Best player on each instrument, rock era?

[Bossy Monkey]

I'm going to reply with as many instruments as I can think of. Best would be for you to reply under each instrument with your suggested name in the subject line. That way everybody can compare the replies without having to read the entire thread. However, if you prefer to reply with just a humungo list of every player on every instrument, I'm sure nobody will be overly confused.

I'm pretty relaxed about the fact that nobody is going to agree with any of my suggestions; I've been on here for 3 1/2 years and nobody has yet. Still fun though.:)

[Bossy Monkey]

1. Lead guitar

[Bossy Monkey]

12. The late Allen Collins, Lynyrd Skynyrd n/t

[speedoo]

22. Jimi Hendrix.

others: Clapton, Duane Allman... there are so many, but Hendrix is my #1.

[Tikki]

37. Billy Zoom.....

...and, oh yes, East Bay Ray....




Tikki

[mitchum]

40. Mr Hendrix

[MrSlayer]

65. Jimmy Page.

Jimi Hendrix
Randy Rhodes
Edward Van Halen
Yngwie J. Malmsteen

[Skip Intro]

77. Dimebag Darrell

Sadly, his career was cut short.

The lead guitar is my favorite aspect of a band. It can be mind-blowing in any genre. But some of the best lead guitar work I've ever heard is in metal. Several lead guitarists from that genre should be on this list. But I picked Dimebag because I didn't even start getting into Pantera until after his death, and the more I hear, the more I think that guy was a genious. No filler, he went above and beyond.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

90. i love Vulgar Display of Power

one of my favorite albums of any genre.

Dimebag was definitely a genius. You pinpointed it exactly too, no filler. He knew guitar "acrobatics" just fine, but did not fuck around with trying to "impress" wth ridiculous tangents. And there is always that urgent, insistent and unmistakable groove. I was saddened by his death, he was apparently a really humble and nice man.

[hellbound-liberal]

91. Rory Gallagher!

Excellent on many different types of stringed instruments. Check this out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psbYYHqwdcA

[Magrittes Pipe]

94. Richard Lloyd

[tigereye]

97. Fred Frith

or Richard Thompson

I guess they are a little more alt/folk-rock, but very talented.

[MissMillie]

101. STEVE HOWE

not only does he have the mechanics down better than any of the others, he has a musical vision that is unparalleled. He truly speaks when he plays.

[flvegan]

105. Tom Morello (RATM, Audioslave)

[hsher]

109. Jimi

[Bossy Monkey]

2. Bass

[Bossy Monkey]

13. Chris Squire of Yes n/t

[MissMillie]

102. seconded

YES takes the cake in 3 out of 4 top categories

[speedoo]

27. John Entwhistle, The Who.

RIP, John.

[Maestro]

30. Geddy Lee of Rush -nt

[Maestro]

34. Honorable Mention

John Myung of Dream Theater

[Jade Fox]

35. James Jamerson.....

Motown's legendary bass player. Also, Louis Johnson of the Brothers Johnson. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9svFc2cN5v0

[mitchum]

41. Dave Alexander

[idgiehkt]

50. I like Flea, or Les Claypool from Primus n/t

[flvegan]

106. Seconded for Flea.

[Maestro]

107. Les Claypool is in a class all by himself.

Something like "Lead Guitarists Who Happen To Play Bass" ;) The guy is a monster!

[Tikki]

52. Dee Dee Ramone.....

Dee Dee influenced lots and lots of young ones to pick up the instrument and play.



and, oh yes, Mike Watt.






Tikki

[speedoo]

54. Jack Bruce?

I have heard him criticized but he's great on Crossroads, IMO.

[speedoo]

57. Ric Grech

[speedoo]

58. Rick Danko

An amazing singer, also.

RIP Rick.

[jmowreader]

64. It all depends...

Best bassist who plays like a guitar player: Geddy Lee, Rush

Best bassist who plays like a bass player: Gene Simmons, KISS

[MrSlayer]

66. John Paul Jones

JPJ might be the best musician to play in any band at any time.

Paul McCartney
John Entwisle
Geezer Butler

[Bluzmann57]

73. Ken Gradney

Little Feat bassist for many years. Do not take lightly this musicianship they call bass.

