Punk Rock’s 10 Mightiest Guitar Gods

The history of electric guitar is full of antiheroes, starting with Pat Hare and Link Wray, but that archetype really came to the fore when punk rock plunged its greasy fingers into rock and roll’s supper. Punk thrived on six-stringed upstarts in motorcycle jackets and ripped jeans, or - in downtown Manhattan - thrift shore sports jackets and drag. Here’s a list of the 10 baddest:

01. Lou Reed

This quintessential hard-boiled New York rocker climbed out of punk’s primordial ooze back when punk was just primordial ooze. As the founder and main songwriter of the Velvet Underground, Reed made the die punk would be cast from with his acerbic attitude, daring themes plucked from the demimonde (like heroin, homosexuality, and cross-dressing), and his snarling guitar attack - a buzzing, aggressive style that used sheer noise to reinforce his hard-bitten tales. The Underground were a controversial outfit during their 1964 to ’73 reign, more spurned than accepted by the mainstream. But the foresight of Reed’s approach has sustained him through a long solo career and won the Velvets their place in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame.

Prime cut: "Sister Ray," from the Velvet Underground’s 1968 White Light/White Heat.

02. Johnny Thunders

His transition from Manhattan leather shop clerk to scuzz-rock icon occurred when David Johannsen and Sylvain Sylvain joined his band Actress in 1971, transforming the glam shambles into the New York Dolls. The Dolls were the link between the Velvet Underground and what was to come - edgy and energetic, but with all the subtlety of a plane crash. They lacked the Velvet’s intellectualism. However, their sardonic flair was fortified by a rat’s-eye view of the city’s bohemian culture. And Thunders emerged as the group’s legendary guitar foil to Johannsen, slinging his TV Yellow Les Paul Junior with a raucous authority - and a self-destructive desire for substances. Thunders died in 1991 in New Orleans at age 38, with both drugs and foul play suspected of playing a role.

Prime cut: "Personality Crisis" from New York Doll’s 1973 New York Dolls.

03. Lenny Kaye

This Queens Strat-slinger is a rock historian who also made history as punk high priestess Patti Smith’s guitar foil since 1971, when they began performing poetry and music together. He went on to play lead guitar on the Patti Smith Group’s classic albums, combining pure amped-up snarl with exploratory playing in the tradition of the MC5. He’s also a ’60s-music connoisseur. He has authored Grammy winning liner notes and also curated the first Nuggets compilation in 1972. Nuggets: Original Artyfacts from the First Psychedelic Era later became the Rosetta Stone of the early ’80s garage rock revival. As a producer, he’s worked with Soul Asylum, Suzanne Vega, and others.

Prime cut: "Radio Ethiopia" from the Patti Smith Group’s 1976 Radio Ethiopia.

04. Johnny Ramone

Queens street kid John William Cummings grew up to be the architect of the classic punk rock guitar sound: all chords, no leads, no bull. All it took was $54 for a used Mosrite, then considerably more for a Marshall, and meeting fellow early rock and roll hound Jeffrey Hyman, who would become Joey Ramone in this band of faux brothers. From then on, it was history. After two years of struggling to get a toe-hole in U.S. clubs, the Ramones made a brief tour of England in 1976 and a series of new British bands, including the Sex Pistols and the Clash, sprang up in their wake. Although their influence was indelible, the Ramones never received the fame that was their due. Johnny hung up his guitar after Joey’s death in 2001. Three years later he died after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer.

Prime cut: "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker," from 1977’s Rocket To Russia.

05. Steve Jones

Today Jones is a DJ and only occasionally a guitarist, and looks more like a friendly pub keeper than Johnny Rotten’s bandmate. But back in 1977 Jones was the musical core of the Sex Pistols, a classic rock guitarist who was the sole member of the group who could competently play. And with a Les Paul hanging just above his knees, Jones helped detonate the cultural bomb the Ramones had merely assembled with the snotty, crass, elegantly rude Never Mind The Bullocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols. His mad-dog Marshall/Gibson sound backing Rotten’s nasal whine in "Anarchy in the U.K." truly changed the landscape of the musical world.

Prime cut: "God Save The Queen" from the Sex Pistols’ 1977 Never Mind The Bullocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols.

06. Mick Jones

Following that famed Ramones tour, Jones, Paul Simonon, and Joe Strummer formed the core of the Clash, the most important band of the punk revolution. Important not only for their hell-bent playing, but for their politics and their ability to evolve, quickly moving from punk’s signature three-chord grind to a more elaborate vision of the music that incorporated dub, reggae, rockabilly, African and Eastern sounds, and even the echoes of London’s dance clubs. They eventually overturned punk’s anti-corporate apple cart by becoming large enough to tour arenas. And until his dismissal from the band in 1983, Jones’ mix of brashness and focus made him the Clash’s musical heart. He’s gone on to other groups, including Big Audio Dynamite and Carbon/Silicon.

Prime cut: "I’m So Bored With The U.S.A" from the Clash’s 1977 The Clash.

07. Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd

Both have gone on to distinguished careers as guitarists and solo artists, but from 1973 until 1978 - during Television’s original run - Verlaine and Lloyd were punk’s answer to Duane Allman and Dickey Betts (or Miles Davis and John Coltrane). Their entwined style of soloing created an elaborate sonic architecture, turning their albums Marquee Moon and Adventure into breathtaking rock and roll thrill rides. Subsequent regroupings haven’t quite captured their original fire, but for sheer ensemble playing the only challenger to Television in punk’s original wave was the Patti Smith Group.

Prime cut: "Marquee Moon" from Television’s 1977 Marquee Moon.

08. Robert Quine

Nobody else played like Quine, a disciple of Lou Reed and the Velvet Underground who developed a knack for breaking the backs of melodies, shaking strings like a hyper-caffeinated B.B. King, and spewing out some of the most angular, jittery guitar lines ever laid on tape. From his debut on Richard Hell & the Voidoid’s classic first album to his later work with Tom Waits, Brian Eno, Marianne Faithfull, Lloyd Cole, Matthew Sweet, and eventually his hero Reed, the seemingly unflappable, Ray Ban-ed Quine pursued his singular vision. It was a shock to his fans - but not necessarily to his friends, who knew he was depressed following the death of his wife - when Quine committed suicide in 2004.

Prime cut: "Blank Generation" from Richard Hell & the Voidoids’ 1977 Blank Generation.

09. Ricky Wilson

The original guitarist of the B-52’s exemplified punk’s anything goes attitude. With no musical training Wilson developed his own tuning, using only four or five strings - tuned in fifths - on his old Mosrite as he taught himself to play. And so his style, based on heavy, muted strokes, sonic bombs, and other colorful effects largely accomplished by his eccentric picking, was unique almost by default. It also allowed Wilson to cover the low end of the bass-less outfit from Athens, Georgia. Although the B-52’s debut album is a classic from the era when punk rock began its transition to new wave pop, Wilson did not live to see the group’s peak of popularity. He died in 1985, one of rock and roll’s first acknowledged victims of AIDS.

