Best blues guitarist, Clapton or Green

Peter Green was more true to traditional blues than Clapton is/was. Duane Allman was one of the best blues guitarists but he is know as a southern rocker, mentioned already Roy Buchanan, Hendrix, Johnny Winter, Rory Gallagher, J. Giles (go hear his blues CD called Blues Time), T-Bone Walker, NOT Buddy Guy, Ronnie Earl (one of the best still alive today), Stevie Ray, BB King, Albert King, etc.

Crega, SRV blows Eric away as a blues guitarist. I know personally, I have been playing for 30 years. Go rent the Austin DVD of SRV and then tell me what you think. Stevie Ray was responsible for bring blues back to the forefront of music single handedly. Everyone admitts that, and Dick Betts and the Brothers owe their revival to him (per Dicky).

Stevie mastered the traditional blues licks and played with more emotion than most players ever hope to.

Rent the DVD.

If I (Or better yet, Ken Burns) were to educate someone on the important contributions to blues guitar playing I believe Eric Clapton would be considered more of an evanglist, than the genuine article. Yes he's skilled and well versed, but when I see the likes of Buddy Guy on stage, I know I'm seeing the real deal. No offense to Clapton fans.

You know I'm always astonished and even a little angered when talk of "best" blues guitarist begins with some British knock off. Now I know that I'm selling Clapton a little short, but he himself will be the first to acknowldge that he is more of a student of the music as opposed to an inovator of it. Also, what is a blues guitarist? Are we succombing to coporate lables? Wes Montgomery played plenty of blues--12 bar and otherwise. I think that idea of the "best" guitarist is pointless. Sorry if I offend, but music, IMHO, transcends any simple ranking such as this. Okay. I've ranted long enough. I'll shut up now.

There never really is a best of anything, but if forced to choice I'd say Albert King is the master.