece of Meat”, “Venus”, “Armed And Ready”

2.  Stevie Ray Vaughan

Watching a Stevie Ray Vaughan performance is like a cross between watching someone playing as if his life depended on it and someone wrestling with an alligator.  Put a guitar in his hands and you watch a man come to life-  SRV emitted a certain fearlessness and reckless abandon that could be intoxicating to watch, especially in his early years and even much later as he conquered the substances that were slowly dragging him into mediocrity.  The man was born to play and lived and breathed the guitar; hell, the guitar always seemed to be a part of him.  Too many of Vaughan’s naysayers complain that he’s a Hendrix copycat or Albert King wannabee, but I see him as the perfect blend of multiple influences and then some.  And if he were alive today, who knows exactly how he would sound or what he would be playing.  With a base built around the blues, Vaughan wasn’t afraid to venture out into jazzier headspace at times or even in roadhouse rock territory throughout his brief career.  Stevie Ray Vaughan was all feel and he was starting to reach new heights after kicking a nasty alcohol habit until a tragic helicopter accident killed him at the young age of 35.  Often imitated but never duplicated.

Choice cuts:  “Pride And Joy”, “Scuttle Buttin'”, “Couldn’t Stand The Weather”, “Texas Flood”, “Crossfire”, “Riviera Paradise”, “Rude Mood”, “Love Me Darlin'”

Two at a time over the next couple of posts before we get to the top dog!

5.  Paul Gilbert

I remember very well the first time I heard Paul Gilbert…  I was in a record store (my regular hang in my younger years) sometime in 1986, perusing the shelves for something fresh and new to listen to when out of the speakers comes a slow buildup of double kicked drums and a tapped guitar measure that immediately caught my attention.  Then after 30 seconds I was transfixed by some of the most reeeee-diculous guitar playing I’d ever heard in my life-  it was fast, it was technical, it was meaty, and it had my wallet hook, line, and sinker.  It was Paul Gilbert’s debut disc with his band Racer X and it was jam packed with metal that was up my alley-  a good dose of heavy Judas Priest (and this is pre-Painkiller, mind you), Van Halen swagger, and Yngwie Malmsteen.  Gilbert put out another studio disc and a couple of live releases with the band before making a huge leap into the majors with Mr. Big, where he put his talents to good use for quite a few years before going solo and putting out some mighty fine discs in the process.  Pablo covers a lot of ground, whether it be writing ballads, something with a Beatle-esque or Hendrixy vibe, or showcasing his shredtastic talents.  He’s not one to stick to a particular style but has covered a lot of ground over the years and quite impressively.  A great teacher too… check him out on YouTube!

Choice cuts:  “Frenzy/Street Lethal”, “Daddy, Lover, Brother, Little Boy”, “Technical Difficulties”, “Going To Mexico”, “Scarified”, “Addicted To That Rush”, “Green Tinted Sixties Mind”, “Bliss”

4.  Jake E. Lee

1989…  a year I remember well…  college graduation and the summer of one of THE best live shows I have ever experienced in my life-  Badlands at Bogarts in Cincinnati, OH.  I’d already known Jake to be a fantastic player based on his two album stint with Ozzy Osbourne (Bark At The Moon and The Ultimate Sin) plus I’d already devoured the Badlands debut, but I had NO inkling of what I was to experience that night at the show.  The man was possessed!  Finally free from Ozzy’s shackles, Jake could finally let loose and play what he wanted to play and play whatever pleased him.  There was so much fluidity in his playing AND his stage movements; plus he and lead singer Ray Gillen (check out my favorite singers list!) had such a command of the stage and crowd that night that I left out of there wishing I could be nearly as cool as either of those guys.  Unfortunately, Jake and Ray’s tenure only lasted two more albums (one the posthumously released “Dusk”) and he pretty much disappeared for a decade but has returned with a very good band in Red Dragon Cartel.  Jake’s got the riffs, he’s got the lead playing, he’s got style and flair, he’s got primal rawness, he’s got the acoustic bits, and he’s got the rhythm.  He does have a stubborn streak in that he often doesn’t have a set style, but that willingness to take chances and strike gold with something different often leads to very exciting results.

Choice cuts:  “Bark At The Moon”, “Centre Of Eternity”, “Shot In The Dark”, “Live Wire”, “Rumblin’ Train”, “Jade’s Song/Winter’s Call”, “Streets Cry Freedom”, “The Last Time”

“Opinionate!” Hades If At First You Don’t Succeed

A good dose of 80’s metal here, not quite thrash but more of a pseudo-technical slash power metal.  Alan Tecchio has some serious range here, reminiscent of a cross between Fates Warning’s Ray Alder and leather lunged Rob Halford, and the guitars are suitably doomy at the intro before things get nice and riffy with some tricky drumwork.  I loved this type of metal back in the day as it wasn’t straight 4/4 but took risks here and there and had plenty of riffs and time changes that kept my attention throughout.

