I know what everyone says about these lists, but hey, they’re still fun to talk about. Someone on another forum graciously took the time to type this list out and add context next to some of the names (credit here: Rolling Stone's "250 Greatest Guitarists of All Time!") 250 - Andy Summers (The Police) 249 - Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes/Thunderbitch/solo) 248 - Robbie Kreiger (The Doors) 247 - Ricky Wilson (The B-52s) 246 - Paul Simon 245 - Leslie West (Mountain) 244- Edilio Paredes (from Dominican Republic, in the Bachata genre) 243 - Aaron Dessner and Bryce Dessner (from The National... + Bryce - Steve Reich, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Jonny Greenwood, and Kronos Quartet. Aaron - Taylor Swift) 242 - Lindsey Jordan (Snail Mail) 241 - Keith Urban 240 - Erin Smith (Bratmobile) 239 - Duane Eddy 238 - Doug Gillard (Guided by Voices/Cobra Verde/Death of Samantha/GEM) 237 - Jennifer Batten 236 - Greg Sage (The Wipers/solo) 235 - Laura Marling 234 - John McGeoch (Magazine/Siouxsie & The Banshees/PiL) 233 - H.E.R. 232 - David Williams (session player - Michael Jackson, Chaka Khan, Kenny Loggins) 231 - Etta Baker 230 - Gustavo Cerati (from Argentina... Soda Stereo/solo) 229 - Barbara Lynn ("You'll Lose a Good Thing") 228 - Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) 227 - Glenn Branca 226 - El Kempner (Palehound) 225 - Fred ‘Sonic’ Smith and Wayne Kramer (MC5) 224 - Marv Tarplin (Smokey Robinson and the Miracles/Smokey Robinson) 223 - Joseph Spence (from The Bahamas) 222 - Molly Tuttle 221 - James Blood Ulmer 220 - Courtney Barnett 219 - Glenn Tipton and K.K. Downing (Judas Priest) 218 - Lzzy Hale (Halestorm) 217 - Thomas McClary (Ther Commodores) 216 - Steve Hackett (Genesis/solo) 215 - Kurt Vile 214 - Keiji Haino (from Japan - Aihiyo/solo) 213 - Lucy Dacus 212 - José Feliciano 211 - Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs) 210 - Kaki King 209 - Gary Clark Jr. 208 - Amadou Bagayoko (from Mali - Amadou and Mariam) 207 - Justin Broadrick (Godflesh) 206 - Hugh McCracken (session heavyweight - Steely Dan, Roberta Flack, Paul McCartney, Paul Simon) 205 - Eric Johnson 204 - Lynn Taitt (reggae/rocksetady session pioneer - Desmond Dekker) 203 - Grant Green 202 - Vince Gill 201 - Garry ‘Diaper Man’ Shider (Parliament/Funkadelic, Bootsy's Rubber Band) 200 - Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram 199 - Bombino (from Niger) 198 - Jerry Reed 197 - Nuno Bettencourt 196 - James Taylor 195 - Greg Ginn (Black Flag) 194 - Brian Robertson and Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy) 193 - David Lindley (Jackson Browne/Linda Rondstadt/solo) 192 - Lita Ford 191 - Chalmers Edward ‘Spanky’ Alford (D'Angelo, Mary J. Blige, Total, Rapheal Saadique) 190 - Lightnin’ Hopkins 189 - Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains) 188 - Marnie Stern 187 - Marc Ribot 186 - Steve Lukather 185 - Peggy Jones ("Lady Bo") 184 - Eldon Shamblin (Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys) 183 - Roy Buchanan 182 - Earl ‘Chinna’ Smith (Bob Marley, Dennis Brown, Bunny Wailer, Sugar Minott, Jacob Miller, Black Uhuru, Mighty Diamonds, Augustus Pablo, Gregory Isaacs) 181 - Larissa Strickland (Laughing Hyenas) 180 - Mike Campbell (Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers) 179 - Ernest Ranglin (ska/rocksteady/reggae pioneer) 178 - Skip James 177 - Rodrigo y Gabriela 176 - Sadie Dupuis (Speedy Ortiz) 175 - Rory Gallagher 174 - Marty Stuart 173 - Paul McCartney 172 - Chrissie Hynde 171 - D. Boon (The Minutemen) 170 - Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music) 169 - Jessie Mae Hemphill 168 - John Cipollina (Quicksilver Messenger Service) 167 - James Williamson (Iggy & The Stooges) 166 - Johnny Winter 165 - Rokia Traoré (from Mali) 164 - Dave Davies (The Kinks) 163 - Wah Wah Watson 162 - Rosinha de Valença (from Brazil) 161 - Tim Henson (Polyphia) 160 - Kim and Kelley Deal (The Breeders) 159 - John Lennon 158 - Johnny Thunders 157 - Pat Metheny 156 - Carl Perkins 155 - Yvette Young (Covet) 154 - Bill Frisell 153 - Otis Rush 152 - Ani DiFranco 151 - Pete Cosey (Miles Davis) 150 - Marissa Paternoster (Screaming Females/Noun) 149 - Ron Asheton (The Stooges) 148 - Ike Turner 147 - Memphis Minnie 146 - Mike Bloomfield 145 - Dickey Betts 144 - Odetta 143 - Ira Kaplan (Yo La Tengo) 142 - João Gilberto 141 - Fredrik Thordendal (Meshugga) 140 - Stephen Stills 139 - Susan Tedeschi 138 - Teenie Hodges (Al Green/Hi Rhythm Section) 137 - Liz Phair 136 - Joe Perry (Aerosmith) 135 - Roger McGuinn (The Byrds) 134 - Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü/Sugar/solo) 133 - Robert Cray 132 - Nils Lofgren 131 - Dimebag Darrell (Pantera/Damage Plan) 130 - Joe