John Frusciante Named Top Guitarist

Former Red Hot Chili Peppers star John Frusciante has been named the greatest guitarist of the last 30 years.

The musician left the rock band after they embarked on a two-year hiatus in 2007, choosing not to rejoin the group when they reconvened last year (09).

He is now focusing on his solo career, but his work with the Suck My Kiss hitmakers has helped propel him to the top of a new list to find the best guitarists of the last three decades.

Frusciante topped the poll by BBC 6 Music, seeing off competition from former Guns N' Roses rocker Slash, who claimed second place and Muse frontman Matt Bellamy in third.

Former The Smiths star Johnny Marr came fourth, while the top five was rounded out by Rage Against The Machine's Tom Morello.

Thanks for the report to Contactmusic.com.

Comments

[SkilletFan77]

he definitely deserves it, so congrats to him

[thenextkirk92]

Hmm. Not sure.

[MXFNCK]

It's all a matter of taste. Maybe I wouldnt've picked him myself, but I totally understand. The guy is amazing

[flemflames]

agreed, but the whole reliability of this list goes down the drain when you read the 3rd place

[flemflames]

^^^ "agreed" with JF being 1st that is

[Hamburger89]

Best guitarist of the last 30 years? I think not.
One of the best? Maybe

[Hungry_Hameds]

Johnny Marr?? Dear god no... and where the hell was Mike McCready???

[korbhag]

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

[Cerelil]

I voted for Tom Morello, definately the most innovative guitarist there. Though the choice was terrible, half of the guitarists were from awful landfill indie bands, but they completely missed out players like Guthrie Govan (who I would have expected to be there due it being run by the BBC), Jason Becker, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, or even Vai and Satriani, the more famous guitarists outside the guitar community.

[ZeGuitarist]

flemflames wrote:

agreed, but the whole reliability of this list goes down the drain when you read the 3rd place

Bellamy > Frusciante any day. To me, that is. Goes to show exactly what this is: subjective.

Checked.

[lefty311]

All these guys are fantastic guitarists and safe picks by mass media... There are a thousand more guys that can play circles around everyone on the list, but still pretty cool. Johnny Marr? Really?

[Wakisazhi]

flemflames wrote:

agreed, but the whole reliability of this list goes down the drain when you read the 3rd place

Sorry but try again, all things considered (as far as the contest criteria was considered and considering the competition in the contest) I'd say Bellamy making the top 5 would be fairly reasonable. Granted I'd put Morello over him since Bellamy is highly influenced by him but since it was a public poll I can let it slide. All things considered though I'd say Bellamy most definitely is one of the best guitarists/frontmen/musicians to come out of these past 30 years.

If people want to know the criteria it was pretty much guitarists whom the people at BBC 6 Music felt were the best from the past 30 years, they favored influence over technique and their picks were guitarists from bands whom were fairly often played on that radio station (so that took away your Steve Vais, Derrick Trucks and your SRVs.) All in all I'd say the top 5 is pretty decent.

[Wakisazhi]

*EDIT: Derek Trucks

[| Lightning |]

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

[ratracekid111]

Wakisazhi wrote:

*EDIT: Derek Trucks

I love you

[megaironpriest]

| Lightning | :
This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on..

I think we have similar tastes hahaha

I don't think he is really that amazing at leads playing which is what makes guitar amazing, its ability to encompass the human voice and present emotion. Someone like Steve Vai or Satriani should have got it simply because they have had way more influence and are more talented. Its a public poll though so people probably just saw Red Hot Chili peppers by his name and thought "Oh I like them" click. I doubt it had to do with skilled guitar players judging in anyway at all

[Grohlism]

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

Kirk Hammet was 8th or something.

lefty311 wrote:

All these guys are fantastic guitarists and safe picks by mass media... There are a thousand more guys that can play circles around everyone on the list, but still pretty cool. Johnny Marr? Really?

Johnny Marr is better than Matt Bellamy so he quite rightly makes the list. Bellamy isn't even that good a guitarist.

[Wakisazhi]

^Actually I would say that Bellamy is more skilled as far as technique is concerned than Marr.

[swews09]

Purpose of music, to be able to relate deep human experiences, as far as that goes. I give Frusciante all the support in the world

[acshadow25]

johnny marr??? are you SERIOUS???

[Cyberbob]

There's a lot more to guitar and making music than technical skill, I think it's a pretty good list. These guys are definitely up there in terms of style, innovation, creativity, influence and accessibility. Well done to them!

[devilex121]

i wont deny John Frusciante is a good guitarist... hes done up some pretty cool stuff...
but 30 years!!??? seriously?? :\

[bokma]

Whoever decided this can't possibly be a diehard rhcp fan.

/sarcasm

[munkymanmatt]

BBC6 Music is now officially full of trolls.

[Sherlock_Bones]

acshadow25 wrote:

johnny marr??? are you SERIOUS???

I lol'd a little too, but Froosh is a deserved winner. Not sure I'd place Slash that high, or above Matt Bellamy anyway; Matt brings something new to the frame, were as Slash is just very good at using the same formula over and over again.

[soupdragon]

acshadow25 wrote:

johnny marr??? are you SERIOUS???

Hell yes. His ability to combine different genres of music, as well as being able to combine lead, rhythm and melodic counterpoint simultaneously, and writing some of the best intelligent music of the 1980s and beyond, this guy is a much better player than some of those above him (I'd say Bellamy's more a talented pianist than guitarist. Most of their guitar songs were written on piano, after all).

Froosh is awesome, although I often find that his music (at least with RHCP) can be a little formulaic.

[ArnaudJ]

Nice

[DEATHPANDA]

He's a great guitarist, but not the best. Guthrie Govan, although not my favourite guitarist in the world (pretty close though) is quite clearly one of the best, easily above Satch and Vai.

[WhiskeyFace]

sick of johnny marr being named over john squire ....

[barden1069]

It's all subjective, but I can agree with this for the most part. Froosh is definately a great guitarist and he's been through a lot of shit that would have killed/stopped any other artist.

[crazysam23_Atax]

There's a lot better guitarists than Frusciante.

[Deflection]

justin beibelr shoudd have wonn

[vultures?OMG]

Maybe the most popular but not the greatest.

[machineslave]

Trey Azagthoth get my vote talk about a innovative guitarist or what about Chuck Schuldiner.....two people i think are more deserving

[Noverion]

I would like Satriani in that list to be honest, his music is so technical yet also manages to be catchy in a way that Steve Vai i don't think has managed to reach. Petrucci would have been a good fit too with some of the work he's done, but above all i am annoyed that someone like Mikael Akerfeldt hasn't got a nod. The work he does, acoustic, rhythm or lead, is almost always absolute perfection. Frusciante is great though, and Bellamy is one of my favourite guitarists at the moment, in fact, one of my fave musicians in general. He's immensely skilled and incredibly original in his playing

[kacper00100]

Ummmm.....Matt Bellamy is overrated is the only comment I can make on this.

[WiZoRZ]

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

agreed Friedman / Mustaine ^^

[Venice King]

He's my favourite guitarist but I think these lists are just plain stupid. It will never please everyone, usually just a tiny fraction of the guitarist population.

[yngwie ripoff]

all these guys suck. Vai is the greatest guitarist of the last 30 years, or even EVH in terms of innovation, but these douches? I don't think so.

[Doodleface]

Title should say "..ONE OF the best..."

[angrypom]

the ****...?
how did this happen?

[the_hoodster]

I'm surpised that Frusciante came top, but I have a feeling that his departure from RHCP may have been a critical factor in the amount of votes that he got.

[Metalology]

Meh, subjective indeed.

[MyUserName777]

The poll should've just been called pick your favorite band

[Aliens-exist182]

I don't know if im the only one here, but i think hes the smartest guitarist of the last 30 years, his musical knowledge is just unmatched. but Michael Angelo Batio is a far better guitarist, i must say

[sykguitaryst]

mustaine deserves the top spot. hes better than your rhythm AND lead. plus hes dave ****in mustaine!

[bluesnd63]

where is Jack White?

[sbriggs31]

I want to know what they base their picks on...because this list (granted they are all good guitarists), they are def. not the best of the past 30 years...Vai for example could outplay these guys anyday, same with several guitarists...what lightning said pretty much sums up what guitarists are better than the ones they picked..

[kornival]

best bands, best musicians, best whatever... its all subjective. they are all good and respected by their esteemed peers. their all number 1 in my book.

[Beergarette]

Frusciante is good, but I wouldn't have put him first. His playing hasn't been influencial to the point where anybody should go "he's the best guitarist ever!".

What really busts my balls is Matt Bellamy. Seriously?

Bottom line, all these guitarists aren't technical or influential towards music, at least not enough to be called the best guitarists the world has seen in the past thirty years. Like somebody here has mentioned, there's many, many, many guitarists who have shaped musical genres and who could do circles around these guys.

Then again, this is just yet another "best guitarists" list. Every year we get about ten of those. That being said, perhaps we should just take this as a grain of salt.

[mergapoot]

crap list, john is a great guitarist and musician but is massively overrated as are Mat bellamy and jonny marr. The only placement i really agree with is tom morello.

past 30 years, were the hell are Vai, satch, petrucci, and the others???

[Venice King]

You don't think Matt Bellamy is technical? :confused:

[WhiteStripesIII]

bluesnd63 wrote:

where is Jack White?

My thoughts too. If Froosh, Bellamy and Morello are that high then Jack White should be about there too. Still, like with all of these lists, everyone disagrees with them. And Johnny Marr?! Eurgh...

[bluesnd63]

Jack White is keeping rock n roll alive. Jack white top 3 easily

[Xeus]

rock biased but meh, im gonna go play guitar

[Gyoung1991]

Personally, I think UG should stop posting bullshit like this as news. It's just a poll and is essentially meaningless.

[loudog93]

mergapoot wrote:

crap list, john is a great guitarist and musician but is massively overrated as are Mat bellamy and jonny marr. The only placement i really agree with is tom morello.

past 30 years, were the hell are Vai, satch, petrucci, and the others???

nobody listens to shred except guitar players. sorry kiddo.

[RunninWitDevil]

Uh, Eddie Van Halen, Kirk Hammett, SRV anybody? And Slash is definitely better than Frusciante

[sardonicgoat]

as someone stated earlier, music is very subjective. Having said that, Frusciante is an amazing guitar player. His stuff with RHCP is fantastic but I didn't really start to appreciate just how good he is until I found out he laid down most if not all of the guitar work for a few Mars Volta albums....anyways, I could list plenty of guitarist whom I think are better than Froosh but that's a matter of opinion. My vote would have gone with either Vernon Reid, Tom Morello, or Dimebag Darrell for #1

[bluesnd63]

The problem with Vai and them is that they just shred and they arent in bands. Vai doesnt make catchy tunes he just shreds scales, and does it well, but i would much rather listen to RHCP than Steve Vais where the wild things are

[stndrdprcdre]

They need to start re-titling these lists to "The 30 greatest guitarists of all time.....for now"

[bluesnd63]

and did they just forget about Metallica? both of those dudes could take number one. and i hate thrash metal anyone can play it

[metallica144]

kirk hammett ? =( Alexi Laiho ?=( anyone???

[FenderMaster]

Most people would at least acknowledge that Frusciante is one of the best guitarists from the 80's to the present. I don't think many would begrudge him that place, and the lack of vocal opposition/haters just goes to show how deserving he is.

Any list is just an arbitrary list of the numbers, not to be taken seriously, but Johna is an incredibly versatile guitarist, an amazing songwriter, and he has influenced a hell of alot of players. Especially among guitarists in their late teens to early 20's in my town, there is a huge Frusciante influence.

[Monsen]

John Frusciante is the best, he is truly amazing and definitely deserved this.

Listen to his guitar playing as much and as close as you listen to these other guitarists' you say are better, and you will understand.

[eetfuk58]

flemflames wrote:

agreed, but the whole reliability of this list goes down the drain when you read the 3rd place

agreed. but, i am a total metal junkie and i still agree with picking frusciante 110%.

[Altitudinous]

No way. NO way. SRV!? and if matt ****in' bellamy can be on here, John Mayer should be way up there too. lists are so stupid.

[willianrm]

[quote]WhiskeyFace wrote:

John squire, Johnny Marr and John Frusciante, that should've been the top 3... All of them start with the letter "J", coincidence? Think not, gonna name my child John... Maybe John Lennon hahaha

[Moon1n1te]

Heres a better news story: NO SUCH THING AS TOP GUITARIST. silly ug

[Monsen]

FenderMaster wrote:
he has influenced a hell of alot of players. Especially among guitarists in their late teens to early 20's in my town, there is a huge Frusciante influence.

I'm probably not from your town, but he's one of the reasons I started playing.

[shwilly]

Cyberbob wrote:

There's a lot more to guitar and making music than technical skill

Yeah, but if you deliberately ignore them that's pretty lame too (which I don't think was the case, but they didn't put any effort into creating a more balanced list or convincing their listeners to do so).

I mean, even in those "greatest guitarist ever" polls people always seem to pick Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Brian May over Paco de Lucía, Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery (who were also extremely influential AND more technical players). I can't help but think that these lists usually just end up being a popularity contest, if anything...

That being said, I'm glad these people at least showed some musical taste. Maybe Morello should be listed higher than Bellamy: even though Muse is one of the bigger acts nowadays (especially in the UK) Tom has more classics behind his name + he introcuced more innovative guitar playing and influenced more people (including Matt)

It's too bad they only made a top 10, cos that means you're automatically gonna leave out people like Randy Rhoads, Eric Johnson, Omar Rodríguez-López, Vai, SRV, Dimebag, Stanley Jordan, Robert Fripp, Eddie van Halen (tho those guys arguably produced their best material more than 30 years ago) or ANY early 90's Seattle guitarists for that matter. I always loved me some Kurt, Kim, Mike and Jerry in ANY list...

[metaladdict123]

its just a matter of opinion, but i feel the poll was very very narrow minded

[DrCOOL]

He's great no doubt. But not the greatest of the last 30 years.

[stondagain]

Greatest of the last 30 years?

Ummmm.....no.

[soupdragon]

I'm sick of people misinterpreting the point of this list. It's not neccesarily about technical ability, you've also got how much they have contributed to music in general, their musicality (no scale shredders for me thankyou :P) and general influence.
Froosh has probably inspired 1000s of kids to pick up a guitar. I don't think he's the best, but he's fairly influential and has done some classic recordings. Same with Johnny Marr - how many bands have formed in the last 20 years after being inspired by him and his playing? I'm almost certain that bands such as Radiohead (to name one big example) wouldn't exist in their current form. I wouldn't have put Slash so high, but he has inspired thousands too.

So there - would the world of music be a much different place without Petrucci, Michael Angelo Batio etc? No offence to them or their fans, but their influence is pretty tiny compared to Marr, Morello, Slash, Froosh etc.

bluesnd63 wrote:

and did they just forget about Metallica? both of those dudes could take number one. and i hate thrash metal anyone can play it

Weren't Metallica a thrash metal band for a long time?
I've heard them referred to as that in the past several times :S

[Milaneus]

All of these lists are so stupid. Who are they to decide? It's all a matter of taste; rarely are you gonna have someone apart from whoever chose the list agree 100% with everything. Besides, you can't compare different styles.

[neca]

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

[bluesnd63]

there is no comparison between megadeath and metallica. Metallica were the best band of the late 80s and 90s. And to build on someone elses point, for every one person that Vai influenced to play guitar Froosh and Hammett incluenced 20. Its because their music reaches more people and its their songwriting as a whole. Thats why i think Jack White should be up there. Elephant was genious and to think its jsut him and Meg, who probably doesnt contribute much to the songwriting, its amazing what he does record after record

[yngwie ripoff]

and this being a BBC poll, could they not have put Guthrie Govan in it. He is better than all these twats combined.

[soupdragon]

Guthrie's a legend, I'll give you that

yngwie ripoff wrote:

and this being a BBC poll, could they not have put Guthrie Govan in it. He is better than all these twats combined.

[bluesnd63]

" this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists.."

--- says the guy who makes a list of technical guitarists that nobody really listens to just to make it look like he is educated in music. We all know them, noone of them roll the windows down in the summer in the car and blast their music. We may watch their dvd once a year or something, but the guys on the list have music that people listen to daily

[miss_janet]

A particular, and rather small, subset of the world's total population find Frusciante to be the "best" guitarist of the last 30 years... Sounds like it can be disregarded. "Best" is such a subjective term- Different subsets would vote differently. Call me when someone comes up with a more objective measure.

[yngwie ripoff]

bluesnd63 wrote:

" this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists.."

--- says the guy who makes a list of technical guitarists that nobody really listens to just to make it look like he is educated in music. We all know them, noone of them roll the windows down in the summer in the car and blast their music. We may watch their dvd once a year or something, but the guys on the list have music that people listen to daily

First of all, who the **** are you to comment on my education in music. Second of all, I don't listen to any of these morons "daily" as you say, in fact, whenever a RHCP song or a Muse song is on the radio I change the station. Third of all, you judge music based on the fact that you can blast it your car with the windows down?

[Eifler121]

The thing with being really technical is when you focus on that it doesn't sound good. Frusciante has done a lot to influence and innovate, no one else really mixed funk and punk/rock until him, and no one really has since. Morello is the same as far as innovation, none of his music is hard to play as long as you can afford the effects. White has done a lot to bring underground/garage bands to light. Without the White Stripes bands like Black Keys or Kings of Leon wouldn't exist.

Vai, Satch, Mustaine, none of them reallyhave done anything to change the way anyone plays. If anything they take steps way backwards and unless you simply want to be the best technical guitarist ever, no one really listens to them.

Muse sucks, period.

What about Kim Thayil and Mick Mcready or Stone Gossard? Not like they shaped the biggest musical movement in the past twenty or anything. Between them and Nirvana they destroyed Hair Bands, thank god.

[hoganp]

Let's not forget John Petrucci, Reb Beach, and Eddie Van Halen. And what about classic greats like Mick Ralphs, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and I shouldn't have to mention the greatest of them all: James Marshall Hendrix.

[Deece]

Classic BBC. "Top guitarists to ever enter top 10 chart in the last 30 years, otherwise noone would know them and not listen to our show, or incase they went and discovered new music we don't play" Is what im hearing.
Then again i'm judging purely by the top 4 guitarists mentionened here. So i could we incredibly wrong.

[JFfan92]

ahhhh....his improvision solos live. always a sweet sound to my ear.

[millarso]

I'm sorry, but how could you possibly even claim someone to be the best guitarist of the last 30 years. Does Frusciante have a lot of feeling in his music... yes... Is he the best at utilizing the guitar... no... you can't say that any of these people, be it petrucci, vai, or frusciante are really the best guitar player. There are far too many factors involved.

[PurpleDinosaur]

Froosh's solo work and work with The Mars Volta far surpasses his work with RHCP and I'm content with his winning based on those two things alone.

That said, I really feel that Schuldiner deserves to be on here, as well as Akerfeldt.

[masterp666]

angus young? randy rhoads? dimebag darrell? derek trucks? joe bonamassa? i don't know, i feel like there are a lot of better guitarists than frusciante. id even put the edge in that list.

[ndschroede23]

Personally I love the list. Nos. 1, 3, and 5 are among my favorite guitarists.

However, sincere question, and really not trolling. Frusciante is a damn good guitarist. But I can't really think of many bands or guitarists that he's influenced, I can't think of many people that I hear and think "oh that sounds like Frusciante." I've always had a hard time trying to put RHCP in a genre, and Frusciante is part of that. To me, he doesn't seem derivative or anything, and no one derives from him. So could someone with a broader idea of rock history help me out with this? Is there really anyone out there that plays like Frusciante?

[sardonicgoat]

Vernon Reid

[ndschroede23]

Also, people are complaining that BBC just picked a best guitarist: they didn't. It was a poll. By no means does that make it factual. It just reflects public opinion. No one's saying you have to believe them.

[thbeekk]

Hmmm, Derek Trucks? Trey Anastacio? Jimmy Herring? I probably wouldn't even have Frusciante in the top 5

[Eifler121]

hoganp wrote:

Let's not forget John Petrucci, Reb Beach, and Eddie Van Halen. And what about classic greats like Mick Ralphs, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and I shouldn't have to mention the greatest of them all: James Marshall Hendrix.

It's of the past Twenty Years, none of those guys have done anything great, aside from Jimmy Page and the Black Crowes. Speaking of which what about he guy from the Black Crowes? If anything their success would lead people to dig into blues and guys like Vai.

[millarso]

neca wrote:

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

Hendrix is "nothing" compared to today's guitarists?! That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. He pretty much invented the modern use of distortion. He put his whole heart and soul into that instrument. He may not have shredded, but he put more life into his guitar playing than any other man I have ever known.

[jaapnac]

OMG, where's John Petrucci?!? Steve Vai?!? Dweezil Zappa?!? Angus Young?!? Steve Morse?!? slash and morello are ok, but the others... and wtf is that Muse guy doing there?

[TheZephyrSon]

Venice King wrote:

He's my favourite guitarist but I think these lists are just plain stupid. It will never please everyone, usually just a tiny fraction of the guitarist population.

This, haha...

I love Frusciante, he's my favorite guitarist. I like Morello better than Bellamy, and I would put Mike McCready up there too, but it's a good list.

[Anarchy_Ant]

Must....bite....lip...

Each to their own though. I do enjoy his playing, i just don't consider him a "top" guitarist of any style/genre.

Still, inb4 flame war.

[evilotto77]

I really don't know why people bother making lists like these... it's probably just to incite arguments just like we're all having here!
There isn't a 'best' guitarist, and there never will be! Whether or not someone likes one guitarist or another is all down to personal taste, that's just how music is! Some people will love the music of a particular guitarist, such as Frusciante here, while others such as myself won't find it exciting at all and will prefer the work of someone else.
Ultimately, lists like these simply damage the credibility of the fools who decided to waste their time making it in the first place

[ndschroede23]

yngwie ripoff wrote:

bluesnd63 wrote:

" this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists.."

--- says the guy who makes a list of technical guitarists that nobody really listens to just to make it look like he is educated in music. We all know them, noone of them roll the windows down in the summer in the car and blast their music. We may watch their dvd once a year or something, but the guys on the list have music that people listen to daily

First of all, who the **** are you to comment on my education in music. Second of all, I don't listen to any of these morons "daily" as you say, in fact, whenever a RHCP song or a Muse song is on the radio I change the station. Third of all, you judge music based on the fact that you can blast it your car with the windows down?

He wasn't talking to you.

[rock.freak667]

I am glad for JF. Though Johnny Marr should be in the top 3 IMO.

[KingHenrik1967]

Matt Bellamy, Slash and Tom Morello all in the top 5... Im cool with that

[whasunator69]

ive never seen a greatest this or that list come out without a thousand people calling foul. I think its useless really

[Jimmy5790]

You guys keep bringing up Satch and Vai but come on really?If i wanted to listen to something that bad i would listen to the power rangers soundtrack.Oh wait one of those guys probably did that.The point is this list doesn't say "The most technically advanced guitarist of the last 30 years" but i will admit the guys they picked aren't that great except for Frusciante and Slash, but Satch and Vai are musically identical and completely void of emotion when they play.My friend lent me a Steve Vai live dvd and i fell asleep true story

[TornadoThrasher]

I think he's pretty overrated. He's got a good tone for his music and I like some of his riffs and rhythm playing, but in no way is he the best guitarist of the last 30 years. Stevie Ray Vaughan anyone?! (and that's just for starters). He only really got big in 83 or so.

[Seth Shadows]

hoganp wrote:

Let's not forget John Petrucci, Reb Beach, and Eddie Van Halen. And what about classic greats like Mick Ralphs, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and I shouldn't have to mention the greatest of them all: James Marshall Hendrix.

Absolutely not.

Eifler121 wrote:
Vai, Satch, Mustaine, none of them reallyhave done anything to change the way anyone plays. If anything they take steps way backwards and unless you simply want to be the best technical guitarist ever, no one really listens to them.

Muse sucks, period.

What about Kim Thayil and Mick Mcready or Stone Gossard? Not like they shaped the biggest musical movement in the past twenty or anything. Between them and Nirvana they destroyed Hair Bands, thank god.

Clearly, you have no idea what you're talking about. Vai, Satch and Mustaine altogether have created more paths for people to walk. Vai - Emotional, way ahead of JF like you wouldn't imagine, you'd know that if you'd have ever listened to any of his music. I.e: Lotus Feet, For The Love Of God, Windows, Juice. Way more feel then anything you could ever imagine. Satch - REVOLUTIONIZED the way people played, including JF, Satch is the master of groove for a reason. JF wouldn't even be a guitar player if it wasn't for him. Check out Surfin' with the alien, Satch boogie, Forgotten, Always with me-Always with you. He destroys anything ever written by Frusciante. Mustaine - Inspired a wave of metal fans that live on today. Like ... well, anything metal to tell you the truth.

Oh wow! Destroyed the hair bands! they would've easily been taken down a few years later. I.e: lock them in a room with behemoth for 20 minutes and see what happens.

I'm glad Kurt Cobain shot his head off, or there'd be more 'fans' like you.

