for me. My boys just want to be Matt Bellamy, whether the grown ups like it or not the man is this generations guitar hero. This is why

Van Halen, Bert Fripp, Dave Gilmour but mainly Peter Townshend

But Michael Schenker was close.

Growing up it was always Brian May of Queen, but as I got older it shifted to some of the blues greats - Alber King, his brother BB and the like........

And he got to play with the most creative man in the 70's.

Jimi Hendrix.

Now there's only one as far as I'm concerned.

Johnson, then and now

but mostly Andy Powell. Great guitar, great sound. In the classic years he was one of the most tuneful soloists around.

Latterly it was (and probably still is) Johnny Marr.

But in the late '70s and early '80s it was this man, may he rest in peace...

I had a poster of this image on my bedroom wall for about 4 years. Back then I didn't think Led Zeppelin were human... they seemed more like gods to me. Funny how music and youth can make one think like that...

Modern guitar heroes? Hmm... for better or worse I think the era of the renowned plank spanker has passed. If I were to think of guitarists whose playing is inventive and musically impressive I would suggest the three Radiohead guitarists (their sound is often so interwoven that I wouldn't single one of them out) and Graham Coxon.

For me growing up it was always Jack White

Every note felt and sounded totally untutored so played blues the way it was meant to be played, with feeling rather than Clapton's by numbers method.

I always wanted to be able to play like James Dean Bradfield.

Never managed it though.

For me it was Paul Simon, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny. By the time I was 20 it was Pat all the way. Mr Thompson has sneaked in over the last 25 years, though.

JAN AKKERMAN!

I do bang on about the Mahavishnu Orchestra a lot around here, I know - and I think that Mk 1 group (1971-73) was beyond sublime - but I don't really care for anything John McLaughlin did after the '70s.

Akkerman, on the other hand, always delivers. He's truly unique, to my mind - a genuinely 'European' player. Here's a recent clip of a 1977 track which has a beautiful mellow groove. When he starts building a solo from 3:30 - 6:20 its like JS Bach playing blues (or something). The man's a one-off...

James Taylor, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton, BB King, Chuck Berry, Richard Thompson, Duane Allman, Joe Walsh, Dave Gilmour, George Harrison, Keef, Ry Cooder, Mark Knopfler, Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Leadbelly, Buddy Miller, Carl Perkins, Big Bill Broonzy, Lindsay Buckingham, Sonny Landreth, SRV, Gary Louris, James Honeyman Scott....along with a few others from above.

All heroes of mine at some time, if not still.

Tom Verlaine

... but nowadays I'm more likely to listen to a bit of this guy:

Grant Green

Got to be this little fella. Dave Gilmour and Alex lifeson ran him close though.

Slash, Joey Santiago and Jonny Greenwood were my big ones growing up though. I'd still stick to them, actually.

Brian James
Mick Jones
and
Steve Jones

Others of Note:
Angus Young (The Human Riff Machine)
Keith Richards
John Perry (if only for the solo in 'Another Girl Another Planet')

... mentioned. To that list I'd like to add Glenn Tilbrook, James Honeyman-Scott and Andy Partridge.

I am not qualified to judge the quality of the playing, but I think Billy Duffy was very good value.

Paul Kossoff

Free: "The Stealer"

Roy Buchanan: "Five String Blues"

His rock guitar on A Tribute To Jack Johnson Still sounds fresh, explosive & exploratory even today.

I'd add Jonny Greenwood for OK Computer where he sounds like the future.

I think Elvis Costello is vastly under-rated (try This Year's Model for starters).

Plus, I fully endorse nominations for Jimi (Electric Ladyland is simply jaw-dropping) and Robert Fripp whose best work is on "Heroes" where he sounds as though he is from another planet.

...any excuse, Tigger:

I'm afraid I discovered Ollie Halsall much too late, via a re-release of Patto's "Hold Your Fire". But what a fine guitar player the guy was. I trust I'm not the only Halsall admirer amongst the Massive...

My three guitar heroes

Wilko Johnson
Roddy Frame
Tom Verlaine

But at the top of my list it must be

Richard Thompson
The so far unaccountably unmentioned Bill Nelson
The late, and extremely great Mick Green, who inspired
Wilko Johnson.

The original Rock N Roll guitarist. His playing was as groundbreaking as the young Elvis's pelvis.