“Whiskey On The Rocks” AC/DC Ballbreaker

I could write for days on the importance of AC/DC to my listening experience as a young lad.  If they put out a new album I’m buying it!  “Whiskey” is a decent little song; nicely riffed, gruffly sung by Brian, and a cool return to the drum stool for Phil Rudd.  Guitar tones on this are really interesting though as you can totally pick out differences during the verse compared to the chorus (and I’m not talking about the six note noodle at the intro either).  Drier in one channel (I’m guessing Malcom) and meatier in the other (obviously Angus), and probably double tracked as well.

“Lady Love” Robin Trower Bridge Of Sighs

Man…  this is a really cool song-  other cuts on this album were the bigger hits but there is so much smoothness all throughout “Lady Love” that it’s a crime it didn’t get as much high praise.  Robin Trower’s watery tone and lead work is exceptional as always but Jim Dewar’s vocal is the icing on the cake, a bit of a smoother Joe Cocker.  Sublime rhythm work here too, solid bassline from Dewar and great drums and percussion from Reg Isidore (who has a fever for the cowbell).  But yeah… Trower…  smooth as silk riff and some tasty fills up front and deep in the mix.

“Whisper In Your Soul” Gov’t Mule Shout!

Warren Haynes should be a household name.  The guy has had such a great career either as a sideman (David Allen Coe, Allman Brothers, Dickey Betts), as a guest player (Grateful Dead), as a solo player, or with his main gig in Gov’t Mule.  “Whisper” is a dose of awesomeness that we’ve come to expect from that band-  this song is a builder with lots of space for Matt Abts to pound tribal, Jorgen Carlsson to groove the bass, Danny Louis to add organ color, and brother Warren to belt it out and add some sweet guitar soul.  Kind of a bluesy/R&B/psychedelic/Beatley mix here (I think?)

“Guns For Hire” AC/DC Plug Me In Bonus CD

By all that is holy this is a GREAT FRIGGIN’ LIVE VERSION of a forgotten gem from the criminally underrated Flick Of The Switch album and before Brian Johnson’s voice went south shortly thereafter (although he’s kinda sorta magically somewhat had a serious comeback the past couple of albums).  I love Bon Scott AC/DC but the POWER of the band in the early Brian years is a phenomenon all its own.  Angus provides that intro swagger as only he can, firing up the crowd before the rest of the band comes bashing in and Brian knocks it out of the park.

“Emerald” Skyclad Prince Of The Poverty Line

I’ve gone on and on about my love for Thin Lizzy and “Emerald” may actually be my favorite song from the great Irish band (or at least top three).  This version is pretty darn close in vibe and spirit, although Martin Walkyier’s fiesty bellow is far removed from Lynott plus you’ve got some swinging fiddle which magically weaves in and out among the lead lines extremely well.  Major points for choosing a Lizzy song to cover and foist ye a draft on high for doing it very well (although that vocal may be an acquired taste for some).

“Allons-Y (1)” Pink Floyd The Endless River

For those not in the know, The Endless River is the final Pink Floyd album (or so sez David Gilmour).  The album is made up of leftovers from The Division Bell sessions and was pieced together pretty much as a tribute to their late keyboardist Rick Wright.  “Allons-Y (1)” is a very brief cut full of that classic Gilmour guitar, reminiscent of something like “Run Like Hell” in tempo.  You get snippets of Wright’s keyboard washes woven in with the riffs, but it’s that buttery Strat guitar tone of Gilmour’s that is the ultimate winner here.

“Dirty Dream” Thunder Robert Johnson’s Tombstone

Oh, what coulda shoulda been…  Thunder is a great little band from Britain that came out at the tail end of hair metal before grunge obliterated anything and everything remotely of that headspace.  “Dirty Dream” is reminiscent of that era but leans more towards early Whitesnake or UFO with a touch of Bad Company with its swinging riff, risque lyric, and the dulcet tones of one Danny Bowes.  These guys were always popular in their home country but couldn’t get a whiff of anything here, although Pamela Anderson did appear in one of their first videos (your trivia of the day!)

“Top Of The Pops” Smithereens Blow Up

The Smithereens have always been an underrated band and deserve way more credit than what they get.  “Top Of The Pops” is a little more simplified in formula than most of their classics with its meat and potatoes riff and fairly sing song-y vocal.  Funny I say that as it’s very reminiscent of something their heroes The Kinks or The Who may have put out in their early years, a dash of “I Can’t Explain” or “All Day And All Of The Night” mixed with The Dave Clark Five.  Throws in some extra trickery with the piano lick and female vocal at the the end just to make sure you ain’t snoozin’.

“John The Fisherman” Primus Fizzle Fry

Let’s get this off my chest first… PRIMUS SUCKS!  OK, that little inside joke out of the way, “John The Fisherman” is a fine, fine dose of prime wackiness from Les Claypool and his fellow oddballs.  These guys have always been totally unique in their approach but they’ve got some serious chops across the board-  bass playing is from another planet, guitar work is skronkingly good, and drum work is ridiculously groovy and heavy at the same time.  Throw on top of that a vocal that’s nasally nerdy but is incredibly fitting with the fantastic ditties Les writes.