[Jordanelpaco]

I probly wud hav voted tom first and john second and put matt in de top5 wit slash but der all der its pritty kwl

[Pus_Head]

bluesnd63 wrote:

and did they just forget about Metallica? both of those dudes could take number one. and i hate thrash metal anyone can play it

Id love to see you attempt Elimination without stopping cause your wrist cant handle the downpicking.

[pullmyfinger]

i'm actually surprised im not on the list...

[Blooddrunk_Moon]

I always find these type of news BS.

How can you define a "best" guitarist? There's so many guitarist out there who's better technically, musically or even aesthetically on the stage.

[OMEB]

Give me a break... this is ridiculous... hardly news worthy and a joke...

[bambo222]

STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN? What? I love RHCP but c'mon.

[gareno]

he's really good but i wouldn't say he's the greatest

[Angus~Young]

Total nonsense.

[BurtonRhoads]

Wheres Eddie Van Halen? and Randy Rhoads? Or SRV? A lot of better guitarist.

[KramerW5150]

[quote]WhiteStripesIII wrote:

bluesnd63 wrote:

where is Jack White?
he was 6th

[Teen Spirit]

interesting call... i quite agree

[el-gilberto]

so basically this was a poll of most popular guitarists as opposed to best?

[Sanitarium91]

Allan Holdsworth. That is all.

[Kurapica]

I personally voted for Johnny Marr. Most of the people who diss his music haven't tried to play it...and proceeded to get very frustrated at how something that seems so simple is actually harder than building a pyramid with a used condom.

[KramerW5150]

only 30 000 people voted...so this poll is bull$hit...
I didnt see eddie, dimebag, or randy? like common...kurt cobain isnt a top 50 guitarist in the last 30 years...he could barely even play guitar if you ask me..

[Gunpowder]

I really disagree with that choice; I liked Froosh-era Chili Peppers, but I don't like his solo work at all, and I think a lot of guitarists have made more significant contributions to guitar, and music in general, than Froosh has in the past thirty years. After all that goes all the way back to 1980.

But, again, subjective opinion.

[Lion_Slicer]

Are you guys seriously THIS upset that not every single person the BBC surveyed has a hard-on for like you do? You really need to realize that people have different tastes and aren't necessarily all just morons.

Good on Froosh, the guy is a genius and musically inspiring.

[EpiExplorer]

Last 30 years, and they miss out the entirity of the 70's, 80's and most of the 90's to give us Slash (Who is a good contender) the skinny one from Muse (who doesnt really deserve it considering all hes done is make music and not influence it in any way what so ever) and a guy whos name no one can pronounce from a band that should have called it quits quite a while ago because of the instability..

Then again, this is the BBC and pleasing the crowd is what they do best -.-

[Karleth666]

what about John Pettrucci, Joe Satriani, Gus G, Yngvie Malmsteen, Steve Vai...stupid polls

[middleclasssam]

He's so overrated, Dave Navarro was way better in the Chili Peppers and in general.

[Oujou]

Just saying, I didn't know who most of the ****ers you people are listing WERE untill I started playing Guitar.

Froosh, Slash, and Bellamy are popular guitarists. My main problem with this list is Bellamy is an amazing Vocalist, not so much for guitar.

[metalheadblues]

glad slash ain't in top
hmm froosh huh?good decision
his solo work is amazing

[gytyg]

yeah, great news. he really deserves it!

[Music_Eater]

OMAR RODRIGUEZ LOPEZ !!! (gigalol)
John is sooo great! He really is, as said by Omar (megalol)a whole body of a musician, having genuine and refined creative skills, as well as a great execution. I tend to think Ben Weinman is better though. I could have said Brent Hinds too but they are so much elsey . So in conclusion let's just say it's a stupid thing to waste time on this typeo' competition, and enjoy the art of these dudes. This rivalry, (if they would participate in this whose dograce) would corupt their music to them bones, so what if we just all stopped all this bullsceiße, before it's far beyond driven?

[Eifler121]

Eifler121 wrote:
Vai, Satch, Mustaine, none of them reallyhave done anything to change the way anyone plays. If anything they take steps way backwards and unless you simply want to be the best technical guitarist ever, no one really listens to them.

Muse sucks, period.

What about Kim Thayil and Mick Mcready or Stone Gossard? Not like they shaped the biggest musical movement in the past twenty or anything. Between them and Nirvana they destroyed Hair Bands, thank god.

Clearly, you have no idea what you're talking about. Vai, Satch and Mustaine altogether have created more paths for people to walk. Vai - Emotional, way ahead of JF like you wouldn't imagine, you'd know that if you'd have ever listened to any of his music. I.e: Lotus Feet, For The Love Of God, Windows, Juice. Way more feel then anything you could ever imagine. Satch - REVOLUTIONIZED the way people played, including JF, Satch is the master of groove for a reason. JF wouldn't even be a guitar player if it wasn't for him. Check out Surfin' with the alien, Satch boogie, Forgotten, Always with me-Always with you. He destroys anything ever written by Frusciante. Mustaine - Inspired a wave of metal fans that live on today. Like ... well, anything metal to tell you the truth.

Oh wow! Destroyed the hair bands! they would've easily been taken down a few years later. I.e: lock them in a room with behemoth for 20 minutes and see what happens.

I'm glad Kurt Cobain shot his head off, or there'd be more 'fans' like you.[/quote]
I actually hate Nirvana, so go ahead and say whatever you want about Cobain. Although he may put on a good stage show, I don't think the energy shows just listening to his recordings. At Behemoth and Mustaine being revolutionary I could care less, that style of metal is simply playing fast, no riff, or actual musicality to it. So if you say they've changed the metal world than it must have been for the worst, because you went from Sabbath to Slipknot, Amon AMarth, and White Chapel.

[Jimmy_Page_Zep]

Absolutely agree with Frusciante being #1. Not too sure about the rest of the list. I think Satch deserves to be up there too, but Froosh being tops makes me happy.

[Jawshuwa]

I'm curious. Does everyone know that BBC is stating an opinion ? They could've worded their pick of the top guitarists of the past thirty years as if it were fact, but I'm sure they're voicing an opinion.

And since I'm so big on opinions, how many of us started listening to Vai, Satch, Petrucci and Gilbert because they were technical ? I didn't know anything about guitar when I started listening to them, so when I claim Petrucci is better than Frusciante, it's because I find his music more appealing, not due to technical superiority. I could care less about that. I enjoy plenty of guitarists that don't shred, or aren't considered technical.

And I simply can't find merit in basing this list on guitarists who are most often heard. That's quite asinine. I hear Fall Out Boy on the radio more than even Metallica; do I dare claim FOB's superiority ? I am not so foolish.

And I love how some people are naming dead guitarists. Randy and Darrel were great, but what have they done in the past ten years ? Oh...right. And don't try saying I'm being disrespectful. It's no disrespect to say a dead man is dead.

[Metallicaloveu]

I agree he is amazing, but what about Jimi or Satriani for a start? In the passed 30 years? Come on...

[TheMansonMan]

jaapnac wrote:

OMG, where's John Petrucci?!? Steve Vai?!? Dweezil Zappa?!? Angus Young?!? Steve Morse?!? slash and morello are ok, but the others... and wtf is that Muse guy doing there?

ok there all great guitarists, but this only shows the top 5, and its a poll, so its a matter of opinion. Look in a different poll, and i'm sure you may be happier.
And for the record, Bellamy is an outstanding guitarist, so if you're the type that has only heard starlight or whatever, then listen to stockholm syndrome or new born to see what he is really capable of.

[azmully]

Consider the source... What a joke!

[Eifler121]

Everyone is aware that 30 years ago it was 1980. Therefore, anything from the 70's is ineligible.

[hamsteroceros]

Frusciante is on top for two reasons: 1- RHCP are among the most influential bands ever, so obviously their music has reached more than a few people (public poll, after all). 2- There's more soul and feel in two Frusciante notes than in entire five-minute passages of these shredders. Also, just because he isn't shredding his nuts off all the time, it isn't because he can't- it really comes down to playing philosophy and the end goal the guitarist wants to achieve.

Virtuosity does not necessarily make a "better player", people. Vai, Petrucci, (most) Satch, and Yngwie are ****ing boring to quite a few (even musically inclined) people. A guy who can bend a note around your soul is much more compelling to most. I wonder how many of you have an easier time enjoying a whole RHCP or Frusciante solo album vs. an entire Vai or Dream Theater album. Of course, it all boils down to taste and preference, but I suspect that the former would come out on top.

[the_white_bunny]

john is a visionary.
the guy is a freakin wizard on guitar.
nuff said.

[dguruishtar]

I love Fruisciante's work, and really dig the whole rhcp vibe that the songs emit. But, no. Tom Morello, Marty Friedman, Mikael Akerfeldt, Petrucci, Satriani, Dimebag, Phil Demmel(lower than the others though) and finally the one and only BUCKETHEAD. And these are just the artists that have been active in the last decade or so.

I'm pretty sure more could be found, if we look further back. However, I can't remember anymore names right now, this 'list' is just off the top of my head. And yes most of the people in my list are technical masters, maybe not as 'emotional' as frusciante, but they sure are a hell of a lot more talented. Buckethead imho is number one. Nearly ten albums a year and all pouring with genius. CHeck out his latest, 'Shadows between the Sky'. It WILL bring a tear to you eyes.

[Grohlism]

Why isn't Graham Coxen there?

[CSUTremonti777]

They just love putting stuff on here that they know will piss pretty much everyone off lol.

Frusciante...no

Tremonti...YES

[illyria]

call me old fashioned but hendrix for the winn. he is the best guitarist period.

[Eirien]

lol, just goes to show you shouldn't pay any attention to these types of lists but sometimes they really wind me up.

Best guitarist of the last 30 years? That's far too broad a question. It seems that the real question is 'who is the most popular guitar band among radio 6 listeners'.

[$lightly$ober]

what the hell is this based on? cause i could name 10 more influential guitar players than this guy over the past 30 yrs

[Zanary]

Errr....

...yeah, well, we can agree to disagree. I like his playing, but I don't see him as the top player.

[T-Unit33]

Mark Tremonti is yet again cheated out of another top guitarist list. First rolling stone, now this...

[shwilly]

Sanitarium91 wrote:

Allan Holdsworth. That is all.

You and I are a rare breed dude, I couldn't agree with you more...

[revizx]

He's one of them.

[marvelboy_04]

mike mccready should be on there

[Mamono]

wow i really have no real problems with that list, theres a good reason for everyone to be right where they are...that must be a first.

[nightraven]

checked

el-gilberto wrote:

so basically this was a poll of most popular guitarists as opposed to best?

obviously

[Rosetta_Stoned_]

WOW really? I couldnt disagree more. Not saying hes not a good guitarist but the best in 30 years? Its almost conceited to accept something like that knowing that theres someone better and more popular out there.

[trivium65]

i think this is completely stupid. In no way shape or form is this man the best guitarist of the past 30 years. complete garbage

[bi-ah!]

is this a joke??

[Warheart1188]

John's an amazing guitarist and musician but I would never name the greatest of the past 30 years.

Randy Rhoads? Eddie Van Halen? Stevie Ray Vaughn? Eric Johnson? Steve Vai? What about them?

That poll is stupid.

[redhotsexmagic]

Absofriggnlutely. Frusciante's guitar arrangements on his solo work and with the Chili Peppers have been incredible. Listen or rather PLAY the guitar parts on the Stadium Arcadium album and u'll see it he deserves this for sure. I'm still pissed he left the peppers but oh well.

[SlowHand707]

JOEY SANTIAGO

[doive]

Of the last 10 years maybe, but 30 years takes you back to 1980... how does van halen not even get a look in?

[redhotsexmagic]

EpiExplorer wrote:

Last 30 years, and they miss out the entirity of the 70's, 80's and most of the 90's to give us Slash (Who is a good contender) the skinny one from Muse (who doesnt really deserve it considering all hes done is make music and not influence it in any way what so ever) and a guy whos name no one can pronounce from a band that should have called it quits quite a while ago because of the instability..

Then again, this is the BBC and pleasing the crowd is what they do best -.-

Just so we're clear on the math..the 70's was 40 years ago. this is from the 80's and forward. derrrrr

[stef123]

Joe Bonamassa?

[OtherGuy]

Voted for him and glad to see he won, he deserves it!

[Henkdemachtige]

Jimmy Rosenberg, best guitarist alive today. Dont believe it? check out his stuff on youtube, guy is actually most of the time just playing improvisation. No on is THAT fast and also good.

[Henkdemachtige]

Forgot to say that my personal opinion = john the best

[thetimmster]

Where was Kirk Hammett? Or Eddie Van Halen? Steve Vai? Joe Satriani? Synester Gates? Dave Mustaine? Kerry King? Alex Lifeson? WTF IS THIS SUPOSED TO BE?!

[ItsSuperdan]

The chilis is one part of his career. Just taking his work with them he is one of the best, but his solo stuff, his general view of music surpass another guitarist. If any other guitarist can write, record and release 6 amazing, and vastly different albums in 6 months, in between writing 2 amazing albums with the chilis, and have that be only one part of their career, then they deserve it.

[AngryGoldfish]

What a strange list.

[thetimmster]

thetimmster wrote:

Where was Kirk Hammett? Or Eddie Van Halen? Steve Vai? Joe Satriani? Synester Gates? Dave Mustaine? Kerry King? Alex Lifeson? WTF IS THIS SUPOSED TO BE?!

And I forgot Zakk Wylde and Dimebag Darrell!

[Ibzman]

Can't be taken seriously, from 1980 to 2010 there have been at least 30 more proficient guitar players.

[Bored_97]

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

uh, californication, stadium arcadium, smile from the streeets you hold?

maybe, you should listen to those dickweed

[Krieger91]

totally deserves it!!!!
MY favourite guitarist of all time.

[KasanDude]

I can agree with the top 3. As far as people like Steve Vai and Derek Trucks go, sure they're great guitar players in the technical sense, but Slash, JF and Matt are definitely better in the musical sense. They create music that is a) original and b) memorable. Some a-holes will go on to say that I'm wrong and that the list is all mainstream stuff, but no shit. As far as guitarists go, getting into the mainstream is a sign that you make music that people LIKE. A lot of un-mainstream stuff might be brilliant technically, but its not the kind of stuff that you put on your ipod and crap. You might say that most mainstream bands are bred only for being popular and have no musical merit, but this is not true. Look at Jonas brothers, the record company is just desperate and pushing them as much as they can into the mainstream, but no one listens to them because they suck and cannot create music. So there... mainstream isn't just a waste of time, its actually most of the good music.

[Year Zero]

30 years? No F-ing way. Hammet, Satriani, Vai, and Dimebag are all better.

[BulletxFanx94]

ZOMG WHERE IS HERMAN LI!!!!!11111

but seriously i don't think Frusciante should be top he is good but not the best for me

[Jøhnny]

If those five are the top 5 guitarists of the LAST 30 YEARS we are having some serious problem, and a huge lack of talented guitarists. There are so many less known guitarists who are just so much better technically and are much more creative, but once again this is a "Hey, these guys are popular, let's put them in the top of this list" -"Dude, what list is it?" -"LoL dunno, but tbh I don't really care, these guys are popular aren't they?" -list. Why do I even post a comment here? Because I'm bored. Damn, this article makes me cry. Sorry for all you RHCP, RATM etc fanboys, no offense, just business and opinion.

[ThaNaGui]

What the f*** ?
is doesn't even deserves top5 :/

[MilosCleve]

And next week in the news - Fred Durst is the best rock and roll singer of all time. Music industry, for f**k's sake, get a grip.

[Rimfrost]

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

I assume you never heard his solo stuff. The empyrean is awesome!

Defineately my favourite guitarist, might not be a technical superman like John Petrucci, but he really understands to create great memorable melodies.

[JJunc4]

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

The guy definitely wrote more than one album idiot!

[D. Hero]

No one will ever agree who is the best guitar player in the last 30 years or all time. It's all opinion based usually. We see these articles all the time, and every number 1 is different on each of them. The real thing everyone should recognize is that each of them, regardless of first, second, third, or tenth, are all great guitarists. They've all done something unique and will be praised for it. Everyone goes on and on about who they think should be number one, but isn't that just what the people did who created this list?

[Bassman 561]

Will Swan could outplay any of those top 5 picks with one hand...

[Palm*]

Yeah, he deserved it, that guy´s a f-ing genius and his style is unique

[scawti]

Best of last 30 years??? Best at what? John is an amazing player in the style he plays but, best all round player in last 30 years? He wouldn't make my top 50. The fact that Eddie Van Halen isn't in the top 3 says something. Malsteen? Satriani? Players that actually changed how people played guitar? So, is Pete Wenz the best bass player of the last 30 years, and the guy from Cold Play in second?

[benf199105]

Worst decision ever.

James Hetfield would be my pick, but John Frusciante.. who makes this lists?

[McTodd]

"The 'Suck My Kiss' Hitmakers"

They ALWAYS do this. I had never heard the word "hitmaker" before I started reading the reviews here, and they always name the most innocuous song as a "hit".

[cITIzens_EraZed]

seeing as it was bbc im supprised they didnt put Mcfly, Coldplay or Oasis in lol

[kunkushin]

he's the man. Always loved what he ads to a track. Kinda weird when you see him in an interview tho... I could never tell if he's completely fried or an idiot savant, or maybe a little bit of the two... but whatever it is, the result is some great music.

[Dynamo11]

Rubbish, I mean Top Ten yeah but Number 1?????

[Sanctuary]

Sure you guys are naming a lot of guitarists who can "Play circles" around Frusciante, but skill isn't everything. Frusciante WRITES some very good music, and that's what is important.

[LazarusOnGrave]

Here are the complete results:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/events/theaxefactor/

[bleumurle]

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

[sarcasm]What a array of versatile guitarist you just listed.[/sarcasm]

[diablo83]

once again. just like ****ing always, Brian Setzer gets snubbed. I love Slash, but he would NEVER be my second pick.And where the hell is Dimebag? that poll was freaking useless just like the mainstream's opinion.

[xunholyknightx]

i am sorry, i respect john but 1st place?? Really? I know it was a public voting thing but still!! There are far more influential, passionate, and talented guitar players! Angus Young for example!??? Remember the album Back in Black? That was 30 years ago and that is possibly the greatest rock n roll album of all time (not to mention the second best selling album in the world). I don't think people can argue that John has influenced more people than Angus.

[hazydavy]

Froosh breathed life into the Peppers twice.To me that is a hell of a qualification. This and all lists are subjective to individual tastes and genre specific leanings.

Do you really mind listening to him? If not than he wins this particular poll.

[wrongmessage]

I don't think we should forget about Dimebag... He did quite alot for metal also. But I can understand that John got it. But as said over a hundred times. It's all a matter of taste.

[x0vincent0x]

you can't just say someone is the best guitar player because they all have verry different styles wich you can't compare, maybe frusciante can play with alot of feeling & emotion, but there are many guitar player who have better technical skills. some things you just can't compare, with bands it is even worse, when you read the comments below a youtube vid of a metalband there are always people starting to compare with slipknot or dragonforce wich most of the time are playing a completly different genre

[Eikerberus]

sry but what is this shit ? the best guitarist of the past 30 years ? are you kinding me ? first of all .. slash came in second ?!! second of all ... waht about guitarist as Randy , Zakk , Dime , Yngwie , Vai , Gilbert.. all of thse rose in the past 30 years ! and third of all muse guitarist and morello in the top 5 ?!! OMG WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THIS WORLD !!

[BAntonio]

Okay, this is for 30 years, I am 30, Frusciante maybe a decent guitarist, but the best in 30 years? That's a large gap with many greats...not to sound like a broken record, but Satriani, Vai, EVH, Malmsteen, Petrucci, Chris Broderick, Michael Angelo batio, John Sykes, Michael Shenker, Jake E. Lee, Marty Friedman, Phil Collen, Vivian Campbell. You also have many under-rated "hair band" guitarists, Reb Beach, Bill Leverty, Warren Dimartini, George Lynch, Dan Huff. My point is there are way too many talented guitarists in the past 30 years, that deserved this. This Ultimately comes down to an opinion. Nevertheless, congrats to Frusciante for the award.

[Longhairedrockr]

Probably one of the worst lists ive ever seen. Derek Trucks should have #1. SRV and Jack White should have also made the list...

[Sabscope]

Bugger that. He's rubbish.

[80smetalfreke]

There's some people imo they're missing

Dimebag Darrell
Josh Homme
John 5
Zakk Wylde(even though highly overrated)
Derek Trucks
Jonny Greenwood(expected it because it is bbc)
Prince
Kim Thayill

any other suggestions?

[Alkaline 64]

Great guitar player and songewriter, but he is NOT the best guitar player to come out of the last 30 years (imho)

Paul Gilbert, Buckethead, Andy Timmons, Steve Vai, and John Petrucci to name a few run circles round his ass in so many ways. This list is bullshit, like ALL lists. Popular opinion SUCKS!

[Henders94.]

theyve chosen very mainstream guitar players here really. possibly more of a 'most popular' list?

[Eikerberus]

What i see is that this world (and youth) does not know what it is listening to ... when i hear someone say that linkin park is heavy metal or muse is good rock i get crazy ... i mean have this people never heard of certain bands as deep prurple , led , sabbath etc and etc .... and i mean this is a list for the best of the past 30 years ... if it was of the year i maybe could accept this but past 30 years ...? i mean 25 years ago the most of these listed did not existed .!!

[Ktool The Girth]

neca wrote:

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

There is no "right way" to play guitar. Also, theres more to music than technical ability. Thats why shredders are almost never on these lists.

[Willie The Pimp]

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

[BuckleyFanTom]

No justin Bieber. WHATS WRONG WITH THE WORLD

[Eikerberus]

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

sry have you ever heard guitarist of the 80s ? or 70s ? then we'll talk abou innovation , technique and emotion .. ok ? because as it seems you don't know squat about thsi genre of music ...

[Paul Colt the B]

I don't know about this. I would have John on the list but not first I don't think. Slash would probably be on there, but honestly I think it could be argued that none of those five deserve to be on there. I'm a big fan of Morello, too, but I think he's a bit overrated

[ingames]

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

You sir are an idiot.
Matt Bellamy kicks this guy's ass any day, any time.
Plug in Baby is commonly in the lists of the Greatest Riffs Ever. I don't reckon Frusciante has that achievement.

Plus, in terms of sheer songwriting ability, Bellamy is quite simply the master of them all.
Some Proof?

Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Butterflies and Hurricanes
Plug In Baby
Knights Of Cydonia (Arguably the most bouncy riff of all time.)
Plus he inherited all the innovative techniques of Tom Morello. Which makes him even more special.

It is only logical, my friends.

[Slackerbitch]

What about Prince?

[izzeeeh]

lies

[JacksonShredd92]

come on, he isn't the guitarist of the last 30 years! there have been many others that inspired more or played better than he did, perhaps dimebag darrell oder zakk wylde ??? even thos guys, what about the guys of maiden?
rhcp is what everybody listens to, but the guitar playing doesn't inspire that much like hettfields, king's oder the maiden guys inspired a bunch of young musican!

[enjoi838]

Buckethead FOREVER

[AlexW1989]

no hendrix in the top 40, bad show

[Ktool The Girth]

JacksonShredd92 wrote:

come on, he isn't the guitarist of the last 30 years! there have been many others that inspired more or played better than he did, perhaps dimebag darrell oder zakk wylde ??? even thos guys, what about the guys of maiden?
rhcp is what everybody listens to, but the guitar playing doesn't inspire that much like hettfields, king's oder the maiden guys inspired a bunch of young musican!

Pretty sure rhcp has inspired just as many people as random metal band X.

[ieatualive]

I am not really follower of his work, but top guitarist of the decade?

Really?
Really?
Man, REALLY?!!?

[diablo83]

What about "fast" Eddie Clarke from Motorhead? Jerry Cantrell? Jim Heath?

[CLib]

Dave Mustaine or Kirk Hammett didn't even crack the top 5, are you joking?

[RhoadsJackson71]

If they maybe specified a specific genre this wouldn't bother me. However, since they didn't how could the leave out John Petrucci, The Satch, Marty Friedman, or even someone like Dave Mustaine? I don't see it by meh.

[Enix165]

...what the hell? He sucks! Especially that solo album he had...just random mumbling and wailing over acoustic at horrible quality. And he wasn't even influential. Talking from 1980 to now, I'd probably go with James Hetfield of Metallica, Dave Mustaine of Metallica/Megadeth or Dimebag Darrell of Pantera. Granted, both metal guitarists, but James and Dave made metal what it is together(Anthrax made a BIG change during the time Metallica was staying with them in New York IMO, and I'd say Kerry King, major writer for Slayer, learned a few things from Dave when he was in Megadeth, so the Big 4 of Thrash Metal's the way it is thanks to Dave and James IMO) and it's hard to find a modern metal band that Dime's work in Pantera hasn't influenced, and he was an amazing guitarist too. Mind you, you go 5 years back Rudolf Schenker and Eddie Van Halen are major contenders too...=P

[Vitor_vdp]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yw74sDWPH7U&feature=fvste3


Watch that and tell me Frusciante is better.
Everything about Steve is better!
The music, the technique, the feeling, the showmanship.

