Rock legend Jimi Hendrix has been named the wildest guitar hero of all time.
The poll, carried out by British magazine Classic Rock, hailed the foxy lady
star for his "devastating technique", saying Hendrix "redefined the term
"guitar hero".

The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards came in second place, with Stevie Ray
Vaughan and Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in third and fourth place
respectively.
Classic Rock editor Scott Rowley says, "Singers might think
that they're the real kings of rock n' roll, but our poll shows that
guitarists are far crazier, usually more talented and the real driving force behind the music"



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 2007-03-14 23:03 by reg thorpe.

Jagger would be the exception to that 'singer' comment is there ever was one.

But when the guitarist IS the singer...

How many nano-seconds did it take them to choose Hendrix??

you make my heart sing.

Very sweet...Barking Paul!

aaahhh....there ain't no life nowhere.....

Stupid poll. What was wild about SRV?

Honestly, "wild" isn't a word that springs to mind when I think of Keith. "Cool" and "God-like", of course, but not "wild".

Hendrix is a pretty good choice for this, depending on your definition of wild. That dude was pretty out there.

as Jimi would say " just jammin dats all "

I dont understand how...
Keith Richards could be a better guitarist then
SRV or Jimmy Page..
I love Keith, he has talent
but SRV and Page were waaay better guitarest of their time anyways.

[[FEAR; BUILDS WALLS.]]

gosh, and here i was thinking that don henley was a shoe-in . . .

Yes, If ever a title were merited...Jimi was the Wild Blue Angel.


I read a funny story about when Jimi debuted at the Bag O' Nails in London.
(This is from memory and might not be 100% correct, however...)

All the guitarists came to check Jimi out (EC, Townsend, etc) at the Bag O' Nails. As Jeff Beck enters the club he spots Brian Jones coming out. He asks Brian what it's like in front of stage. Brain tells him be careful as it's wet down front. Jeff asks him what he means. Brian explains it's wet from all the guitarists crying.

< dont understand how...
Keith Richards could be a better guitarist then
SRV or Jimmy Page..
I love Keith, he has talent
but SRV and Page were waaay better guitarest of their time anyways.>

What do you mean by "better guitarist"?

Better solo guitarist?
Better songwriter?
Better rhythm player?
Better at making riffs?
Better at playing riffs?
Better guitar sound?
Better style?

With Keith, it's all about the sound, timing and style. Not to forget the amazing songwriting talent that SRV and Page didn't have. Agree?

DandelionPowderman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> < dont understand how...
> Keith Richards could be a better guitarist then
> SRV or Jimmy Page..
> I love Keith, he has talent
> but SRV and Page were waaay better guitarest of
> their time anyways.>
>
> What do you mean by "better guitarist"?
>
> Better solo guitarist?
> Better songwriter?
> Better rhythm player?
> Better at making riffs?
> Better at playing riffs?
> Better guitar sound?
> Better style?
>
> With Keith, it's all about the sound, timing and
> style. Not to forget the amazing songwriting
> talent that SRV and Page didn't have. Agree?

Jimmy Page didn´t have a songwriting talent? Are you serious?
Agree? Definitely not.

umm ... far be it from me to dampen a worthy discussion but the list isn't of "best guitarists",
it's "wildest guitarists". i suppose they mean something like their image/style/behaviour, on and off stage.

This poll wasn't about who's the 'better' guitarist, but who is the 'wilder' guitarist. And yes, technically, Keith is not as good as many other guitarists out there. But there are many more factors to rate a musician.

yeah, as a guitarist friend of mine said recently: who needs "technically" if you're Keith Richards.
i recently invested in a dozen or so albums that Keith did guest spots on - all stuff i wasn't familiar with,
and playing them straight through the first time, you don't even have to check the track list
to know which numbers Keith is playing on. he's unmistakable - that sound, that timing, that Keith Richardsness -
like no other, baby - like no other can. brilliant

wild too. :E

what a joke!! keith richards and the late great brian jones did it all well before hendrix knew what wild was all about..

the wildest guitarist has to be keith and brian...?
sex drugs and rock and roll....well that all about brian.

hot stuff Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> what a joke!! keith richards and the late great
> brian jones did it all well before hendrix knew
> what wild was all about..
>
> the wildest guitarist has to be keith and
> brian...?
> sex drugs and rock and roll....well that all about
> brian.

