...who loves nothing better than to play rhythm: I have several favourites. Pete Townsend, Paul Weller, Prince, Nile Rodgers, Steve Cropper, Wilko Johnson. All of them are great guitarists full stop, but would be my recommendation to anybody wanting to study rhythm guitar.

Bruce Welch, Wilco Johnson and Mick Green. I know you could argue that some of these also play lead, but it's their rhythm that drives their bands along.

I'm going to vote for Bruce Welch.

...played rhythm guitar with Buddy Holly and The Crickets. I can't even begin to imagine how some of those records are played. The power and effortlessness they have is immense.

Rick Parfitt may well be the consummate example.
Or even Johnny Ramone?
Maybe the musos would prefer a more, erm, appreciated talent, so my shout would be Simon Nicol.

I'd second Nile Rodgers and Bruce Welch as two fine rhythm players. Did you know at the height of The Shads fame Bruce worked himself up into such a mania about having his guitar in perfect tune he eventually couldn't bear to do it? It would take him literally hours of constant adjusting before each gig. One of the others always had to do it for him.

Mick Green too, who I think shares the same mantle as ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons as one of the finest rhythm and lead players ever.

Johnny Marr - subtle, melodic and inventive

Nile Rodgers - made dancefloors heave the world over

Joni Mitchell - invented strange tunings that gave her music its own unique voice

Curtis Mayfield - guitar playing as sweet and soulful as his voice

Keith Richards - you want unforgettable riffs that you can dance to? Keef's yer man...

Bo Diddley - how many guitar players can claim to have invented a rhythm?

John Lee Hooker - dirty, horny, sexy guitar.

Jimi Hendrix - people often forget that his rhythm playing was as extraordinary as his lead.

Leo Nocentelli - The Meters' guitarist was mainlined to the fonk.

Pete Townshend - Power chords? Check. But so much more besides...

Not being difficult but when does rhythm become lead?

I assume that it's a movable boundary, based on playing chord sequences rather than single notes?

If so, my vote is for Billy Bragg. For years I never really got him - I thought he was just thrashing away and singing out of tune. After I started playing guitar, and tried to play some of his stuff, I soon changed my opinion. Deceptively simple, beautiful progressions and melodies, visceral stabs of treble - what's not to love?

Forgot, johnny Marr is an exemplary rhythmicist, I think, aided and abetted (natch) by the fact that he once said that all he was doing was playing speeded up Fairport riffs, as played by my earlier proponent, Nicol, S

Jimmy Nolen and, believe it or not Jimi Hendrix, whose exemplary rhythm playing is often overshadowed by the fact that he is also the greatest lead guitarist ever.

but Lee Mavers from The La's is an incredible rhythm guitarist. He has impeccable timing, and a real sense of how to use the space within his music - doesn't just strum away aimlessly.

Frank "Poncho" Sampedro: part of the underpraised 'Horse, backing up Mr Youngs rockier forays for years. Someone has to keep it all together, and that he does, with the solid undercurrent of stolid bass and straightforward drums. It works and it ain't broken.

Sterling Morrison was a really great rhythm player, would also have to mention the following as well:

Malcolm Young
Johnny Ramone
John Lennon
Joe Strummer
Bobby Womack
Eddie Cochran

for Roky Erikson and Syd Barrett

two men who really had a strange ,but none the less, compelling approach to rhythm

Bruce Springsteen...

Standing back to allow Nils Lofgren and Steve van Zandt to weave over the top

Anyone else brandishing a Telecaster is fine with me!

It wasn't until I saw The Who live did I realise just how good a guitarist Pete Townsend is. Lead and rhythm all in one go.

has to be one of the best.

Although, I tend to think of a rhythm guitarist as one of two - is that what you mean? Someone like Strummer backing up Mick Jones?

If you're talking lead and rhythm all in one then I'd go for Wilko Johnson and then Bill Carter from Screaming Blue Messiahs.

is the best I've ever seen. (I'd even go so far as to claim - ducking for cover - that on the occasions when he steps into the spotlight he's also a better lead player than his late bro.)

I can't say I've ever been that impressed by anyone playing rhythm, it's often essential to the song but surely any good guitarist can do it well. However, I'll vote for Bo Diddley as he was a man who made his own rhythm.