Damn…  one helluva list here and hard to pick out a favorite but I’ve got a three way tie this time around as all three fit different moods:  “John The Fisherman” if I’m in a playfully goofy mood, “Guns For Hire” if I want to seriously headbang with my fist in the air, and “Lady Love” if I want some fairly laid back goodness.  Chase that with “Dirty Dream” and it’s a solid four in a row.

Onto the top ten we go!

10.  Brian Robertson

Thin Lizzy’s Brian Robertson was pretty much a wunderkind, joining the band at the ripe old age of 18 to team up with Scott Gorham for a brief but most excellent four year stint with the great Irish band.  Lizzy’s popularity shot through the roof with the Gorham/Robertson tag team as they released five studio albums and one live album during this period.  The band has always had a slew of great players, but Robertson has always been my favorite-  his lead style was very melodic and what he played fit perfectly for the song.  His Les Paul tone with half cocked wah wah pedal during the lead breaks was so smooth, subtle, and never too flashy.  Unfortunately, Robertson’s tenure with Lizzy was short and he moved on to fill the guitarist void in Motorhead which seemed like such an odd pairing at the time but in hindsight their single album together (Another Perfect Day) is an underrated gem.  Robertson has kept a fairly low profile over the years and his playing is missed.

Choice cuts:  “Emerald”, “Suicide”, “Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed”, “The Boys Are Back In Town”, “Still In Love With You (live version)”, “Cowboy Song”

9.  Nuno Bettencourt

Nuno Bettencourt has been unfairly slagged as being part of a hair metal band (Extreme) that wrote a #1 hit ballad in “More Than Words” (to me, a FANTASTIC song), but outside of guitar fanatics he doesn’t get his due.  This dude can PLAAAAAAAY and his chops are much better than some of his peers from the 80s.  For one thing, Nuno sense of timing and his innate funkiness is off the charts-  hell, even Rhianna knows this as he’s been moonlighting in her live band for the past few years!  The guy is a great rhythm player and his lead playing puts him on another level.  Sure, Nuno can play fast but his overall sense of feel is what makes him stand out, whether it be on the rock cuts or the occasional acoustic pieces that he writes for Extreme.  All those haters out there have no idea what they are missing.

Choice cuts:  “Cupid’s Dead”, “Kid Ego”, “Play With Me”, “Get The Funk Out”, “Decadence Dance”, “Cynical”

8.  Billy Gibbons

Tone…  taste…  tenacity…  three words that do a great job of describing Reverend Billy F Gibbons’ technique and the overall vibe and style of his fantastic band of brothers in ZZ Top.  I grew up with the MTV version of ZZ so I caught the band in all its glory with the cars, women, beards, and sunglasses but little did I know what awesomeness lie in the past.  Sure, I got a good dose of the early radio hits but holy smokes…  those early pre-Eliminator albums is where the bulk of the joy is.  What’s totally cool about Gibbons’ playing is that it’s the economy of it:  no fast noodling, no wild bends, no crazy guitar histrionics; it’s all down to those three T’s described above and his overall sense of feel.  Put on an early ZZ record and you’ll be air guitaring and bopping along in no time.

Choice cuts:  “Heard It On The X”, “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers”, “Just Got Paid”, “I Need You Tonight”, “La Grange”, “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide”

7.  Dave Murray/Adrian Smith/Janick Gers

Why, OF COURSE I have to put The Three Amigos on here, being from my favorite band of all time.  And like a couple of posts earlier I do have to cheat and put them in as a collective unit.  The boys from Iron Maiden (along with bassist supreme Steve Harris) have written a number of classics and all three have their own distinct voice in the band:  Janick Gers with his searing, off the cuff Blackmoreisms, Dave Murray with his Hendrix meets Trower legato work, and the smooth Schenkeresque stylings of Adrian Smith.  All bring something totally different to the table in their writing styles and in their lead playing that helps push Iron Maiden to the forefront of heavy metal.  While I can’t deny that I lean more towards Murray’s looser style, Smith brings more of a melodic punch to the band that was sorely missing when he was gone and Gers has a tendency to freestyle and push things to the limit oftentimes with great success.

Choice cuts:  “The Trooper”, “Wasted Years”, “Powerslave”, “The Thin Line Between Love And Hate”, “Sign Of The Cross”, “Paschendale”

6.  Buck Dharma

Buck Dharma has got to be THE most underrated rock guitar player on the planet.  As one of Blue Oyster Cult’s main songwriters he has written many a fine riff and his lead playing truly fits the song.  However, Buck really comes to life in a live setting, often taking extended solos midway through songs to take them to a whole other level.  Believe me, he is the only guitarist I’ve caught live that took me to another transcendent plane when he went off midway through one of BOC’s moodier cuts that gradually increased in tempo as his playing intensified.  Buck’s style incorporates jazzy phrasing with the occasional blues twist that makes him a little more unique compared to his contemporaries.  He’s quite capable of making quick runs and dramatic stops/starts along with slower, bluesier melodic spots, often within the same song.  Great tone too.