[HavokStrife]

Are you kidding me? First, I realize it says 30 years, so Gilmour, Hendrix, and the gang aren't included. But, I mean, I love the Chili Peppers, a lot, but I think Flea and John are both RETARDEDLY overrated. I mean, they make great original music, but so does 311, and Tim Mahoney isn't winning every guitar award ever.

And btw, Dimebag Darrell, I guess that's all I need to say about that..

[chilledguitar]

well i think he damn well deserves it, John Blew my mind when i saw him live

[elleild]

Kris Norris ftw

[IIIsoviaIII]

This is the most inaccurate list I've ever seen.
The only reason why Slash is on any of these lists, is because of his name and look. If he was a balding caucasion, named Bob Smith, people wouldn't give a **** about him.

[rgt42dx]

I'm speechless. Vai, Satch, Petrucci, EVH, Slash, Gilbert, Dime, SOMEONE???

[RT-17]

It's about time Johnny Marr got some acknowledgement. The man is a genius.
Before anybody starts critisizing what i just said, go listen to some of his work.

[andypc]

Well deserved. Frusciante is such a diverse and versatile guitarist with an incredible amount of musical knowledge and talent, too many people judge him solely from his work with RHCP.

[Powerpro]

rgt42dx wrote:

I'm speechless. Vai, Satch, Petrucci, EVH, Slash, Gilbert, Dime, SOMEONE???

I'm also speechless. Not only are these "lists" that come out weekly completely biased and based on ????? What are they based on? ...I dont know. I like John Frush , but the best guitar player in the last 30 years ....are you FING kidding. He might crack my top 50.

[Glenn Guitar]

in rules of disciplines and how he goes around music, i think John deserves it. The way he creates music and his disciplines are great, and helped me greatly. sure, i'd love to see some of the uber shredders e.g shawn lane, vai. but remember, this is a BBC poll. this was took in britain, where our shred community isnt as big as americas. Sure, i think guthrie govan shoulda been up there, a brilliant guitarist, and a brilliant teacher. But with a poll of about 30k british people, you aren't gonna get a wide choice of opinion.

[Wakisazhi]

I've held my tongue on the matter but seriously the Bellamy bashers really do have their heads up their own asses don't they? Seriously do you even listen to more than one song before you take a piss on the a band? If you twits knew anything you'd know Bellamy can most definitely shred with the best of them (a lot of it probably is held back a bit too since he tends to restrict it to intro/outro format to suit the song) and he is most definitely one of if not the best frontman PERIOD to come out of the last decade.

And he most definitely has influence as a guitar player, Plug In Baby is the new Sweet Child O' Mine as far as riffs go. Want more go check out Stockholm Syndrome, New Born, Knights of Cydonia, Supermassive Black Hole (Twatlight aside the song has a fantastic riff,) Hysteria (the bassline everyone raves about started out as a guitar riff before it was moved to bass,) Invincible (the solo might not be the most technical but then again it won solo of the year for the year it was released so...), and many others. Combine that with the custom guitars he's thought up and I'd say he has definitely been an innovator in the guitar world as well.

Like I said honestly I'd put Tom Morello over Matt since Matt is a big fan of RATM and takes a lot of influence from Morello's style of playing but since its a public poll it means just as much either way if Morello was 3rd and Matt was 5th.

Other than that the rest of you twits need to learn to read. The poll was done by BBC Music 6 based upon guitarists from bands from the past 30 years that were featured/played fairly often there (taking away your Vais, Satrianis, SRVs, and *insert obscure tech death metal guitarist only you fap to* from the poll) and that they favored influence over technique. Overall I'd say the top 5 is reasonable considering the criteria and considering it was a public poll.

[halfj06]

yeah i dont see that as a very good top list either, i do like froosh though.. but comon now
Adam Jones?
Jerry Cantrell?

i do thank them so much for not putting cobain in the top 5 through

[Quicksand15]

I hate lists like that (even though I can live with this result^^)

[Santeria420]

Gyoung1991 wrote:

Personally, I think UG should stop posting bullshit like this as news. It's just a poll and is essentially meaningless.

+1

[SIEGE312]

Come on, great guitarist, but there are so many that are better...

Either from Metallica, Adam Jones, Buckethead, Satriani, Vai, Dimebag, Oli Herbert, Morello, Tremonti, Howerdell???

Hell those are just off the top of my head most from the past 20 years... That's since 1980!

[Cheesepuff]

they should just stop these lists.

I think the most innovative popular guitarist is Tom Morello. Followed by Matt Bellamy.

If we throw popularity out of the window and just focus on how good they are, then Buckethead takes it. Hands down.

[ToalNOOB]

d

[Sammeir123]

I actually adore Muse, and I think Bellamy is awesome. But third is pushing it.

[ToalNOOB]

The first name is right, the last name should be Petrucci. This list is a joke.

[Oddhawk]

What songs does he do anything over the top?? I am either on a different wave length or I just haven't heard their good stuff. Please PM me a list of sons to check out cause I wanna get into his (RHCP) stuff.

[sardonicgoat]

VERNON freakin REID!! am I th only one who knows how amazing a guitar player this dude is?

[mr.moo]

flemflames wrote:

agreed, but the whole reliability of this list goes down the drain when you read the 3rd place

> Matt Bellamy should've gotten first!

[mario.10]

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

umm have you heard his solo work? its unreal

[PatVanHalen5150]

Two people that have yet to hit the 30 year mark that EVERYBODY overlooks are Mick Mars (Crue's first album turns 30 next year) and Warren DeMartini. Those two are severely underrated and have amazing chops & tone. Slash is one of the most overrated guitarists of all time.

[MrGuitarGuy01]

Damn right. Now hurry up and advertise your band with Omar (and yes, they are making a band).

[dementiacaptain]

millarso wrote:

neca wrote:

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

Hendrix is "nothing" compared to today's guitarists?! That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. He pretty much invented the modern use of distortion. He put his whole heart and soul into that instrument. He may not have shredded, but he put more life into his guitar playing than any other man I have ever known.

and honestly there were a few times where he did a pretty decent job at blues shredding, or at least a rudimentary idea of what shredding was to be. like on woodstock improvisation, or the end of purple haze on woodstock depending on how old your copy of the cd is. more importantly, froosh for sure deserves a top ten spot. but i dont think number one is it. it is refreshing to see the public not pick ur same old news tho, i have never heard of him winning any of these polls

[Wakisazhi]

halfj06 wrote:

yeah i dont see that as a very good top list either, i do like froosh though.. but comon now
Adam Jones?
Jerry Cantrell?

i do thank them so much for not putting cobain in the top 5 through

Actually I'm surprised either weren't on the poll, if Mike McCready could make the poll then I don't see why either one could make it as well (I mean at least Adam Jones would've brought something different to the equation.)

[Vezdehod]

Hamburger89 wrote:

Best guitarist of the last 30 years? I think not.
One of the best? Maybe

Agreed. One of the top best.

[thehandthatfeed]

1.Dimebag Darrel
2.Dave Mustain
3.Robb Flynn
4.Slash
5.Petrucci xD

[neca]

neca wrote:

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

There is no "right way" to play guitar. Also, theres more to music than technical ability. Thats why shredders are almost never on these lists.

realy there isnt a right way to play the guitar??? u tell me that for the last centuries people have been stupide learning classical guitar properly ??? what kind of guy are u??? CMON!!! THe problem is that there are guys like u who say thta shred sucks because u just cant play like that!!! by the way did u ever have listened to jason becker's air ? or tender surrender by steve vai??? or something by jeff young besides megadeth?? jeff young has projects in classical music har rock and a varety of styles that only someone with his knowledge coud do!! broderick plays from classical to jazz to metal! satch goes from groove to hard rock to blues he even plays sax!! the only guys i said that can be a little boring if u listen to much are loomis and malmsteen!! but frusciante i dont know how he still have fingers on his left hand !! he use the fingers so wrong it should hurt!!and yes i know music theory i have formation in music so what?! i listen to metal jazz classical blues hard rock even red hot so what???? get the hell outa here fan boy and care about doing thing the way they are meant to be done!! thats the difficult prt but also where u have more fun! learning is fun for me ! and for a lot of other people in here

[toine]

i would agree, if he was one of the few people that played guitar in 30 years.
And Matt 3rd place? i'm surprised he made it on the list. I do have respect for all of them as musicians. But the greatest guitarists in 30 years? No!

[Metalmangini]

im guessing they never heard of john petrucci, paul gilbert, rusty cooley or chris broderick

[mynamehere040]

Eifler121 wrote:

Everyone is aware that 30 years ago it was 1980. Therefore, anything from the 70's is ineligible.

Thank you. Either people are retarded or they thought Y2K was 4 months ago :p

[guitarsftw]

OK, guys, don't get your Hello Kittie panties in a bunch. This was a public poll done by BBC. It wasn't some sort of conference of music czars. BBC is not declaring that "John Frusciante is the best guitarist of the past 30 years and everybody who disagrees is wrong." They left it up to the public, which is composed primarily of non-guitarists, or even non-musicians in general. This means that the results speaks more to the question of which guitar players have had the biggest positive impact on the music-listening public, not who is the best technical player, who put out "better" music, who you think is "underrated", or any of those things.

John Frusciante is by no means a surprising or undeserving winner. He is extremely talented, his music has had a major impact, and his recordings should stand the test of time. And I say this as someone who doesn't really listen to his stuff that much.

[Astaldo]

hm.. I prefere Slash

[Nirvanarien]

A great musician, a decent guitarist.

[AnusPoo]

Best guitarist of he past 100 years*

[bmarlatt1685]

RunninWitDevil wrote:

Uh, Eddie Van Halen, Kirk Hammett, SRV anybody? And Slash is definitely better than Frusciante

I agree... and Rhodes (that's debatable though 'cause he wasn't around as long as others, but he still was great), Cantrell, Kim Thayil, Alex Lifeson, and Neal Schon (most people on here probably don't like Journey, but I don't care. The man's an incredibly underrated guitarist)... Where was Glenn Tipton, K.K. Downing, Dave Murray and Adrian Smith ranked too?

[randyaintdead82]

Paul Waggoner better make this list one day

[Kevtar]

....this has to be a mistake.
im not saying that fruscicante is a bad guitar player.
i just dont think he should be named the best guitar player in the past 30 years :/

[becker89]

What is it with us humans,that we always do rankings and stupid competitions,to name the best in some profession? I mean,try to think with common sense,
does it matter anything? We`re a huge society,every person has different tastes in music.
The term "best" really relies on one`s opinion.
I enjoy many guitarists and appreciate their works.
But I dont think there is a point to do comparisons..
As a guitarist I love Jason Becker.
He is not innovative as yngwie was to neo-classical guitar playing,or famous like eddie van halen,
but he was an AMAZING guitarist.
He`s my guitar idol,learning his stuff makes me motivated and evolve my playing to new levels.

[Crillz]

It's bad than you read this in the free paper you get on the bus a good few days before ug informs us all

[mario.10]

Vezdehod wrote:

srob7001 wrote:

Yea, its unreal alright. But its still real garbage.

I can't stand this guy.I was so happy the 1st time he left Chilie Peppers and now he leaves again?

Good ridance is what I got for him.

Go smack it up in your vein and just end it already.

Good song writer is the only good thing I have and will ever say about this guy.

Are you kidding me? You're undoubtedly one of the biggest *****s on UG. It's one thing to not like Frusciante, it's another thing to wish he was dead.

+1

[Spartan070sarge]

That top five pretty much exactly hits the nail on the head,

Congrats Froosh, and Slash and Bellamy are total badasses too

[gary1991]

most people have said it all, this is one of the dumbest lists i've seen in a long time,

and what about Dave Navarro?

I think there's a real lack of real guitar talent like there used to be.
There's just way too many gays like matt bellamy for one. I think there's only one guy on the list how actually deserves to be there and thats Slash.

[Knot555~666]

1.dimebag
2.hetfield
3.Hammett
4.Mick Thompson
100000+++jack White

[Skagasm]

john butler, seriously him and derek trucks no one today has more soul than these guys. metal doesnt involve soul and thats what most people would pick over skill so asstaine and hamlet will have to sit this one out but go check out john butlers ocean or derek trucks improvs i mean those guys have soul

[metallica4life_]

Dude, about three quarters of the guitarists on the list are absolutely unknown to me. It's all indie shit with three-chords stuff...

[hardrocker628]

acshadow25 wrote:

johnny marr??? are you SERIOUS???

hell yeah he plays very melodiacally and his parts are hard to play

[AnusPoo]

And one more thing, It doesn't matter if you can play better than everyone in the world combined, if no one likes what you play.

[Lemoninfluence]

checked

[bassthunder]

Best, my ass. He's okay, he writes some pretty good stuff, but he's not even close to the best. Obviously nobody who voted on that poll has ever even held a guitar.

[Like I Is]

Good for John. He's very talented.

[Wakisazhi]

metallica4life_ wrote:

Dude, about three quarters of the guitarists on the list are absolutely unknown to me. It's all indie shit with three-chords stuff...

Yeah just like all Metallica is just chugga chugga then solo wankery and then Hetfield adding an -ahhhhh to the end of every word stuff...DERP!

[Jacob6293]

I don't agree with it, but good for him.

[metalfr3ak666]

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

+1 kirk hammet and marty friedman ftw
also, john fruciante is a good guitarist and everything, but naming him the best guitarist of the last 30 years is a bit much...i mean, 30 years is a long time.

['93]

fact is he can play eveything...technically he is good (he tries not to show it though) and play funk, punk, classic rock, avant garde, prog...most stuff anyway

[PlayFreebirdNow]

Terrible list. They're all modern musicians, which defeats the whole "of the last THIRTY years" bit.

[stndrdprcdre]

If anything, the guys in the top 5 are actually the anti-thesis of what a great guitarist is.

[Wakisazhi]

PlayFreebirdNow wrote:

Terrible list. They're all modern musicians, which defeats the whole "of the last THIRTY years" bit.

Not really, Frusciante got his start in the late 80's/early 90's, Slash got his start in the 80's, Bellamy in the last decade, Marr in the 80's, and Morello in the early 90's. Sounds like a pretty balanced representation of 30 years in the top 5 to me.

[afterthewar]

Johnny Marr was...4th? What the hell? And where is J Mascis or East Bay Ray or...anyone good?

[BoTpBeAtMh]

TOSIN ABASI FTW!

[Ricky4635]

He's good but, maybe not that good...

['93]

bassthunder wrote:

Best, my ass. He's okay, he writes some pretty good stuff, but he's not even close to the best. Obviously nobody who voted on that poll has ever even held a guitar.

i highly doubt that considering slash and bellamy are both more polular with JFs solo stuff not being aimed towards the public and none of the presenters voted for him

[Wakisazhi]

afterthewar wrote:

Johnny Marr was...4th? What the hell? And where is J Mascis or East Bay Ray or...anyone good?

J got 21st place behind Cobain (though honestly and truly J should've been ahead of Cobain in both technique and influence since he could play circles around him and he heavily influenced Cobain.) Then again its a public poll so oh well.

[kodadak]

I mean, even in those "greatest guitarist ever" polls people always seem to pick Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana and Brian May over Paco de Lucía, Django Reinhardt and Wes Montgomery (who were also extremely influential AND more technical players). I can't help but think that these lists usually just end up being a popularity contest, if anything...

You've got to be the first person I've seen on this site that actually knows about Django and Paco, but you left out another great, Tommy Emmanuel.

[awisinger]

Kudos to him for winning. This is a very subjective thing but I still think he is a great guitarist but there are so many, you can't define one as the "Best" because there is always a different style that a guitarist isn't as comfortable with. It's why I respect any guitarist no matter what music they play, whether its power chords to face melting solos, each are good in their fields. Overall, those top four are good choices.

[Ain_Elohim]

What about Adam Jones, Steve Hackett, Jack White, Steve Bartek, Frank Zappa, Hide Matsumoto, Larry LaLonde, or Daron Malakian? All 8 of them had been extremely innovative during their times. All of them deserve a tie for 1st.

[lowcard87]

best publicized guitarist. there are so many better players than him underground.

[SpockTheRock]

Moore + Ranaldo.

[Mainer]

I don't like playing this card. but...Dimebag?

[Wakisazhi]

So people can stop their bitching (lol fat chance I suppose):

The list that shows both who was in the poll and what place they ended up at - http://www.bbc.co.uk/6music/events/theaxefactor/index.shtml


The reasoning and criteria behind the poll - http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/bbcmusic/2010/03/the_axe_factor.h tml

[BoTpBeAtMh]

shwilly wrote:

Sanitarium91 wrote:

Allan Holdsworth. That is all.You and I are a rare breed dude, I couldn't agree with you more...

I agree but on that note I would also add Frederik Thordendal, he was heavily influenced by Holdsworth and is one of the most innovative and influential guitar players in the past 30 years.

[WakoJako]

is this based on popularity? coz that would make sense. If its based on technicality of their melodies then this is soo wrong. 30 years is a bit much innit. wbout kurt cobain?

[Shaunfromtheuk]

Hungry_Hameds wrote:

Johnny Marr?? Dear god no... and where the hell was Mike McCready???

Totally agree with that! Pearl Jam are awesome and Stone Gossard on rhythm just completes it perfectly. By the way i also like your name, the Spin Doctors are also v v cool and that song rocks :P

[PatVanHalen5150]

If were talking about all material from the last 30 years.....Fair Warning. Nothing more needs to be said.

[Its So Easy]

In my opion SRV has probably been the greatest in the past 30 years. Rhoades could be a qualifier too, but the top spot doesn't deserve to go to John imo. Granted I will never be as good as he is I still think there are greater more influential artists.

[MoreNoise]

The whole point was to find the favourite recent guitarists of BBC 6 listeners, and there were plenty of decent guitarists on that list. These polls have to be quite narrow or else it's just turns into everyone yelling about Clapton or Hendrix or whoever or they start arguing over some random shredders who hardly anyone (apart from guitarists) has heard of, which gets boring fast.

[Wakisazhi]

MoreNoise wrote:

The whole point was to find the favourite recent guitarists of BBC 6 listeners, and there were plenty of decent guitarists on that list. These polls have to be quite narrow or else it's just turns into everyone yelling about Clapton or Hendrix or whoever or they start arguing over some random shredders who hardly anyone (apart from guitarists) has heard of, which gets boring fast.

And finally a voice of reason. +1

[Brandon1993]

I mean he is Ok but I have heard a few better guitarists

[diablo83]

Brian Setzer people.....Brian ****ing Setzer

[ak10]

Of the last 30 years? Have these people never heard of Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dimebag, Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, BB King etc...John Frusicante is great, im a huge fan ohis and rhcp, but they really didnt even showcase him enough for him to be #1, he was more along the lines of a Mike McCreedy of Pearl Jam, cool riffs with 20sec solos on hit songs, definitely should not jump these legends on this list. And Marr as 3rd? How? There is no way he should jump them.

[CaTeArS]

SOOOOO TRUE imo

[sardonicgoat]

Vernon Reid

[theczar]

Alex Skolnick, Eric Peterson? Both better than this top five any day.

[theczar]

Also Brent Hinds? He's great as well.

[pjm012345]

Bored_97 wrote:

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

uh, californication, stadium arcadium, smile from the streeets you hold?

maybe, you should listen to those dickweed

one classic album ?? how about more like 15. how many solo artists can release 6 albums in 6 months and be the main creative force behind the chilis for so long. his music is so diverse and it comes from his heart.there is no one else who should be top of this list in my opinion.frusciante is a genius

[mario.10]

ingames wrote:

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

You sir are an idiot.
Matt Bellamy kicks this guy's ass any day, any time.
Plug in Baby is commonly in the lists of the Greatest Riffs Ever. I don't reckon Frusciante has that achievement.

Plus, in terms of sheer songwriting ability, Bellamy is quite simply the master of them all.
Some Proof?

Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Butterflies and Hurricanes
Plug In Baby
Knights Of Cydonia (Arguably the most bouncy riff of all time.)
Plus he inherited all the innovative techniques of Tom Morello. Which makes him even more special.

It is only logical, my friends.

plug in baby i had to youtube thatt just to know what your talking about and definetly not!!..knights of cydonia is the only good riff hes made.

[ak10]

Wow, this list just lost all credibility, just looked at it and Stevie Ray Vaughan isnt even a choice on the list.

[pjm012345]

regardless of clapton, ray vaughn and hendrix. john has one thing that none of these have. he sings better than any of them his voice has a massive range and he makes the music because its his life

[pjm012345]

mario.10 wrote:

ingames wrote:

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

You sir are an idiot.
Matt Bellamy kicks this guy's ass any day, any time.
Plug in Baby is commonly in the lists of the Greatest Riffs Ever. I don't reckon Frusciante has that achievement.

Plus, in terms of sheer songwriting ability, Bellamy is quite simply the master of them all.
Some Proof?

Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Butterflies and Hurricanes
Plug In Baby
Knights Of Cydonia (Arguably the most bouncy riff of all time.)
Plus he inherited all the innovative techniques of Tom Morello. Which makes him even more special.

It is only logical, my friends.plug in baby i had to youtube thatt just to know what your talking about and definetly not!!..knights of cydonia is the only good riff hes made.

your ****in insane. bellamy aint in the same league as john.muse have a few decent tracks but to even put bellamy in the same list as john is a joke.

[cire7]

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

stadium arcadium ?? by the way ?? go listen to some good music. completely the right choice.

[ak10]

I agree, Muse is largely overrated, and to be on a list of greatest guitarist of the last 30years, there is no way Bellamy has done enough to deserve to be anyhere close to this list. Its just cause it was a BBC poll so he is going to get wayyy too much credit from them.

[kalamari]

Jeff Beck

[Wakisazhi]

mario.10 wrote:

ingames wrote:

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

You sir are an idiot.
Matt Bellamy kicks this guy's ass any day, any time.
Plug in Baby is commonly in the lists of the Greatest Riffs Ever. I don't reckon Frusciante has that achievement.

Plus, in terms of sheer songwriting ability, Bellamy is quite simply the master of them all.
Some Proof?

Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Butterflies and Hurricanes
Plug In Baby
Knights Of Cydonia (Arguably the most bouncy riff of all time.)
Plus he inherited all the innovative techniques of Tom Morello. Which makes him even more special.

It is only logical, my friends.plug in baby i had to youtube thatt just to know what your talking about and definetly not!!..knights of cydonia is the only good riff hes made.

Funny because all of the guitar magazines hail it as one of the best riffs around and it constantly tops any riff polls. Shows what you know.

And to the idiot who said the list lost all credibility: maybe SRV isn't on the list because they DON'T play him on their station. Derp!

[ak10]

Frusicante is great, but Flea has more to do with the overall feel of the RHCP than john does, the bass lines the usually the most memorable things about chilli songs.

[cire7]

John definatly deserved it. I can see Slash giving him a good run for his money, but, cmon ! if you dont see that he deserves... God so help you.

[21wickwing]

Frusciante may be ONE OF the greatest guitarists in the past 30 years and Bellamy should not have been considered by the way. But SRV, Jack White, Steve Vai, Van Halen, Satriani, Eric Johnson...the list goes on.

[cire7]

Flea, Chad, Kleidis(or however the hell its spelt) and Frusciante controlled radio time in the 90's. right choice, for sure!

[ak10]

Wakisazhi wrote:

mario.10 wrote:

ingames wrote:

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

You sir are an idiot.
Matt Bellamy kicks this guy's ass any day, any time.
Plug in Baby is commonly in the lists of the Greatest Riffs Ever. I don't reckon Frusciante has that achievement.

Plus, in terms of sheer songwriting ability, Bellamy is quite simply the master of them all.
Some Proof?

Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Butterflies and Hurricanes
Plug In Baby
Knights Of Cydonia (Arguably the most bouncy riff of all time.)
Plus he inherited all the innovative techniques of Tom Morello. Which makes him even more special.

It is only logical, my friends.plug in baby i had to youtube thatt just to know what your talking about and definetly not!!..knights of cydonia is the only good riff hes made.

Funny because all of the guitar magazines hail it as one of the best riffs around and it constantly tops any riff polls. Shows what you know.

And to the idiot who said the list lost all credibility: maybe SRV isn't on the list because they DON'T play him on their station. Derp!

Then they need to say best guitarist of the last 30 yeears of the songs we play. Using a difinitive umberella term like Greasts of the Last 30 Years does not qualify anything, they are saying frusciante is the greatest guitarist since 1980, and that is just not the case. SRV was just a better player, he just had way more in his bag than frusciante does.

[Wakisazhi]

Wow you Bellamy haters really know nothing do you? Lets see:

1. Plug In Baby is the new Sweet Child O' Mine as far as riffs go. Last time I checked thats a pretty big accomplishment and counts for quite a bit of influence, he's also easily last decade's guitar hero (pun intended.)

2. He can shred. Theres technical ability.

3. He can play pretty impressively while singing pretty difficult to replicate vocals. Technical ability again.

4. His custom guitars are definitely something to talk about. Theres innovation.

5. Combine all of that together and its pretty ****ing impressive if I do say so myself.

All in all I'd say he most definitely belongs at the top.