Prime cut: "Rock Lobster" from the B-52’s 1979 The B-52’s.

10. Billy Zoom

"I want a huge open tone that sounds as live and reckless as possible," says the X guitar slinger, whose pompadour, sparkle-finished Gretsch guitars, and broad smile are as much his trademark as his grinding, powerful chordal attack. Zoom’s style traces back to Steve Jones and Johnny Ramone, and much further to Link Wray, Eddie Cochran, and Western swing. But the zeal he has for whacking out open-stringed barre chords with deadly speed, accuracy, and unflappable cool is entirely his own.

Prime cut: "The Hungry Wolf" from X’s 1982 Under The Big Black Sun.

Read the entire Ted Drozdowski's article at Gibson.com.

Comments

[The_Seventh_Sin]

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

[ValoRhoads]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

Eh...
Journalistic license I guess. Oh well, it's already in print, F it

[getts182]

I was right. Another Gibson article.

[Killer_bacon]

no greg ginn? i'm sorry this article is terrible

[Primus12]

Aren't they forgetting eric melvin and el hefe ?

[Jett Diamond]

No, they're not forgetting Melvin or El Hefe. Every guitarist on that list is far more innovative, influential, and competent than NOFX.
That's one of the few articles I've read and agreed with, and while perhaps "guitar god" isn't the right verbiage, they at least get the point across that punk has some amazing, and underrated, players.

[TheReverend724]

what about dave "brownsound" baksh from sum 41?

[*powerslave*]

TheReverend724 wrote:

what about dave "brownsound" baksh from sum 41?

Well from what I gather, this article is focusing on older punk bands.

[Sean-Man]

TheReverend724 wrote:

what about dave "brownsound" baksh from sum 41?

the article is observing the earlyer punk rock guitarists

[boomtank]

there are too many punk guitar players that are underrated.. ever heard of the band A Wilhelm Scream? those 2 players are brilliant!

[Hdap101]

if i wasn't so lazy, i'd start a petition to stop these repeated gibson.com articles appearing here. if we want this article, then we'll go there. the lists are awful anyway. It is blatantly a man from gibson. I bet most of the guitar websites around have these put to spam if anyone contributes.

[boomtank]

oh yeah, I forgot, where the F is Joe Strummer?

[Johnny-go-go]

They should have done newer bands
Dave from Sum 41
El Hefe from NOFX (hardly "new")
Chris Flippin or Shawn Dewey from Lagwagon

[Thin-Lizzy]

Prime cut: "God Save The Queen" from the Sex Pistols’ 1977 Never Mind The Bullocks, Here’s The Sex Pistols.

Yeh, bullocks... the sex pistols were wayyy into agriculture after all.

[Johnny-go-go]

Johnny-go-go wrote:

They should have done newer bands
Dave from Sum 41
El Hefe from NOFX (hardly "new")
Chris Flippin or Shawn Dewey from Lagwagon

I can pretty much guarantee all of them are better then the people in the list

[scottishmob]

East Bay Ray? Ginn?

[shoka1234]

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums

[Eternium]

This is more like, who revolutionized punk and music with their guitar than who was an actual guitar GOD.
I mean, Johnny Ramone? He was one of the simplest, three chord type players in music history. But he did revolutionize that style which is popular in punk, mostly later in hardcore.

[K!nj!]

boomtank wrote:

oh yeah, I forgot, where the F is Joe Strummer?

+1

[IndianRockStar]

There is a disturbing lack of Easy Bay Ray and Wayne Kramer. MC5 anyone?

[elcapitan1800]

shoka1234 wrote:

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums

Wrong. Try a little diversity in your music collection.

Im 21 and like older punk. I think they are absolutely missing East Bay Ray, and I would venture to say Brett Gurewitz from Bad Religion should be on there. Although I am impressed, I think this is the first Gibson article that has people in it who played Strats

[elcapitan1800]

and Joe Strummer

[Gibson_SG_uzr55]

No Greg Ginn or any of the guys from NOFX is a shame, but I'm glad Richard Lloyd was recognized

[NorthStarRock]

where the hell is greg hetson?

[rocabillyrollup]

NO BILLY JOE :O

[latinosuperstud]

what about the guy from the dead kennedys? he could play like no ones business

[farfaraway]

Yet another list of Gibson endorsees ¬_¬

[Dead_End]

Eternium wrote:

This is more like, who revolutionized punk and music with their guitar than who was an actual guitar GOD.
I mean, Johnny Ramone? He was one of the simplest, three chord type players in music history. But he did revolutionize that style which is popular in punk, mostly later in hardcore.

+1
this is exactly what i was thinking reading thru this article *_*

[EvilDomo]

scottishmob wrote:

East Bay Ray? Ginn?

+1

[VertigoViking]

East Bay Ray and Cheetah Chrome maybe?

[Lefty7Stringer]

anyone notice something very wrong about this article?

[kgesme21]

I don't know, with the excpetions every keeps point out, this seems to be an alright list. Definitly better than the garbage Gibson usually puts out. Plus really after Lou, you could really stick anybody on the list that was "influental" at any number and it'd be alright. not great, but alright.

[Jyuuga]

Whooooow..... Mixing Punk Rock and Guitar God together in one sentence =O?!

[areyouabadfish2]

I'm pretty upset that no one mentioned Dr. Know of Bad Brains. I'm pretty sure that guy could school almost all of these "punk guitar gods".

[Fuzzle]

itchy guitar wrote:

shoka1234 wrote:

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums


you are a retard.

you earn Itchy Guitar's Retard Seal of Approval.
good job.

Itchy Guitar FTW

[budgetminded]

I bet Joe Strummer's not in it because he played a Tele.
I'm also a youngin' who prefers older punk.

[lilboisX3]

East bay ray?

actually just about everyone posting in here minus a few exceptions are ****ing retards.

sum 41 are you kidding me?

[Nothing_Indeed]

D.Boon.

[de-fexxx666]

shoka1234 wrote:
Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums

First off, "old punk" is the only punk. Punk is dead. Second, I'm 17 and old punk is almost all I listen to. Third off, those shit bands you listen to couldn't even name off a punk band if their life depended on it.

Hello? Have these people ever even heard of East Bay Ray, Dr. Know or Greg Ginn?

[travislausch]

This article lacks Ginn. Therefore, it lacks legitimacy.

[budgetminded]

Nothing_Indeed wrote:

D.Boon.

TRUTH

[Jett Diamond]

Fact: Sum 41, Green Day, etc. are not "new punk" and therefore have nothing to do with punk rock guitarists. They take influence from punk, but that's about it.

