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Rolling Stone top 100 Guitarists - Howe/Van Halen

OK, I just listened to The Yes Album for about the millionth time and I have one question; how on earth did the dudes at Rolling Stone put Steve Howe at number 69 on their list? I realize they tend to be a holier than thou (or smarter-than-thou) bunch, but come on. Didn't this guy win like every guitar award from musician magazines in the 70's? I was shocked as I read through the list and saw the names ahead of him. I just assumed he would be in the top 10 for unbelievable technical skill alone. The guy is simply amazing. I don't want to start a debate on some of the extremely questionable picks, especially in the top 10, but this guy is one of the all time greats.

To me it's like forgetting about Stan Musial because he played in St Louis instead of NY, LA or Chicago. Still one of the all time greats.

That brings me to the most amazing slight on that list: Eddie Van Halen at 70??? Didn't he basically invent speed metal? His tapping technic along with the rest of his unbelievable arsenal should put him in the top 10 if not the top 5, I mean come on. Because they didn't like Van Halen's pop/Rock they shun him down to 70?? I'm not a huge Van Halen fan but I think they had 2 great albums (Van Halen, 1984) and his playing on those alone should get him in the top 10.

I kept thinking that with the exceptions, IMO, of Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Kirk Hammett no one else could play all the music of all the other guitarists as well as VH could. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton or The Edge getting through 'Eruption', 'Ain't Talkin' Bout Love' or 'Hot for Teacher'? I don't think so. I can't think of anything Van Halen couldn't play extremely well, both artistically and technically.

Most the "Greatest" lists are BS, but this instance seemed really egregious to me.
macdadtexas
classical1
168 posts
 
I kept thinking that with the exceptions, IMO, of Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Kirk Hammett no one else could play all the music of all the other guitarists as well as VH could. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton or The Edge getting through 'Eruption', 'Ain't Talkin' Bout Love' or 'Hot for Teacher'? I don't think so. I can't think of anything Van Halen couldn't play extremely well, both artistically and technically.

I've played for 40 years..but that doesn't qualify me to say who's good and who isn't. However I'd never measure another guitairst by how close he could copy 'EVH' playing Eruption. A guy like Keith Richards is no where near as 'technical' as EVH but if you go back and look at the body of music he wrote and played for 40+ years I think he too is a great guitarist. Being a great technical player doesn't make a 'great' guitarist IMO. ..and I like Eddie Van Halen.

The best I saw live was Beck, Clapton & Hendrix. Clapton with Cream @ 1968 live was amazing.

I don't agree with a lot of the order on this list, but most of these guitarists that many so casually dismiss were/are truly great players.
theo's avatar
theo
2,690 posts
 
Again ratings prove to be no more than opinions of whoever is writing the article. Howe is a top 10 to say the least.
If they are talking talent and ability to make a guitar sound like no other then where is Bruce Cockburn? And Knopfler at 27 as mentioned? I want to thank you for reminding me why I quite buying this magazine years ago.
Where was Lindsey Buckingham in the list? The names that come to mind is too many to type.
dweller's avatar
dweller
3,785 posts
 
Jack White before Johnny Winter?

Where's that air freshener...
deano
77 posts
 
ROLLING STONE RAG IS CRAP. LET'S END IT THERE.
audiofeil
4,011 posts
 
Top 100 (or whatever number you choose) lists are intended for entertainment and controversy.

Take a deep breath and relax.

They're not important.
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