[Wakisazhi]

ak10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

mario.10 wrote:

ingames wrote:

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

You sir are an idiot.
Matt Bellamy kicks this guy's ass any day, any time.
Plug in Baby is commonly in the lists of the Greatest Riffs Ever. I don't reckon Frusciante has that achievement.

Plus, in terms of sheer songwriting ability, Bellamy is quite simply the master of them all.
Some Proof?

Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Butterflies and Hurricanes
Plug In Baby
Knights Of Cydonia (Arguably the most bouncy riff of all time.)
Plus he inherited all the innovative techniques of Tom Morello. Which makes him even more special.

It is only logical, my friends.plug in baby i had to youtube thatt just to know what your talking about and definetly not!!..knights of cydonia is the only good riff hes made.

Funny because all of the guitar magazines hail it as one of the best riffs around and it constantly tops any riff polls. Shows what you know.

And to the idiot who said the list lost all credibility: maybe SRV isn't on the list because they DON'T play him on their station. Derp!

Then they need to say best guitarist of the last 30 yeears of the songs we play. Using a difinitive umberella term like Greasts of the Last 30 Years does not qualify anything, they are saying frusciante is the greatest guitarist since 1980, and that is just not the case. SRV was just a better player, he just had way more in his bag than frusciante does.

Like I said, SRV wasn't on the list because they don't play him on their station.

[darth awsome]

This looks like a "Band that sold the most records" list not "Greatest Guitarist". Sure all the guys mentioned can write a radio friendly rock song and play a neat little pentatonic solo but their nowhere near the caliber of players like Paul Masvidal, Guthrie Govan, or Tosin Abasi who are pushing the limits of what the guitar is as an instrument in both both songwriting and technical ability.

[ak10]

If they were basing it off of the songs their radio station plays, I would have to make a big claim for Tom Morello being higher on the list than frusciante as well. Im not sure someone has been more creative, innovative, and had more to do with his bands sound that Tom Morello. I'd still put SRV as #1, Morello may be #2, Frusciante feels more correct in the #3 spot.

[kalamari]

Wakisazhi wrote:

Wow you Bellamy haters really know nothing do you? Lets see:

1. Plug In Baby is the new Sweet Child O' Mine as far as riffs go. Last time I checked thats a pretty big accomplishment and counts for quite a bit of influence, he's also easily last decade's guitar hero (pun intended.)

2. He can shred. Theres technical ability.

3. He can play pretty impressively while singing pretty difficult to replicate vocals. Technical ability again.

4. His custom guitars are definitely something to talk about. Theres innovation.

5. Combine all of that together and its pretty ****ing impressive if I do say so myself.

All in all I'd say he most definitely belongs at the top.

I like Bellamy as a guitarist, he's done a lot for music over the past few years. But he's an exceptional pianist, that's where he shines. His abilities on guitar come nowhere close to somebody of Hendrix's ilk - Hendrix I think being the true benchmark for a well-rounded guitarist.

[VinntheDrummer]

He deserves it but his style of playing guitar is very unique and no one really plays like him. He has great technique, emotion, and skill in his guitar playing. I do think Tom Morello should be high than 5th place though. He is amazing.

[Vypor]

Truthfully, IMO, NOBODY deserves top guitarist of the past 30 years.

Nobody. It's all a combination of taste and preference. Dont you people see that?

Some people agree, Fruc should be at the top, others would say Bellamy, im sure somebody out there think that micheal angelo baito is the greatest of all time.

It doesnt matter, and nobody deserves the title. Playing guitar is not a competetive sport.

[cire7]

Eikerberus wrote:

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

sry have you ever heard guitarist of the 80s ? or 70s ? then we'll talk abou innovation , technique and emotion .. ok ? because as it seems you don't know squat about thsi genre of music ...

the 70's would be 40 years ago there smart one...

[RobinTrower12]

I do not believe it is possible to define a "best" guitarist. Even a "most popular" is hard to justify. I never like these lists.

The link that Wakisazhi gave stated this: To be included in the poll, "the guitarists had to be regular to the type of music 6 Music plays." And popularity was more important than technical ability.
John Frusciante should be called "the seemingly most popular guitarist amongst those that are played on one particular radio station"

These lists are really quite meaningless.

[ak10]

Wakisazhi wrote:

ak10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

mario.10 wrote:

ingames wrote:

Willie The Pimp wrote:

FINALLY THE MAN GETS SOME RECOGNITION!

Frusciante is deff the best of the last 30 yrs.
When it comes down to innovation, technique, emotion, and having a good sound Frusciante takes the cake.

You sir are an idiot.
Matt Bellamy kicks this guy's ass any day, any time.
Plug in Baby is commonly in the lists of the Greatest Riffs Ever. I don't reckon Frusciante has that achievement.

Plus, in terms of sheer songwriting ability, Bellamy is quite simply the master of them all.
Some Proof?

Stockholm Syndrome
New Born
Butterflies and Hurricanes
Plug In Baby
Knights Of Cydonia (Arguably the most bouncy riff of all time.)
Plus he inherited all the innovative techniques of Tom Morello. Which makes him even more special.

It is only logical, my friends.plug in baby i had to youtube thatt just to know what your talking about and definetly not!!..knights of cydonia is the only good riff hes made.

Funny because all of the guitar magazines hail it as one of the best riffs around and it constantly tops any riff polls. Shows what you know.

And to the idiot who said the list lost all credibility: maybe SRV isn't on the list because they DON'T play him on their station. Derp!

Then they need to say best guitarist of the last 30 yeears of the songs we play. Using a difinitive umberella term like Greasts of the Last 30 Years does not qualify anything, they are saying frusciante is the greatest guitarist since 1980, and that is just not the case. SRV was just a better player, he just had way more in his bag than frusciante does.

Like I said, SRV wasn't on the list because they don't play him on their station.

And like I said, this list had no credibility then. You cant say Greatest Guitarist of the Last 30 Years but completely ignore music your station doesnt play. It isnt a very fair assessment of who would be the greatest guitarist of the past 30 years. I would ask someone to explain how anyone on this list is better than SRV?

[Antonio182]

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

Yeah metal guitar players are the shit! Man this is a stupid discussion, stop wasting time...

[TheHammer]

Randy Rhoads?

[explosionate]

Article, comments, amount of comments....utter stupidity.

[jackrocks4]

kalamari wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

Wow you Bellamy haters really know nothing do you? Lets see:

1. Plug In Baby is the new Sweet Child O' Mine as far as riffs go. Last time I checked thats a pretty big accomplishment and counts for quite a bit of influence, he's also easily last decade's guitar hero (pun intended.)

2. He can shred. Theres technical ability.

3. He can play pretty impressively while singing pretty difficult to replicate vocals. Technical ability again.

4. His custom guitars are definitely something to talk about. Theres innovation.

5. Combine all of that together and its pretty ****ing impressive if I do say so myself.

All in all I'd say he most definitely belongs at the top.I like Bellamy as a guitarist, he's done a lot for music over the past few years. But he's an exceptional pianist, that's where he shines. His abilities on guitar come nowhere close to somebody of Hendrix's ilk - Hendrix I think being the true benchmark for a well-rounded guitarist.

plug in baby is like 2 power chords and ive only heard it like 2 times on guitar hero so all of a sudden its sweet child of freakin mine?

if he shreads so good how come we havent heard that either??

oh yes he sings well for the powerchords and occasional decent guitar riff. (josh homme plays much better shit while singing, alexi laiho too and i dont even like children of bodom)

its just guitars, dont get your panties in a bunch because they look cool, but if thats a factor in good playing too you, then by all means have fun.

combine that together and id say its average compared to the talent thats out there.

get bellamy off the list.

[mario.10]

Wakisazhi wrote:

Wow you Bellamy haters really know nothing do you? Lets see:

1. Plug In Baby is the new Sweet Child O' Mine as far as riffs go. Last time I checked thats a pretty big accomplishment and counts for quite a bit of influence, he's also easily last decade's guitar hero

3. He can play pretty impressively while singing pretty difficult to replicate vocals. Technical ability again.

where the **** have you read that please send me a link ..and btw john's singing sounds like a combination of fergie and jesus!

[Antonio182]

( that was sarcasm by the way) Metalheads always acting like metal music is the best style in the world, and their guitarists the best... open your minds a little

[jackrocks4]

correction: plug in baby is a scale played horribly.

[jackrocks4]

mario.10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

Wow you Bellamy haters really know nothing do you? Lets see:

1. Plug In Baby is the new Sweet Child O' Mine as far as riffs go. Last time I checked thats a pretty big accomplishment and counts for quite a bit of influence, he's also easily last decade's guitar hero

3. He can play pretty impressively while singing pretty difficult to replicate vocals. Technical ability again.

where the **** have you read that please send me a link ..and btw john's singing sounds like a combination of fergie and jesus!

smart man. and when you say fergie and jesus, no joke. haha. plus john does backup vocals during riffs like 1000 times more complicated than any muse song. and matt sings during guitar breaks(cheater.)and if any riff by any of these bands is the new sweet child its snow((hey oh)) agreed?

[autisticantoine]

da fack..?
what about marty friedman?chris broderick?brendan small?i dont like this post.naai don likeit

[jackrocks4]

autisticantoine wrote:

da fack..?
what about marty friedman?chris broderick?brendan small?i dont like this post.naai don likeit

brendon small should be up there forsure. if hes not metal god by now some shits ****ed up.

[BrianApocalypse]

MXFNCK wrote:

It's all a matter of taste. Maybe I wouldnt've picked him myself, but I totally understand. The guy is amazing

I pretty much agree with this.

I also agree with the Matt Bellamy haters.

[EB-0]

Don't get me wrong, Frusciante is a great guitarist and i love the way he writes, but having him in first is questionable. At the very least Tom Morello should be ahead of Johnny Marr if not Matt Bellamy.

[bluesnd63]

How has nobody mentioned Jack White but me? Has anybody every listened to him other than the songs they play oin the radio?

[ak10]

jack white is awesome, one of my personal favorites, but ppl will just say he isnt technical effort to be mentioned, one of the most creative thou

[racerXazn]

I wish that the people who wrote these things would dive deeper into the realm of rock guitar players.
There are so many underrated players such as Andy Timmons (just to name one) who have virtuosity on the guitar but are virtually unknown to much of the music loving community.
I can see where they came from to create this list but I think these polls are pointless...it's all subjective to whoever is voting/deciding it.
Whatever, let the flame wars begin. I believe this article has just pissed off at least half of UG.

[sav46e]

obvioulsy this is a complete joke. the 3rd place shows what a joke this is!

Frusciante is a good guitarist obviously but he honestly hasnt ever wrote anything great! simple as that. I wouldnt even have him in top 10. Matt Bellamy though???? who even voted here? new age indie losers probably

[LarsHamfield]

I think john petrucci is more deserving of this title but I guess if its the BBC there probably going for more mainstream

[sav46e]

to the guy saying plug in baby is the new sweet child of mine! shut up simple as that, no!

[bluesnd63]

Seven Nation Army-- best riff of the past 10 years.

[bluesnd63]

Jack white is this generations Jimmy Page. Straight Blues driven rock. Its a shame people dont appreciate rock n roll and feel the need to listen to death metal and pop punk

[BTBAM22]

randyaintdead82 wrote:

Paul Waggoner better make this list one day

This.
But it all depends on how big BTBAM get in the next 10 years or so and whether or not they drastically change their sound or simply tweak it a little to finally get popular enough to be on most peoples "Top 10" lists.

[LordChrix]

oooh yes?? and who was the second one? kurk cobain? jack white??

[bagamush]

jackrocks4 wrote:

plug in baby is like 2 power chords and ive only heard it like 2 times on guitar hero so all of a sudden its sweet child of freakin mine?

if he shreads so good how come we havent heard that either??

oh yes he sings well for the powerchords and occasional decent guitar riff. (josh homme plays much better shit while singing, alexi laiho too and i dont even like children of bodom)

its just guitars, dont get your panties in a bunch because they look cool, but if thats a factor in good playing too you, then by all means have fun.

combine that together and id say its average compared to the talent thats out there.

get bellamy off the list.

Two power chords? ****ing listen to the song before you say something about it. In my opinion it ****ing kicks Sweet Child's ass. That doesn't even sound like a rock riff. It's just some lame ass clean tone gibson cheerful intro.

If you want to see him shred watch a live vid

If you listened to him at all you would notice that he VERY rarely uses powerchords, he is a lot more into harmony than many guitarists today that just take the easy way out.

It's not just that his guitars look cool he has affects built into them that allow him to make music that no other guitarists can.

I'm not saying he is the best in the world, but you need to actually look into him a bit more before saying he is overrated.

And where is Jack White?

[IsThereLoveInSp]

Ugghhh. Fusciante isn't even in the same league as Thurston Moore, Kevin Shields, Johnny Marr, etc. I guess this is what you get when you leave it up to the masses though

[IRONMAN_304]

deserves it. he can so much with even just one sustained note, plays it with so much emotion and feeling. nuno bettencourt and fru are my two favourite modern guitar players.

[lmpguitarist]

I call shenanigans.

[bagamush]

LordChrix wrote:

oooh yes?? and who was the second one? kurk cobain? jack white??

Well whether or not Kurt should be included depends on whether it's about innovation or pure skill cause well all no that Kurt wasn't the best player in the world, he is more famous for his affect on music.

[bluesnd63]

Jack White conveys emotion through his guitar. thats what real music is.

[lmpguitarist]

the list isnt even close. slash is the only guitarist that even has a right to be in that discussion. i could name a hundred guitarists more deserving than frusciante. and @bagamush...jack white? are you kidding me? cancel your account on this website asap please k thanx

[roby j]

Think people are missing the point that this was more a vote for a people's guitarist, like Morello or Bellamy, than a guitarist's guitarist, like Steve Vai et al. Glad to see Matt and Tom up there as two of the most innovative guitarist of the last few years and though I think they are both more worthy than Frusciante, he certainly deserves a top 5 spot. Marr and Slash undoubtedly wrote some classic riffs and were in two era-defining bands, but i'd put Josh Homme and Jonny Greenwood up there, because they are equally as innovative and original as Morello, Bellamy and Frusciante.

[Sephorangelus]

i dont think he's the best guitarist when it comes to the chilis stuff,

but man his solo stuff is amazing!

[sporkman7]

These lists are always so subjective. Froosh is probably the best in his genre, and maybe one of the best in the rock community, but who can say he's the best? You have people like Joe Satriani who are technical masters and brilliant songwriters, but even some people don't like him because he's not musically complex enough or he doesn't have a nice tone. Naming someone the best guitarist of the past 30 years is pretty damn pretentious if you ask me.

[bluesnd63]

@lmpguitarist

Go listen to White Stripes album Elephant. You will retract your previous statement soon after.

[ak10]

And Im not saying he deserves to be very high on the list, but for all intents and purposes, Dave Matthews has probably done more for music with an acoustic gutiar during the past 30 years than most of these guys have done with an electric guitar. Does Greatest have to mean greatest electric guitar player?

[guitarplayer292]

These lists are all ridiculous, having said that, Derek Trucks, Brian Setzer, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, SRV, John Herrington, Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang, even John Mayer deserves to be above Slash. Honestly, how much more can UG suck up to Slash?

[bagamush]

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist

Go listen to White Stripes album Elephant. You will retract your previous statement soon after.

Agreed and if you only listen to one thing listen to the solo in black math.

[ak10]

#1 SRV
#2 Slash
#3 Eric Clapton
#4 John Frusciante
#5 Tom Morello

[bluesnd63]

Girl, You Have No Faith In Medicine is my personal favorite Jack White song. So catchy.

[Crackinskulls']

wtf. This dude is definitely not the best guitarist. I can't even believe that one guy from Muse is considered third.

[Wakisazhi]

To all the twats who think Plug In Baby isn't the new Sweet Child O' Mine:

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

And I quote: "2. He wrote the biggest riff of the decade.

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven. Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness. The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either. It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar."

[lmpguitarist]

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist

Go listen to White Stripes album Elephant. You will retract your previous statement soon after.

ive heard it. i know quite a bit of white stripes catalogue. im not sayin the band sucks, im sayin in a discussion of best guitarists of the past 30 years jack white isnt even close.

also i think the main issue with this is that based on those who topped the list, it seems to be more a measure of the band's popularity than on the guitarist's actual talent. so this is less of a "best guitarist" list and more of a popularity contest

[SlyDevil13]

Who the hell decided this?

[nightraven]

checked..

[ratmblink123]

Not even close.

[bagamush]

Wakisazhi wrote:

To all the twats who think Plug In Baby isn't the new Sweet Child O' Mine:

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

And I quote: "2. He wrote the biggest riff of the decade.

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven. Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness. The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either. It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar."

Plug in baby was pretty much the reason i started playing guitar and other muse songs kept me playing guitar so I totally agree with you.

[Ain_Elohim]

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist

Go listen to White Stripes album Elephant. You will retract your previous statement soon after.

Go listen to some Raconteurs. Maybe you'll retract that statement.

I just love how people base EVERYTHING about Jack White's playing off of The White Stripes. Their main goal is simplicity, of course, but everything else that Jack White does with The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and his solo career is amazing. I can play some intense stuff like SRV, Frusciante, and some others, but Jack White's playing gets the best of me.

[bluesnd63]

There are thousands of people who study theory and "technically" can play guitar better than these guys. The difference is these guys' music reaches millions of people a day. thats why they are the best at what they do, hence the best guitarists. Its pretty much a popularity contest but at the same time makes sense. Im sure young teens are more inspired to play guitar by hearing a RHCP song on the radio than watching a video of Steve Vai. why? where do they get the steve vai vid?

[coon117]

Finally one of these polls gets something right.

[bluesnd63]

@Ain_Elohim

For the record, Jack plays drums in dead weather. But exactly. Its because you cant teach soul or emotion. He has weird timing and very spontanious improvizations that nobody else on this planet can duplicate.

[ak10]

plug in baby he is just walking scales, uninspired is the word that comes to mind

[lmpguitarist]

Ain_Elohim wrote:

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist

Go listen to White Stripes album Elephant. You will retract your previous statement soon after.

Go listen to some Raconteurs. Maybe you'll retract that statement.

I just love how people base EVERYTHING about Jack White's playing off of The White Stripes. Their main goal is simplicity, of course, but everything else that Jack White does with The Raconteurs, The Dead Weather, and his solo career is amazing. I can play some intense stuff like SRV, Frusciante, and some others, but Jack White's playing gets the best of me.

i know a bit of raconteurs stuff, again, im not that impressed by it. now this isnt really the style i listen to a ton, but as looking at the guitarist, ignoring genre and all that, jack white's ability on the guitar has nothing on guitarists like oli herbert of all that remains, or matt heafy from trivium. alex skolnick is another, and he plays metal AND jazz. more versatile and more talented

[ak10]

For ppl who need to know to jack white is all about, go watch Under Blackpool Lights

[Wakisazhi]

ak10 wrote:

plug in baby he is just walking scales, uninspired is the word that comes to mind

The same can easily be said for every Slash solo what with them thar pentatonic boxes.

[lukeww]

I do not see any way that John Mayer did not make the list. Even Jeff Buckley was on it. Jeff was a good musician but he wasn't that good at guitar. He had one album that demonstrated very mediocre guitar work. All of John Mayer's albums show his mastery of the instrument in creativity and technical skill. Someone else who should have made it is Trey Anastasio from Phish. His technical skill rivals anyone in the world and he is creatively unmatched. The top 3 should be Anastasio, Mayer, and then Frusciante.

[bluesnd63]

Where is the soul in All That Remains music? Just curious. There are a million metal guitarists like Herbert. As I Lay Dying, All That Remains, Lamb of God whats the freaking difference? mix and match the guitarists and noone would know the difference. There is one Jack White.

[lmpguitarist]

i know theres the whole argument of "oh well some guys are technically more skilled but they dont reach as many people" i think alot of that though is the majority of society prefers simple things. (and as a side note, many people are put off by screaming in metal so they never realize the incredible talent thats there)

[ak10]

Jack white did this thing where he removed the top of his amp replaced it with a copper sheet, when he touches it the signal cuts out then he lets go and it comes back and he would manipulate it to make a very creative hard to duplicate sound. Not saying this is the reason he is a great guitarist, but it is an example of things he does that makes him one of the most creative, unique, and original artists in a long time.

[niel9802]

I feel that there is no injustice here. Frusciante deserves the title.

Although, I would've like moar Dave Mustaine.

[bluesnd63]

@lukeww

Correction, John Mayers LIVE albums show his mastery, his studios dont do him justice.

[Wakisazhi]

lukeww wrote:

I do not see any way that John Mayer did not make the list. Even Jeff Buckley was on it. Jeff was a good musician but he wasn't that good at guitar. He had one album that demonstrated very mediocre guitar work. All of John Mayer's albums show his mastery of the instrument in creativity and technical skill. Someone else who should have made it is Trey Anastasio from Phish. His technical skill rivals anyone in the world and he is creatively unmatched. The top 3 should be Anastasio, Mayer, and then Frusciante.

They don't play Mayer or Phish on their station hence why they weren't on the list of guitarists to vote for. Otherwise SRV > Mayer easily.

[jrcsgtpeppers]

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

Then you have never listened to john frusciante
John frusciante is amazing. You shouldnt have to argue about this, just go watch some you tube jams with the chili peppers. Or go listen to his solo albums like the empyrean. I love john frusciante! He and buckethead are my two favourite guitarists ever. They both have inspired me so much.

[ak10]

lukeww wrote:

I do not see any way that John Mayer did not make the list. Even Jeff Buckley was on it. Jeff was a good musician but he wasn't that good at guitar. He had one album that demonstrated very mediocre guitar work. All of John Mayer's albums show his mastery of the instrument in creativity and technical skill. Someone else who should have made it is Trey Anastasio from Phish. His technical skill rivals anyone in the world and he is creatively unmatched. The top 3 should be Anastasio, Mayer, and then Frusciante.

I agree, the Where The Light Is live DVD is one of the best guitar performances of the decade, but most ppl refuse to acknowledge him cause of his other radio songs, but the guy can play no doubt about that.

[Rick_Diculous]

megaironpriest wrote:

Its a public poll though so people probably just saw Red Hot Chili peppers by his name and thought "Oh I like them" click. I doubt it had to do with skilled guitar players judging in anyway at all

If popularity of the band had anything to do with it, Johnny Marr wouldn't be on the list.

I agree with this selection, and once I saw it, I knew all the metal fans would be outraged that it wasn't a metal guy. Personally, I think metal guys that do nothing but shred are a bore.

[lmpguitarist]

bluesnd63 wrote:

Where is the soul in All That Remains music? Just curious. There are a million metal guitarists like Herbert. As I Lay Dying, All That Remains, Lamb of God whats the freaking difference? mix and match the guitarists and noone would know the difference. There is one Jack White.

WOAH dude sooo wrong. just taking those three examples of AILD, ATR, and LOG, those three are sooooo totally different. u can recognize a riff from any of those almost immediately. i dont really like as i lay dying, i find their stuff pretty base and boring, but all that remains and lamb of god are amazing AND they do not sound the same. that was a very oblivious comment on your part dude. its clear u dont know the genre at all

[jrcsgtpeppers]

sbriggs31 wrote:

I want to know what they base their picks on...because this list (granted they are all good guitarists), they are def. not the best of the past 30 years...Vai for example could outplay these guys anyday, same with several guitarists...what lightning said pretty much sums up what guitarists are better than the ones they picked..

This was a popular vote poll on who the brits think the best guitarist is.
Yes its an opinion.
Dude go to youtube and watch some chili peppers jams. John has a huge range of music, and a passion for it.

[bluesnd63]

@lmpguitarist

Okay, so to answer my question, where is the soul in the music?

[lukeww]

Yea Randy Rhodes also should have made it. Definitely the best metal guitarist of all time.

[Splagl]

Alex Lifeson, Randy Rhodes, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Stevie Ray Vaughn? These are just some of the amazing guitarists from the last 30 years. Honestly Lifeson is so underrated, he is so amazing, easily one of my favourite guitarists. And Randy Rhodes, cmon he was in his early 20's and played with Ozzy. You had to be good to play with Ozzy and at early 20's he could out play anyone. He also was amazing. If anything he deserves it not John Frusciante.

[lukeww]

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lukeww

Correction, John Mayers LIVE albums show his mastery, his studios dont do him justice.

True. I've seen him live and he is much better in person than what you here on the radio.

[Mr E]

Why does music always have to seem like a competition...

[lmpguitarist]

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist

Okay, so to answer my question, where is the soul in the music?

Do you honestly believe metal has no soul? ummm...im pretty sure EVERY genre of music has soul. music is made as a mode of emotional expression. if a genre had zero emotion to it, NO ONE WOULD MAKE IT! its something that people all over the world are passionate about. so to call any genre of music soul-less is a totally ignorant statement.

[bluesnd63]

@lmpguitarist

I will rephrase. They put emotion into the song, but are BAD at conveying that emotion to the listener.

[bluesnd63]

Unless every song wants to convey the message that they want to rip someones head off. If thats true, they are good at it.

[MacFamousKid]

NELS CLINE! Easily one of the best and most original players out there.