Second off, fine, they missed Greg Ginn, but aside from Johnny Ramone, all the guitarists on that list are brilliant. I'm fairly sure Johnny Ramone is there to keep people who have no understanding of guitar from bitching.

Over all, it's a fairly good list (no list is gonna be perfect, as not everyone will ever be happy, but they hit some good essentials who are too often over looked by snobby hardcore punk kids who don't know their history), even if you're pissed about Dr. Know or Greg Ginn or East Bay Ray being excluded, which I feel can be justified anyways, as they are all hardcore guitarists rather than traditional punk guitarists.

[The Frayed Ends]

I am deeply saddened by the lack of East Bay Ray.

[-Rock-N'-Roll-]

shoka1234 wrote:

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums

K Ive been liking sex pistols, ramones since I was 10, And Im only 15.

[Love_Buzz]

Well I'm surprised cause not everybody on the list plays Gibsons. Isn't Tom Verlaine known for playing Jags and Mustangs and such?

[Kegan]

Love_Buzz wrote:

Well I'm surprised cause not everybody on the list plays Gibsons. Isn't Tom Verlaine known for playing Jags and Mustangs and such?

He never played a Mustang during Television, Just Jaguars and the occasional Jazzmaster. (Lloyd played a 70's Stratocaster and an old telecaster.)

Johnny-go-go wrote:

Johnny-go-go wrote:

They should have done newer bands
Dave from Sum 41
El Hefe from NOFX (hardly "new")
Chris Flippin or Shawn Dewey from Lagwagon

I can pretty much guarantee all of them are better then the people in the list

and the genius behind this post^:

Listen to Marquee Moon.

[Cameronrobson]

This list sucks.

Where is Ginn, East bay Ray,

de-fexxx666 wrote:

shoka1234 wrote:
Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bumsFirst off, "old punk" is the only punk. Punk is dead. Second, I'm 17 and old punk is almost all I listen to. Third off, those shit bands you listen to couldn't even name off a punk band if their life depended on it.

Hello? Have these people ever even heard of East Bay Ray, Dr. Know or Greg Ginn?

punk's not dead.

[mrtimmerz23]

1. It's called PUNK's guitar gods so obviously it's about the best guitar players in punk. Fuck metal. Fuck country. Fuck whatever other genre you think. It's about punk.

2. "Old punk" isn't the only punk. It was some of the best punk, but most certainly not the only punk. The only change is that punk changed once it got through the 80's and 90's. Once grunge came along, punk definitely changed and now you have a lot more pop punk and hardcore punk than basic punk.

3. And as far as punk being dead, well you're pretty mistaken. The only way punk could die is if no one listened to it anymore and drew inspiration from it. Sure, it doesn't sound like Black Flag or The Ramones or The Misfits anymore, but there's still punk alive.

4. And Sum 41 does not deserve a spot on that list. I'll jump on the bandwagon and say if anyone deserves a spot on the list, it's definitely Greg Ginn. He's inspired way too many guitarists to not be on that list. Lame.

[Pizza The Hut]

Most of the people on this list are not even punk. UG has to stop taking the retard pill and actualy put up usefull articles.

[getaddicted]

ug needs some people to do some research or something

[Daydream_Goo]

Wow they didn't put Dr. Know on the list...terrible

[Kegan]

if it was a list of 70's rock musicians who would go on to influence thousands of artists, I think it's a great list. And it's always nice to see Lou Reed, Robert Quine and Verlaine/Lloyd get a mention on this sort of list, as they usually get passed up so that some half-ass guitarist like Kurt Cobain can be included.

[UNIe]

getts182 wrote:

I was right. Another Gibson article.

Same here

[ierostyle]

de-fexxx666 wrote:

shoka1234 wrote:
Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums
First off, "old punk" is the only punk. Punk is dead. Second, I'm 17 and old punk is almost all I listen to. Third off, those shit bands you listen to couldn't even name off a punk band if their life depended on it.

Hello? Have these people ever even heard of East Bay Ray, Dr. Know or Greg Ginn?

People need to grow the f**k up you know. Like this guy needs to. Punk rock is all about wanting to make a differance and about being true, I dare him to name anyone and call him more punk than Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, the politically fuled rock that green day thrash out is what punk rock is all about, he encapsulates what it is, there aren't enough people out there today doing that.
bands like Sum 41 and most of Blink 182 stuff really isn't punk pop-punk is something different.

and I agree with Gregg Ginn being on the list though for sure.

[Whit_f-ing_ROX]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

+1

[neidnarb11890]

boomtank wrote:

oh yeah, I forgot, where the F is Joe Strummer?

Joe Stummer was NOT good at guitar. He played rhythm. Mick Jones was lead, and made the list.

I'm pleased with this list, though I'd like to see East Bay Ray or D. Boon up there.

[Kegan]

ierostyle wrote:

de-fexxx666 wrote:

shoka1234 wrote:
Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums
First off, "old punk" is the only punk. Punk is dead. Second, I'm 17 and old punk is almost all I listen to. Third off, those shit bands you listen to couldn't even name off a punk band if their life depended on it.

Hello? Have these people ever even heard of East Bay Ray, Dr. Know or Greg Ginn?

People need to grow the f**k up you know. Like this guy needs to. Punk rock is all about wanting to make a differance and about being true, I dare him to name anyone and call him more punk than Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, the politically fuled rock that green day thrash out is what punk rock is all about, he encapsulates what it is, there aren't enough people out there today doing that.
bands like Sum 41 and most of Blink 182 stuff really isn't punk pop-punk is something different.

and I agree with Gregg Ginn being on the list though for sure.

actually, wanting to make a difference and being "true," is just a theme, not the whole punk genre. And if anyone's a punk musician, it's certainly not Billie Joe Armstrong, who's performed on American Idol, MTV, and one hundred other commercialized media sources, as decommercialization is one of the many themes which is consistent with most punk artists.

[rhymeswith suck]

This is pretty selective for punk.
Greg Ginn?

Checked.

[siraxlrose]

No Kurt Cobain, he was pretty much a punk rock guitarist. listen to breed if you don't think so.

[TDKshorty]

dude Lou Reed, hell yeah! Where is Joe Strummer, Mark Asham or Bernard Sumner?

[NCHammer326]

Greatest Punk Rock Guitarists (according to digitaldreamdoor.com)
1. Wayne Kramer/Fred "Sonic" Smith - (MC5)
2. Johnny Ramone - (The Ramones)
3. Rikk Agnew - (The Adolescents)
4. Richard Lloyd/Tom Verlaine - (Television)
5. D. Boon - (Minutemen)
http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_punk .html

The list is good, for what it's worth. Left out the more recent guitarists, and Joe Strummer. 7/10

[_brandon]

Since when did punk focus on guitar playing? :/

[FooCards]

I was thinking...No Kurt...but then remembered he didn't play Gibson haha

*checked*

[rebelmidget]

boomtank wrote:

there are too many punk guitar players that are underrated.. ever heard of the band A Wilhelm Scream? those 2 players are brilliant!

yes, yes they are

[White_Fly_U2]

where the **** is Joe Strummer?

