Top-30 Guitarists of the Past 30 Years

After releasing the top-30 lead singers of the past 30 years I got to thinking about the best 30 guitarists of the past 30 years. Going back through I realized I missed a few singers on my last list (guys like Shannon Hood of Blind Melon and Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips were probably my most egregious errors) and I will probably omit a few well deserving guitarists from this list as well.

Hey, I never said I was perfect. I’m doing these lists (and the blog in general) purely for shits and giggles and to try and improve my writing so please no castration if I miss a deserving guitarists or two.

A quick rant before I get to the list: Rolling Stone named John Mayer one of the best guitar players of our time. What. The. Hell. I do not doubt Mayer’s guitar chops, but if he truly is one of the best guitar players of our time why doesn’t he quit strumming those stupid acoustic ballads that make 15 year old girls weep? Why doesn’t he grow a pair, throw on some tight leather pants and start making guitar licks that people will actually remember? Or maybe he’s content just jamming with Eric Clapton and getting the finest women L.A. has to offer. (note: I would be extremely content doing this.)

ANYWHO, the same guidelines as the greatest lead singers of the past 30 years will apply here. Guitarists must be in bands or solo projects (but I did put more weight into a guitarists if he was part of a band) that have been formed after 1980. This means Prince (Yes, Prince) just misses the cut and same with The Edge from U2, but Jonny Marr just makes it (The Smiths were founded in 1981.) So without further ado, Wilbur Wired presents the top-30 guitarists of the past 30 years!

30. Lenny Kravitz

29. Daron Malakain (System of a Down)

28. Peter Buck (R.E.M.)

27. Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age)

26. Matt Bellamy (Muse)

25. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osborne)

24. Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold)

23. Dave Navarro (Janes Addiction)

22. Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam)

21. Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)

20. Trey Anastasio (Phish)

19. Warren Haynes (Gov’t Mule)

18. Larry LaLonde (Primus)

17. Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth)

16. Lee Ranaldo (Sonic Youth)

15. Buckethead

14. Johnny Marr (Modest Mouse/The Smiths)

13. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)

12. Derek Trucks (The *new* Allman Brothers Band)

11. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)

10. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)

9. Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)

8. Adam Jones (Tool)

7. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez (The Mars Volta)

6. Jack White (The White Stripes/The Raconteurs)

5. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) Cobain is obviously a legend of the “grunge” era but many young Nirvana fans don’t even realize he was the lead guitarist as well as the voice of a generation. Proof: “Smells Like Teen Spirit”

4. Kirk Hammett (Metallica) One of hard-rock’s most recognizable guitar gods, Hammett has been laying down the riffs for near 30 years now and it seems like he is only getting better with age. Proof: “Blackened”

3. Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine/Audioslave) Morello is one of the most inventive and forward thinking guitarists of his era. He uses guitar pedals to achieve kick-ass effects like no one else. Proof: “Killing in the Name of”

2. Slash (Guns ‘N Roses/Velvet Revolver) Slash has been a monster on the guitar for several decades now, debuting with Guns ‘N Roses in the late ‘80s early ‘90s, re-emerging with Velvet Revolver at the turn of the millennium and then still bringing great licks on his latest solo project. Proof: “Sweet Child of Mine”

1. John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers/Solo) The most versatile guitarists in my top-5. Simply put, the man can easily switch from fast paced face melters to simplified riff’s that accent his bands beautiful harmonies. He’s the best because he’s the most versatile and forward thinking guitarists of his time. Proof: “Readymade”

Honorable Mention: Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osborne), Albert Hammond, Jr. (The Strokes), Carl Broemel (My Morning Jacket), J. Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.), Scott Ian (Anthrax), Mike Eizenger (Incubus), Kevin Shields (My Bloody Valentine)