Wilko Johnson

Keith Levene

John McGeogh

Mattias Bärjed

Peter Buck

Bill Carter (Screaming Blue Messiahs)

Mick Jones

Angelo Bruschini

Brian James

Johnny Marr

I've seen Bert Jansch a few times, up close, and he's a beautiful guitarist.

Paul Brady can play anything - an extraordinary musician

Now this is plank spanking, as gaelige

Steve. Vai.

Here he is mid 80's, having done a stint transcribing some of Frank Zappa's tricksiest stuff. This is just irresistible. I thought he was just the single coolest guy on the planet. I still think he is.

unbelievable guitar work in Wilco. For a jazz guy he sure can play some great pop/rock/country guitar. Great chops, melodic ideas and use of effects/textures. Definately one to listen out for!

Very tricky to categorize, but always inventive. Try playing along to this, especially at 1:30

I always loved the ragged, abrasive guitar sound of Hüsker Dü. Step forward Mr Bob Mould (pronounced 'Moold', not 'Mold', of course). I trust I'm not alone amongst the Massive in digging the Hüskers...

Goodness me, I feel like putting on "New Day Rising" right now....

Antonio Forcione. Very tasty.

Well I was in the 80s when I started playing, so Weller and Townshend, Steve Marriot, Steve Cropper. Also Strummer/Jones (Joe not so much for the playing itself, but the way he looked when he played!). And then Nile Rodgers and Wilko Johnson (I still play rhythm with my fingers in tribute).

Also a little known band called The Moment, a mid 80s Mod band. Their singer/songwriter/guitarist Adrian Holder was a massive influence on my guitar playing.

Sorry, I meant John Squire. Also Steve Cropper and Jim Mullen/Wes Montgomery.

Also......

Wilco Johnson
Tom Morello
Dan Auerbach

I could be wrong here, but I don't think one female artist has yet been mentioned on this thread.
So I'll pick one: the prodigiously talented but doomed Emily Remler, possessor of extraordinary jazz chops.

Basically, if you rate Wes Montgomery, you'll rate Emily. If you want to give one of her albums a go, try "East to Wes".

... Nick (son of Roy) Harper

... who I had the good fortune to see play a few years ago in a pub in Crouch End. Amazing guitarist.

Have this then..(skip the first minute)

I loved all of the above, particularly Peter Green, Rory Gallagher, Lowell George, Dave Gilmore, Jimi Hendrix, Ritchie Blackmore.

But I had particular affection for the Blue Sky label heros - Johnny Winter, Rick Derringer, Ronnie Montrose and Floyd Radford.

Here are Johnny and Floyd showing the Stones how to do it.....

And Ronnie with Edgar Winter (indie lovers beware. Contains scatting - the fun starts at 4.23)

Finally the mighty "Rock n Roll Hoochie Coo", a perfect rock n roll number by Rick D

Hell yeah...

Check his shred work on this stellar line-up's take on "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". It is amazing.

And the epitome of axeman-hero flash backed up by super-nova talent

Think it was Black Type who posted this originally on a thread a while back.

Mesmerising!!

J Rotten memorably dismissed Television (Tom Verlaine, above) as sounding like the the Grateful Dead. So how about Jerry Garcia. At his best Lucid and sublime - which is surprising really. Re the Nic Jones John Martyn Davey Graham strand lets also doff a capo to Michael Chapman's amazing flying fingers

...and my, what a fuss! Quite right so. He's definitely without doubt one of my all time heroes generally, let alone his guitar playing. Idiotbear has got it all right in my humble. count jim moriarty, I am afraid you are wrong. Incompetence is almost the exact opposite of James Dean Bradfield's playing. I've seen about a million bands but only a handful of guitarists that are any good (opinion, I know, don't get me started on what does and doesn't make a good guitarist. It's complicated, and soooo subjective). James Dean Bradfield can not only rock like a banshee, but can tap into so many other styles - his solo record for example is full of subtle, gentle even, playing. The Manics' "Lifeblood" again is a wholly lovely textured affair (he was criticised for that, I like it) and then the follow up to that ("Send Away The Tigers") was a pretty straighforward rock album but immensly listenable. I play the guitar and am fairly competent, but when you pick apart WHAT HE'S ACTUALLY PLAYING, only then can you appreciate that some serious thought has gone into it. Bashing out loud chords is one thing but all those little nuances, all those fills and rhythm parts that fill the sound, are where the craft is. Incompetent my arse.

And he can sing while he's doing it! Now THAT'S hard.