[lmpguitarist]

as a continuation, metal is a difficult genre for people to understand. why? i have no idea. its the ultimate love/hate genre, cuz people either hear it and just get it, or they are totally put off by it. if u dont see the passion in it, fine, its your loss. theres plenty of great music in it. and based on the large number of people that love it, i think we'll be ok with out you

[bluesnd63]

Here is the ultimate question. In 40 years, will we even mention All That Remains? no. Led Zep, the ultimate blues-rock band of all time, is still talked about 40 years later.

[Yamato-99]

Vai?

[Jawshuwa]

lmpguitarist wrote:

bluesnd63 wrote:

Where is the soul in All That Remains music? Just curious. There are a million metal guitarists like Herbert. As I Lay Dying, All That Remains, Lamb of God whats the freaking difference? mix and match the guitarists and noone would know the difference. There is one Jack White.

WOAH dude sooo wrong. just taking those three examples of AILD, ATR, and LOG, those three are sooooo totally different. u can recognize a riff from any of those almost immediately. i dont really like as i lay dying, i find their stuff pretty base and boring, but all that remains and lamb of god are amazing AND they do not sound the same. that was a very oblivious comment on your part dude. its clear u dont know the genre at all

Actually, I agree with bluesnd63, and I love metal. I just don't care about Jack White.

[Wakisazhi]

MacFamousKid wrote:

NELS CLINE! Easily one of the best and most original players out there.

Actually I'm surprised he wasn't on the list. He meets the criteria (at least I think so) and he's not a total unknown either.

[bluesnd63]

But to say that All That Remains is a great metal band is just disrespectful to real great metal bands like Sabbath and Ozzy and Iron Maiden etc.

[SytemOfAnIbanez]

has anyone heard of paul gilbert. ..l..-_-..l.. this poll failed

[eddynator]

he really deserves it, he's great! he should get a fender signature model though!

[lmpguitarist]

ok dude, i was just throwing out oli herbert as an example of a better guitarist than jack white. i happened to be listening to all that remains at the moment so it was the first thing in my head. im not sayin hes the best. im sayin hes better than jack white tho. someone said randy rhodes a little bit ago. that is a great example of who should have gotten this award. dimebag is another example. theres plenty better than jack white.

where'd the led zep argument come from? i thought we were talking last 30 years?

[Guitar92player]

HE DESERVES THIS TITLE!!!!!

He is the best guitarist of the last 30 years, no doubt. He puts so much skill, passion, and intensity in his playing.

He inspired me to play guitar.

Good job John. I will always love his music.

[bluesnd63]

im saying these current metal bands wont last, like led zep did, because theres nothing new or innovative about what they are doing.

[Msu_Man04]

All you metalheads need to pull your head out of your asses about Bellamy. I'll admit I'm disappointed that Randy Rhoads didn't make the top 5, but Bellamy is fecking awesome. It's NOT all about shredding. It's about the soul, the melody, the emotion, NOT the speed. There are some metal guitarists who are VERY good at doing all of those things, but for the most part, the ones a lot of you mention do not. They're just fast. Good for them. We won't remember their names like we will Bellamy, Frusciante, the Edge, Hammet...

[deshatsu]

John has always been my favorite. That said--there is no best--you can't put these guys in a ranking order. Most influence? best tone? these polls are always great for response since you will always piss off 99.9% of the people.

[bluesnd63]

Hence, why they arent considered the best guitarists. RHCP have a distinct sound that noone has really duplicated, hence why he his considered a great guitarist.

[withoutanyname]

another stupid list... you can't choose who's the greatest guitar player, everyone has a different style, you compare Vai to Frusciante and Bellamy to Slash and so on... i don't understand the point of making a damn list when there are a billion musical styles...

and by the way Bellamy is by far a better pianist than guitarist... just my opinion

[Megadeth2011]

bluesnd63 wrote:

The problem with Vai and them is that they just shred and they arent in bands. Vai doesnt make catchy tunes he just shreds scales, and does it well, but i would much rather listen to RHCP than Steve Vais where the wild things are

you obviously havent heard much. For the Love of God? Ballerina 12/24? Whispering a Prayer? I'd check those out before you leave comments like that. And thrash is easy to play? Have you heard Rust In Peace? Or Hell Awaits? Practice What You Preach? Follow The Reaper (COB are part thrash imo)? Obviously not.

[60CycleHum]

No Randy Rhoads? i has a sad

[Msu_Man04]

Oh, and....

jackrocks4 wrote:

kalamari wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

Wow you Bellamy haters really know nothing do you? Lets see:

1. Plug In Baby is the new Sweet Child O' Mine as far as riffs go. Last time I checked thats a pretty big accomplishment and counts for quite a bit of influence, he's also easily last decade's guitar hero (pun intended.)

2. He can shred. Theres technical ability.

3. He can play pretty impressively while singing pretty difficult to replicate vocals. Technical ability again.

4. His custom guitars are definitely something to talk about. Theres innovation.

5. Combine all of that together and its pretty ****ing impressive if I do say so myself.

All in all I'd say he most definitely belongs at the top.I like Bellamy as a guitarist, he's done a lot for music over the past few years. But he's an exceptional pianist, that's where he shines. His abilities on guitar come nowhere close to somebody of Hendrix's ilk - Hendrix I think being the true benchmark for a well-rounded guitarist.

plug in baby is like 2 power chords and ive only heard it like 2 times on guitar hero so all of a sudden its sweet child of freakin mine?

if he shreads so good how come we havent heard that either??

oh yes he sings well for the powerchords and occasional decent guitar riff. (josh homme plays much better shit while singing, alexi laiho too and i dont even like children of bodom)

its just guitars, dont get your panties in a bunch because they look cool, but if thats a factor in good playing too you, then by all means have fun.

combine that together and id say its average compared to the talent thats out there.

get bellamy off the list.

You need to read up on Muse. You obviously don't know anything about them.

[lmpguitarist]

bluesnd63 wrote:

im saying these current metal bands wont last, like led zep did, because theres nothing new or innovative about what they are doing.

1. comparing zep to the current metal bands is kinda silly. of course the new metal bands wont last as long. wanna know why? becuz metal isnt mainstream enough to be remembered by the majority of society. i guarantee metal fans will remember the bands like ATR 40 years from now. but outside of metal, of course not.

2. "nothing new or innovative" ill agree that a ton of bands are just copying each other. theres no doubt about that. but there are also alot of bands with their own distinctive style, and they DO do new things in the genre. you really need to stop sweeping generalizations like that

[ctviens]

What a bullshit list. A bunch of overrated guitarists as usual.

[Haunt3dAng3l]

I know this is all a matter of taste but seriously that's a very SAD list. Guitarists of the last THIRTY YEARS. Where's Nuno Bettencourt, Steve Vai, Mustaine, Jennifer Batten, Michelle Meldrum, Orianthi, Michael Romeo?

[Philler101]

Deserves it for sure in my books. Not only for his Chili's guitarzing but also for his personal work... his singing in his personal work is somthin, but his guitar is phenominal.

[lmpguitarist]

this whole thread is totally getting out of hand.

im not gonna bother quoting cuz its too far up the thread by now

someone said that its all shredding and no emotion. thats just a stupid statement. so apparently everything is either fast and emotionless, or mid tempo and crying with its passion??? well thats pretty ignorant again. u can be fast and show off your skills, while still making the guitar speak

[bluesnd63]

I guess im just not that into metal.

[Philler101]

something as in harsh rugged

[Philler101]

no steveie ray vaughn

[bluesnd63]

@lmpguitarist --
"u can be fast and show off your skills, while still making the guitar speak"
Yes, and you can be slow and show off your skills while still making the guitar speak. My point exactly.

[Uber Man]

never heard of him

[Horsedick.MPEG]

Prince, Billy Corgan, Dave Navarro for me.

[lmpguitarist]

bluesnd63 wrote:

I guess im just not that into metal.

i can accept that. please refrain from making ignorant comments about it though, and accept that many people do like it, and there is talent in the genre. thats all i ask.

[Seasons_Change]

They gotta be kiddin me about frusciante. hes an ok guitar player at best in my opinion. there's so many other guitarists that should have won

[loudog93]

lmpguitarist wrote:

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist

Okay, so to answer my question, where is the soul in the music?

Do you honestly believe metal has no soul? ummm...im pretty sure EVERY genre of music has soul. music is made as a mode of emotional expression. if a genre had zero emotion to it, NO ONE WOULD MAKE IT! its something that people all over the world are passionate about. so to call any genre of music soul-less is a totally ignorant statement.

sorry but I have to agree with Impquitarist. i feel nothing in metal.

[bluesnd63]

@lmpguitarist

I am the one who says i feel no soul in metal, not @lmpguitarist.. you got mixed up.

[DimeForever]

I don't agree with this. I believe that John Frusciante is an excellent, top quality guitarist, but c'mon! The best in the last 30 years? Not even close. I appreciate what he does and the passion he puts into his craft, but not enough to believe that he's the best out of everyone in 30 years.

Cheers!

[con job]

Em.....what?

So overrated IMO

[lmpguitarist]

ok. since you guys are just gonna be closed-minded on metal, how about claudio sanchez of coheed and cambria? not metal. DEFINITELY will be remembered decades from now. and tons more talented AND passionate then frusciante

[Andragon]

Oh cmon, BBC. You know I would've topped that list.

[silent caution]

creativity does count for something

[lmpguitarist]

im leaving now btw so yea. ur right. metal is stupid. no one likes it. theres zero talent. and jack white is a god. end of thread

[palm mute]

I'm surprised they didn't add a jonas brother just to round out the uselessness of this list. Best guitarist in the last 30 years? Bit of a stretch for any list

bluesnd63 wrote:

im saying these current metal bands wont last, like led zep did, because theres nothing new or innovative about what they are doing.

Best thing I read on this whole page, I love metal but it is really stagnant right now. Hopefully it'll get over its breakdown obsession and start to actually innovate again. France's Gojira are pretty much the only interesting and mildly original metal band I've heard out of the last 10 years or so

[bluesnd63]

Jack White is a god. Finally right! metal isnt stupid, its just cookie cutter, cut and dry.

[ItsSuperdan]

I like matt Bellamy and jack white, but they haven't been around long enough. John Frusciante has done almost everything possible to be number one, although i'll point out he only got a majority of around 10 percent or something, so all arguing is pointless, only 10 percent think he is the best but thats more than anyone else who's naming 10 + guitarists. Its impossible to give everyone one of those guitarist a listen to the extent that its need to make an informed decision. I grew up with frusciante, i have listened to many of them but not all in the detail i need to see who is the best. Frusciante is number one for me, 9 out of then of you will disagree with me, more will disagree with you.

[Msu_Man04]

palm mute wrote:

I'm surprised they didn't add a jonas brother just to round out the uselessness of this list. Best guitarist in the last 30 years? Bit of a stretch for any list

bluesnd63 wrote:

im saying these current metal bands wont last, like led zep did, because theres nothing new or innovative about what they are doing.

Best thing I read on this whole page, I love metal but it is really stagnant right now. Hopefully it'll get over its breakdown obsession and start to actually innovate again. France's Gojira are pretty much the only interesting and mildly original metal band I've heard out of the last 10 years or so

I can agree to this. Some metal bands were actually going somewhere back in like the '80s. Now they all just "CHUG-CHUG-CHUGGA... CHUG CHUG-CHUGCHUG-CHUG... CHUG" in breakdowns and shit like that. It's so unoriginal and boring. Metallica and Megadeath knew, and still know, metal. And they keep it interesting and good. But all these crap bands that are around now don't do hardly anything with the genre but shred, grind, and chug.

[Msu_Man04]

Megadeth*

[palm mute]

If Jack White is a god I'm Eddie Van Halen...

[RobinTrower12]

Msu_Man04 wrote:

palm mute wrote:

I'm surprised they didn't add a jonas brother just to round out the uselessness of this list. Best guitarist in the last 30 years? Bit of a stretch for any list

bluesnd63 wrote:

im saying these current metal bands wont last, like led zep did, because theres nothing new or innovative about what they are doing.

Best thing I read on this whole page, I love metal but it is really stagnant right now. Hopefully it'll get over its breakdown obsession and start to actually innovate again. France's Gojira are pretty much the only interesting and mildly original metal band I've heard out of the last 10 years or so

I can agree to this. Some metal bands were actually going somewhere back in like the '80s. Now they all just "CHUG-CHUG-CHUGGA... CHUG CHUG-CHUGCHUG-CHUG... CHUG" in breakdowns and shit like that. It's so unoriginal and boring. Metallica and Megadeath knew, and still know, metal. And they keep it interesting and good. But all these crap bands that are around now don't do hardly anything with the genre but shred, grind, and chug.

You guys just aren't looking hard enough for the right bands.

[fear-the-reaper]

I agree completely, that man destroys guitar

[fitterhappier34]

I vote for PAT METHENY!!!

Also, I think Frusciante and Marr deserve their high positions.

[Random3]

Vai >>>>> Frusciante.

[Zayrank]

He has contributed a lot but to be named greatest guitarist in 30 years....that's a bit much...love the guys playing and all but in my opinion he is a bit far from the greatest.

[palm mute]

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist

I am the one who says i feel no soul in metal, not @lmpguitarist.. you got mixed up.

Look to Southern Metal. Pantera, Down, Crowbar, Black Label Society, plenty of soul in them. It's not always there obviously but listen to Pantera's 10's and when that solo hits try to tell me you don't feel soul

[rickyj]

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...

Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

hell yea

[mario.10]

Wakisazhi wrote:

To all the twats who think Plug In Baby isn't the new Sweet Child O' Mine:

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

And I quote: "2. He wrote the biggest riff of the decade.

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven. Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness. The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either. It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar."

your links don't even work so my conclusion : your full of shit!

[palm mute]

@ RobinTrower12

yes some do rise above the cesspool of metalcore-ish waste, but not alot of bands are that original right now. It's either an attempted retro throwback like the new thrash bands (Evile, Warbringer, etc), an old band trying to regain balls (Metallica), or some death-metalcore-thrash-screamo mixture bs

[ironman1478]

he's good, but not as good as a player like steve morse. steve morse can play nearly any genre except metal and plays those genres better than anyone. blues, jazz, country, classical, shred, fusion, funk, anything. obviously its all opinion, but to not even consider steve morse is ridiculous (he isnt that popular however even though he played in kansas and now plays in deep purple)

[RobinTrower12]

bluesnd63 wrote:

@lmpguitarist
I am the one who says i feel no soul in metal, not @lmpguitarist.. you got mixed up.

Are rage, explosive bursts of energy, frustration and hysteric frenzies not valid emotional aspects of our soul? Metal does a fantastic job of representing many aspects of human emotions. I don't see why anger shouldn't be considered part of our 'soul'.

[palm mute]

ironman1478 wrote:

he's good, but not as good as a player like steve morse. steve morse can play nearly any genre except metal and plays those genres better than anyone. blues, jazz, country, classical, shred, fusion, funk, anything. obviously its all opinion, but to not even consider steve morse is ridiculous (he isnt that popular however even though he played in kansas and now plays in deep purple)

I second this, add Gary Moore to the list of underrated guitarists too

[Wakisazhi]

mario.10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

To all the twats who think Plug In Baby isn't the new Sweet Child O' Mine:

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

And I quote: "2. He wrote the biggest riff of the decade.

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven. Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness. The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either. It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar." your links don't even work so my conclusion : your full of shit!

Its called copy and paste, my conclusion: you got brown matter where you should have gray matter.

[fadetoblack84]

I would like to disagree with this. This is a matter of what kind of guitar playing you like or listen to. I'd have chosen someone like Dave Mustaine or Paul Gilbert, even Satch, just because i listen to them a lot.

[Hessian_Peel]

personally I find it quite laughable

[mot7]

were the voters high? no offense to john great guitarist... but really?

[palm mute]

mot7 wrote:

were the voters high? no offense to john great guitarist... but really?

If they were high they might've gotten it right...

[repairshop]

I cant believe this poll. Best the past 30 years huh?.....

[mot7]

palm mute wrote:

mot7 wrote:

were the voters high? no offense to john great guitarist... but really?

If they were high they might've gotten it right...

tru tru

[palm mute]

mot7 wrote:

tru tru

But then we would've only had David Gilmour on the list haha

[ling_yu]

It wouldn't be my choice. Great guitarist no doubt, just not one of my favs. Congrats to him though.

[ironman1478]

palm mute wrote:

ironman1478 wrote:

he's good, but not as good as a player like steve morse. steve morse can play nearly any genre except metal and plays those genres better than anyone. blues, jazz, country, classical, shred, fusion, funk, anything. obviously its all opinion, but to not even consider steve morse is ridiculous (he isnt that popular however even though he played in kansas and now plays in deep purple)

I second this, add Gary Moore to the list of underrated guitarists too

agreed

[fitterhappier34]

fitterhappier34 wrote:

I vote for PAT METHENY!!!

Also, I think Frusciante and Marr deserve their high positions.

EDIT: Nels Cline needs to be up there. Saw him live with Wilco and I wet my pants.

[MeatPuppets22]

How the **** does Muse make this and not jonny greenwood? people realize that that andy mckee has been recording in the past 30 years right? Fuck Sungha Jung is a ten year old kid and he owns everyone on the list. This list was obviously compiled by some layman thinkers who just shat out opinions. "Well Muse is my favorite band, so their douchy singer is one of the best guitarists of the past THIRTY years. Here are some others. Google them. Marco Sfogli, DIMEBAG DARRELL (?????) **** even Kirk Hammet, What about Elliot ****ing Smith? I'd love to see Bellamy try Memory lane or Angeles, or Southern Belle. Herman Li? Buckethead? Not to mention cats like Satch, Vai, Petrucci, and classic rockers that are still touring (Young, Page, Angus) Seriously that list is a ****ing joke.

[Cacatorak]

Finally getting the recognition he deserves; well done John.

[jfsj123]

good guitarist but not the best, i would go for slash only becasue i think he puts the most emotion into his guitar work, imo dont get mad people

[Snoopy2a]

I myself would have voted John Mayer, but he's a good option

[Kid B]

Tom Morello at 5th? I mean I love me some rage but he's not exactly an amazing guitarist.

[decore234]

that list sounds like its a joke after you start reading 3rd and down

[flj8]

YEAH, totally agree with the first place

[Msu_Man04]

MeatPuppets22 wrote:

How the **** does Muse make this and not jonny greenwood? people realize that that andy mckee has been recording in the past 30 years right? Fuck Sungha Jung is a ten year old kid and he owns everyone on the list. This list was obviously compiled by some layman thinkers who just shat out opinions. "Well Muse is my favorite band, so their douchy singer is one of the best guitarists of the past THIRTY years. Here are some others. Google them. Marco Sfogli, DIMEBAG DARRELL (?????) **** even Kirk Hammet, What about Elliot ****ing Smith? I'd love to see Bellamy try Memory lane or Angeles, or Southern Belle. Herman Li? Buckethead? Not to mention cats like Satch, Vai, Petrucci, and classic rockers that are still touring (Young, Page, Angus) Seriously that list is a ****ing joke.

My God. That is NOT what this is about. It's about innovation, soul, technique, and heart. Not whether one guitarist can play every song ever. That's retarded. Bellamy is PLENTY innovative and original to be that high. Yes, some of his identity has been borrowed from others, but he transformed them into his own, and THAT is what makes him great.

[The Blooze]

I agree with Frusciante getting this completely. While I agree that these lists are dumb, but his body of music as a whole is just incredible. Also I don;t understand why metal and shred fans are posting their opinions about Frusciante when we all know they don't listen to him enough to have an opinion. Because I sure don't know enough about Vai or anything to make a comment about his playing. And I also agree SRV should be up towards the top as well. RIP

[mario.10]

Wakisazhi wrote:

mario.10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

To all the twats who think Plug In Baby isn't the new Sweet Child O' Mine:

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

And I quote: "2. He wrote the biggest riff of the decade.

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven. Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness. The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either. It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar." your links don't even work so my conclusion : your full of shit!

Its called copy and paste, my conclusion: you got brown matter where you should have gray matter.

obviously i did copy and paste you douche bag, the files aren't found so maybe you should get some good credible sources before you start trying to spread bullshit

[-xCaMRocKx-]

Frusciante is amazing, not just as a guitarist, but as a musician in general. Totally agree with him getting number 1.

[voodoochild23]

neca wrote:

neca wrote:

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

There is no "right way" to play guitar. Also, theres more to music than technical ability. Thats why shredders are almost never on these lists.

realy there isnt a right way to play the guitar??? u tell me that for the last centuries people have been stupide learning classical guitar properly ??? what kind of guy are u??? CMON!!! THe problem is that there are guys like u who say thta shred sucks because u just cant play like that!!! by the way did u ever have listened to jason becker's air ? or tender surrender by steve vai??? or something by jeff young besides megadeth?? jeff young has projects in classical music har rock and a varety of styles that only someone with his knowledge coud do!! broderick plays from classical to jazz to metal! satch goes from groove to hard rock to blues he even plays sax!! the only guys i said that can be a little boring if u listen to much are loomis and malmsteen!! but frusciante i dont know how he still have fingers on his left hand !! he use the fingers so wrong it should hurt!!and yes i know music theory i have formation in music so what?! i listen to metal jazz classical blues hard rock even red hot so what???? get the hell outa here fan boy and care about doing thing the way they are meant to be done!! thats the difficult prt but also where u have more fun! learning is fun for me ! and for a lot of other people in here

Lol you're an idiot. And it makes me lol.
Listen, these virtuoso guitarists you mention so adamantly, they can do things that very few other people can with a guitar. No one here is arguing that. Hendrix couldn't do it. He also couldn't run the 100 metres in 9.6 seconds. But what he could do, and what you're idols have so far failed to do, is reach the hearts of millions of people. Frusciante has given the world the kind of music it needed, when it needed it, hence his status, and the success of RHCP. It was no fluke, that's what you're missing.

There is no right way to play the guitar, but in Frusciante, Slash, and going back to Jimi Hendrix, and all the way back to Chuck Berry, you have people who used what they knew about music to open the doors for the next generation. That's why they get the praise.

For me personally I would have had Jack White in the top 5, for innovation, style, and raw relentless musical independence. I suppose that's why Frusciante is up there, as well.

Good list. After hearing Slash's supersonic approach to blues-solos in the new solo album, however, I really had him in a league of his own.

[DrFrankenstrat]

he is an amazing guitarist, but for there are way better that have been around in the past 30 years.
EVH, Joe Satriani, Ywgnie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, John Petrucci, Santana, Dimebag Darrell, SRV, Kirk Hammet, Marty Friedman, Angus Young, Slash, Joe Perry, Paul Gilbert, Randy Rhoads, Synser Gates, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Eric Johnson, Tony Iommi, Buckethead, Alex Lifenson, etc...
Even classic rock guys are still gettin it done like Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, and Dave Gilmour
BBC 6 got something wrong

[rocklee1431]

I'm not trying to get in an argument with anyone, but half the people on this site are retarded. Just because someone can play really fast scales and arpeggios doesn't make them a good guitarist. Do something new and exciting for god's sake.

[Msu_Man04]

mario.10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

mario.10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

To all the twats who think Plug In Baby isn't the new Sweet Child O' Mine:

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

And I quote: "2. He wrote the biggest riff of the decade.

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven. Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness. The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either. It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar." your links don't even work so my conclusion : your full of shit!

Its called copy and paste, my conclusion: you got brown matter where you should have gray matter. obviously i did copy and paste you douche bag, the files aren't found so maybe you should get some good credible sources before you start trying to spread bullshit

You need to calm the fuck down, you're being a troll and you're going to get warned for calling him a douchebag. Yes his sources didn't work. But they were JUST PICTURES anyway. Calm down. Jesus Christ. I don't know why he posted them, but saying it's not from "credible source" is retarded. They're just pictures, probably of him playing guitar.

[SurfinWithSatch]

Once again a bullshit list that no 2 people will ever agree on. As far as the "top 5" are concerned, I can't say there is anyone there I don't like (never heard of this johnny marr fella) Slash got me into playing guitar but for me he'd struggle to get into the top 5, if so it'd be 5th at best. But that's my opinion and not everyone will agree with that. Personally if I was to take all my opinions on ability, influence, "Soul" if that's what you people like to call it, and all that other shit into account, my list would be:
1) Satch
2) SRV
3) EVH
4) A. Young
5) Izzy Stradlin (some of the biggest riffs/songs ever written, no coincidence that after he left GnR it all went to pot)

[derpdragon]

As much as I like Frusciante, he is VERY far from the best guitarist ever. Not to mention this list apparently didn't consist of anyone with real guitar talent since slash is as well VERY far from the top and Muse just sucks period. (Not saying that with music taste in mind but technical skill.)
Either way, there no such thing as a real "best guitarist" since it all comes down to different things for different people.

[SkintoLiquid]

F-ING WHAT!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! he sucks jeff loomis's balls. so many better guitarists out there. what about dime? muhammed suicmez?

[anthsband]

#1 of the past 30 years??? I don't think so. I mean I like him and he's good but he's NOWHERE NEAR other guitarists. For me its always been like this: Top guitarists = Petrucci, Gilbert, Satriani, Vai, Malmsteen. Then every is below them haha

[hardrocker64]

roger that!