Yep, what a joke. Hendrix was out on the road already in 1963 with Little Richard and other acts and got kicked out of several groups because he was too wild and "stole" the show. Check history before you joke the next time.

with sssoul Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> ....
> you don't even have to check the track list
> to know which numbers Keith is playing on. he's
> unmistakable - that sound, that timing, that Keith
> Richardsness -

Nicely said, and true !

Agree with sssoul and Erik re Keith.

Re Hendrix, he was one of a kind. When he was on stage, no one could take their eyes off him.

There are probably folks who think Steve Vai or Eddie Van halen are better than Keith and if so they have not a clue. Anyone can play fast. But few have the SOUL - topped with the RIFFS and SONGWRITING.

Sorry, it's Keith #1 -- followed by whomever you want.

PS-Quick, name 10 hendrix songs

...and sexiest! He gets me all hot and bothered!

>> Sorry, it's Keith #1 -- followed by whomever you want. <<

well yeah, but again it's supposed to be a list of the wildest guitarists, not the best guitarists.
if they're talking specifically about famously wild onstage personae, Hendrix indeed made quite a mark at that -
in some circles he's probably at least as famous for his flamboyant show as he is for his playing.
i read that Townsend isn't on the list at all - that seemed strange.

aslecs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> PS-Quick, name 10 hendrix songs

foxy lady
purple haze
little wing
red house
wind cries mary
castles made of sand
up from the skies
voodoo child
angel
machine gun



C

DandelionPowderman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> < dont understand how...
> Keith Richards could be a better guitarist then
> SRV or Jimmy Page..
> I love Keith, he has talent
> but SRV and Page were waaay better guitarest of
> their time anyways.>
>
> What do you mean by "better guitarist"?
>
> Better solo guitarist?
> Better songwriter?
> Better rhythm player?
> Better at making riffs?
> Better at playing riffs?
> Better guitar sound?
> Better style?
>
> With Keith, it's all about the sound, timing and
> style. Not to forget the amazing songwriting
> talent that SRV and Page didn't have. Agree?


It takes a guitar player to understand.
Keith was great, and had soul, etc.
He's likely the most ADORED guitar player, no doubt.
But when it comes down to it, he's extremely distinct and writes a great riff, at best. He's a personality worshipped by many here. He personifies coolness and never letting the rock'n'roll dream die.

To me, he's all of those things, but mainly, he's Mick's guitar player.

liddas Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> aslecs Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
>
> > PS-Quick, name 10 hendrix songs
>
> foxy lady
> purple haze
> little wing
> red house
> wind cries mary
> castles made of sand
> up from the skies
> voodoo child
> angel
> machine gun
>
>
>
> C


Yes that was quite an easy one. He should have asked "name 50".

Don't "get it", do you? The FACT is that most people on the street would at most know 5 of those. Those same people would know scores of keith's songs.

Got it now?

aslecs Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Don't "get it", do you? The FACT is that most
> people on the street would at most know 5 of
> those. Those same people would know scores of
> keith's songs.
>
> Got it now?


Most people on the street wouldn't know 5 songs by the Who or Led Zeppelin.
5 Stones songs...yes most probably would know, but what does it have to do with anything ? People interested in rock, and guitar-playing could name 50 songs by Jimi.
Why didn't you say
"Quick: Go outside, and ask your old neighbour to name 10 Hendrix songs" ?

Now that Keith seems to have recovered so well I wouldn't be surprised to hear some of the best playing of his career in the summer dates. Think we'll see and hear great moves and rhythm and a guitar player who is just right for his band. The way that Charlie and Bill have been.

There have been many nights when the Stones definitely were "the greatest rock and roll band in the world. Maybe we'll see more of those nights. Hopefully, Ronnie will be at peak performance. Daryl's a darned good bass player but he's not Wyman.

Then there's Mick, a consistently brilliant front man if ever there's been one.

No band, no musician is "great" or "wild" every night. But overall, who really can top the Stones?