[the5thhorseman]

Killer_bacon wrote:

no greg ginn? i'm sorry this article is terrible

+1

[theocao]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

+1

[the boogieman]

bleh

this list was pretty underwhelming

thanks gibson

[clawsofsteel]

TheReverend724 wrote:

what about dave "brownsound" baksh from sum 41?

because sum 41 is absolutely shitty. though blink is awesome. they can sing about anything and not sound like losers just trying to pick up girls.
blink sounded awesome and did pick up the girls.

[ExtremeMetalFTW]

Sum 41, Blink-182 and NOFX,as greatasthey mayor may not be,are unfortuantly not punk.

[Lin]

there are no guitar gods in punk

[SnowFire]

punk rock has guitar gods?

[kaptink]

No D, Boon? :o

[gopherthegreat]

To the morons saying "Where's Joe Strummer?", Mick Jones played lead.

And Greg Ginn and East Bay Ray should be on this, in my opinion. I hate these lists anyways, though.

[realhorrowshow]

nofx have got to be getting as old as some of them in the list by now!
So i vote that el hefe at least shouldve been in it.

[PDMChubby]

Dr. Know = amazing. Glad he's not on this list, I'd be pissed. That would mean Gibson did something right.

[silencesoloud]

I'm very suprised at the lack of Bad Religion. Even in the comments. Granted, they weren't all that innovative, but come on, it's Bad Religion!

[element4433]

D.Boon should have been on there, in place of Johnny Ramone. Surprisingly decent list.

[travis_holland]

EUROBOY FROM TURBONEGRO????

[Kegan]

gagehow wrote:

and just for the record, it full of gibson players because its pretty f***** hard to thrash out punk riffs on a strat. Its almost hard not to on a les paul, and i am a die hard strat fan.

hard to play a punk riff on a strat? why's that?
I would say that depends entirely on what sort of riff you're talking about. A Les Paul's sustain is great for a chuggy sort of riff, but you can get about that same chug (with quite a lot of hum) on a stratocaster, telecaster, jaguar, or jazzmaster with the right amount of gain. But then, there are some riffs written on fender guitars which just don't have the same crunch on a gibson.

And to those saying there are no guitar gods in punk. Listen to Television's "See No Evil," along with its solo, and tell me Richard Lloyd is no guitar god. Verlaine and him could play in a more interesting way than Jimmy Page or Hendrix any day of the week.

[Draken]

Where;s east bay ray or the guy from SLF.

[Set-Abominae]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

This.

[TDKshorty]

gopherthegreat wrote:

To the morons saying "Where's Joe Strummer?", Mick Jones played lead.

And Greg Ginn and East Bay Ray should be on this, in my opinion. I hate these lists anyways, though.

That doesn't make us morons, Joe Strummer is ****ing innovative, and that's what guitar gods are INNOVATIVE

[trashbeast]

gopherthegreat wrote:

To the morons saying "Where's Joe Strummer?", Mick Jones played lead.

so you have to play lead to be a guitar god? lol, noobs

[cuscus97]

missing out on Ron Asheton here people....
who INVENTED garage punk, if not the stooges?

[TheIceCreamMan]

Despite growing in to a cash-in *******, East Bay Ray is an amazing guitarist. Also, despite The Velvet Underground helping inspire many punk bands, in no way do I really count them as a punk band. Purely psychedelic IMO.

*Checked*

[rkuske10]

What about Brian Baker?

[Kartman]

It's missing some key guitarists:

1. Ron Asheton of the Stooges
2. Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi

[Verm1lion]

Tom Delong from Blink 182 imo =D

[wrenwretched]

that's hilarious that kids are like "what about sum41 and nofx"!!! they probably aren't even familiar with most, if any, bands on this list!
great list by the way, i agree with 9/10ths of it

[TDKshorty]

Kartman wrote:

It's missing some key guitarists:

1. Ron Asheton of the Stooges
2. Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi

I can see where you would say Ian MacKaye but Fugazi wasn't really all that punk

[Tyranus-3121]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

+1

[KevVin]

Punk can mean alot of things 'spose, but for proto-punk/early punk list its on the money.

A hardcore lsit would be great actually, if your listening gibson, which I know you are >.>

[brando17]

Don't know any of the people/songs listed.

They must be awesome!

[TheCrowing2113]

Jake Burns Stiff Little Fingers? Possibly one of the oldest punk bands still going (I saw them in their 30th Anniversary Tour last year) although some would say their line up has changed but they were great on that October night as they were 31 years ago.

[bootyking69]

worst list ever!

[ooopyy]

how can you say guitar god and punk in the same sentence

[werty22]

I'm very surprised. This article is actually not bad, except for the title. Although Steve Jones played through a Fender Twin Reverb, not a Marshall.

[captain_jack]

scottishmob wrote:

East Bay Ray? Ginn?

My thoughts exactly. Ray and Greg Ginn are both easily as good and unique as any of the players mentioned in that list. But it is nice to see punk being recognized as having skilled musicians too.

[smalRaptor]

People are going to complain regardless of who was on the list.

[smalRaptor]

Also, being a "Guitar god" doesn't necassarily mean you have to be able to shred, or whatever the **** is your idea of being a good guitarist, these guys were ****ing brilliant with the music they came up with.

[HorkHorkOyOy]

Uhhhh... BOB MOULD, Gregg Ginn, D. Boone, Curt Kirkwood, J. Mascis, Joey Santiago, Black Francis, Steve Turner, King Buzzo, Thurston Moore, Lee Ranaldo? They may not be old, but they're punk as hell (and not full of shit like the blink 182's and the greenday's of the world).

_TheWorst wrote:

Haha, being a Punk Guitar God is a small step up from just being good at Guitar Hero.

Also, the relationship between punk and guitar is far more complex than all that. Guitar hero is the antithesis of punk and all it still stands for, and I'd like to see any of these crap-infused nu metal shredders wring as much emotion and pure ****ing power from a six string as these "untechnical" punks do.

[Dan184]

Jake Burns or Captian Sensible!

[Dan184]

captain* damn my typing

[Take_Warning]

What about Frank Agnew form the Adolescents?

[MTVget0FFtheAIR]

woot! i'm glad to see Billy Zoom up there. representing the LA punk. there are some others i would have liked to see in there, but w/e.

[GodbowstoMath]

Hmm... Well, I guess that's a good list when you've never heard punk outside the usual (MTV/VH1 friendly) suspects. Greg Ginn, Gary Miller aka Dr. Know, East Bay Ray, D. Boon, Joe Baiza, Greg Hetson, Frank Agnew, Bob Mould, Curt Kirkwood, J. Mascis among many others were actually really innovative, tight and skilled players. That being said, these guys aren't bad, but they knew how to play instruments then learned punk, most of the true punks guitar greats did it the other way around and some of them actually ended up being pretty damn impressive. Especially when you consider that they didn't have the money to dress up the records and played on small ass stages with fans moshing into them. But, whatever... thanks GIBSON. Why can't UG at least get Fender to provide some of these lists? Balance of power man...