Choice cuts:  “Don’t Fear The Reaper”, “Burnin’ For You”, “Then Came The Last Days Of May”, “Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll”, “Astronomy”, “Perfect Water”

To me, the guitar has always been a bit of a magical instrument.  When I was younger I was always more of a “riff” guy.  Songs back then definitely drew me in if it had a loud, heavily distorted and as I’ve gotten older it’s gotten worse 🙂  I still lean towards the heavy but I’ve come to appreciate an even more rhythmic approach too.  That said, this next batch of five includes some heavy rhythm giants along with a shredtastic lead player and a clown prince of guitar.

15.  Ritchie Blackmore

The heavy rock world’s Man In Black, Ritchie Blackmore is the father of one of THE most iconic riffs of all time as well as one of the craftsmen of what we know today as heavy metal.  As the leader of Deep Purple, Blackmore paired heavy riffs with Jon Lord’s Hammond B3 organ and Ian Gillan’s unearthly screaming to create a new sound circa 1970 that has influenced a number of guitarists over the year.  While Blackmore’s rhythm work is stellar it’s his lead guitar that reigns supreme; all full of lightning quick runs interspersed with beautiful melodic passages.  Known for a mean streak as fiery as his guitar playing, Blackmore sacked quite a few Purple bandmates and even more in his stint with Rainbow.  Nowadays, Blackmore is most comfortable playing medieval folk music with his wife in Blackmore’s Night.

Choice cuts:  “Smoke On The Water”, “Gates Of Babylon”, “Highway Star”, “Lazy”

14.  Tony Iommi

Like Blackmore, Tony Iommi can also lay claim to be a founding father of heavy metal as a member of Black Sabbath.  Due to an unfortunate work accident, Iommi lost the tips of two fingers on his fretting hand which caused him to use lighter gauge strings on his guitar and to tune down, ultimately leading to a heavier guitar sound.  Fortunately, Iommi’s handicap did not deter his spirits as he has blessed us with many a fine riff and remains a dependable anchor in the Sabbath machine.  Iommi has a distinct, piercing lead tone that he’ll often add to various songs but mostly he is the master of the mountain moving riff.  Genres such as stoner metal and doom metal owe a huge debt to Iommi based on his riffs and tone, but all metal genres as a whole have benefitted from the classic songs that he wrote.

Choice cuts:  “War Pigs”, “Hole In The Sky”, “Heaven And Hell”, “Die Young”

13.  Pete Townshend

I could watch Pete Townshend play guitar all day.  It’s not what he’s playing, it’s not the guitar tone, and it’s not the song:  the man is pure excitement when he has a guitar in his hands.  Granted, the man is now an old codger these days (however, one who still plays well) but in the Who’s heyday in the 60s and 70s Townshend damn near turned guitar playing into a violent sport.  Guitar destruction, windmills, leaps in the air, slides across the stage, “Birdman” poses…  the guy had it all and then some.  While not a strong lead player, Townshend is an outstanding rhythm player with an almost flamencoesque style at times mixed in with massive, sustained power chords that shake foundations.  His songwriting spectrum is vast as he can amaze you with a beautifully sung and played acoustic cut and chase that with a vicious and angry one full of punk fervor via gritty and crunchy electric riffs.

Choice cuts:  “Won’t Get Fooled Again”, “Young Man Blues”, “Behind Blue Eyes”, “Pinball Wizard”

12.  Alex Skolnick

In my late teens and early twenties my musical tastes had made a massive shift to much heavier music, specifically thrash metal.  One of my new favorite bands at the time was Testament, featuring the awesome lead guitar work of Alex Skolnick.  Skolnick’s style was filled with fast and tasty guitar runs but he had such a melodic playing style and great tone that he stood out from the pack.  A lot of thrash music can be angry and atonal but Skolnick’s playing helped lift Testament’s songs to a whole other level via his virtuosic talents.  Out of many players in the genre, I can actually SING his lead guitar parts in my head!  In the early 90s Skolnick left Testament to pursue other musical endeavors (releasing a jazz CD, guest guitarist in multiple projects, etc) before returning full time to the band in 2005.  A great, all around player.

Choice cuts:  “Disciples Of The Watch”, “Practice What You Preach”, “Return To Serenity”, “Trial By Fire”

11.  Joe Walsh

Clown prince of rock and roll.  Master of the guitar face.  Popularizer of the “talk box”.  Joe Walsh is all these things and so much more.  What I love about Joe is his sense of fun in his playing (that “nyaah nyaah nyaah” lead style), his funky riffs, monumental songs, and overall sense of rhythm.  Rumor has it that the Eagles brought him on board to inject a bit of that fun into a band full of serious and stoic musicians.  Walsh is great all around, whether running the show in his days with James Gang, Barnstorm, and his solo career or being the ultimate team player in the Eagles with fellow guitarist Don Felder.  Walsh has written a variety of great material, from funny, self-deprecating songs to classic rock anthems throughout his career.  As a master tinkerer, he doesn’t tie himself down to a specific guitar, effect, or tone-  whatever fits the song will do!

Choice cuts:  “Funk 49”, “Turn To Stone”, “Hotel California”, “Rocky Mountain Way”

Down five with twenty more to go!  The next five include some minor “cheats” but hey, it’s my blog and I can do what I want to do.  This group is quite the mix.

