Fer dawg's sake: Chuck fekkin' Berry. Happy now, n_rb?
32
Satan_Claus
I give in. I think perhaps we're all the wrong generation. I think Chuck Berry would qualify, though he's not an artist I listen to a lot. Gene Vincent? I like Eddie Cochran, but that's about as far back in time I go. I appreciate many of the original rock and rollers for their contribution and their rebel spirit however I find it impossible to make a list of 5 favourite guitar players from the fifties era. The Cramps wouldn't qualify, having formed in 1976, The Meteors in 1980. Stray Cats likewise. Besides, much as I dig the music, I don't think any of those groups had truly great guitar players, in fact I don't think the genres, whether rock and roll or rocakabilly, actually permit+ it. Fuzz wasn't around those days, no distortion, reverb, no overdrive. No fun. Oh, and as for Hackett? Just a decent guitar player. Like I said, I yield. You've got to admit that Johnny Ramone had the +spirit, though!
33
n_rb
Fuzz wasn't around those days, no distortion, reverb, no overdrive.
Tell that to Link Wray
if you guys wanna make lists ...
34
Satan_Claus
Good on you! Now where's the remaining 4 on your list? If you guys wanna participate....
35
Satan_Claus
Btw, I hadn't accounted for the possibility that Wray invented the fuzz. I'm sure we've heard the power chord, though. Nice try.
36
zebec
Regarding Hendrix:
check out the impromptu solo intro he played to the version of Machine Gun from May '70 at the Uni of Oklahoma in Norman. It was his remarkable response to the slayings at Kent State mere days before. It is astonishing and apparently resembled the similar solo intro that he created at a gig just after MLK's assassination a couple years earlier. Simply Youtube this reference. Bootlegs that have it include: Dedication to Kent State; Is that you Norman?; Hendrix live at Norman, Oklahoma. *Show me someone who does not rate that intro as genius and I'll show them the door.
37
zebec
Hendrix, Page, Beck, Zappa, Clapton, Fripp, Allman, Schenker, Summers, May, Livgren, Barre, Howe, Lifeson, Blackmore, Belew, Bachman, Trower and lesser knowns Gary Green (Gentle Giant), Kim Mitchell (Max Webster) + Rick Tyrell (Gutsonic, Art Carcass); plus not-so-much-rockers-but-well-worth-your-time: Enver Izmailov, Don Ross, Ali Farka Toure, Paco de Lucia, Steely Dan's plethora, John McLaughlin, Daniel Kane (Chapman stick). Joe Walsh blew his bandmates out of the water on that last Eagles reunion studio CD: his solos were amongst his best ever. *Note that on his album 'East Meets East', Nigel Kennedy's electric violin solos remind one of David Gilmour---fantastic!!
P.S. whoever that excellent guitarist was touring about 15 yrs ago with Little River Band, he stole the show. I am done. The End.
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