[the_hoople]

Would have definitely liked to have seen Dr. Know near the top of the list, or even on the list at all. Whatever, I don't think anybody ever agrees with these lists entirely. Something about to each his own and all that nonsense.

[GodbowstoMath]

TDKshorty wrote:

Kartman wrote:

It's missing some key guitarists:

1. Ron Asheton of the Stooges
2. Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi

I can see where you would say Ian MacKaye but Fugazi wasn't really all that punk

Says who? Punk isn't a sound, it's an idea and an attitude. Fugazi is punk as ****. Everything is in house still. Long Live Discourse, one of a very few punk labels to survive time, greed and corporate buyouts... oh yeah, greed.

[recliner33]

I would have added Ron Asheton and Greg Ginn to the list, they always get under appreciated even though they were in some of the most influencal bands ever.

[recliner33]

GodbowstoMath wrote:

TDKshorty wrote:

Kartman wrote:

It's missing some key guitarists:

1. Ron Asheton of the Stooges
2. Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi

I can see where you would say Ian MacKaye but Fugazi wasn't really all that punk

Says who? Punk isn't a sound, it's an idea and an attitude. Fugazi is punk as ****. Everything is in house still. Long Live Discourse, one of a very few punk labels to survive time, greed and corporate buyouts... oh yeah, greed.

Yeah but before Fugazi, Ian Mackeye was in the band minor threat which was one of the best hardcore punk bands ever. It would be like saying that Greg Ginn wasn't a punk guitarist because he released a few jazz albums even though he was in the band black flag as well.

[Kroach]

But the zeal he has for whacking out open-stringed barre chords

How do you play open-stringed barre chords =s?

[eazy-c]

shoka1234 wrote:

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares.

Possiby the least true statement ever...

[ierostyle]

Kegan wrote:

ierostyle wrote:

de-fexxx666 wrote:

shoka1234 wrote:
Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums
First off, "old punk" is the only punk. Punk is dead. Second, I'm 17 and old punk is almost all I listen to. Third off, those shit bands you listen to couldn't even name off a punk band if their life depended on it.

Hello? Have these people ever even heard of East Bay Ray, Dr. Know or Greg Ginn?

People need to grow the f**k up you know. Like this guy needs to. Punk rock is all about wanting to make a differance and about being true, I dare him to name anyone and call him more punk than Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, the politically fuled rock that green day thrash out is what punk rock is all about, he encapsulates what it is, there aren't enough people out there today doing that.
bands like Sum 41 and most of Blink 182 stuff really isn't punk pop-punk is something different.

and I agree with Gregg Ginn being on the list though for sure.




actually, wanting to make a difference and being "true," is just a theme, not the whole punk genre. And if anyone's a punk musician, it's certainly not Billie Joe Armstrong, who's performed on American Idol, MTV, and one hundred other commercialized media sources, as decommercialization is one of the many themes which is consistent with most punk artists.

oh dear you naive
You do realise that performing to these comercial audiences is a real neccesity to make a real differance, whats the point about singing about wanting to make a difference just to people who agree with you you need to make an impact he makes that impact, you dont get it do you, Green Day has played those shows for good reasons, and you know what they are reaching out to spanning generations because of this, I know older and younger people who recognise and love green day

[ierostyle]

trashbeast wrote:

gopherthegreat wrote:

To the morons saying "Where's Joe Strummer?", Mick Jones played lead.


so you have to play lead to be a guitar god? lol, noobs

You have a point why does no one have any respect for the rhythm guitarists. Rhythm doesn't mean your crap!

[DroptheBomb]

Primus12 wrote:

Aren't they forgetting eric melvin and el hefe ?

exactly wat im thinkin

BLACK FLAG FOREVER

[ElThomas]

where the hell are steve jones and tom morello?

[DroptheBomb]

Killer_bacon wrote:

no greg ginn? i'm sorry this article is terrible

exacrtly weat i was thinkin

BLACK FLAG FOREVER!


sry i accidentily quoted the wrong 1 on the above post lol

[GNR'n'A7X]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

I totally agree

[smile_man]

Umm, Steve Jones was NOT the musical core of the Sex Pistols... Wtf?

[Ironpriest]

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares.

I'm sorry, thats the worst thing i ever heard. these "older punk" bands throw the new ones out of the water. NOFX and Pennywise etc have the worst vocals, plus their lyrics reel of 'lets make an anti american song thats cool' back then (1970) the world had something to be angry about. Im 17, give me these "older punk" bands over new american trash punk anyday...

[dgme92]

White_Fly_U2 wrote:

where the **** is Joe Strummer?

plus eleventy billion

[Daburcor]

I'd put Quine higher than that...

[ledzeppelin7900]

shouldnt johnny thunders be number 1? = yes.

[replica_]

dannyisokay wrote:

replica_ wrote:

no glenn danzig?!....mmmmf**k you!! lol

you have to play the guitar to make the list.

and +1 to the already mentioned East Bay Ray. Very unique style for his time. And kinda now too.

yea i suppose ...but then danzig did write most (if not all) of misfit's music back in the day on the original line up. at least johnny ramone from the ramones...marky ramone was the drummer for the ramones and he was associated with the misfits in some way!! lol haha

[GuitaPlaya]

Primus12 wrote:

Aren't they forgetting eric melvin and el hefe ?

Uh, no, they're not.

However, the ARE missing Duane Denison (the Jesus Lizard), East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys), and Paul Leary (Butthole Surfers). I suppose that's no surprise though.

And one more thing: quit saying praising J Mascis, he's sloppy as hell, and not in a good way.

[dannyisokay]

replica_ wrote:

dannyisokay wrote:

replica_ wrote:

no glenn danzig?!....mmmmf**k you!! lol

you have to play the guitar to make the list.

and +1 to the already mentioned East Bay Ray. Very unique style for his time. And kinda now too.

yea i suppose ...but then danzig did write most (if not all) of misfit's music back in the day on the original line up. at least johnny ramone from the ramones...marky ramone was the drummer for the ramones and he was associated with the misfits in some way!! lol haha

ah, I feared you were going with the songwriting angle. He didn't actually play guitar with them, but he was the key songwriter. You win

[ChurchNSkate]

Yawn. Let's talk more about guitarists who could only play three or four power chords, and used shitty gear. Wow. Scintillating.

[dieloony2]

The guy who played guitar for dead kennedys was pretty damn good.

Cool article tho, its nice to see these guys get some recognition

[slashzsystem]

pfffft this article is bassed on old bands...
if we really were talking about punk gods.. why arnt bands like rancid in ther

[killer klown]

No doyle?!?!?!

