singemonkey wrote:
Well that's why these lists are fun. Cos they're outrageous.
+1 for not arguing for Jimi Hendrix as being the best of electric guitar players. He exemplifies everything that modern electric players aspire to. Any guitar player can find something in what he did that they wish to do - from indie shoe-gazers to shredders.
The rest of the list was pretty lame though. Keith Richards? Pete Townsend? Really? What guitar players today put either of the two on their aspirational wishlist? Not to diminish them, but they're more remarkable as song-writers (and amplification pioneers in Townsend's case) than as guitar players.
Duane Allman seems like a sop to there not being enough white American players. A very capable and enjoyable player, but no genius.
I thought they might be defining "great" as "influential", which would justify Jimi at number 1 and Chuck's and Eddie's places in the top 10, probably Keef too. But then Duane? I have nothing against him, but no matter which way I slice the cake I can't see what he's doing here.
Jimi has been surpassed for technique by now. I think his legacy is going to fade soon as all the old hippies and the generation after them kick the bucket. People will no longer realise how he changed the game. Eddie was a game changer too, so I'm not uncomfortable with his inclusion in these polls, but that memory will fade in time as well.