[hellbound-liberal]

89. Victor Wooten from Bela Fleck and the Flecktones

I think all of the others quoted are fantastic but this video was awesome! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A76NvVcHYu0

[SlavesandBulldozers]

93. holy s$$t

wow. thanks for posting that.

[Magrittes Pipe]

95. Tina Weymouth

[tigereye]

98. or Sara Lee!

odd how there are few women on these lists....

[hsher]

110. James Jamerson of The Funk Bros

Provided the bass behind 4/5 (possibly more) of all Motown's hits during the Sixties and Seventies, directly inspiring everyone else on your best bassist list. Hands down, this is the king.

[Crabby Appleton]

117. Pino Palladino

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pino_Palladino

(link added)

[Bossy Monkey]

3. Keyboards

[Bossy Monkey]

14. Dennis DeYoung of Styx (ducking, running away) n/t

[idgiehkt]

51. dude from The Doors?

sorry, the name escapes me.

[Tikki]

53. By all means.....Ray Manzarek..

Tikki

[speedoo]

59. Steve Winwood.

A great vocalist also.

[Bluzmann57]

70. Billy Powell

I LIKE Skynyrd dammit! And Billy Powell is quite good.

[MissMillie]

103. Rick Wakeman (n/t)

.

[hsher]

114. Michael McDonald HANDS DOWN

[Bossy Monkey]

4. Drums

[Bossy Monkey]

5. Mickey Waller from Rod Stewart's old band

though if you tied me down I'd probably have to say it's really Keith Moon

[Drum]

11. Neil Peart, of RUSH nt

[Maestro]

31. I second that. -nt

[ElsewheresDaughter]

85. i 3rd it

[speedoo]

25. I'll throw in a vote for Keith Moon of The Who.

Saw him in a video of The Who at Monterey Pop and was very impressed.

RIP Keith.

[NMDemDist2]

36. Carl Palmer, of Emerson Lake and Palmer

one of the best drummers ever!

[itsmesgd]

42. Bonzo, John Bonham, Led Zeppelin

[mitchum]

43. Charlie Watts

[Tikki]

56. Bun E Carlos.....

Tikki

[jmowreader]

63. John Dolmayan, System of a Down

[MrSlayer]

67. John Bonham, hands down.

Nobody could hit like Bonzo. Incredible rhythm.

Neil Peart
Dave Lombardo
Ginger Baker
Steve Smith

[Bluzmann57]

71. John Bonham

Who else is there? It doesn't matter. They all pale in comparison to Bonzo.

[OzarkDem]

80. Levon Helm

Perfection

[hellbound-liberal]

92. Cozy Powell from Rainbow!

Although I agree with Neil Peart and John Bonham, I have always enjoyed listening to Cozy Powell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PckIHUVq-VQ

[Magrittes Pipe]

96. Jaki Leibzeit

[MissMillie]

104. Ginger Baker (n/t)

.

[hsher]

111. 3-way tie: Benny Benjamin, Richard Allen and Mitch Mitchell

First two gentlemen drummed as part of the Funk Bros, last gentleman did it for Jimi

[Bossy Monkey]

6. Rhythm guitar

[speedoo]

32. John Lennon.

He's gotta be in the band.

[mitchum]

45. Keith Richards

[MrSlayer]

69. Malcolm Young

Ron Wood
Izzy Stradlin
James Hetfield
John Lennon

[mitchum]

88. Good call on Malcolm Young...

he is AC/DC's secret weapon. It's not Angus' lead work that gets people's heada and shoulders moving

[hsher]

112. Dennis Coffey

Funk Bros

[Bossy Monkey]

7. Piano

[Bossy Monkey]

15. Elton John

I once ran a keyboard player poll and the general consensus appeared to be that Elton didn't make the cut since he (practically) only plays piano. Never really made sense to me, but I put on a separate piano category on here just for him.

[speedoo]

29. Billy Joel nt

[mitchum]

39. Nicky Hopkins

[hsher]

115. Donald Fagen

[Bossy Monkey]

8. Percussion

[speedoo]

28. Jai Johanny Johanson (Jaimo), Allman Brothers band nt

[itsmesgd]

38. mickey hart grateful dead

[mitchum]

44. Jack Douglas

[tigereye]

99. what, no mention of Airto?

amazing, and on many conventional rock albums....