[Randompzycho]

i have nothing but pure hate for those advocating modern "punk"'s guitarists, they don't understand the idea of punk the philosophies behind it
this article is for actual punk music not contemporary pop-punk garbage
and yeah East Bay Ray should be there

[kevinm4435]

great list, nice to see television onnit

[Krimson_Magnus]

Johnny Ramone a punk guitar god? That's hilarious.

[ratmblink123]

Billy Zoom rules.
That's all I have to say.
Good day.

[Idioteque5150]

DOYLE FROM THE MISFITS!
I don't even care for punk that much, but for God's sake Metallica's main influence was The Misfits. jeesh.

[metal Lover]

How in the hell is East Bay Ray not here? He was the first person I thought of when I read the title.

[mbbmalcolm]

Johnny-go-go wrote:

They should have done newer bands
Dave from Sum 41
El Hefe from NOFX (hardly "new")
Chris Flippin or Shawn Dewey from Lagwagon

Well first of all those guitarists weren't really very innovative or even that good compared to most of these guitarists, and second of all, those bands aren't punk, theyr'e pop punk. But then again, the B-52s are new wave and the Velvet Underground isn't really punk either.

[Metro_908]

sex pistols and romanes ive loved um for longer than i can remember!

[Kegan]

ierostyle wrote:

Kegan wrote:

ierostyle wrote:

de-fexxx666 wrote:

shoka1234 wrote:
Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums
First off, "old punk" is the only punk. Punk is dead. Second, I'm 17 and old punk is almost all I listen to. Third off, those shit bands you listen to couldn't even name off a punk band if their life depended on it.

Hello? Have these people ever even heard of East Bay Ray, Dr. Know or Greg Ginn?

People need to grow the f**k up you know. Like this guy needs to. Punk rock is all about wanting to make a differance and about being true, I dare him to name anyone and call him more punk than Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, the politically fuled rock that green day thrash out is what punk rock is all about, he encapsulates what it is, there aren't enough people out there today doing that.
bands like Sum 41 and most of Blink 182 stuff really isn't punk pop-punk is something different.

and I agree with Gregg Ginn being on the list though for sure.




actually, wanting to make a difference and being "true," is just a theme, not the whole punk genre. And if anyone's a punk musician, it's certainly not Billie Joe Armstrong, who's performed on American Idol, MTV, and one hundred other commercialized media sources, as decommercialization is one of the many themes which is consistent with most punk artists.

oh dear you naive
You do realise that performing to these comercial audiences is a real neccesity to make a real differance, whats the point about singing about wanting to make a difference just to people who agree with you you need to make an impact he makes that impact, you dont get it do you, Green Day has played those shows for good reasons, and you know what they are reaching out to spanning generations because of this, I know older and younger people who recognise and love green day

any band can 'span generations.' People like music so they listen to it; why should it matter what generation is listening?
As far as Green Day being "punk," you're passing up what punk actually is. You can like Green Day all you want, throw as many "you don't get it's" or "you're just naive's" at me as you want, and rephrase your sentences as many times as you want, but that won't change the fact that Green Day is about the opposite of what Punk Actually is, you just can't look past your own interest in the band. Feel free to see things the way you want to, but keep the personal insults to yourself.

And I do see where you're going with the "it's about making a change and reaching people" thing, but you could do that in any genre. Fuck, that's what a good 1/3 of music is all about. Musicians from Country to Rap to Metal have made songs about changing the world, but what would make that kind of band punk would be breaking a few musical rules now and then to get their artistic statements across. Green Day has yet to do that sort of thing.

[lateraluspiral]

great article actually, lou reed is my hero, also glad they mentioned television

[JRowe3388]

shoka1234 wrote:

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums

Yeah... 50 Year olds and people who actually like good music.

[Lrn2play]

punk died when the dead kennedys broke up
every band after is just pop

[korn2601]

Lin wrote:

there are no guitar gods in punk

tell me about it oh and
QUEEN!!
guitar gods are like slash , izzy, kirk hammet and so forth

[tanguyen]

How about Van Halen? Or Malmsteen? Satriani?

Lol.. every single article discussion turns into a genre argument.

[Mental Hop]

If they had included Billy Joke Armstrong I would have murdered myself.

[organic remains]

Lrn2play wrote:

punk died when the dead kennedys broke up
every band after is just pop

Check out the Jesus Lizard dude, your head will ****ing explode!

[Johny Burninate]

yeah,johnny ramone wasnt anything special,steve jones was wayyyyy better

[priestfan76]

Jett Diamond wrote:

No, they're not forgetting Melvin or El Hefe. Every guitarist on that list is far more innovative, influential, and competent than NOFX.
That's one of the few articles I've read and agreed with, and while perhaps "guitar god" isn't the right verbiage, they at least get the point across that punk has some amazing, and underrated, players.

OH yes.Johnny is SO much better than Hefe.I love the ramones, but lets see him play either the decline, green corn solo, or the Shower Days riff.Johnny was innovative sure, but not a god

[priestfan76]

Kartman wrote:

It's missing some key guitarists:

1. Ron Asheton of the Stooges
2. Ian MacKaye of Minor Threat/Fugazi

MacKaye was the singer, not the guitarist for Minor threat

[Fouxdafafa]

boomtank wrote:

oh yeah, I forgot, where the F is Joe Strummer?

+ 121897419814

Mind you, (and it's probably been said above) a Gibson article is hardly going to say how great a bloke who's trademark guitar is a Tele was.

[bmxsulli]

nothin against the ramones, but Johnny Ramone shouldnt be considered a guitar god.
im sorry but his 3 chord progressions get a little old after a while

im just surprised the guy from iggie and the stooges isnt up there. his name escapes me right now...

[Iluvpowerchords]

Wasn't Sheena is a Punk Rocker on Leave Home?

[guitar_hero543]

back when punk guitarists had talent

[scorpio2billion]

dannyisokay wrote:

replica_ wrote:

no glenn danzig?!....mmmmf**k you!! lol

you have to play the guitar to make the list.

and +1 to the already mentioned East Bay Ray. Very unique style for his time. And kinda now too.

Danzig writes every bit of his music, and is a fairly decent guitarist and great keyboardist. Reading these posts is like listening to relativity explained my 5th grade science class. Punk has nothing to do with intrumental prowess. Punk is a lifestyle, an attitude. It wasn't even a "Type" of music until it was commercialised by the media in the UK and given a set of guidelines by people who knew nothing about it. You guys should spend more time listening to the old punk and less time having opinions on it, because you have entirely missed the point.

[Lefty7Stringer]

guitar_hero543 wrote:

back when punk guitarists had talent

When was that? rofl

[wildchild6660]

1) Punk rock guitar is more about "sound" than solos
2) Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe are great guitarists but they are not as influencial so are not on the list
3) They really should have included Ron Asheton
4) Quit talkin shit about Green Day. Its immature.