Walsh 129 - Nita Strauss (Alice Cooper/Demi Lovato) 128 - Bob Stinson (The Replacements) 127 - Steve Vai 126 - Kim Thayil (Soundgarden) 125 - Viv Albertine (The Slits) 124 - Mike McCready and Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) 123 - Steve Howe (Yes, Asia) 122 - King Sunny Ade 121 - Dick Dale 120 - Warren Haynes (Gov't Mule/Allman Brothers) 119 - Donita Sparks (L7) 118 - Adrian Belew 117 - Albert Collins 116 - Ana da Silva 115 - Nels Cline 114 - Robert Quine (Richard Hell & The Voidoids/Lou Reed/Matthew Sweet) 113 - Allen Collins and Gary Rossington (Lynyrd Skynyrd) 112 - Rowland S. Howard (The Birthday Party/Crime And The City Solution/These Immortal Souls) 111 - Kelley Johnson (Girlschool) 110 - Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac, solo) 109 - Mick Ronson (David Bowie, Spiders From Mars/Ian Hunter/solo) 108 - Merle Travis 107 - Clarence White (The Byrds) 106 - Peter Buck (R.E.M.) 105 - Slash 104 - Ali Farka Touré (from Mali) 103 - Nancy Wilson (Heart) 102 - Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) 101 - John Fogerty 100 - Kerry King (Slayer) 99 - Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders) 98 - Link Wray 97 - Stephen Malkmus (Pavement/Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks) 96 - Mark Knopfler (Dire Strais/solo) 95 - Mary Timony (Helium/solo/Wild Flag/Ex Hex) 94 - Joe Satriani 93 - Leo Nocentelli (The Meters) 92 - Wata (Boris) 91 - Cat Coore (Third World) 90 - Mdou Moctar (from Niger) 89 - Lou Reed 88 - Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) 87 - Poison Ivy (The Cramps) 86 - Sonny Sharrock 85 - Larry Carlton 84 - Muddy Waters 83 - Adrian Smith and Dave Murray (Iron Maiden) 82 - Wes Montgomery 81 - Bert Jansch 80 - Derek Trucks (Tedeshi-Trucks Band/Allman Brothers) 79 - Ernie Isley (Isley Brothers) 78 - Charlie Christian 77 - Willie Nelson 76 - Joan Jett 75 - Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple/Rainbow) 74 - J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) 73 - Hubert Sumlin (Howlin' Wolf) 72 - John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra/Miles Davis) 71 - Franco Luambo (from Republic of the Cong/Zaire) 70 - Django Reinhardt 69 - Robbie Robertson (The Band) 68 - Les Paul 67 - Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine) 66 - Ry Cooder 65 - T-Bone Walker 64 - Carrie Brownstein (Sleeter-Kinney) 63 - Richard Thompson 62 - Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac) 61 - John Mayer 60 - Scotty Moore (Elvis Presley) 59 - Robert Fripp 58 - Alex Lifeson (Rush) 57 - Thurston Moore and Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth) 56 - Johnny Marr (The Smiths) 55 - Mick Taylor (The Rolling Stones) 54 - Bonnie Raitt 53 - Trey Anastasio (Phish) 52 - John Lee Hooker 51 - Tom Verlaine (Television/solo) 50 - Elmore James 49 - PJ Harvey 48 - Curtis Mayfield 47 - The Edge (U2) 46 - Frank Zappa 45 - Steve Cropper 44 - Johnny Ramone (The Ramones) 43 - Jonny Greenwood and Ed O’Brien (Radiohead) 42 - Vernon Reid (Living Color) 41 - Bo Diddley 40 - John Fahey 39 - Chet Atkins 38 - Angus Young and Malcolm Young (AC/DC) 37 - Pete Townshend (The Who) 36 - Elizabeth Cotten 35 - Eric Clapton (Bluesbreakers/Cream/Blind Faith/Derek & The Dominoes/solo/COVID-19) 34 - Jerry Garcia (Grateful Dead) 33 - Brian May (Queen) 32 - Jack White (White Stripes/solo) 31 - George Harrison 30 - Neil Young 29 - Eddie Hazel (Parliament/Funkadelic) 28 - David Gilmour (Pink Floyd) 27 - Buddy Guy 26 - St. Vincent 25 - John Frusciante 24 - James Burton (Ricky Nelson/Elvis/Emmylou Harris) 23 - James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett (Metallica) 22 - Albert King 21 - Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne) 20 - Stevie Ray Vaughan 19 - Freddy King 18 - Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine/Audioslave) 17 - Mother Maybelle Carter (Carter Family) 16 - Robert Johnson 15 - Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones) 14 - Prince 13 - Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) 12 - Jimmy Nolen (James Brown) 11 - Carlos Santana 10 - Duane Allman (Allman Brothers/Derek and The Dominoes) 9 - Joni Mitchell 8 - B.B. King 7 - Nile Rodgers (Chic/Diana Ross/Sister Sledge/David Bowie) 6 - Sister Rosetta Tharpe 5 - Jeff Beck 4 - Eddie Van Halen 3 - Jimmy Page 2 - Chuck Berry 1 - Jimi Hendrix
There's a strange treatment of metal as a whole by that list. For instance, why would you give props to Kerry King but not Jeff Hannemann? Why is Meshuggah so low on the list despite basically normalizing extended range instruments in heavy music? Also, unless I missed something, Tom Delonge is not on that list. Jokes aside, he is one of the most influential guitarists of the last 25 years.