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

[Zeerion]

best? i think not

[10basshero10]

Hell yeah go Bellamy. He may not have the technichal skill as some of these guys but he's 100x more inspirational than all these random shredders people are naming.

[Metallica708]

Wow... Slow news day, huh?

[iceman45]

i feel like bellamy should have topped the list.

[Metallica_Man55]

he's good, but not the best. this is a terrible top three guitarists.

[MelodicSlap]

Froosh in unbelievable , he hasnt "changed" or infulenced the way guitar is looked at, but simply judging by how many people he has inspired and connected with, through the emotion of his music, he is number one

I wonder what he'd say?

[RockUAway]

UG is so late on their news postings... Nice April Fool's Joke UG!!

[Nitro89]

He's a brilliant guitarist, no doubt about that, but the best in the last 30 years??? Hell No! That top 10 list should have people like Slash, Stevie Ray, Kirk etc

[atlasguitar]

somebody suggest a song by them that showcases his talent. I have no idea what all the hype is about and I would like to know.

[jhart08]

Yeah, this one's got to be based on pop music...I mean, he beat out Tom Morrello? Seriously? I dont even know what happened to the music industry...

[Dio10101]

Randy Rhoads, Dimebag Darrell, Dave Mustiane, Marty Friedman, Ol Drake. These are merely a few, i hate to hate on another guitarist, but seriously, some of this guys leads sound like they're being played by a retarded 10 year old who has played guitar for a month and a half. JF really isnt all that great a guitar player.

[patbuck2]

I think he absolutely deserves this. However, these top guitarist ranking systems are obviously prone to argument. I don't like to rank guitarists specifically in numerical order, I prefer to just say that my top are x, not necessarily in any order. So, I would say that those top five are all great and I don't think you can really rank who is better than who. They are all great guitarists and deserve props.

[qrEE]

Makes sense to put a soft rock guitarist over, I don't know, CHUCK SCHULDINER! Where is Chuck? Where is Buckethead? Where is Paul Gilbert? Nowhere, because these people don't know what great guitarists are.

[perilouspete]

What a joke.

[napalm890]

when you really think about it, naming the RHCP guitarist best of the last 30 years is kinda disgusting... I mean, there are so many better guitarists with better technique and skill, as well as those that have a lot more influence and have actually influenced the chili peppers... he is a good guitarist tho, i just think that naming him best of the last 3 decades is a bit too steep. maybe best of the last decade? maybe?

[noodles95]

People are always trying to decide the "Best Guitarist of All Time." these list are always opinions and a lot of people will argue. My favorite guitarist is Dave Mustaine, and i know for a FACT that there are a lot of people who dont agree with me on that statement, but hey, thats my opinion. To also add, the more mainstream bands are going to get higher on the list.

[diablo83]

guitarplayer292 wrote:

These lists are all ridiculous, having said that, Derek Trucks, Brian Setzer, Jeff Beck, Frank Zappa, SRV, John Herrington, Joe Bonamassa, Jonny Lang, even John Mayer deserves to be above Slash. Honestly, how much more can UG suck up to Slash?

about time someone other than me gives a shout to Mr. Setzer. The man is pure genius.

[chipbckr]

thats gay what bout dime bag darrel

[mightmuffin]

Paul Gilbert. That's all I need to say.

[Let It Be0o0]

Its BBC, this is a popularity contest o.o as are all polls with Slash in the top 10 xD

[Thaster]

Lists like these really are just based on people tastes in music. Everyone's own list would be different.
The top two for me would be Dave Mustaine and John Petrucci.

[DukeFame]

machineslave :
Trey Azagthoth get my vote talk about a innovative guitarist or what about Chuck Schuldiner.....two people i think are more deserving

seriously two of my faves, btw Frusciante is cool but once you get into the 80's he's not even top ten

[Chaingarden]

I'm a little confused. I like Frusciante's playing, but I can't think of something he's come up with that's blown my mind to any degree. It's just not even computing to me how anyone could make a valid argument that he is either more influential, skilled, creative, or popular than every single other guitarist since 1980.

[sardonicgoat]

Vernon Reid

[Wakisazhi]

Msu_Man04 wrote:

mario.10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

mario.10 wrote:

Wakisazhi wrote:

To all the twats who think Plug In Baby isn't the new Sweet Child O' Mine:

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

And I quote: "2. He wrote the biggest riff of the decade.

If the sheer number of ‘attempts’ at music shows and in music shops is anything to go by, the Plug in Baby riff is this generation’s Sweet Child O’Mine or Stairway to Heaven. Like its illustrious forbears, Plug in Baby grabbed guitarists by the balls by virtue of its sheer inventiveness. The sick fuzz tone didn’t hurt much either. It’s one of those riffs that sounds fresh and unique, and it makes everyone wish they could play guitar." your links don't even work so my conclusion : your full of shit!

Its called copy and paste, my conclusion: you got brown matter where you should have gray matter. obviously i did copy and paste you douche bag, the files aren't found so maybe you should get some good credible sources before you start trying to spread bullshit

You need to calm the **** down, you're being a troll and you're going to get warned for calling him a douchebag. Yes his sources didn't work. But they were JUST PICTURES anyway. Calm down. Jesus Christ. I don't know why he posted them, but saying it's not from "credible source" is retarded. They're just pictures, probably of him playing guitar.

Once again its called copy and paste, if you look at the links you'll notice that there are spaces where there shouldn't be in the links because UG's post box doesn't post links properly.

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-t otal-guitar.jpg

http://erato1.files.wordpress.com/2009/12 /matt-bellamy-total-guitar-2.jpg

http://erato1.files.word press.com/2009/12/matt-bellamy-total-guitar-4.jpg

[b_flo]

In what category is this? It's like comparing apples to oranges. He is one of my favorites, but technically speaking, there are better ones. If it's to do with song creativity, then yes, he can be up there.

[loganØATH]

Hmm, Amazing guitarist. Some of his lines/tones are really cool, but you are all correct in saying there are better.

[Wakisazhi]

^Yep like I said I just posted the links correctly and the post box spaced them oddly. For the first one just back space the t and otal together, for the second one backspace the 12 and / together and for the third just put word and press together.

[radioplay]

Meh. Wouldn't put Frusciante on my list. Or Marr. Love both bands,but...not a big fan of either's guitar work. I would've included John Mayer, Eddie Van Halen (though i'm personally not a fan), Kaki King, Radrigo and/or Gabriela...

but beautiful choice in Matt Bellamy.

[radioplay]

radioplay wrote:

Meh. Wouldn't put Frusciante on my list. Or Marr. Love both bands,but...not a big fan of either's guitar work. I would've included John Mayer, Eddie Van Halen (though i'm personally not a fan), Kaki King, Radrigo and/or Gabriela...

but beautiful choice in Matt Bellamy.

Oh and I forgot Thurston Moore and the other guy from Sonic Youth whose name just slipped my mind

[KataklysmDeth]

WHERE THE HECK IS BUCKETHEAD?????

[pinata89]

Not really understanding the Matt Bellamy thing. Muse is great band, and Bellamy is a GREAT musician...but elite guitarist? idts..

[Patrick L]

This poll was all based on a matter of tastes, get over it.

It's impossible to pick a "greatest guitarist ever" there will always be people disagreeing.

[fretman5000]

im surprised. hes good, but this was no scientificly accurate poll at all, its a total opinion too

[kurtshapedbox]

What!? This is bull****! Guitarist Y should totally have been (insert number here) instead of Guitarist X because I can't wrap my mind around the idea that everyone else on the planet's viewpoints might be different than mine!! ARGGGGHHHHHUABFKAFJSBFAKFJSNFLASFXCN!!!!!

[HammettFTW]

When I first saw this list, I laughed and was thinking that what a rubbish conclusion they had come to - then I realised who else could take it. Then I tried to think who could take that cake. Even though I barely listen to RHCP (not really a fan), the only person that could really take it off him would be slash, and hes already there just behind him.

Josh Homme shoulda made the list - beast of a guitarist

[espex400]

I feel like they could of picked some much better guitarists in my opinion. Not saying that these people arnt good, but really?

[gregferrigno]

maybe they put him first because he is the best. not in speed, but he tops any other guitarist in emotion by far

[kellen.dobmeier]

| Lightning | wrote:

This is ridiculous... Dave Mustane, Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Kirk Hammet, Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Jason Becker...
Hey, I like Frusciante but come on...

LOL. Just LOL.

you just named 10 guitarists that Frusciante is clearly more talented than. While he may not have fully displayed it with the Peppers most know of his actual abilities. C'mon man!

[kellen.dobmeier]

Also, Hetfield and Hammett don't belong anywhere close to this list.

[D-Wades]

cough cough, dimebag....and of course marty freidman. frusciante is amazing though, very technical and still plays with soul.
and then you have paul gilbert. personally, i think he owns competition.
and then theres gus g.
im pretty sure if kurt cobain tops them in a list its a worthless list, he was a legend but the man really cant play that well.

[the*matt]

huge mistake. Hes good at what he does but he has no versatility, which im pretty sure is one of the things you would closely consider when picking the best guitarist of the last thirty years

[MeGaDeth2314]

Why is the main focus with guitarists these days being better than everyone else? Originality > skill every ****ing day of the week.

[guarana]

Actually, pretty good list except for that Smith's guy. I don't like them being in a particular order, but Fruisciante, Bellamy and Morello are all quite innovative and write great music for a band setting. Slash is still good, don't get me wrong, but he's still just a blues guitarist, albeit on of the best modern. Adam Jones from Tool, Steven Wilson from Porcupine Tree, Jerry Cantrell from Alice In Chains, and Jack White and Buckethead thrown in. I'm a bigger fan of good guitarists that can play well in a band setting, write good music, and be picked from a crowd as opposed to Vai, Satriani, ect. who can play a thousand notes a second but sound rather stale IMO.

[sardonicgoat]

Vernon Reid

[Beerad1337]

"his work with the Suck My Kiss hitmakers has helped..."

Are you guys serious? Learn how to write good articles, holy hell.

Glad he's being recognized though. Wouldn't necessarily classify him as the best, but he's definitely one of my favorite.

[selfdecay]

its very easy to understand:
hendrix is god. not only because of his guitar skills but MOSTLY for his work as a guitar MUSICIAN.
Thats the big difference between frusciante and guys like hammet, slash, mustaine, buckethead, van halen... those guys are great guitar players but (in my opinion) none of them can use the guitar to create music like frusciante does or hendrix did for that matter. being the greatest is a combination of a lot more complex things than being fast note players.
frusciante is the closest thing to hendrix.

* please be aware of his solo work and his work with omar's TMV before judging his career. i guess that many people think of him just for his work as a chili pepper.

[thrashmonkey]

Considering most of the crappy hip-hop that's being shoved down our throats nowadays, these guys aren't that bad. Even though I personally like Alexi Laiho, Dime, and Dave Mustaine a lot better, the guys on this list have skill and I respect them as musicians. At least they're playing real music with real guitars. We all like different music and no "best of" list will satisfy everyone. Get used to it.

[ridiculouseeeee]

about 30,000 people took this poll. although Frusciante's great, I wouldn't look too far into it (I mean Slash?, #2?, C'MON).

[ironman1478]

selfdecay wrote:

its very easy to understand:
hendrix is god. not only because of his guitar skills but MOSTLY for his work as a guitar MUSICIAN.
Thats the big difference between frusciante and guys like hammet, slash, mustaine, buckethead, van halen... those guys are great guitar players but (in my opinion) none of them can use the guitar to create music like frusciante does or hendrix did for that matter. being the greatest is a combination of a lot more complex things than being fast note players.
frusciante is the closest thing to hendrix.

* please be aware of his solo work and his work with omar's TMV before judging his career. i guess that many people think of him just for his work as a chili pepper.

both frusciante and hendrix are good musicians in their respective genres (hendrix in blues and psychedelic, froosh in the acid punk stuff), however there are much better overall musicians. like steve morse. look at his stuff, he is amazingly versatile (more so than anybody except maybe guthrie govan), makes fantastic music in all genres and never gets recognized. hendrix is influential in pushing rock forward, but he is not some guitar god that people make him out to be, lots of his songs feel very similar or at least are going for the same feeling. i like jimi, but he is no steve morse. if jimi and froosh were such great musicians they could play any style, problem is they can't. people like steve morse, garry moore, guthrie govan, buckethead, shawn lane and ritchie blackmore. those guys are great musicians due to their versatility not only their great guitar skills (guthrie, morse, buckethead and lane all have way better skills than vai and satch, however they dont wank as much, well maybe guthrie does, but not the rest)

[jimmypagejunior]

Richie Sambora... most underrated guitarist out there

[daheck1210]

this is absolutely ridiculous? seriously whats wrong with these people? fruscicante is goooood but he is ABSOLUTELY NOT number one in the past thirty years. you're saying hes better than randy rhoads, stevie ray vaughn, kirk hammett, clapton, hendrix, santana, mustaine, darrel. even if youre a huge fan there is NO WAY you can say hes better than those all of those guys, even if you think hes better than some of them. slash is way better, and id give tom morello some props on this list but other than that this is a ****in joke.

[daheck1210]

kellen.dobmeier wrote:

Also, Hetfield and Hammett don't belong anywhere close to this list.

hetfield no. hammett? hell yes he does.

[zeppelin4evr41]

To be fair, some of those weren't the last thirty years.

All I have to say is, DEREK TRUCKS PEOPLE!!!! DEREK TRUCKS!!!!

[bluesnd63]

Jack White is the music industry nowadays. Everything he touches is golden whether hes playing guitar for Raconteurs or White stripes, or playing Drums for dead weather. He is a top 3 guitarist of the pasy 30 years and hes only be around for about 10. Anyone who argues clearly has not listened to Jack white. youtube Black Math solo.

[daheck1210]

steve vai and joe satriani DESTROY fruscicante.

[alfredpotter]

Maybe it's intended to shock us - a late april fools' day prank? because after a bit of thought I concluded that a few funkily placed triads cannot get you such a superhuman title as 'the best in 30 years'. It makes me feel sick.

[Kreuger]

I like John a lot but definitely not the best of 30 years.

[bluesnd63]

If you are going to name Hendrix and them and include any guitarist who is still making music then you CANNOT exclude David Gilmour AKA the best guitarist in the history of rock.

[Freebird79]

HA! That's a laugh

[lpwjbklyn]

Matt Bellamy? THIRD? Seriously? First of all, I'm tired of hearing how Muse is better than U2. U2 has been around for the better part of the last thirty years, Muse half that time. There isn't a single hit or otherwise of Muse's that can hold a candle to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "Where The Streets Have No Name," "One," "With Or Without You," "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," or a half-dozen other U2 tracks. The Edge should have been WELL ahead of Bellamy on this list. Besides, Muse's latest hit, "Uprising" is great and was even BETTER when it first came out as "The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson. People need to stop treating Bellamy and Muse like they're rock Gods and accept that they're a good band--they are not the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, or U2 and they likely never will be!

[mr2METALthnLIFE]

what a joke

[Wakisazhi]

lpwjbklyn wrote:

Matt Bellamy? THIRD? Seriously? First of all, I'm tired of hearing how Muse is better than U2. U2 has been around for the better part of the last thirty years, Muse half that time. There isn't a single hit or otherwise of Muse's that can hold a candle to "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For," "Where The Streets Have No Name," "One," "With Or Without You," "Sunday, Bloody Sunday," or a half-dozen other U2 tracks. The Edge should have been WELL ahead of Bellamy on this list. Besides, Muse's latest hit, "Uprising" is great and was even BETTER when it first came out as "The Beautiful People" by Marilyn Manson. People need to stop treating Bellamy and Muse like they're rock Gods and accept that they're a good band--they are not the Beatles, the Stones, the Who, or U2 and they likely never will be!

Lol why so serious? And you're right they'll never be like U2, they'll be better.

[Jmunzy12]

I actually agree with this

[SpongeKibbles]

JEFF LOOMIS!! F-T-W!!!
looks him up you poops...

John Frusciante has some mad talent.

[bluesnd63]

Plug In Baby is such a corny riff. It should never be compared to Sweet Child o Mine ever again. Seven Nation Army = riff of the decade and nothing comes close to touching it.

[Wakisazhi]

bluesnd63 wrote:

Plug In Baby is such a corny riff. It should never be compared to Sweet Child o Mine ever again. Seven Nation Army = riff of the decade and nothing comes close to touching it.

Seven Nation Army is so bland and uninteresting compared to Plug In Baby.

[Bolenball]

Frusciante won the top spot of the last 30 years!? WTH is wrong with people, today!? I wouldn't put him in my top 20! Where's Dimebag, Mustaine, Hetfield, Hammett, Satriani, Vai, VanHalen, Skolnick, Ian, Wyylde, Rhodes, King, etc.??? You know, guitarists that would tear up Frusciante, Bellamy, and Morello!!

[SimplyStrings]

I CALL SHENANIGANS!

[Clutch32192]

I love Frusciante, my favorite guitarist, and congrats to him getting first, but I personally see SRV as the best in last 30 years. He is actually probably my pick for best ever.

Frusciante is an AMAZING songwriter as well. Its not just technical skills. I can play alot of the stuff he does, but I could never write anything that good.

[mikeiscool]

Anyone who doesn't agree needs to actually listen to Mother's Milk, Blood Sugar Sex Magik, Californication, By The Way, and hell Stadium Arcadium. He's amazing live. He also sings rather well. To all metal fans: It's about musicality and not how fast you can play. This guy is creative as hell. Listen before you comment.

[bluesnd63]

Plug In Baby sounds like a freaking 12 year old doing warm-up scales before getting a guitar lesson. Ok, so Ball and Biscuit, Bone Broke, Hello Operator are three Jack White songs that are ten times more soulful and catchy than Plug In Baby.

[Scum_PunkRocker]

John Frusciante is very versatile and could play circles around most of the online guitar forum community. I'm not sure who's number 1 because I don't care it's all a matter of taste. Personally I think a guy in my region should be on the list, but few people in Britain know who he is. His name is James Anthony and you can hear his music as http://www.jamesanthony.ca/

I don't have anything against the smiths but I can't understand how Johnny Marr could be on the top 5.

[scawti]

Most people, me included, cited virtuoso guitarists as better choice, but thinking on it, go with "more than technical skill," in the last 30 years there have been way more deserving guitarists around. SRV, Cobain, BB King, Mike Stern, The Edge, and the list goes on. It's the 2010 best trendy for now guitarist. No offense to John F, but you aren't that good.

[bluesnd63]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YUgHAshSo

[Cerpian_Taxt]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cadbYIzhqQ

[bluesnd63]

Please at least watch up till 1:40 in this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03YUgHAshSo... He rips.

[bluesnd63]

Cerpian_Taxt wrote:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cadbYIzhqQ

Sorry, but I could watch that video once and get extremely bored and never watch again. They are good but its extremely lame and would never influence someone to pick up a guitar.

[THE Saint Jimmy]

Congrats John, you truely deserve it, and thank you for the amazing music that you have produced over the years..

[rockonneil]

I like John, and I think perhaps the greatest showcase of his talent is on Amputecture by Volta, but I'm not so sure about this list.

I mean, if someone like Jimmy Page could be called one of the best guitarists of the 70s, but he is still alive and kickin', then isn't he still one of the greatest guitarists of the last 30 years?

[joey-only]

he is good but i wouldnt say he was the best. My pick would be Dime.

[by will alone]

bluesnd63 wrote:

Plug In Baby sounds like a freaking 12 year old doing warm-up scales before getting a guitar lesson. Ok, so Ball and Biscuit, Bone Broke, Hello Operator are three Jack White songs that are ten times more soulful and catchy than Plug In Baby.

haha i was gonna say the same thing. good guitar players should actually know how to write music that conveys the feeling they want to, and should be able to use tone correctly to add to that. guitarists that do this well in my opinion definitely include willie adler (lamb of god) and adam jones. while they may not have as much technical skill as shredders, they definitely write much better and purposeful riffs and solos than frusciante or bellamy

[SGofawesome]

joey-only wrote:

he is good but i wouldnt say he was the best. My pick would be Dime.

YES

[Leonhart231]

Hmm...he's good, but the best in the last 30 years? No. Vai, Abbot, Petrucci, Schuldiner, Loomis, Malsteen, Batio, Buckethead, ect. All better in my opinion. I'm not saying Frusciante is bad mind you. He's a great creative mind, but not the best guitarist since the start of the 80's...

[Ktool The Girth]

neca wrote:

neca wrote:

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

There is no "right way" to play guitar. Also, theres more to music than technical ability. Thats why shredders are almost never on these lists.

realy there isnt a right way to play the guitar??? u tell me that for the last centuries people have been stupide learning classical guitar properly ??? what kind of guy are u??? CMON!!! THe problem is that there are guys like u who say thta shred sucks because u just cant play like that!!! by the way did u ever have listened to jason becker's air ? or tender surrender by steve vai??? or something by jeff young besides megadeth?? jeff young has projects in classical music har rock and a varety of styles that only someone with his knowledge coud do!! broderick plays from classical to jazz to metal! satch goes from groove to hard rock to blues he even plays sax!! the only guys i said that can be a little boring if u listen to much are loomis and malmsteen!! but frusciante i dont know how he still have fingers on his left hand !! he use the fingers so wrong it should hurt!!and yes i know music theory i have formation in music so what?! i listen to metal jazz classical blues hard rock even red hot so what???? get the hell outa here fan boy and care about doing thing the way they are meant to be done!! thats the difficult prt but also where u have more fun! learning is fun for me ! and for a lot of other people in here

You obviously didnt get what I was saying. Im saying theres more to guitar than just shredding because when people say that some "doesnt play the guitar right", they mean they dont wank up and down a pentatonic.

[jermzxsugarx]

I just love how almost everybody here is a musical elitist. Kinda funny really.

/sarcasm

get over it people

[Yeti60]

A good choice. I certainly love Froosh and the Peppers. However one must also consider some other options like Paul Gilbert or Joe Satriani. Also a few acoustic players as well: Andy McKee or Tommy Emmanuel.

[Pinetum]

Let's all read a list that's obviously subjective and based on people's opinions (hence it being a poll) and get all butthurt about it. Seriously, who cares?

If you agree with it, awesome. If you don't, awesome. It's not like this poll matters in anyway.

[Picklelerner]

had it been anything past the last 30 years, im sure the results would differ

[MattsRichardson]

Hmmm He's good, and I love RHCP, though I think the past 30 years is a bit of an overstatement personally.

[PIMO]

you know what it doesnt even matter ok? cuz Frusciante WON end of story ok...lol jk good for him :P i gotta check out the rest of the list. but im glad he got top spot

[sardonicgoat]

vernon reid

[TwistedMetalman]

sorry, but matt bellamy sucks compared to most guitarists out there. I refuse to admit that he is better than such guitarists as Dimebag Darrell, Kirk Hammett, and Eddie Van Halen.

[shreddykrueger]

this is lame

[machinehead77]

mergapoot wrote:

crap list, john is a great guitarist and musician but is massively overrated as are Mat bellamy and jonny marr. The only placement i really agree with is tom morello.

past 30 years, were the hell are Vai, satch, petrucci, and the others???

yea man wtf. micheal romeo, john petrucci? where the hell is the real talent? all that's here is butt-rock

[Dizzy Lea]

I want to participate in this long ass comment stack to validate my meaningless existence.

[machinehead77]

Ktool The Girth wrote:

neca wrote:

neca wrote:

maybe the best of the last 30 years are jason becker jeff loomis chris brodrick steve bai satriani malmsteen and jeff young. they´re the best and some of them are graduated in music like broderick vai and jeff. this is what happens when some stupid people wannt to look cool and do a list of the best guitarists... thats what happens when mvt2 airs the stupid rock of today!! almost no one knows how a guitar shoud be played and how music should be done. so almost no one know who are the best of the best... then everyone talks about hendrix being the best of all time cause they really dont know some one better than him when the truth is that hendrix just had his time and now he is nothing compered to today's guitarists

There is no "right way" to play guitar. Also, theres more to music than technical ability. Thats why shredders are almost never on these lists.

realy there isnt a right way to play the guitar??? u tell me that for the last centuries people have been stupide learning classical guitar properly ??? what kind of guy are u??? CMON!!! THe problem is that there are guys like u who say thta shred sucks because u just cant play like that!!! by the way did u ever have listened to jason becker's air ? or tender surrender by steve vai??? or something by jeff young besides megadeth?? jeff young has projects in classical music har rock and a varety of styles that only someone with his knowledge coud do!! broderick plays from classical to jazz to metal! satch goes from groove to hard rock to blues he even plays sax!! the only guys i said that can be a little boring if u listen to much are loomis and malmsteen!! but frusciante i dont know how he still have fingers on his left hand !! he use the fingers so wrong it should hurt!!and yes i know music theory i have formation in music so what?! i listen to metal jazz classical blues hard rock even red hot so what???? get the hell outa here fan boy and care about doing thing the way they are meant to be done!! thats the difficult prt but also where u have more fun! learning is fun for me ! and for a lot of other people in here

You obviously didnt get what I was saying. Im saying theres more to guitar than just shredding because when people say that some "doesnt play the guitar right", they mean they dont wank up and down a pentatonic.

please. all of the guys like petrucci, malmsteen, vai, and satch can easily play with more melody and feeling than anyone on this list. and then just for fun they willl shred the **** outta them!