[scorpio2billion]

Oh yeah- Lyle Preslar, anyone?

[Minderbinder]

They're guitar gods of punk because they can't be guitar gods any other way. It's like being the best of the worst.

[urdad]

what bout the cramps guitarist...dead kennedies? or motorhead? i think they deserve some mention

[Kegan]

Minderbinder wrote:

They're guitar gods of punk because they can't be guitar gods any other way. It's like being the best of the worst.

Tom Verlaine is an outstanding guitarist.
Check your goddamned facts.

[guitar_hero543]

wildchild6660 wrote:

1) Punk rock guitar is more about "sound" than solos
2) Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe are great guitarists but they are not as influencial so are not on the list
3) They really should have included Ron Asheton
4) Quit talkin shit about Green Day. Its immature.

um..why is it immature? whats more immature, beaking or getting pissed off at being beaked? lol.

Lefty7Stringer wrote:

guitar_hero543 wrote:

back when punk guitarists had talent

When was that? rofl

oh ya, good point, Hahah!

[pmcg35]

as a nofx fan i will say that el hefe should be on this list...melvin...not so much...but punk music, especially back then, wasnt really about solos and stuff just basic music that was angry and meaningful so who cares...i dono i m wasted

[crocoscar]

"punk rock guitar god" sounds like an oxymoron to me

[LedRoseShredder]

rocabillyrollup wrote:

NO BILLY JOE :O

I know, I cant believe it! How can they exclude someone as punk as him? (sarcasm) Billy Joe can suck a llama's dick

And no new punk rock, which doesnt make sense because there is NO new punk rock, just old punk rock. Sum 41 sucks.

[skippy_moogoose]

Too many comments to read, sorry if I repeat points already brought up.

1) The only reason Steve Jones was "the musical core" or whatever of the Pistols, is becuase Glen Matlock taught him to play, he says this himself,it was Glen who wrote most of the music,but they fired him.
2) May be a gibson article, but at least not all the players played gibson,so it was readable
3) Punk is dead, the Clash pronounced it so about 1979 I believe, and by its nature, it was a shortlived thing,as soon as it became acceptable and they all started dressing the same, Punk as a meaning died, even Johnny Rotten admits Sid Vicious pretty much killed it dead by turning it into a fashion, there's no uniqueness anymore...its dead

[mattvh93]

Theres nothing wrong with this list. Punk isnt technically difficult so the guitarists cant be rated that way and these are the most influential.
Pop punk isnt punk because punk is an idea and lifestyle not a genre of music.

[BrianApocalypse]

TheReverend724 wrote:

what about dave "brownsound" baksh from sum 41?

Baksh simply can't play, he's nothing more than a metallica fanboy.

The best guitar player on that list is Bob Quine.

Lou Reed is probably the worst there, Sterling Morrison was much better.

[Monty89]

To limit the list to only 10 guitarists is rediculous. Punk is such a wide genre that there are plenty of guitarists who werent mentioned.

even though everyone has said it, i must throw in my two cents.

They're missing
Easy Bay Ray
Greg Ginn

and I met get shit for this but Tim Armstrong, in his OpIv days.

[blackflag49]

ron asheton in destroy all monsters, amirite..

also, deniz tek.

[wildchild6660]

guitar_hero543 wrote:

wildchild6660 wrote:

1) Punk rock guitar is more about "sound" than solos
2) Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe are great guitarists but they are not as influencial so are not on the list
3) They really should have included Ron Asheton
4) Quit talkin shit about Green Day. Its immature.

um..why is it immature? whats more immature, beaking or getting pissed off at being beaked? lol.

Not pissed. Just annoyed. But point taken.

[GNR3737]

wildchild6660 wrote:

guitar_hero543 wrote:

wildchild6660 wrote:

1) Punk rock guitar is more about "sound" than solos
2) Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe are great guitarists but they are not as influencial so are not on the list
3) They really should have included Ron Asheton
4) Quit talkin shit about Green Day. Its immature.

um..why is it immature? whats more immature, beaking or getting pissed off at being beaked? lol.

Not pissed. Just annoyed. But point taken.

You Think Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe weren't influencial?!

[splinteredmind]

where is Brett Geurwitz - Bad Religion (cant spell his name), Noodles - The Offspring, whats his face from Social Distortion?

im just glad to see Tom from blink isnt up there

[f1sk]

is there such a thing

[reelbigfish432]

yeah, i think greg from zebrahead (although they arent strictly punk) is a fantastic guitarist. but i guess this article is focusing on properly influential and older bands and guitarists, fair play

[BiOhAZarD722]

The_Seventh_Sin wrote:

first.

As much as i love punk, "punk" and "guitar god" can't be used together.

agreed

[gitarzero89]

quote]TDKshorty wrote:

dude Lou Reed, hell yeah! Where is Joe Strummer, Mark Asham or Bernard Sumner? [/quote]

THANK YOU. I was afraid i would be the only one to agree with Lou Reed being at the top of this list.

And as much as I like Bernard Sumner, Joy Division was post-punk, which I know it sounds the same but it really isn't. They were more alternative than punk.

And to everyone else: I'm sorry that the guitarist for your favorite contemporary pop-punk band isn't on this list. Really, I am. But you know what? Deal with it. I'm not going to say I'm an expert on punk, but this looks like a pretty good list. Well, better than all the other Gibson lists on UG.

[lilboisX3]

siraxlrose wrote:

No Kurt Cobain, he was pretty much a punk rock guitarist. listen to breed if you don't think so.

This was the dumbest statement I have read in a while

[lilboisX3]

Green day took punk ideals and slaughtered it along with blink 182, sum 41 and countless other
"pop punk" bands. Punk is as much about the words as the music.

Checked!!!

[wildchild6660]

GNR3737 wrote:

wildchild6660 wrote:

guitar_hero543 wrote:

wildchild6660 wrote:

1) Punk rock guitar is more about "sound" than solos
2) Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe are great guitarists but they are not as influencial so are not on the list
3) They really should have included Ron Asheton
4) Quit talkin shit about Green Day. Its immature.

um..why is it immature? whats more immature, beaking or getting pissed off at being beaked? lol.

Not pissed. Just annoyed. But point taken.
You Think Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe weren't influencial?!

Well they were (and are) to me. Think of it like this. Guys like johnny Ramone influenced bands like green day in the first place.

[Goose183]

travislausch wrote:

This article lacks Ginn. Therefore, it lacks legitimacy.

+1000
Greg Ginn FTW!!

[Rock'n'Roller]

TheReverend724 wrote:

what about dave "brownsound" baksh from sum 41?

a. punk?
b. well...he's crap

checked.

[original=punk]

Jett Diamond wrote:

Fact: Sum 41, Green Day, etc. are not "new punk" and therefore have nothing to do with punk rock guitarists. They take influence from punk, but that's about it.