On Slayer: It's odd because they even mention Hanneman's contributions in the blurb, so it does feel like it should have been shared credit. On Delonge: I don't believe this is even close to true. If anything, his influence would be limited to a relatively small sub-genre of rock, and even then I'd argue the actual influence is from the band as a whole and not from his guitar playing in particular.
I'm not sure if relatively small is true, if you look at which rock acts actually did some numbers in the charts in the last 25 years. That doesn't mean I want him on the list by the way. I don't care about that either way.
To be clear, I agree with this: I'm just disputing that their influence was on a relatively small sub-genre. So really I agree that Tom's guitar playing alone isn't the thing that mattered.
I get that, and I haven't heard anything to convince me otherwise. Pop-punk in general is a small subgenre of rock, one that for sure is having a bit of a resurgence, but I wouldn't equate that with the level of influence that's currently being described.
Cool to see Lindsey Buckingham on there (and much deserved). Re: Tom Delonge, as much of a blink fan as I am, I honestly don't think Tom should be on that list.
Most of my personal favorites were never going to make a Rolling Stone list, but it’s cool as hell to see Yvette Young on here.
I think “rock” that has been commercially relevant in the last few years has been (bad) pop punk and pop punk-inspired pop, and the last time rock was truly huge was, like, Green Day in 2004? So again pop punk. So yes, rock is way, way bigger than pop punk, but in the last 20, 25 years pop punk-ish rock/pop has over-performing relative to that. Or no?
Mmm, I don't know if that's entirely accurate. Certainly there's been a movement, but I don't know if that's translated into sales, or even radio play. Artists have had singles, but not consistently. And have that many artists holding that flag really broken out? I hate to bring up ATL or MGK, but besides them, who else from that scene with that sound has really taken off?
I haven't listened to Olivia Rodrigo and it's been a while since I heard Willow, but I feel like the latter has a more varied sound? Wiki mentions metal and grunge in her work too. Which, fine, you don't necessarily have to sound like a band to be influenced by them, but then they're not really flying that flag, are they?
Yeah Willow varies per project l, but I feel like her biggest song was a pop punk song. Then again I don’t pay too much attention.
I feel like we're getting off course. The main point I'm making is that calling Tom Delonge "one of the most influential guitarists in the last 25 years" is severely misrepresenting his impact. This is not a knock on his talent or taking away what influence he has, but let's be realistic about it.
I mean, the Sex Pistols were responsible for the entire punk movement in Europe, so yes? Why doesn't that make sense?
Kind of, but quite debatable, but that has very little to do with Steve Jones capability as a "guitarist". It has to do with the band as whole, Johnny Rotten's "charisma", the band's attitude and marketing (Malcolm McLaren). I will also point out that the Sex Pistols were themselves, derivative. They took a lot from the New York scene, starting with the New York Dolls and the Stooges and extending to the Ramones.
That's as may be, but they were still massively formative and influential to the UK punk scene, and that's not debatable. The question was "Why is Steve Jones on the list when Tom Delonge isn't?" And there's the answer why. I mean, if we want to say no one was influenced by Steve Jones specifically, we could do the same thing in reverse and say people were influenced by Blink the band and not Tom the guitarist. It's logic that cuts both ways.
OK. As much as I love Carrie Brownstein, and I have a serious celebrity crush on her, and love Sleater-Kinney, there is no way I see her as a "better" (no matter how you define it) guitarist that a whole bunch of people listed below her, including Ry Cooder, Les Paul, Django Reinhardt, John McLaughlin, Ritchie Blackmore, Derek Trucks, Bert Jansch, Wes Montgomery, Muddy Waters, Larry Carlton, Joe Satriani, and Mark Knopfler, just to name a few. And at #64, there is a veritable ocean of ability, influence, knowledge and accomplishment between her and Richard Thompson at #63. Just ridiculous.
The point is, Steve Jones DOESN'T belong on the list. It is the band (and Johnny Rotten) that had the influence much more than Steve Jones as a "guitarist" ever did and he was at best derivative (that's being generous). In terms of ability, he's lucky he could slam 3 chords together. He has no business being on this list in ANY position