[machinehead77]

Jimmy5790 wrote:

You guys keep bringing up Satch and Vai but come on really?If i wanted to listen to something that bad i would listen to the power rangers soundtrack.Oh wait one of those guys probably did that.The point is this list doesn't say "The most technically advanced guitarist of the last 30 years" but i will admit the guys they picked aren't that great except for Frusciante and Slash, but Satch and Vai are musically identical and completely void of emotion when they play.My friend lent me a Steve Vai live dvd and i fell asleep true story

this site is called ultimate guitar....not ultimate simple power chords.

[Randomrings]

i don't even know why but this infuriates me on many different levels at once. I was hoping it was just an extremely late april fools joke... april fools please?

oh well. just because he was voted best guitarists does not make him best guitarist. there are so many better guitarists... even matt bellamy

[gibber19]

If it was based on influence, Randy Rhoads, Kerry King, and James Hetfield should be a three way tie. You can't find a band that wasn't influenced by one of those three.

[priestfan76]

bluesnd63 wrote:

The problem with Vai and them is that they just shred and they arent in bands. Vai doesnt make catchy tunes he just shreds scales, and does it well, but i would much rather listen to RHCP than Steve Vais where the wild things are

Not even close at all. Every Vai song is carefully constructed to sound as sonically pleasing and interesting as possible, his biggest thing is songwriting and melody. Note that his shredding happens when it fits the mood, and not a second longer then is required.

[Karz1993]

Seriously, i think Marty Friedman, James Hetfield, Sysnyster Gates, Kirk Hammett and Dimebag should definately be up there.

I know all you pop music fans are gonna be like HURR DURR THEY METALZ NO MUSIC

but listen to Fade to Black, One, Hero of the Day, any of the Unforgivens, Nothing else Matters, Sanitarium.... the list goes on from metallica...

And tell me theyre not melodic, influential AND soulful! There's way more emotion in those songs than Frusciante's work. Also, as far as influentialness goes, you can't tell me metallica weren't. personally, if it was based NOT off of skill & on music and feel, James Hetfield would be a prime candidate imo. Even if skill was a factor, he'd still be a strong contender.

i can understand if you say no to mustaine, but dimebag and synyster gates are amazing at melodies and songwriting.

check Seize the Day or dear god by Avenged Sevenfold, or Cemetary Gates & the sleep & this love by pantera

THEN come and tell me, after listening to those fully, that Frusciante is the best of the last 30 years. Or most of those other guitarists mentioned.

[Mobius Man]

Seriously, where's Alex Lifeson? This list is garbage without him. It's amazing how underrated he is.

[guitarsftw]

gibber19 wrote:

If it was based on influence, Randy Rhoads, Kerry King, and James Hetfield should be a three way tie. You can't find a band that wasn't influenced by one of those three.

I could name quite a few...

[PIMO]

^lol at people mentioning Kirk Hammett!!!!!

[CrabSoldier X]

i think frusciante and bellamy are the two most creative guitarists of the past 30 years. i guess id call them the best as well

[Aryan Death Man]

there are more guitarist like kirk hammett, van halen,slash,satriani,petrucci,mustaine,friedman,morell,vai,a lexi,buckethead,adrian smith,dave murray,broderick,dimebag...they could have been no.1...but why the hell is John Frusciante no.1....

[by will alone]

kirk hammet is a much better songwriter than any of these people on the list. look at the variety, and just the amount of quality work that hes written. also hes had more impact and is more influential than fruscante could dream of

[bingeandletgo]

Frusciante is definitely one of my favorites, but lets face it, lists suck no matter who's on top!

[qwaj]

kirk hammet is a joke. also john mayer is a way better guitarist that this fool.

[by will alone]

ya youre right, hammet doesnt know what the hell hes doing...lol wow really? hes kind of shaped a musical genre

[MonsterOfRock]

What is the unit of measurement of artistry? In both Metric and Imperial?

Also, most people don't get how hard working Kirk actually is. Try writing a flawless solo with your rhythm guitarist adding all these flat2s and Major 3rds and all these other unpredictable notes on a minor. Succeed and then come n talk! Kirk writes memorable solos on that limited space.

Also, Joe Satriani should top any guitar poll.

[flame_mc]

Wooow there's a bible posted here... Anyway, these topics always generate controversy...you can't satisfy everyone, but I think frusciante pretty much resumes the great majority IMO... he's a great guitarrist, but of course I missed Vai, Mustaine, Gilbert among others...

[killeranndy]

Is this the top guitarist of the last 30 years in the main stream?!?! Jason Becker did play in the last thirty years!!!!!

[syke5]

... i thought we agreed hendrix owns, but i guess that would count as the last 50 years huh?
well i put my vote in for chris broderick and jeff loomis,

[vulturer]

ever heard of Jeff Healey???

[sardonicgoat]

Vernon Reid

[c0bhc]

metallica144 wrote:

kirk hammett ? =( Alexi Laiho ?=( anyone???

dont totally agree with kirk. DEFINITELY alexi laiho, dimebag, i mean cmon, theres much better i dont even have to name them

[BlessureK]

Saw the title of this article and thought: "what"

Like, I love John's music, he's one of the few guitarists out there that can make the guitar "sing" so to speak. But seriously.

There are heaps of guitarists who had more of an impact on music that him. For starters

James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett- The amount of people they have inspired and influenced is insane

Dimebag Darrel- once again a massive influence on music, the reason Pantera (the biggest metal band of the 90s) was actually good

EVH- Same as Kirk and James

As well as Stevie ray, Satch, etc. The list goes on and on and on

But whats teh suprise? The people who vote on these polls are mostly Guitar Hero kids (obviously because look Tom Morello is there, as well as Slash) and people who most likely never picked up an instrument in their entire life. Like Matt Bellamy is a pretty good songwriter, but far from the best guitarist

[NothingRocks]

:/ John Frusciante top guitarist? I have to disagree.
Also, where are Timo Tolkki, John Petrucci, Andy Timmons, Buckethead, Yngwie Malmsteen, Eric Johnson, Alexi Laiho, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Rusty Cooley, and others that are way better in technical skill and in how much they influenced people.

[guitarnoobie]

I agree with John as number one. I used to really be into shred, but then I realized it was just bullshit. It's the equivalent of musical masturbation. Musicianship and songwriting trump technical skill any day, and John is very well versed in both. Anyone who doesn't believe the latter, just listen to his live jams. Anyone who doesn't believe the former two, just listen to his solo albums.

[sardonicgoat]

why do people keep dissin Morello? Not the best guitar player ever but definitely one of the most original and he can definitely hold his own with the best of them. Listen to Rage's first album, The Renegades cover album and any of their live stuff, heck even some of his stuff with SSSC is sick!

[chy_qn]

This poll is some kind of a joke. Fru and Morello are good, they are extremely good, but I wouldn't call them the best. Scott Henderson, Joe Bonamassa, Derrek Truck, that would be the guys I'd call the best.

[lpwjbklyn]

Wakisazhi :
TwistedMetalman wrote:

sorry, but matt bellamy sucks compared to most guitarists out there. I refuse to admit that he is better than such guitarists as Dimebag Darrell, Kirk Hammett, and Eddie Van Halen.

Well sucks for you doesn't it because no one gives a damn about what you think.

With all due respect Wakisazhi, you seem awfully vested in defending Muse (or perhaps just Matt Bellamy's) honor, especially since you went after seven or eight different people for expressing their negative opinions about the guy. I return the question you posed to me: why so serious? What do you have riding on his success or the anonymous verbal diarrhea of a few UG posters?

I don't have a problem with Muse or their music. What I do take issue with is when people (yourself included) offer nothing but nebulous answers as to why Muse is as great a band as you seem to think. You claim Muse is better than U2 (as if any two bands can ever really be compared and judged based on any objective scale!) but what justification do you offer other than "Well...duh! I mean, gee wankers, if you'd listen to some REAL music, then you'd KNOW why Muse is the best!"

Quantify it my friend! Find a clear voice to express yourself and to defend your position. Judging from the vernacular in your posts I'm assuming you're from the UK--am I right? If so, then maybe THAT's what it is--simple nationalism. What's your opinion of Oasis and Amy Winehouse? Are they # 2 and 3 on your top artists list? Though both acts (all three if Muse is included) make good music, none of the three are deserving of the acclaim they receive (in my opinion) and the people who seem to champion said artists the most tend to hail from the same piece of land. If THAT'S what it all boils down to, at least I can understand the reasoning...but otherwise--what makes Muse so great??

[selfdecay]

hammet hetfield dimebag wylde are awesome and very important but they represent ONE genre of music. im a big fan of those bands but: frusciante can play anything, just check his career! funk to punk to progressive to blues to jazz to acoustic stuff to eletronic to groove to mindblowing improvisations jamming! the list goes on... the guy lives for music 24 hours a day! and yet he doenst care at all about shitty lists like these cuz music is a matter of personal taste and the way you feel while listening to them... those lists are for people like dave mustaine who really loves to fight over who is best or who is not. Personaly i think that frusciante is on a higher level as a musician, he focus on making new inspiring music. i dont see him as a band member who happens to play guitar. but his image will always be attached to the guitar.

[Mellatronix]

lpwjbklyn wrote:
...but otherwise--what makes Muse so great??

two words: matt bellamy

[samuraimusaki]

korbhag wrote:

Lol. Is all I can think about.

The guy wrote ONE classic album (Blood, Sex, Sugar, Magic) and he would be the best of the last 30 years?

Yeah right...

ONE CLASSIC ALBUM!?!?! The Red Hot Chili Peppers were PIONEERS! Although I wouldn't have given him the best, He is an amazing guitarist!

[bfffan]

I don't think anyone can deny Matt Bellamy's originality in guitar playing, not only in the notes he plays but the sounds he produces (thanks largely to his collection of custom-made guitars). Check out 'Recess' - I've been listening to it lately and its just a truly original song, and the riff is so cool and weird at the same time. There are so many fantastic guitar riffs (The Groove, Futurism - again extremely original, Dead Star, Fury, Crying Shame) that make up Muse's B-Sides alone and this, I think, is the main reason why Matt's playing is great. And I'm Australian by the way, so nationality doesn't come into it.

[cavalettas]

haha love it how everyones flaring up because theres no metal or shred on the list.

[lpwjbklyn]

Mellatronix wrote:

lpwjbklyn wrote:
...but otherwise--what makes Muse so great??

two words: matt bellamy

And yet another answer that says nothing. I'd ask you to try qualify that statement but I'm afraid you'll wind up with an aneurysm from the exertion. Just for the record though the following answers don't actually answer the question of, "What makes Muse so great?"

A) Matt Bellamy.

B) Because of the riffs for Plug In Baby or any other song.

C) Because they are better than [insert another band name] and always will be.

If I asked why a Gibson guitar with twenty four frets can produce higher notes than a Martin with twenty-one frets, would you say: "Two words: It's a Gibson [sic]" I'd like to think not. There is an objective, quantifiable answer: the Gibson has a longer neck that allows for the inclusion of three more frets, each of which allows the player to produce another half tone.

The point is that you can't say that one band is better than another because there's no concrete reasoning that you can base it upon; it's your opinion, which has the same value as everyone else's and is consequently nullified by everyone else's. Metallica is simultaneously better than, worse than, and the same as Muse, which is simultaneously better, worse, and identical than/to every other band on the planet. Stop with the "because it is" justification! We stopped dragging our knuckles and grunting thousands upon thousands of years ago--it's time all you Muse fans caught up with the rest of us!

[dan0z]

Dime Bag.
'nuff said.

[by will alone]

honestly this is all just based on what is mainstream, popular, and socially acceptable. If you really think that these guitarists are truly great, then i suggest you listen to something other than what you hear on the radio or see on mtv.

[SlinkyMcdougall]

I just love Trey Anastasio, I think he deserves it for his improv skills. In the mid-90's, nobody could touch that guy. Sure, some guitarists can write great solos, but how many can great such strong emotion out of on-stage improvisation? Nobody can do it like he does, not even Jerry. But anyways, this is all very subjective... Not many people even know who Trey is and even less will read my post here, so why bother? Maybe because I'm drunk... This was stupid news posted only to get teh metalheads all pissed off and it worked.

[AlterEdge]

For me Matt Bellamy is the best new modern rock player aside from Mark Tremonti who deserves more credit btw.

I just love the emotion and energy Matt Bellamy puts not only into his guitar work but also into his piano playing and singing as well.

I think Matt Bellamy has far more talent altogether as a musician than the others so in a competition of pure musicianship Matt Bellamy has them outmatched.

But this shit shouldn't matter anyways. All that matters is we have these great players still writing awesome music for us to listen to and for that we should be grateful.

[GREENWARRI0R]

lolopinions

[starfire666]

this is ridiculous...

[Deadcell34]

I'd have to go with either of my two favorite guitarists: Tremonti or Satriani.

As for RHCP's guitarist.... one word..... NO

[One Inch Man]

oh great, another senseless list. can't get enough of them. I think John is definitely a good player but the best? the question is, what does "the best" mean? the fastest, the most spontaneous, the best melodies?

Anyway, i don't know, why Tom Morello is fifth! It's always the same what he plays!

[Lydia_31993]

luky frusciante, but rhcp still needs him

[nightraven]

checked

cavalettas wrote:

haha love it how everyones flaring up because theres no metal or shred on the list.

yeah, it could be worse. at least there's none of the disney guitarists.

[Astyan]

I love John Frusciante, but this is utter bullshit.

Just like any "best guitarist" survey anyway.

[HammettFTW]

bluesnd63 wrote:
Ok, so Ball and Biscuit, Bone Broke, Hello Operator are three Jack White songs that are ten times more soulful and catchy than Plug In Baby.

I didn't like your point there, but then you mentioned ball and biscuit. What a win song.

Btw whats with all the people saying hammett should be at the top? James hetfield is the one that makes the songs you so dearly love, hammett just makes solos filled with WAYYYYY too much wah, and that's coming from someon with a username like mine!

tl;dr Kirk Hammett woulda topped the list if he didn't find wah.

[sheppo]

past 30yrs no way. really there is no such thing as the best or greatest guitarist its personal opinion. What about jazz guitarists im not a fan of the genre but those guys are amazing. what about vai, satch van halen and the other shredders. it cant be done

[HammettFTW]

lpwjbklyn wrote:
The point is that you can't say that one band is better than another because there's no concrete reasoning that you can base it upon; it's your opinion, which has the same value as everyone else's and is consequently nullified by everyone else's.

Sorry for the double post, but thats not true. Some people have a far more educated opinion of things, and hence their opinion has more reasoning. Its why we don't have some uncultured redneck critiquing our films or our music, or any art for that matter. But then its not just critics that have a more valued opinions - it could be members of respected bands, or even mates that you find quite knowledgable about music or you identify with their tastes.

[piet10000]

He totally deserves it!

[hiddeninromance]

I agree with the guy who said "what about Prince?"
unbelievable guitarist and musician.

You know what, most people have liked RHCP, even if we have all moved on to greener pastures i.e. heavier stuff, or softer stuff. Also we have all had to learn RHCP riffs at some point in guitar lessons, or magazines. His riffs also are pretty memorable, even if they aren't the difficulty of some masturbatory self-indulgent million note sweep-pick.

I don't think this is too much of a stretch his music is pretty widespread instead of niche metal soloists, and most people know his riffs and will remember them more than other things.

I think this quantifies enough for him to be considered it, in this poll's infinite subjectivity I have heard worse choices made.

[bfffan]

I'm sorry, lpwjbklyn. I know that you are trying to get your argument fix, but comparing fans of Muse to primitive apes is offensive.

I didn't realise your question 'What makes Muse so great' was rhetorical. Regarding your music is subjective statement, the funny thing is I happen to agree with you. There is no inherent justification for a list like this. I was merely trying to explain how some people (including myself) might find Matthew Bellamy's playing notable (hence the inclusion on the list).

[Mr Pringle]

i love it how people get so worked up about nothing, congrats john!

[sardonicgoat]

Vernon Reid

[cptcomet]

Anyone who questions Matt Bellamy's guitar ability should take a listen to Bedroom Acoustics.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1CnsI4Jm9Q

No he may not be the best guitarist in the world, but he's certainly not the worst, and his ability extends beyond just the singles that Muse put out.

The criteria of making a good song doesn't necessarily have to have a complicated guitar part in it, and I think he judges it perfectly, which in my opinion makes him a great guitarist, and musician.

[Bozjoarmstrong]

bluesnd63 wrote:

Plug In Baby is such a corny riff. It should never be compared to Sweet Child o Mine ever again. Seven Nation Army = riff of the decade and nothing comes close to touching it

Oh dear me.
Sorry, just had to mention that.
And I wish people would stop getting so pissed at this. It's all subjective, I personally wouldn't agree that Frusciante is the greatest guitarist of the past 30 years, but if so many people have voted for him he must be doing something right. Matt Bellamy is a talented and innovative musician, whether it is to your taste or not. Same goes for Tom Morello or Jonny Greenwood (he came 7th I think).
Point is, if you're all gunna get so pissed off, vote next time. This is not an official list, it's peoples' opinions.

[lpwjbklyn]

bfffan wrote:

I'm sorry, lpwjbklyn. I know that you are trying to get your argument fix, but comparing fans of Muse to primitive apes is offensive.

I didn't realise your question 'What makes Muse so great' was rhetorical. Regarding your music is subjective statement, the funny thing is I happen to agree with you. There is no inherent justification for a list like this. I was merely trying to explain how some people (including myself) might find Matthew Bellamy's playing notable (hence the inclusion on the list).

I apologize for how that came across bfffan and should have been more selective in my use of the term Muse fan. I neglected to use quotation marks and it completely changed the thrust of what I was going for. I meant "Muse fans" meaning the type of people who cannot sustain an argument for why their preferred band is better than any other band and who fall back on the argument that "Muse is great" to explain why "Muse is great." I was not intending to strike a comparison between actual fans of the band and creatures with limited thought capacity but rather those who exhibit ape-like (if you will) reasoning when answering a fairly straightforward question. I apologize if I caused you, or anyone else, any offense.

[AusMetal33]

These lists in theory are unbelievably stupid, how could you even begin to define the greatest guitarist in a 30 year period. All they are good for is starting arguements

[lpwjbklyn]

HammettFTW wrote:

lpwjbklyn wrote:
The point is that you can't say that one band is better than another because there's no concrete reasoning that you can base it upon; it's your opinion, which has the same value as everyone else's and is consequently nullified by everyone else's.
Sorry for the double post, but thats not true. Some people have a far more educated opinion of things, and hence their opinion has more reasoning. Its why we don't have some uncultured redneck critiquing our films or our music, or any art for that matter. But then its not just critics that have a more valued opinions - it could be members of respected bands, or even mates that you find quite knowledgable about music or you identify with their tastes.

Though it can be argued that some perspectives are more educated the bottom line is that these perspectives are conveyed in words. If you ascribe to the post-structuralist / deconstructionist camp of literary theory you'll find that words inherently cannot have any actual meaning, thus meaning that your opinion and mine are equally valid and simultaneously pointless because the words that we use to describe those viewpoints cannot have any meaning themselves.

[ngohv]

I don't think the people who voted only thought about him as the guitarist for RHCP... he's got a huge fanbase for his own music. He has released over ten albums himself and done lots of collaborations.
I think he definitely deserves this place.

[oliver105]

Important! Please Read!
The Axe Factor was an Online Poll, in which everyone could vote. John Frusciante won, which makes him the most POPULAR guitarist of the last 30 years. The fact that he beat Slash, Matthew Bellamy etc in a BRITISH hosted competition, says a lot.

The facts aside, I voted for John Frusciante and I really and easily believe he is the greatest guitarist of the last three decades. Not only BSSM, but Stadium Arcadium and its tour, was an extremity of guitar work!
He easily deserves to win!

[oliver105]

For gods sake my previous comment seems to be really bloody important, as all the other comments don't actually Realize what I just said!

[cavalettas]

lpwjbklyn wrote:

Mellatronix wrote:

lpwjbklyn wrote:
...but otherwise--what makes Muse so great??

two words: matt bellamy

And yet another answer that says nothing. I'd ask you to try qualify that statement but I'm afraid you'll wind up with an aneurysm from the exertion. Just for the record though the following answers don't actually answer the question of, "What makes Muse so great?"

A) Matt Bellamy.

B) Because of the riffs for Plug In Baby or any other song.

C) Because they are better than [insert another band name] and always will be.

If I asked why a Gibson guitar with twenty four frets can produce higher notes than a Martin with twenty-one frets, would you say: "Two words: It's a Gibson [sic]" I'd like to think not. There is an objective, quantifiable answer: the Gibson has a longer neck that allows for the inclusion of three more frets, each of which allows the player to produce another half tone.

The point is that you can't say that one band is better than another because there's no concrete reasoning that you can base it upon; it's your opinion, which has the same value as everyone else's and is consequently nullified by everyone else's. Metallica is simultaneously better than, worse than, and the same as Muse, which is simultaneously better, worse, and identical than/to every other band on the planet. Stop with the "because it is" justification! We stopped dragging our knuckles and grunting thousands upon thousands of years ago--it's time all you Muse fans caught up with the rest of us!

hahaha i wrote that comment on a different account, didn't think you'd get it. don't worry about it man.

[skaryguy]

Ok, well it's clearly a popularity contest and not at all best on skill/technique.

[Teh Skisgaars]

fruisciante is awesome and i understand it was a popularity poll, but to say frusciante is "better" (still a matter of opinion IMO), that slash, joe satriani, john petrucci, kirk hammet (in his prime) mikael akerfeldt the list goes on, oh and muse guitarist 3rd, i love muse and their songwriting and theyre a bloody tight band but for him to be better than satriani and shizz.
there, thats my 2 cents

[ippystratman]

frusciante is good but not the best. in my opinion synyster gates from avenged sevenfold, slash and john petrucci would be my top 3 (no particular order there)

btw anyone whos saying his is a popularity contest, pretty much all these lists are, there are a billion guitarists out there better than most of the people on those lists but they get no credit coz their not hugely successful. those 3 i mentioned earlier are my top 3 that people are likely to know

[kfong03]

NO WAY. Don't get me wrong I have lot's of resepct for him and I'm a rhcp fan but he's definitely nowhere near the top.

[ippystratman]

cavalettas wrote:

lpwjbklyn wrote:

Mellatronix wrote:

lpwjbklyn wrote:
...but otherwise--what makes Muse so great??

two words: matt bellamy

And yet another answer that says nothing. I'd ask you to try qualify that statement but I'm afraid you'll wind up with an aneurysm from the exertion. Just for the record though the following answers don't actually answer the question of, "What makes Muse so great?"

A) Matt Bellamy.

B) Because of the riffs for Plug In Baby or any other song.

C) Because they are better than [insert another band name] and always will be.

If I asked why a Gibson guitar with twenty four frets can produce higher notes than a Martin with twenty-one frets, would you say: "Two words: It's a Gibson [sic]" I'd like to think not. There is an objective, quantifiable answer: the Gibson has a longer neck that allows for the inclusion of three more frets, each of which allows the player to produce another half tone.

The point is that you can't say that one band is better than another because there's no concrete reasoning that you can base it upon; it's your opinion, which has the same value as everyone else's and is consequently nullified by everyone else's. Metallica is simultaneously better than, worse than, and the same as Muse, which is simultaneously better, worse, and identical than/to every other band on the planet. Stop with the "because it is" justification! We stopped dragging our knuckles and grunting thousands upon thousands of years ago--it's time all you Muse fans caught up with the rest of us!

hahaha i wrote that comment on a different account, didn't think you'd get it. don't worry about it man.

haha i love this comment, your exactly right. well in terms of bands at least. with bands i think you can say whatever you want as long as you can back it up with a real justification. i think with guitarists its a bit more than whether you like them or no though. for example a kid whos sitting in his room playing a guitar for the first time is not gonna be as good as yngwie malmsteen. my point is you can kinda measure talent

[ewall09]

kfong03 wrote:

NO WAY. Don't get me wrong I have lot's of resepct for him and I'm a rhcp fan but he's definitely nowhere near the top.

Just because he doesn't have speedy licks doesn't mean he isn't amazing. Listen to the guitar work in 'Hey' off of Stadium Arcadium Disc 1. If that doesn't make your skin crawl, you're not a human.

To me, a great guitarist doesn't necessarily have to shred up and down the fretboard....If you can turn a song into something that people can feel, then you know you've done a good job. Clearly, Frusciante is also a very skilled musician. Huge influence in some of my playing.

[Khann]

Frusciante is my favorite guitarist, and I am a huge Frusciante fanboy... but I don't think he's the greatest guitarist of the last 30 years.. when it comes to technical ability anyway. Not to say he can't play the shit out of the guitar.

Maybe "best musician" would be better.

[Teh Skisgaars]

Khann wrote:

Frusciante is my favorite guitarist, and I am a huge Frusciante fanboy... but I don't think he's the greatest guitarist of the last 30 years.. when it comes to technical ability anyway. Not to say he can't play the shit out of the guitar.

