The real Guitar Heroes: Top 10 rock guitarists ever

eddie_1986 From the full article at nydailynews.com:

In honor of the release of ‘Guitar Hero: Metallica’, the News shredded all conventions to name our list of the top ten rock guitarists ever. Did Hendrix, Clapton or Van Halen get the top spot? Did Slash get cut from the list? Did metal guitarists like Steve Vai and Randy Rhoads get their due?

Fans surely won’t agree with all of our choices, so feel free to rock out with our poll and make your own choice for the best axe-wielder of all time.

No. 10: Neil Young
No. 9: Kirk Hammett
No. 8: Carlos Santana
No. 7: Randy Rhoads
No. 6: Stevie Ray Vaughan
No. 5: Jeff Beck
No. 4: Eric Clapton
No. 3: Jimmy Page
No. 2: Eddie Van Halen
No. 1: Jimi Hendrix

Back in the days when Van Halen, a staple on the ’70s L.A. club scene, had yet to sign a record deal, Eddie Van Halen used to play his solos with his back to the audience – so they couldn’t see his trademark fret work. Even if they could see what he was doing, they would have trouble keeping up. His tapping, use of sound effects and long solos are still immediately recognizable – even though most ’80s metal guitarists have been influenced by his style.

pushtoshove

Randy rhoads,Dimebag Darrel,glenn tipton & KK downing,Adrian Murray ,Jimmy page,Goerge Lynch,The De Leo bros,steve stephens,Def leppards orig guitars,….The list goes on and on
pushtoshove

Friggin Judas Priest!!!!
JP

Kirk Hammett?
http://www.gemproductionsinc.com Jimmy

Neil young? Can I laugh now.
http://www.buyarockguitar.com Buy A Rock Guitar

No Slash, no Via, no Gilmour…..

What?
classicmill

At some point in time Jack White will need to be added to the list. I’m all over the oldskool dudes, but Jack “The Ripper” knows how to play as well as any of these guys.
Some Guitar Guy

I know, none of you can sleep because of curiosity so here is my personal top 10

1) EVH
2) Jimi Hendrix
3) David Gilmour
4) Alex Lifeson
5) Jimmy Page
6) Steven Rothery
7) John McLaughlin
The Edge
9) Joe Satriani
10) Angus Young
Gary C.

10. Nuno Bettencourt (all right, I’m pushing it but…)
9. Joe Perry
8. Carlos Santana
7. Jeff Beck
6. Stevie Ray Vaughn
5. David Gilmour
4. Jimmy Page
3. Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
1. Edward Van Halen

Ed will always be number 1 in my book. Revolutionized guitar playing..EVERYBODY plays like Ed now or at least incorporates something of what he invented.
Luther

Slash saved the world from EVH clones. He also likes record new music more than once every 10 to 15 years!
Willis

It’s about time they made a top 10 with eddie higher then 5, most of the other polls have people that are rip offs of eddie or have’nt achvied as much as eddie. But eddie will all was be better then hendrix and what I hear hendrix use to stuff up alot to.
http://n/a rocker

what about slash he is great. neil young no way.
forget kirk hammet. the list should be of
innovative and creative guitarist.
EVH, Eric Clapton, Slash, Satch, Ywingie, etc
no CC deville
Rick Berdeski

OK…so here’s no surprise, BUT if hendrix wasnt dead at age 21 he would have probably petered out like nirvana. My reasoning: Nirvana 2-3 strong albums…jimi the same, both had 7-8 strong songs. BUT listening to cobain in 2009 or JIMI in 1984??? I dont know, I just think they were an “era artists.” Make their position in history and then OVER. No steve Vai? Not a huge fan, but definietly talent and satch? whats up with that? King Edward #1 Page #2 Hendrix #3 etc etc blah blah blah…shit…nickleback guitarist has some sweet licks but VH thats some major talent there kids.
Rockenvelop

My Top 10 list
1. Eddie Van Halen
2. Jimmy Page
3. Jimi Hendrix
4. Eric Clapton
5. Jeff Beck
6. Ritchie Blackmore
7. Joe Satriani
8. Steve Lukather
9. Steve Vai
10. Yngwie Malmsteen