Second off, fine, they missed Greg Ginn, but aside from Johnny Ramone, all the guitarists on that list are brilliant. I'm fairly sure Johnny Ramone is there to keep people who have no understanding of guitar from bitching.

Over all, it's a fairly good list (no list is gonna be perfect, as not everyone will ever be happy, but they hit some good essentials who are too often over looked by snobby hardcore punk kids who don't know their history), even if you're pissed about Dr. Know or Greg Ginn or East Bay Ray being excluded, which I feel can be justified anyways, as they are all hardcore guitarists rather than traditional punk guitarists.

Truf.

But Greg Ginn is really, really, really, amazing.

[original=punk]

GNR3737 wrote:

wildchild6660 wrote:

guitar_hero543 wrote:

wildchild6660 wrote:

1) Punk rock guitar is more about "sound" than solos
2) Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe are great guitarists but they are not as influencial so are not on the list
3) They really should have included Ron Asheton
4) Quit talkin shit about Green Day. Its immature.

um..why is it immature? whats more immature, beaking or getting pissed off at being beaked? lol.

Not pissed. Just annoyed. But point taken.

You Think Billie Joe Armstrong and El Hefe weren't influencial?!

In rock music? Yes, they are.

To punk music? No.

[ierostyle]

Kegan wrote:

ierostyle wrote:

Kegan wrote:

ierostyle wrote:

de-fexxx666 wrote:

shoka1234 wrote:
Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums
First off, "old punk" is the only punk. Punk is dead. Second, I'm 17 and old punk is almost all I listen to. Third off, those shit bands you listen to couldn't even name off a punk band if their life depended on it.

Hello? Have these people ever even heard of East Bay Ray, Dr. Know or Greg Ginn?

People need to grow the f**k up you know. Like this guy needs to. Punk rock is all about wanting to make a differance and about being true, I dare him to name anyone and call him more punk than Billie Joe Armstrong of Green Day, the politically fuled rock that green day thrash out is what punk rock is all about, he encapsulates what it is, there aren't enough people out there today doing that.
bands like Sum 41 and most of Blink 182 stuff really isn't punk pop-punk is something different.

and I agree with Gregg Ginn being on the list though for sure.




actually, wanting to make a difference and being "true," is just a theme, not the whole punk genre. And if anyone's a punk musician, it's certainly not Billie Joe Armstrong, who's performed on American Idol, MTV, and one hundred other commercialized media sources, as decommercialization is one of the many themes which is consistent with most punk artists.

oh dear you naive
You do realise that performing to these comercial audiences is a real neccesity to make a real differance, whats the point about singing about wanting to make a difference just to people who agree with you you need to make an impact he makes that impact, you dont get it do you, Green Day has played those shows for good reasons, and you know what they are reaching out to spanning generations because of this, I know older and younger people who recognise and love green day


any band can 'span generations.' People like music so they listen to it; why should it matter what generation is listening?
As far as Green Day being "punk," you're passing up what punk actually is. You can like Green Day all you want, throw as many "you don't get it's" or "you're just naive's" at me as you want, and rephrase your sentences as many times as you want, but that won't change the fact that Green Day is about the opposite of what Punk Actually is, you just can't look past your own interest in the band. Feel free to see things the way you want to, but keep the personal insults to yourself.

And I do see where you're going with the "it's about making a change and reaching people" thing, but you could do that in any genre. Fuck, that's what a good 1/3 of music is all about. Musicians from Country to Rap to Metal have made songs about changing the world, but what would make that kind of band punk would be breaking a few musical rules now and then to get their artistic statements across. Green Day has yet to do that sort of thing.

You have an interesting viewpoint an opinion.
I do disagree with you but I certainly do agree that you have made some valid points in the midst of things.

As for Sum 41's guitarist what have SUM41 done in reality to be on the list?

Gregg Ginn should be in there though!

Peace

Adam

[Glam-Hammer]

the lack of Dr. Know means this is a fail.

[jaxtheaxe]

Liked the article but its Glen Matlock that deserves the credit as Musical core and was the most competant player. The fell apart once he left

[Baz1211991]

Greg ginn? no?

[piff665]

This is a pretty decent list for one of the gibson ones that they put up on UG. I do agree (like apparently alot of people) that guitarists like greg ginn, dr. know, d. boon, east bay ray, ron asheton, lee ranaldo, wayne cramer, thurston moore, and many others should be featured on a list. People forget however that this is a top ten list, not a top 20 or 25 list; therefore theyre obviously going to leave a few deserving punk guitar players out. I think that all of the players that are featured on the list deserve to be on the list.

[joecarducci]

These bands were pretty much hated save only for a small group of listeners because no one else took the risks, and artistic choices they were taking.
What's considered 'punk'nowadays doesn't have as subversive nor as artistically adventurous as what came about in the 70s (ie Sum 41, No FX, Flogging Molly, Green Day et al). 'New Punk' isn't PUNK ROCK. Punk Rock was specific to the late 70s and early 80s. These new bands are as original as Elvis impersonators. Someone said something about 'traditional' punk, this is preposterous as there was never any such thing. To call it 'traditional' would imply that all these guitarists studied some long history of a specific technique. This is not the case, what makes all these guitarists unique is that they all have their own style. And this is one very important aspect to what was known as PUNK ROCK. And this is one aspect that the new teenybopper groups like BOWLING FOR SOUP will never understand.
And yes, Greg Ginn deserves a spot on here. The writer doesn't know shit.

[dviper645]

Dude Mike Ness should definently be on here because he is a guitar god and he plays some of the greatest punk songs ever written

[fenderlover99]

i dont know why everyone has a stick up their ass about this article, punk is just no-talent noise for kids who have shit for brains

[bomb123321]

fenderlover99 wrote:

i dont know why everyone has a stick up their ass about this article, punk is just no-talent noise for kids who have shit for brains

then don't waste your valuable time reading an article about it. i'm sure you have better things to do with your amazing talents and non-shit brains, don't you?

anyway, Greg Ginn should definately be on here. good thing Thunders was near the top.

[learninclutch]

Missing Greg Ginn, Brett Gurewitz, Ian Mackay, J Mascis
Cool Article though.

[Mr_Jones]

latinosuperstud wrote:

what about the guy from the dead kennedys? he could play like no ones business

EAST BAY RAY EAST BAY RAY EAST BAY RAY EAST BAY RAY EAST BAY RAY EAST BAY RAY. He was the best "punk" guitar player of all time. just doesnt get recognition.

[WastedTele]

shoka1234 wrote:

Yea well no one likes "older Punk" unless they're over 50 years old so who cares. Eric Melvin is good and Jake Kiley of Strung Out is better than all of these bums

are you kidding!? i LOVE older punk, in fact i like all the old stuff better than anything right now, and guess what...I'm 16 man! i also don't get why Joe Strummer isn't on the list...