In no particular order, (but Brian is possible first for a reason)

Brian May
James Dean Bradfield
Johnny Marr
Bernard Butler
Slash
Richard Oakes (yes, Richard Oakes from Suede, replacement of above)
Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
John Squire
Kirk Penghilly (INXS, yes, King of Jangle)
Matt Bellamy
Graham Coxon
The Edge (not many mentions here for him - one of the most original players, like, ever)
Steve Rothery (Marillion)
David Gilmour
And of course, Andrew Ridgely

and my mate Neil, who is brilliant, frankly

Isn't it?

In the James Dean Bradfield debate - I don't understand how he can be accused of incompetence. He can clearly play pretty well. Whether you like it or not is another matter.

I also love Noel Gallagher because you can sing along to the guitar solos - love it when the solo matches the vocal tune and adds a couple of fills

There is only one Hank Marvin!

I would nominate virtually all of the above, but since EVH hasn't yet had a mention, here's DZ's homage:

We haven't paid tribute to any top-notch African guitarists yet, have we? A bit of an oversight, I feel. So I'll nominate three...

1. Barthelemy Attisso (in the front row, with the glasses). Lovely player from Senegal's all-conquering Orchestra Baobab. Go for the "Pirates' Choice" album, or "Specialist in All Styles"

2. Djelimady Tounkara. Played with Mali's legendary Rail Band, and has since produced some wonderful solo aöbums. Try the irresistable "Sigui"

3. John Chibadura (1957-1999). Zimbabwean guitarist once championed by Andy Kershaw. An exhilarating performer. His old compilations are worth seeking out.

Take away his effects pedals and he might just about be average.

Do you think he might be compensating for something?

Why is it that guitar polls never mention him? To many if not most pro guitarists his style represents the ultimate combination of technique, expression (you know, the 'feel' thing), invention and mental agility. His is a unique style that has pushed guitar playing forward quietly in the background via the legions of guitarists trying to imitate him. Even John McLaughlin is reported to have said to him 'I'd copy you, but I can't work out what you're doing!'. It's not just a technique thing but, mystifyingly, only guitarists seem to listen to him.

then there was woodstock and it was jimi hendrix and alvin lee
live at leeds /woodstock = pete townshend

Karol Van Rumpoy - legendary Belgian axe shredder in the early 70s!! Page and Jeff Beck used to name-check him all the time. I am so bummed.

How about Davey Knowles - he has more blues-soul than Joe Bonamassa and knows his way round the fretboard very very well. Check him out

I never 'got' George Clinton's Funkdelic-Parliament glam space-funk but I chased up Maggot Brain after reading about Eddie Hazel's solo. Clinton's instruction to Hazel was to play it like his mother just died. i think it's just incredible. He's a one-song guitar hero to me.

But this is a great thread and I've loved reading it. OOh - Derek Trucks is another 'new' guitar hero. Mega impressive side-kicking on a recent Clapton tour. As well as the 'awesome solo' there's some funny comments on this youtube thread about old versus new. But I give the debate to the one that ends 'fuck off!'

I never tire of watching Stevie Ray Vaughan. He mastered that thing. He had the mad pirate cowboy thing and the best faces while playing. Throw in the behind the back trick and a few tasty originals plus a jaw dropping take on Little Wing and you have your guitar hero.

Buck Dharma. As a teen I was also deeply impressed with Brian Robertson (until he left Thin Lizzy).

Subsequently I've favoured many of those mentioned above plus
Eric Johnson
Pat Travers
Tommy Bolin
Geoff Whitehead
Joe Satriani
Gary Moore

Not everything they have done stands up but there's plenty to enjoy.

Enduring fave over the last few years, Warren Haynes of The Allman Brothers Band, Gov't Mule and Grateful Dead (below)

It's strange. There have now been 139 posts on this thread, with hundreds of guitarists praised. Yet there has only been one brief mention of the lead guitarist of the Massive's favourite band, the HJH.

I'm sure there must be plenty of love for George Harrison on this board, but perhaps we all rate him higher as a songwriter than as a guitarist?

This is how to play guitar....forget the noodling and effects peddles smash the shit out of your guitar and rock!

Mick Jones - (Clash - Jail Guitar Doors)

Wayne Kramer and Fred "Sonic" Smith - (MC5 - Lookin' At You)

Ed Kuepper (The Saints - Demolition Girl)

Poison Ivy & Brian Gregory (The Cramps - Drug Train)

Link Wray (The Rumble)