Some have slagged Beck on here. Most likely because he is so unconventional but that is what makes him so great. Peace…
http://www.guitarlegendstv.com GuitarShred

I’m so glad I found VHND and I have already bookmarked it on a few of my social sites. The timing of this post is uncanny…I’ve been working on a site of my favorite guitarists and these comments are helping me make sure I don’t leave anyone out who is worthy of mention. My top ten list can vary at times, but one thing is sure…EVH is absolutely #1. My favorite VH album is Fair Warning.
Taft

Neil Young and Jeff Beck? More like David Gilmore and Angus Young. I could go on. This list sucks pretty bad. Prince is better than a few dudes on this list.
Kash

It consistently remains the same in every one of these polls. Ed is #2, and Hendrix is #1. Now Im not going to take any of Hendrix’ credibility away, because he was a fantastic guitar player, but hypothetically speaking, if you had ever put Hendrix and EVH in the same room to duel it out on guitar, the outcome would always remain the same: Ed would completely obliterate.

Santana??? I have never considered Carlos Santana a top 10 kind of guy. He has made some great music, but Santana falls short where most of these guys dominant, although I think he has more of a right to be top 10 than Hammett.

The fact that I dont see guys like Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen, Ritchie Blackmore, or Angus Young topping this list is saddening. Neil Young? Give me a fuckin break. Neil Young was a fantastic song writer, but guitar hero? I WOULD put C.C. Deville on here before Neil Young, and I dont think good ol’ C.C. has any right to be top 10 on ANY list.

Let us not forget Dimebag Darrell. The way I see it, an entire genre of music would have completely died out if it hadn’t been for him, in the midst of grunge taking over the planet. Dime and Pantera truly kept the metal scene alive, and he quoted Eddie Van Halen as being his biggest inspiration, and the entire reason he started taking guitar seriously in the first place.

So heres my list:

10:Yngwie Malmsteen
9:Steve Vai
8:Joe Satriani
7:Ritchie Blackmore
6:Zakk Wylde
5:Dimebag Darrell
4:Jimmie Paige
3:Jimi Hendrix
2:Eric Clapton
1:EDDIE VAN HALEN

In regards to the greatest solo ever? Eruption was and is still a masterpiece. It is truly timeless in every regard. The only solo I may enjoy almost as much is Cathedral. Two of Eddies greatest.
Line6Guy

Neil Young?? WTF?? LMAO!!

1) Hendrix
2) EVH
3) Jimmy Page
4) Clapton
5) Stevie Ray Vaughan
6) David Gilmour
7) Joe Satriani
Eric Johnson
9) Randy Rhoads
10)Jeff Beck
Ferdnand

Xcuse all the guitar experts, but there´s no other truth than EVH = GOD and Mr. Vai = Jesus when talking about guitar monsters. Hendrix (like said above), if still alive Huh??
Clapton, one or anoher song.
Slash, makes me laugh,
MCorleone

Chuck Sierra of Northwest Indiana/Illinois should be added, maybe not on the top ten but the top 100. He can smoke Hammett, Chuck is the same age as Joey Satriani. He knows music and CAN read it unlike most players. Dave Gilmour at number 6? No way…Put Uli Jon Roth in the, the greatest living rock guitarist and also the most underrated.
lindy

Hendrix inspired a style, Edward Inspired a generation and beyond. A hundred years from now 10 year old kids will still be yearning for a striped guitar and a Marshall stack trying to duplicate Eruption.
http://www.myspace.com/ibw_superstar Derrick

Jimi Hendrix was a “good” guitarist, but wasn’t the greatest. He had his style of playing, but it doesn’t top the speed, accuracy, and Eddie’s way of making the guitar sing or scream in such a way that it made the crowd silent.

Edward Van Halen should be number one!
Paul

Neil Young???!!!! Holy cow. That’s like publishing a list of the top vacation sites in the world, and “a horse’s butt” getting on the list.
As a side note, I think numbers 1 & 2 got transposed.
5150j-man

As the great billy gibbons puts it: “Ed takes up the first 5 spots then it starts to open up.
kamakshi

yeah jimi on top!! wohoo love him !!! <3 <3 jimi u’re the best.
Pyro

Where is slash angus young Malcolm young and duff??????!!!!!¿