Maybe "best musician" would be better.

mikael akerfeldt or steven wilson
would take that competition easy
someone try and prove me wrong

[Q1_17]

oh god i knew there would be a war about John Frusciante is number 1??? BULLSHIT!

[Scream-Machine]

Teh Skisgaars :

Khann wrote:

Frusciante is my favorite guitarist, and I am a huge Frusciante fanboy... but I don't think he's the greatest guitarist of the last 30 years.. when it comes to technical ability anyway. Not to say he can't play the shit out of the guitar.

Maybe "best musician" would be better.

mikael akerfeldt or steven wilson
would take that competition easy
someone try and prove me wrong

Lol...?

Anyways out of all these people there are just few that name Mark Tremonti and Joe Bonamassa. JF is good, but there still are people who master the instrument like no other...Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Paul Gilbert, Buckethead. And considering it's from the last 30 years...there are way more guitarplayers that are more diverse from what JF does.

[tannhauser_dent]

He is not the most Technical, popular, iconic and is not the best known guitarist of the last 30 years...would like to know how this happened.

[Kackao]

Totally agree with that... Good guitarist and musician, first I didnt like that he left rhcp but then I heard "The Empyrean"

[2mins2midnite]

the list fails ¬¬

[guitar00000]

not my fav- but hes ok

[Funkytonkys]

ANGUS YOUNG? STEVIE RAY VAUGHN? PAUL GILBERT? JOE SATRIANI?

John Frusciante is good but greatest guitarist over the last 30 years??

[Gibson_SG_uzr55]

I wouldn't say he's the best, but he's up there

[withoutanyname]

pathetic thread...

[Abom]

Nearly 700 comments. Jesus.

[museiscool]

GUESS WHO IS THIRD WOOP WOOP

But John is so awesome, great guitarist

[benrochlin]

Jimmy5790 wrote:

You guys keep bringing up Satch and Vai but come on really?If i wanted to listen to something that bad i would listen to the power rangers soundtrack.Oh wait one of those guys probably did that.The point is this list doesn't say "The most technically advanced guitarist of the last 30 years" but i will admit the guys they picked aren't that great except for Frusciante and Slash, but Satch and Vai are musically identical and completely void of emotion when they play.

Even putting satch and vai up against each other is pointless, shows how pointless comparing every guitarist ever is... Vai is about technique, satch isnt any more. listen to his more modern stuff and youll see that. Both are putting out music for guitar purists though ill accept that.
Also people saying that satch has no influence, really not worth the type, ive gone off to learn more of his tracks than anyone else's. Also good luck trying to find anyone more famous in that style of playing.

[axeslinger0u812]

It's almost like they meant "best guitarists to start their careers in the last 30 years," so as to take out EVH, the iron Maiden guys, rhoads, etc. I mean innovation and influence, and NOT have EVH? Really? He invented the super strat, created a need for the floating bridge, wound his own pickups, was messing with effects for weird sounds long before morello... Maiden furthered the duel guitar sound...rhoads started neoclassical more or less... Hell, tremonti is more influential than some of these guys. Or you could look at the killswitch guys. They popularized the ever emulated metalcore formula. I mean, morello is awesome, I'm not going to argue his inclusion, and I despise muse and Jack white, so I have no comment on them based on the few songs from each I've heard, but come on. Really? RHCP have a good catelogue and everything, but I don't know about this. I don't hear anyone in music that sounds influenced by him, and I've never see his innovation for anything. Good songwriter, yes. But so are a billion other people. He has a good grasp of theory and mixing it with feeling, but he's not even the most versatile player of the last 30 years. Or the most soulful. Or the most musical. Or the most proficient. *sigh* I started playing guitar because of EVH, but I'm well aware and able to accept there are "better" guitarists out there. You frusciante fanboys are a little ridiculous. My favorite guitarists of the last ten years is Ben Moody, tremonti, loomis, buckethead, and Broderick but I wouldn't put any of them on this list. Favorites don't mean best. But, apparently this radio station plays the same style of music, and, to be honest, I would probably me skipping this station a lot.

[axe_man]

it is all about personal opinion but even as a chilli's fan I wouldn't rank him in the top 5

[crash4316]

I gotta say, this just warms my heart. I only started getting serious about guitar after watching Frusciante wail on that beautiful dirty stra Live at Slane Castle. It gives me chills everytime I watch it. Literally, I can watch my hair stand on end when I see that intro. I haven't put the guitar down since. It's my biggest passion in life and always will be. Thankyou John, forever in debt to your priceless advice

[axeslinger0u812]

Also, coldplay won a Grammy and sold a bunch of albums ripping an entire song off from Satch. If that's not influence, I don't know what is.

[dankhus]

Bollocks. There's no "greatest".

[hugh20]

He's talented, but by no means anywhere near the best guitarist of the past 30 years. This was a poll by the British public though, so what else do you expect?

[Tarsplitter]

This list is more like "the most FAMOUS guitarists of the last 30 years".

[blkdtr]

flemflames wrote:

agreed, but the whole reliability of this list goes down the drain when you read the 3rd place

almost 700 comments and the 4th comment says it all

[Casterillo]

I dont know about you guys but im pretty sure its rock guitarist,i dont think that the majority of them are better than the metal guitarist!

[Phycopath09]

I respect JF but I dont have respect for the people that leave out the greatest guitarists ever. Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Buck Dharma, Malmsteen, Vai, and so on. I think that this world is turning into a pop world. If we wouldnt have people like Slash keeping rock alive just barely, those guitarists would be forgotten but from this news it seems like they already are.

[Blueflame55]

Its a little late for april fools...

[Casterillo]

Tarsplitter wrote:

This list is more like "the most FAMOUS guitarists of the last 30 years".

the only one i heard of that they mentioned were slash and tom morello, but w/e i played guitar hero3

[Phycopath09]

Well, most metal guitarists play just stuff, but Syn, Malmsteen, and Vai are amazing metal guitarists,too.

Casterillo wrote:

I dont know about you guys but im pretty sure its rock guitarist,i dont think that the majority of them are better than the metal guitarist!

[wraith313]

Here is the problem that all of you guys are having; you all think that greatest and best (in terms of whatever you want, technicality etc) are the same thing when, in fact, they are not. And its clear why Satriani and Vai and those guys arent on here. Why? Because nobody listens to them except guys like us and most all they do is just shred really hard (which, im not denying takes a lot of skill, isnt good for much EXCEPT for shredding really hard. Thus becoming recursive.)

[Phycopath09]

No it definitely says greatest.

Casterillo wrote:

Tarsplitter wrote:

This list is more like "the most FAMOUS guitarists of the last 30 years".

the only one i heard of that they mentioned were slash and tom morello, but w/e i played guitar hero3

[Phycopath09]

Dude, Vai doesnt just shred.

wraith313 wrote:

Here is the problem that all of you guys are having; you all think that greatest and best (in terms of whatever you want, technicality etc) are the same thing when, in fact, they are not. And its clear why Satriani and Vai and those guys arent on here. Why? Because nobody listens to them except guys like us and most all they do is just shred really hard (which, im not denying takes a lot of skill, isnt good for much EXCEPT for shredding really hard. Thus becoming recursive.)

[MarkSlayer2009]

Gary Moore anyone? Probably one of the greatest guitarists of all time, that gives 120% to each note...

[loz4]

i'd put matt 1st and jack white would be about 4th, they both are really original guitarists and deserve to be up their, especially matt.

[freeloder11]

I'll put this. I think that Synester Gates of A7X is the best guitarist.

[Colohue]

checked

['93]

remmeber though that it is rock from the 1980 to 2010 and the guitarists that DEFINE those times...many of the guitarists that you mention were there for the 80s only where there was shred. JF was there for most of it.

anyway its from votes...if you disagreed and didnt cast a vote tough luck.

imo matt bellamy isnt as good as many peolpe say...he is a brilliant singer and can come up with major riffs but JF plays more syle than him (and than Slash) and is technically good

proof http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUJHEdQBAr8

[da_vinci_cod]

At first i was like O.o then i was like, wait, 1980-2010 ooooohhhh

but yeah, subjective list bias etc. etc.

also the methods of playing guitar have been fleshed out before the 80's, there hasnt been that much more innovation in the area after that, just saying.

[btbamaddict]

wouldnt say the best guitarist of the last 30 years, but definitely one of the best around

[bmorse]

Already been said, but he earned it.

[venom08]

Phycopath09 wrote:

I respect JF but I dont have respect for the people that leave out the greatest guitarists ever. Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Buck Dharma, Malmsteen, Vai, and so on. I think that this world is turning into a pop world. If we wouldnt have people like Slash keeping rock alive just barely, those guitarists would be forgotten but from this news it seems like they already are.

Yes we understand they are all amazing but come on lets try to recognize someone new for a change.

[HammettFTW]

lpwjbklyn wrote:

Though it can be argued that some perspectives are more educated the bottom line is that these perspectives are conveyed in words. If you ascribe to the post-structuralist / deconstructionist camp of literary theory you'll find that words inherently cannot have any actual meaning, thus meaning that your opinion and mine are equally valid and simultaneously pointless because the words that we use to describe those viewpoints cannot have any meaning themselves.[/quote] I never ascribed to any such rubbish. My words have meaning, and so do yours, and to say that words ultimately can't have meaning is quite a controversial statement. However, this is a guitar site, not a site where we can philosophise! So I'll just leave it at that before we both get carried away, yet come out the other side with our unchanged perspectives.

[Pulse535]

venom08 wrote:

Phycopath09 wrote:

I respect JF but I dont have respect for the people that leave out the greatest guitarists ever. Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Buck Dharma, Malmsteen, Vai, and so on. I think that this world is turning into a pop world. If we wouldnt have people like Slash keeping rock alive just barely, those guitarists would be forgotten but from this news it seems like they already are.

Yes we understand they are all amazing but come on lets try to recognize someone new for a change.

New people will be recognised when they deserve. The majority of guitarists on this list are not worth recognition. Sure, they might have given us good music, but they're far from legendary guitarists.

[Jasonbts]

ok... i can see him somewhere on the list, but FIRST?!?!?! You've gotta be kidding me... I can't even see him in the top ten...

What about John Petrucci? Dave Martone? Steve Vai? Joe Satriani? Adam Jones? Kirk Hammett? DIMEBAG???

Really people...

[Jasonbts]

And of course at the top of my list is Alex Lifeson, but it says last 30 years... and Im not sure if that means that their career started in the last 30 years

[venom08]

Pulse535 wrote:

venom08 wrote:

Phycopath09 wrote:

I respect JF but I dont have respect for the people that leave out the greatest guitarists ever. Jimmy Page, Eddie Van Halen, Slash, Buck Dharma, Malmsteen, Vai, and so on. I think that this world is turning into a pop world. If we wouldnt have people like Slash keeping rock alive just barely, those guitarists would be forgotten but from this news it seems like they already are.

Yes we understand they are all amazing but come on lets try to recognize someone new for a change.

New people will be recognised when they deserve. The majority of guitarists on this list are not worth recognition. Sure, they might have given us good music, but they're far from legendary guitarists.

No one new will ever reach "legendary" status if we keep regurgitating the same things. Maybe he should be the #1 most underrated guitarist lol. Its all a matter of opinion anyway. Everyone is different which is why this is so pointless.

[Primus2112]

Chuck Schuldiner would like a word. >

Also Jack White.

[QuernsPumpkins]

Noooo way. Frusciante is great yes and he plays with amazing feeling, but technically speaking he's far from top. Matt Bellamy should have been top, in my opinion, there are also extremely innovative guitarists such as Tom Morello, Johnny Greenwood and Billy Corgan. Taking into account the last thirty years there is also the entire shred era to take into account i.e. Malmsteem, Satriani, Vai, Petrucci, Randy Rhoads, Marty Friedman.

[THRASH-METAL]

He is pretty awsome, but i am not sure about greatest guitarists. And the dude from muse being the third best, i SERIOUSLY doubt that. I am not sure about this list.

[Bhaok]

Good player but the best of the past 30 years? Not even close.

[JDMoore]

Frusciante over Dimebag? Over Kirk Hammett? Over Randy Rhoads? Over Jerry Cantrell? Over Joe Satriani? Over Steve Vai? Over Mike Paget?

I can think of plenty of others in the past 30 years before Frusciante even enters.

[Centurion]

How Van Halen isn't on this list a complete mystery to me.

[TwistedRhoads]

.....this is about as lame as Rolling Stones list of the top 100 Guitarists

[bluesnd63]

Jack White should top the list.

[ovation08]

BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT, BULLSHIT!!!!

[lpwjbklyn]

HammettFTW wrote:

lpwjbklyn wrote:

Though it can be argued that some perspectives are more educated the bottom line is that these perspectives are conveyed in words. If you ascribe to the post-structuralist / deconstructionist camp of literary theory you'll find that words inherently cannot have any actual meaning, thus meaning that your opinion and mine are equally valid and simultaneously pointless because the words that we use to describe those viewpoints cannot have any meaning themselves.

I never ascribed to any such rubbish. My words have meaning, and so do yours, and to say that words ultimately can't have meaning is quite a controversial statement. However, this is a guitar site, not a site where we can philosophise! So I'll just leave it at that before we both get carried away, yet come out the other side with our unchanged perspectives.[/quote]

Hey man, we added some class to this collection of comments lol You say we can't philosophise but I say why not! I was just being a ball buster--I couldn't agree with you more that some opinions hold more weight than others...I just couldn't concede that point when one of those opinions that I argued against on this site was of some teenager whose hormonoes are probably driving most of his emotional arguments. I just wish some people would listen to reason and not be so narrow minded, you know?

[Grohlism]

bluesnd63 wrote:

Jack White should top the list.

I'm in biased agreement, lol.

[leeprechaun]

i could listen to one second of frusciante's playing and recognise it, but i could listen to ten minutes of all these shred guitarists people are suggesting and not tell them apart with the same kind of ease. i mean, they're great, but not guitarist of the past 30 years. unlike frusciante

[guitarsftw]

Centurion wrote:

How Van Halen isn't on this list a complete mystery to me.

I think the fact that the first Van Halen album came out more than 30 years ago made him ineligible, even though some of his best stuff was made within the past 30 years.

To all the people naming various shredders:
I agree that guys like Paul Gilbert, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, John Petrucci, etc. are EXTREMELY talented, nobody is saying that they aren't. However, their fan base is almost exclusively guitarists, which make up only a small portion of the public. And seeing as this is a poll, it makes sense that they weren't on this list. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE super-technical music, including that of shred, jazz, classical, and many other genres, but if I were to go up to a guy on the street and say "Who do you think is a better guitarist, Allan Holdsworth or John Frusciante?" the guy would almost certainly say Frusciante. Does it mean that he is objectively a better guitarist? Absolutely not. Does it mean that he is objectively a worse guitarist? Absolutely not. All it means is that Frusciante's music reached that one random guy more so than Holdsworth's. And that's all this poll is measuring, which guitarists have reached the most people over the past 30 years. So to all the people naming guitarists from niche genres like shred, metal, and that sort of thing, remember that their talent is not being disputed by them being left off the list. It's that their talent isn't reaching the same amount of people that Frusciante's playing has.

THIS WAS A PUBLIC POLL! OF COURSE MORE POPULAR MUSICIANS MAKE UP THE LIST! DON'T GET PISSY WHEN YOUR FAVORITE GUITARIST(S) DOESN'T/DON'T!

[fenderfunk14]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0E_XTSxDpDg

go froosh!

[jambododger]

Where the hell was "Dimebag" Darrell Abbot?????

[G&L18]

'Top Guitarist' is just a matter of opinion. Frusciante is definitely one of the most versatile guitarists though: He did punk/metal riffing on Mothers Milk, Funk on BSSSM, and mainly soft, melodic stuff Californication onwards. He can string together chords like no one else, not to mention he's one of the best backup singers in pop music

[oliver105]

Hahah all of you doing the whiney stuff, like BULLSHIT and NO WAY and top 30?!

You lose. Literally, you honestly do, you Fail. John Frusciante IS and Has Been voted The Top Guitarist of the last three decades. That's a fact.

As I said earlier, he has been VOTED, there is no certain criteria, because it was an OPEN POLL. - A British hosted poll to be precise, in which he actually beat Matthew Bellamy and Slash or some other British hero...

[frusciante77]

Monsen wrote:

John Frusciante is the best, he is truly amazing and definitely deserved this.

Listen to his guitar playing as much and as close as you listen to these other guitarists' you say are better, and you will understand.

Agreed. Obviously from my name you all probable thing I'm just biased but John really is verrry underrated. Not just in his playing but by the way he writes and thinks about music. His playing is incredibly deep, and there's a philosophy to some of the simpler stuff he played with RHCP. Well deserved in my opinion

[by will alone]

oliver105 wrote:

Hahah all of you doing the whiney stuff, like BULLSHIT and NO WAY and top 30?!

You lose. Literally, you honestly do, you Fail. John Frusciante IS and Has Been voted The Top Guitarist of the last three decades. That's a fact.

As I said earlier, he has been VOTED, there is no certain criteria, because it was an OPEN POLL. - A British hosted poll to be precise, in which he actually beat Matthew Bellamy and Slash or some other British hero...

please just stop with the bullshit, this is obviously based on who is the most popular/who gets the most radio play and stuff. this is not even close to being a list of the best guitarists in the last 30 years.

frusciante77 wrote:

Monsen wrote:

John Frusciante is the best, he is truly amazing and definitely deserved this.

Listen to his guitar playing as much and as close as you listen to these other guitarists' you say are better, and you will understand.

Agreed. Obviously from my name you all probable thing I'm just biased but John really is verrry underrated. Not just in his playing but by the way he writes and thinks about music. His playing is incredibly deep, and there's a philosophy to some of the simpler stuff he played with RHCP. Well deserved in my opinion

can you elaborate on what the philosophy is in simple RHCP songs, because to me they sound like a few power chords, and then stuff just based on basic scales.
And also i dont see how he can be underrated if he was just voted best guitarist in the past 30 years.
Like i said before, try listening to something that isnt played on the radio about every 5 minutes.

[Nindy]

Monsen wrote:

John Frusciante is the best, he is truly amazing and definitely deserved this.

Listen to his guitar playing as much and as close as you listen to these other guitarists' you say are better, and you will understand.

Well said. I think he deserves it, that my opinion. But with polls like this you always get one extreme to another - some people completely agreeing then others the opposite. Frusciante's work is all about feel, not flying through scales like certain other guitarists. Sometimes the simple stuff hits homes far more than something complex, ya know?

[Nindy]

Monsen wrote:

John Frusciante is the best, he is truly amazing and definitely deserved this.

Listen to his guitar playing as much and as close as you listen to these other guitarists' you say are better, and you will understand.

Well said. I think he deserves it, that my opinion. But with polls like this you always get one extreme to another - some people completely agreeing then others the opposite. Frusciante's work is all about feel, not flying through scales like certain other guitarists. Sometimes the simple stuff hits homes far more than something complex, ya know?

I dont know why Im bothering posting, Im sure someone has said pretty much exactly what Ive said.

Oh and another thing, what about the dude from Scouting for Girls? Wheres HE on this list eh???

[knifeline98]

SimplyStrings wrote:

I CALL SHENANIGANS!

LMFAO i like Frusciante a lot too, but yeah...nice South Park ref.

[jrcsgtpeppers]

by will alone wrote:

oliver105 wrote:

Hahah all of you doing the whiney stuff, like BULLSHIT and NO WAY and top 30?!

You lose. Literally, you honestly do, you Fail. John Frusciante IS and Has Been voted The Top Guitarist of the last three decades. That's a fact.

As I said earlier, he has been VOTED, there is no certain criteria, because it was an OPEN POLL. - A British hosted poll to be precise, in which he actually beat Matthew Bellamy and Slash or some other British hero...

please just stop with the bullshit, this is obviously based on who is the most popular/who gets the most radio play and stuff. this is not even close to being a list of the best guitarists in the last 30 years.

frusciante77 wrote:

Monsen wrote:

John Frusciante is the best, he is truly amazing and definitely deserved this.

Listen to his guitar playing as much and as close as you listen to these other guitarists' you say are better, and you will understand.

Agreed. Obviously from my name you all probable thing I'm just biased but John really is verrry underrated. Not just in his playing but by the way he writes and thinks about music. His playing is incredibly deep, and there's a philosophy to some of the simpler stuff he played with RHCP. Well deserved in my opinion

can you elaborate on what the philosophy is in simple RHCP songs, because to me they sound like a few power chords, and then stuff just based on basic scales.
And also i dont see how he can be underrated if he was just voted best guitarist in the past 30 years.
Like i said before, try listening to something that isnt played on the radio about every 5 minutes.

anthony isnt the best songwriter, but john frusciante....
just some power chords? I cant think of a single song with just power chords. I know ever chili peppers song ever made and john frusciante song. Listen to live at slane castle, from start to finish.
Everyone that does not think john frusciante is as good as voted should youtube live at slane castle. IMO better than vai. Thats why vai cant make it into any bands, he cant make more than one genre of music. I know my vai, hes incredibly skilled. But skill doesnt get you voted number one. He plays for the love of god the exact way as it is heard on the album.

[HammettFTW]

lpwjbklyn wrote:

HammettFTW wrote:

lpwjbklyn wrote:

Though it can be argued that some perspectives are more educated the bottom line is that these perspectives are conveyed in words. If you ascribe to the post-structuralist / deconstructionist camp of literary theory you'll find that words inherently cannot have any actual meaning, thus meaning that your opinion and mine are equally valid and simultaneously pointless because the words that we use to describe those viewpoints cannot have any meaning themselves. I never ascribed to any such rubbish. My words have meaning, and so do yours, and to say that words ultimately can't have meaning is quite a controversial statement. However, this is a guitar site, not a site where we can philosophise! So I'll just leave it at that before we both get carried away, yet come out the other side with our unchanged perspectives.

Hey man, we added some class to this collection of comments lol You say we can't philosophise but I say why not! I was just being a ball buster--I couldn't agree with you more that some opinions hold more weight than others...I just couldn't concede that point when one of those opinions that I argued against on this site was of some teenager whose hormonoes are probably driving most of his emotional arguments. I just wish some people would listen to reason and not be so narrow minded, you know?

Haha, fair enough. I can see where you're coming from though, people hold very strong viewpoints, and I can assure you that reason will not stray them very far from that opinion. That's music for you, some of us find it hard to be pragmatic round something that can often reveal our strongest emotions.

[Andy419]

Bolenball wrote:

Frusciante won the top spot of the last 30 years!? WTH is wrong with people, today!? I wouldn't put him in my top 20! Where's Dimebag, Mustaine, Hetfield, Hammett, Satriani, Vai, VanHalen, Skolnick, Ian, Wyylde, Rhodes, King, etc.??? You know, guitarists that would tear up Frusciante, Bellamy, and Morello!!

Your narrow mind is forgetting a little word called MUSICIANSHIP

[Andy419]

Pat Metheny anybody?

[jagu33]

Music is all about emotion not how fast you can play scales or "shredding". All of you metalheads on this site seem to have forgotten that, and John Frusciante plays with way more emotion than any other guitarist from the past 30 years except maybe SRV. And as far as his being "mainstream" it is because his and the Chili Peppers music is good and alot of people like it, so if you want to hate on an incredible musician and one of the most influential of our time because his music is on the radio and people besides depressed teenagers like it, then actually go learn about music before you post stupid comments about how Kerry King and Dave Mustaine aren't on the list.

[mikeiscool]

John Frusciante deserves it. Too many metal heads on UG.

[proston]

hell yes he has all the riffs and licks and skills to pay the bills without him then alot people wouldn't be playing guitar. he's like a white hendrix

[Jmoarguitar]

John's solo stuff is downright amazing. He's not always about just playing guitar solo's, even though he can really kill it when he needs to. I honestly think it's the way he uses his chords, he has such a great understanding of music and exactly what he wants.

[tharper127]

blibbity blabbity blowbity blibbity! there are a ton of comments.... DO MUSHROOMS AND LISTEN TO THE ALBUM 'THE EMPYREAN' AND YOU WILL NEVER DOUBT JF'S GREATNESS EVER AGAIN!

[Netanel Amor]

tharper127 wrote:

blibbity blabbity blowbity blibbity! there are a ton of comments.... DO MUSHROOMS AND LISTEN TO THE ALBUM 'THE EMPYREAN' AND YOU WILL NEVER DOUBT JF'S GREATNESS EVER AGAIN!

do mushrooms and listen to '' a sphere in the heart of silence'' and youl never doubt god greatness again
(god= john frusciante for the morons who needs explenation)

[maltore]

show me a guitarists who can make a guitar cry. SHOW ME! his name is frusciante. ppl i know best guitarist is stupid made up theory to make trolls. this said dont underestimate fru fru. check out his live work. incredible.

[5hawnofthedead]

A thousand times, yes. His solo stuff transcends anything he did with the Chilis. The Empyrean is my favorite album of all time, listening to it just brings forth a wave of emotions. So what if he can't play a million notes a minute like Vai or Petrucci? This isn't a poll for the fastest guitarist, or most virtuosic... I've never felt anything but appreciation as a guitarist when I hear Satch play... I get chills when I head Frusciante play.