20.  Dave Mustaine

Aggressive…  chaotic… intense…  yes, Dave Mustaine’s lead and rhythm style can be described in those three words and then some.  As a founding father of Metallica, Mustaine helped lay the foundation for the burgeoning thrash movement in the early 80’s with an often reckless yet fiercely passionate playing style before his unfortunate sacking from the band.  Not to be deterred Mustaine found some like-minded souls and went on to form Megadeth, a band still going strong today with some fellow co-pilots in the guitarist seat.  Do not be fooled though… this is Mustaine’s band and Mustaine’s vision and all others must follow.  Sure, there have been some missteps along the way but the man and band continue to forge ahead whether it be via their punk meets thrash roots to their all out mid period guitar assaults to more standard rock and metal fare.

Choice cuts:  “Good Mourning/Black Friday”, “Holy Wars”, “Hangar 18”, “My Last Words”

19.  Michael Romeo

Michael Romeo should be a household name in guitar circles.  As guitarist for Symphony X he and his band play a brand of progressive metal that’s a mix of multiple influences (I’ve always described them as Dream Theater meets Kansas meets Yngwie Malmsteen) with a group of outstanding musicians.  Sure, Romeo plays fast but there is a ton of depth in the songwriting which allows him to add a lot of texture, colors, and feel across a broad palette.  His playing never sounds too technical or robotic; he can be aggressive as needed but he plays with a lot of passion and melody moreso than some of his peers in the genre.  While mostly known for his electric work, Romeo will often incorporate acoustic passages into some songs to add a different shade to offset some of his heavier work.  And check out his interplay with keyboardist Michael Pinnella as well!

Choice cuts:  “Accolade”, “Accolade II”, “Sea Of Lies”, “Communion And The Oracle”

18.  Duane Allman/Dickey Betts/Warren Haynes

Yeah I’m cheating here but so what 🙂  Allman and Betts were the original guitar tandem with the Allman Brothers Band while Warren Haynes was one of the many guitarists that joined the band after Allman’s untimely death in the early 70’s and also leads his own group Gov’t Mule.  But I’m focusing on the ABB and leaving these guys out of any guitar discussion is hard to do.  Allman’s slide guitar and Betts’ jazzy runs were instrumental to the success of that band from roughly 1969 to 1971 and set the tone for many jam bands to come.  It’s hard to just refer to the Allmans as a “jam band” as they covered a range of styles, from country to blues to jazz to soul to a everything in between.  In the two year period between the formation of the band to Allman’s death, they were just starting to take off.  Fortunately with Haynes joining in the late 80’s, the band went through a serious “revival” (pun intended) before recently calling it quits earlier this year.

Choice cuts:  “In Memory Of Elizabeth Reed”, “Nobody Knows”, “One Way Out”, “Statesboro Blues”

17.  Elliott Randall/Denny Dias/Jeff Baxter

Ahhh the Dan!  I’m sorry, but I’m a big Steely Dan fan, especially the first three or four albums before they got a little too fine tuned and jazzy around Aja.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that album and those that came after but to me, those first few featuring the great work of Randall, Dias, and Baxter are on another level.  These three cats can play!  Can’t Buy A Thrill, Countdown To Ecstasy, and Pretzel Logic featured the three as the Dan broke ground with their rock n soul n jazz stylings.  Their work on these three albums can still be heard on classic rock radio today.  Their raw lead tones and how they color each song with their playing are mini compositions in their own right and are often quite memorable in their own way.  Apologies to the other Steely Dan guitarists that have played over the years, but these three are the tops in my book.

Choice Cuts:  “My Old School”, “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”, “Reelin’ In The Years”, “Bodhisattva”

16.  Jimmy Page

Jimmy Page…  Led Zeppelin… what more do you need to say?  Sure, the mid to late 70s (and into the 80s) was a bit of a drug infested period for Page and his live playing often suffered, but you can’t deny the man’s talents.  Did he write classic songs?  Check…  Did he write great riffs?  Check…  Did he have memorable solos?  Check…  Did he write some beautiful acoustic passages?  Check…  Page was a master of light and shade, black and white, and tight but loose.  Even pre-Zeppelin he was one of THE go to session guitarists on the London scene.  The man had talent to spare, whether it be soft acoustic playing or layers upon layers of over the top raw electric on six or twelve string guitar.  The depth of his songwriting alone puts him on this list and his expressive and often ethereal guitar playing helped make Led Zeppelin infamous.

Choice Cuts:  “Stairway To Heaven”, “Whole Lotta Love”, “Achilles Last Stand”, “The Rain Song”

So, I’ve had fun before with my top 25 favorite singers, so now it’s time to give a run through of my favorite guitarists as well.  As before, I’ll give a quick summary about why I like them and give you a few choice cuts to check out.

