Not being a singer I wanted to express myself through my guitar playing. Being a lead guitar player seemed to offer the most opportunity for both self expression and attention. I took guitar lessons with two neighborhood friends and had our teacher arrange us as a band with us each taking turns playing the lead part to a song, the bass part or the rhythm. The most natural thing for us to do and what was extremely popular at the time, was instrumental surf music. Walk Don’t Run, Wipe Out, Out of Limits, Bulldog, Apache and my favorite, Pipeline, made up our first set. So naturally, my first guitar hero was the late Bob Bogle of the Ventures. George Harrison was also an early influence but the real era of the rock & roll guitar gods was the psychedelic era. Eric Clapton of Cream became my all time guitar hero and to round out my list are;
1. Eric Clapton (Cream)
2. David Gilmore (Pink Floyd)
3. Steve Howe (Yes)
4. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
5. Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
6. Justin Hayworth (Moody Blues)
7. Tom Scholz / Barry Goudreau (Boston- I don’t know which of the two played what)
8. Brian May (Queen)
9. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
10. Jerry Strull (The Tooners)
These are my favorites, not necessarily the best (except for Jerry Strull). Notice there are no Jimi Hendrixs, Eddie Van Halens or Yngwie Malmsteens. What I like in a lead guitar solo is emotion and melody. I also appreciate how well the lead guitar is incorporated into the total arrangement. Many lead guitarists’ work seems tacked onto a song, unnecessary or even extraneous rather than an integral part of the total arrangement. I like solos you can hum such as George Harrison’s wonderful solo on Something or the great lead fills on Blue Oyster Cult’s Don’t Fear The Reaper. My personal style can best be called 1960s San Fernando Valley Psychedelic, but that’s just me.
1. Eric Clapton (Cream)
2. David Gilmore (Pink Floyd)
3. Steve Howe (Yes)
4. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
5. Martin Barre (Jethro Tull)
6. Justin Hayworth (Moody Blues)
7. Tom Scholz / Barry Goudreau (Boston- I don’t know which of the two played what)
8. Brian May (Queen)
9. John Fogerty (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
10. Jerry Strull (The Tooners)
These are my favorites, not necessarily the best (except for Jerry Strull). Notice there are no Jimi Hendrixs, Eddie Van Halens or Yngwie Malmsteens. What I like in a lead guitar solo is emotion and melody. I also appreciate how well the lead guitar is incorporated into the total arrangement. Many lead guitarists’ work seems tacked onto a song, unnecessary or even extraneous rather than an integral part of the total arrangement. I like solos you can hum such as George Harrison’s wonderful solo on Something or the great lead fills on Blue Oyster Cult’s Don’t Fear The Reaper. My personal style can best be called 1960s San Fernando Valley Psychedelic, but that’s just me.
You're very kind to put me on that list! I really appreciate the appreciation!
ReplyDeleteSo here would be MY Top Ten List of most original, influential and most enjoyable to listen to guitar soloists .............in no particular order:
1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Ry Cooder
4. Jimmy Page
5. Paul McCartney ( Hey.....he played one of my favorite all-time solos on "Taxman"....had to include him!)
6.Albert King
7. Larry Carlton
8. Leslie West
9. B.B. King
10. Steve Howe
I initially included Stevie Ray Vaughan, but I really listened to Albert King for the first time the other day. Stevie was a great, great player....but, to me, he's primarily channeling a hybrid of Albert King and Jimi Hendrix. I'll credit the originals instead.
It was painful not to include Albert Lee, Tom Verlaine, George Harrison, Pete Townshend, Wes Montgomery, Neil Young, Stephen Stills, Andrew Gold, David Lindley, Mike Bloomfield, Brian May, Stevie Ray Vaughan....and every guitarist that's ever played with Steely Dan......and all the Nashville Cats (they know who they are!)
Jerry Strull(Tooners)