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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
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,299 posts
 
People play guitar to make noise that sounds good to themselves and hopefully other people.

Being flashy is just one way to possibly succeed in this goal.

"Top" in the RS sense is largely based on reputation and popularity I would guess. Popularity translates to influence as well.

There are many great and unique guitarists that are influential beyond their level of fame that would never make such a list. Steve Hackett is one of my enduring favs that is a good example.

Andrew Latimer of Camel is another treasure out there that relatively few people know or have ever heard.
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
if you own the first 2 'earthquake' albums on a&m (1971, 1972) you'll pretty much get the 'blueprint' for evh and all van halen to come....not knocking eddie (he's great), but the whole 'style' (down to the west coast swagger) had been done by the time he got there.
chashmal
605 posts
 
Is there any question that Rolling Stone listmakers and writers impose their own limited bias and have no objectivity whatsoever?

I always knew that, and there was never a doubt.

So how can one take anything they write along these lines seriously?
chashmal
605 posts
 
MOST UNDER RATED GUITARIST: JEFF COTTON (Captain Beefheart's Magic Band)
ptmconsulting
1,000 posts
 
I think these ratings are seriously tilted toward guitarists as "composers" of rock classics rather than players. John McLaughlin at #49 as an example. But that doesn't explain Pete Townsend at #50 or Richie Blackmore at #55. But why the hell is Jonie Mitchell on this list at all (at #72) unless they are looking at compositional skills as well as playing skills? And she precedes Trey Anastasio!!!

David Gilmour at #82 or Tommy Iommi at #86 - rediculous.

Maybe this list was just composed to stir up some controversial discussions, like this one.
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