25.  Glenn Tipton

One half of the mighty Judas Priest tag team, Glenn Tipton is not only a great songwriter but a great player as well.  From melodic, classically influenced leads to more of a sweeping style, Tipton seems to have evolved over time as he doesn’t quite stick with your typical pentatonic scales of his peers nor is he whammy bar happy like partner in crime KK Downing.  To me, he was always the player that stood out in the band; all calm\cool\collected reserve compared to KK’s more rock star histrionics,  And man, can this cat play when he puts his mind to it.  When I think classic lead breaks in Judas Priest, they all come from Mr. Tipton.  The key to his playing is how he can switch from a melodic passage to heavier blasts with emphasis on strong bends and distinct note choices.

Choice cuts:  “Electric Eye”, “Painkiller”, “You’ve Got Another Thing Comin'”, “Victim Of Changes”

24.  Richard Thompson 

I’m late to the party with Richard Thompson but boy, am I glad I’ve discovered who he is and his great talents on the six string.  As an acoustic player there is none finer: what sounds like an army of players is just Thompson, incorporating hybrid picking, unique chord structures, and incredibly beautiful work altogether.  His electric work on his rockier cuts is great as well, but he’s not someone whose power is in volume and tenacity.  His strengths are finding the right chord structures, notes, and tones that fit the great songs that he writes, whether it be his early days with Fairport Convention, his work with his wife Linda, or his solo material.  Not only is the man talented on acoustic and electric, but he will also incorporate mandolin and dulcimer as well.

Choice Cuts:  “1952 Vincent Black Lightning”, “Beeswing”, “Shoot Out The Lights”, “Down Where The Drunkards Roll”

23.  Jimi Hendrix

I’m sure I’ll hear it from some of you out there…. he’s waaaaaaay too low on this list!  Hendrix’ genius really escaped me until my later years and most of that can be blamed on when I first heard him.  Just think, if those of us younger than 50 had heard Hendrix right when he came out we’d be instant converts.  Who else dressed like that, looked like that, and played like that in the late 60s?  He was, as some people swore at the time, literally from outer space.  His songs and his influence are present even to this day.  Psychedelic blues, soulful playing, swirling feedback, weird noises, wailing notes…  the dude was doing it all.  It is amazing how much phenomenal work he actually put out in his few short years on this planet.  He wrote some great songs, sang his heart out, and literally changed rock guitar playing overnight.

Choice Cuts:  “All Along The Watchtower”, “Fire”, “Voodoo Chile”, “Castles Made Of Sand”

22.  George Lynch

Back in the 80s when hair metal was all the rage, Dokken ranked high in my favorites from the genre mostly due to the wicked playing of Mr. Scary.  Lynch is a beat of a freak of nature with his impressive lead work; much of it melodic but oftentimes full of quick barrages of notes at high speed.  My favorite playing from George may likely be his work in Lynch Mob, a little bit more swampier and bluesier in style compared to some of the lighter fare conjured up in his previous band.  These days Lynch is a bit hit or miss on his playing but he doesn’t constantly rely on old tricks as he’ll often seek out new players and projects to showcase different facets of his musical personality.  He’s not quite Furious George all the time but remains on the lookout for new tones.  And he still has quite the cool guitar collection 🙂

Choice cuts:  “Into The Fire”, “In My Dreams”, “Mr. Scary”, “Wicked Sensation”

21.  Angus Young

Years ago I had a discussion with a friend of mine about great guitarists and he was taken aback that I would think Angus Young was worthy of such admiration.  “It all sounds the same!” he said.  Well, not necessarily.  It depends on what you are listening to.  Sure, Malcolm is (or sadly, WAS) the stronger rhythm player and the backbone of the band but Ang certainly was no slouch.  What comes out of Angus Young’s hands and fingers is personality-  I truly think when he was younger that the guitar was just another appendage.  The music is in him and he has such a relentless yet playful style about him that just bleeds out of him, whether it be in his rhythm work or his strong lead work.  Sure, a lot of his influence is strictly in the Chuck Berry mold but his playing and attack is much more fearless.

Choice cuts:  “Whole Lotta Rosie”, “Let There Be Rock”, “The Jack”, “Back In Black”

(Over the next few weeks I’ll be going into a little more detail about each band in my “Favorite bands since 2000” post back in March.  This time around we take a look at North Carolina’s Valient Thorr)

You know, I’ve seen quite a few concerts over my lifetime and have sat through a number of opening bands; some decent, some kinda meh, and some that have knocked me out so much that I leave the show thinking “who WERE those guys???”  Back in 2011, my brother Steve and I went to Chicago to see Motorhead at the Congress Theater (thanks to a Christmas gift from my awesome wife) who were supported by Clutch and Valient Thorr.  Clutch I was already familiar with and was already a big fan of, but all I’d heard from this band with the funny sounding name was the song “Exit Strategy” courtesy of a video via OnDemand cable.  The song was good but didn’t quite grab me.  But boy, were we ever in for a shock of epic proportions.