[hsher]

113. Jack Ashford

Next time your head is nodding to a Motown song, Jack on tamborines and percussion is why. That steady tamb beat in all the Motown was this gentleman right here. Learn and know his name. I want these guys to be known!

[Bossy Monkey]

9. Synths

[Maestro]

33. Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater -nt

[mitchum]

47. Brian Eno

[jmowreader]

62. Keith Emerson

[Bossy Monkey]

10. Sax

[speedoo]

26. Clarence Clemons, E Street Band. nt

[mitchum]

46. Andy Mackay

[WritingIsMyReligion]

55. Clarence Clemmons, E-Street Band.

[Tikki]

60. Steven Berlin....

Tikki

[MiniMandaRuth]

108. And there he is with the best sax of 'em all...

The one I play. The bari. ;)

[leftofthedial]

16. Harpsichord

[leftofthedial]

17. Rick Wakeman

[mitchum]

48. Lurch

[itsmesgd]

61. Lurch kicks ass

[begin_within]

75. Did you know his grave is missing?

What I heard is that when he died, his live-in girlfriend had his body cremated, then she buried his cremains in the backyard of their house in Woodland Hills, California. Later on she moved somewhere else, and left his cremains buried where they were. Apparently now, it's not even known what house they are buried at, let alone where in the yard they are. Someone who owns a house in Woodland HIlls has Lurch buried in their backyard and they don't even know it. That's the story that I heard, anyway.

[mitchum]

86. I didn't know that

What a great weird Hollywood story

[leftofthedial]

18. Sitar

[leftofthedial]

19. George Harrison

[OzarkDem]

78. Brian Jones

Paint It Black

[Bossy Monkey]

87. Dave Mason, Traffic (on "Paper Sun") n/t

[Yavin4]

20. Cowbell

Anyone?

[Bossy Monkey]

21. Corky Laing, Mountain (on "Mississippi Queen")

Of course!:)http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/pid/5731590/a/Climbing!.htm

[ChoralScholar]

24. Gene Frenkle, hands down

Yes I know he doesn't exist.

[mitchum]

49. Jimmy Miller

[Orsino]

23. The Who...all of them.

Well, maybe there are "better" guitarists than Pete, but if you're in a hurry in the voting booth, one could do worse than to vote a straight Who ticket.

[Bluzmann57]

68. James Marshall Hendrix-lead guitar

Bar none. And I am a HUGE fan of Zep, but Hendrix was still better than Page. As an aside, if you want a GREAT Blues player, it's hard to go wrong with R&R Hall of Famer Buddy Guy. Sorry, just had to throw that in. on edit-Sorry, I messed up. Hendrix should be in the lead guitar category. I'm drinking a delicious pale ale from a local brewery and it got in the way of reading and comprehending the original post. But I get it now. :beer: :silly:

[begin_within]

72. Flute

[Bluzmann57]

74. Ah this is easy. Ian Anderson.

Jethro Tull.

[Bluzmann57]

76. An unsung guitar god

The late Tommy Bolin. This guy was ready to break out, but unfortunately, had demons within him that he could not control. Check out "Teaser" or "Private Eyes", which contains "Post Toastee", if you can find them. Or perhaps the James Gang work, "Bang". The guy was an eclectic player and is still missed, thiry years later.

[speedoo]

79. Another: Roy Buchanan.

Also died young.

[Bluzmann57]

81. YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had the great fortune to see Buchanan in a "battle of the guitar players" that a former local promoter brought to town. Buchanan, Richard Betts, and Lonnie Mack. What a helluva show. The main problem was that they put Buchanan on first and he just blew everyone away. GREAT guitar player.

[speedoo]

82. Wow, Three good ones there.

But Lonnie and Dickie can't play like Roy did.

[mitchum]

84. Who in the hell would want to follow Roy Buchanan?

Obviously, not even Mack and Betts

[mitchum]

83. Absolutely!

I really do wish that Buchanan had taken up the Rolling Stones offer to join after Mick Taylor left the group. I think that it would have been mutually beneficial. They could have continued on the oddly elegant path they had been pursuing (instead of turning into a Ron wood-assisted self parody) and they could have provided Buchanan with recognition, financial security, and much needed structure.
That scenario is my "great rockandroll What if?"

[retread]

118. Danny Gatton n/t

[begin_within]

100. Harmonica

[hsher]

116. Toots Thielemans