I still don’t quite remember what song they started off with (likely “Double Crossed” per the footage below), but right from the get go these guys had out attention.  With a mix of heavy metal zaniness and punk rock spirit Valient and the boys rocked hard through their brief five (or was it six?) song set as all five members were energetic and a blur of non-stop movement.  It may have been only one song in when lead singer Valient Himself decided that it was just a bit too hot up there and decided to ditch his vest and shirt, which wasn’t too surprising as this guy had already worked up a sweaty mess running in place and trying to fire up the crowd.  These guys look like a band of pirates or Vikings crossed with a local biker gang but who cares?  I didn’t know any of the songs that they played but left the show totally impressed by their energetic and enthusiastic performance and knew I’d be buying some (well, actually ALL now) of their CDs.

My lasting memory from the show was midway through their third or fourth song, where Valient made a couple of hand motions to the crowd asking us to leave a little bit of space on the floor so he could jump down and…  lead us all in a massive rowing session?!?!?  And sure enough, the crowd followed suit and sat down with him as he proceeded to row in time to the music.  We weren’t sure what in the hell he was doing from the stage at first but once he got on the floor and rowed we just about fell over.  A bit odd but hilarious at the same time.

A little bit of band background…  Valient Thorr has been together since 2000 and is a five piece band that hails from Chapel Hill, North Carolina  The band has released an EP independently and has five other CDs to their name, the latest being Our Own Masters.  Musically, these guys are hard to pin down as they are a mix of heavier southern rock, hardcore punk, and classic heavy metal-  think AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, D.R.I., Motorhead, and Blackfoot all mixed together and you’re kind of in the ballpark.  Vocally, Valient Himself is not the greatest of singers, belting things out in more of a full throated speak/sing style that sounds a mix of a Southern preacher, Mojo Nixon, and a professional wrestler cutting a promo (YouTube “Buzz Sawyer” or “Dusty Rhodes” and you’re close), but he is a totally unique and energetic frontman.  Guitarists Eidan Thorr and Sadat Thorr are a great team, showcasing unison guitar riffs and leads in similar fashion to southern rock greats like Molly Hatchet along with Iron Maiden and the aforementioned Thin Lizzy; and the rhythm section of Lucian Thorr and new bassboy Storm Thorr bash out solid tempos at often breakneck speed.

Yeah, these dudes put on an awesome show and write some great tunes but let’s not forget what a sense of humor they have as well.  With a name like Valient Thorr how can they not be funny?  Just check out their videos-  from their take on The Office for the “Torn Apart” video, to the manic house party in “Double Crossed”, or their daily routine in the rollicking “Sleeper Awakes”.  Why make a boring performance video when you can add a little bit to it?  And just to show that these guys aren’t all fun and games you’ll come across some lyrically hard-hitting topics in their cuts “Exit Strategy”, “Tomorrow Police”, “Goveruptcy” or “Red Flag” all tackling serious subjects but still performed at a manic and furious pace.

If you dig energetic songs, if you dig top notch riffs, if you dig manic drumming, and if you dig a vocalist that’s out there, you’ll absolutely love Valient Thorr.  Start with Stranger or Immortalizer first, enjoy, go out and buy the rest, and then go catch them live.  Trust me, you WILL have fun.

10.  “Bittersweet” Grip Inc. Hostage To Heaven

Former Slayer drum king Dave Lombardo formed Grip Inc. in the 90’s after leaving the band circa “Diabolous In Musica” and formed a heady and sometimes moodier mix of metal with Waldemar Sorychta on guitars and former punk vocalist Gus Chambers.  “Bittersweet” comes from their 2015 EP of unreleased cuts and is a sweet mix of acoustic interplay with heavy, melodic guitars and Lombardo’s laid back drumwork with an understated vocal from Chambers, who died in 2008 after an accidental mix of alcohol and medication.

9.  “All Night Long” Junior Kimbrough You Better Run: The Essential Junior Kimbrough

I’ll admit that my gateway to Junior Kimbrough was through The Black Keys and North Mississippi All Stars, two bands certainly entranced by the hypnotic boogie of this Hill Country bluesman.  Take a heaping dose of John Lee Hooker and other blues stomps and mix in a dose of non-stop groove and you’ve got a winner.  The blues is a feeling and this song is a great intro to a unique artist that would be certainly at home in a sweaty juke joint down South.  Just give in to the irresistible groove of “All Night Long” and let it soak in.

8.  “Coming Home” Spiritual Beggars Return To Zero

If you dig 70’s rock in the vibe of Deep Purple/Uriah Heep/Whitesnake/UFO then Spiritual Beggars should be part of your collection.  Led by Arch Enemy head man Michael Amott, the Beggars features a coterie of great musicians from various European hard rock and metal bands taking a break from their day jobs to put together some great hard rock in honor of their influences.  “Coming Home” is one of their more melodic cuts, riding a fairly simple but banging riff to allow lead throat Apollo Papathanasio to break out his inner David Coverdale for us all.

7.  “Mr. Recordman” Ugly Kid Joe America’s Least Wanted

The Ugly ones came in at the tail end of hair metal and grooved it up a bit, but this cut sounds like it could have fit on a Lemonheads record or other alt-rock band soon to pop up post grunge.  Likely a bit of tongue in cheek here based on the lyrics and overall delivery and certainly nothing like their more amped up hits.  All that side, this is a fine little ditty that we should all be singing around the campfire as we toast marshmallows and knock back a few cold ones.  Also includes a nifty little solo midway through.

6.  “Swingtown” Steve Miller Band Book of Dreams

Man, The Space Cowboy could write a hit.  “Swingtown” is a full on classic with a great melodic hook and great backing musicianship; one of those songs you can recognize immediately due to that swingin’ drum intro and bumping bass lick.  “I can name that song in two notes!”  Funny that something like this comes out during the height of the disco era as this song has some of those elements rhythmically but does its fair share of rocking.  Miller has such an easy cool vocal on everything he does that these songs are so much fun to sing.  Had this thing on 8 track back in the day which would fade out early in the cut so it could switch tracks (what’s an 8 track Mommy?).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbXx2ag6L4I

5.  “Legions In Hiding” Testament Low

The Low album is a bit of an underrated return to form for Testament as Alex Skolnick and Louie Clemente exit and the band brings back the heavy, with “Legions” a bit of a thick and chunky groover.  Chief Chuck starts to get a little more guttural with the vocal and he’s perfect for it, lots of low roar to go along with the tribal stomp.  The guitar team of newboy James Murphy with Testavet Eric Peterson drop in a dual lead as fill in sticksman John Tempesta and bassist Greg Christian fill out the bottom end.  Solid production on this as well and a good intro to those that fear Cookie Monster type vocals.

4.  “Murder On My Mind” The Hellacopters Rock & Roll Is Dead

Holy cow Batman, what is in the water over in Sweden?  The Hellacopters are a great, great garage rock band that is a mix of something you’d hear from the 60’s topped with some of your more melodic rock bands from the late 70’s and early 80’s (pre-hair era).  “Murder” features a great hook throughout the verse and the chorus as it rides some Stones-y cum KISS rock chords atop some Keith Moon drums with just a hint of keyboards.  And don’t just listen to what I say, none other than Springsteen side man Stevie Van Zandt (or Silvio Dante, for you Sopranos fans).

3.  “Some People Say” Eddie Spaghetti Old No. 2

Taking a break from his day job with the Supersuckers, Mr. Spaghetti treats us to the simply sweet and countryesque “Some People Say” featuring some basic acoustic strumming o’er top a 4/4 drum beat.  Ol’ Ed has always been a country fan and this is certainly more old school country crossed with something like The Byrds or Tom Petty in overall delivery with maybe a hint of Mexicali thrown in as well.  If you know the Supersuckers, this is FAR removed from that.  Keep Eddie Spaghetti in your prayers as he is battling stage 3 oropharynx cancer.

2.  “I’m Not Blind” Presto Ballet The Lost Art Of Time Travel

Presto Ballet leans quite heavily to 70s AOR/Prog, sounding a lot like radio ready bands a la Styx or Kansas.  “I’m Not Blind” sounds like it could easily fit on The Grand Illusion as lead singer Scott Albright sounds similar to Dennis DeYoung plus the keyboard and guitar interplay hearkens back to the glorious 70s.  Lots of melody here with some beautiful guitar and keyboard interplay in the intro before Albright dives into the verse.  Guitars are a little more crunchier than their influences, especially since Metal Church main man Kurdt Vanderhoof is at the helm of this band.

1.  “Fly” Blind Guardian A Twist In The Myth

Blind Guardian’s brand of power metal is a little different than, say, Hammerfall or Helloween in that it adds a bit more keyboard interplay along with the heavy riffing.  I’m not a Blind Guardian expert but I do have a handful of their cuts and “Fly” is quite enjoyable, a melodic, adventurous journey led by the dramatic and layered vocals of Hansi Kursch backed by some seriously symphonic rocking band interplay.  If you’ve ever wanted to dive headlong into some catchy and ornate Eurometal then Blind Guardian may be your bag.

Fave cut this time around would be “Swingtown”, followed by “Coming Home”.  Happy listening!

In honor of the last batch of Led Zeppelin reissues (go get those deluxe editions!) I’ve decided to put together my ten favorite Led Zeppelin songs.  I’ve been a Zep head for years and they rank in my top five of all time, so putting together this list was AWFULLY tough.  Years ago this list would have been quite different but nowadays I lean more to those non-hits (although you have a couple of radio staples in here).  I’ll keep my descriptions of why to one brief sentence 🙂

10. That’s The Way – sublime acoustic cut, great Plant vocal and Page guitar

9.  For Your Life –  love the stop start riff and in the pocket backbeat

8.  The Ocean – awesome Bonham drums and cool flow throughout the song

7.  Kashmir – moves mountains and perfectly shows off the Led Zep mystique

6.  Achilles Last Stand – pure power from all four members across the board and definition of their “tight but loose” approach

5.  Rock N Roll – still an awesome tribute to their roots with a killer Bonham intro

4.  Gallows Pole – haunting introduction leads into serious foot stomper with Plant at his strongest

3.  Trampled Underfoot – great blast of Zep funk with fab clavinet from the always underrated Jonesy!

2.  Ramble On – one of the best examples of Zep’s heavier and lighter moments

1. Ten Years Gone –  such beauty in its simplicity and subtlety with utter cool for miles