Eddie Van Halen named "Greatest guitarist of all time" by Guitar World

[That 70s Guy]

classicrockmagazine.com

Eddie Van Halen has been named the greatest guitarist of all time by the readers of Guitar World magazine.

He polled more votes than runners-up Brian May of Queen, Alex Lifeson of Rush, Jimi Hendrix and Joe Satriani.

The top 50 below includes many of the names usually expected to appear in such a survey, but the unusual order is likely to provoke reaction from rock fans.

Guitar World says: “Overall it was a fun, engaging way to get you all talking, sharing opinions and maybe even checking out some guitarists you weren’t all that familiar with.

“Eddie Van Halen stood alone as the victor, defeating Brian May in a matchup that saw fan clubs, forums and Facebook pages getting involved to support their candidates.”

The top 50 is filtered down from a top 100. Instead of a straight popularity contest the magazine decided on a knock-out round format – so Van Halen landed the top spot after outvoting Jake E Lee in round one, Michael Schenker in round two then Slash, Randy Rhoads, Satriani and Lifeson.

The six-month poll started out with 132 names and attracted almost half a million votes on conclusion.
Guitar World’s 50 greatest guitarists of all time

50. Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
49. Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
48. Joe Bonamassa
47. Eric Johnson
46. Jason Becker
45. John Frusciante
44. Chuck Berry
43. Yngwie Malmsteen
42. Carlos Santana
41. Michael Schenker
40. Keith Richards (Rolling Stones)
39. Jeff Beck
38. Buckethead
37. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
36. Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
35. Warren Haynes (Allman Bros Band / Gov’t Mule)
34. Mark Tremonti (Creed / Alter Bridge)
33. Mark Morton (Lamb of God)
32. Django Reinhardt
31. Dickey Betts (Allman Bros Band)
30. Chet Atkins
29. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
28. Eric Clapton
27. Frank Zappa
26. Vernon Reid (Living Color)
25. George Harrison
24. Buddy Guy
23. Paul Gilbert
22. Slash
21. Angus Young (AC/DC)
20. Ritchie Blackmore
19. James Hetfield (Metallica)
18. Zakk Wylde
17. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
16. Robert Johnson
15. Duane Allman (Allman Bros Band)
14. Les Paul
15. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
12. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
11. Randy Rhoads
10. Steve Vai
9. Dimebag Darrell Abbott (Pantera / Damageplan)
8. Steve Ray Vaughan
7. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
6. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
5. Joe Satriani
4. Jimi Hendrix
3. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
2. Brian May (Queen)
1. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)

 

[Cosmic Harmony]

I actually like this list and ranking a lot more than a lot of the more typical ones we see.

 

[That 70s Guy]

I actually like this list and ranking a lot more than a lot of the more typical ones we see.

Yup

 

[LG]

I'd move Gilmour Way up the list, but I agree with Cosmic this list is okay, better than many others I've seen.

 

[Khor1255]

No way. I adore Brian May's playing and Lifeson is my personal favorite but ahead of Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Steve Howe and Django (there are probably others)?
No way. It's another derpy mtv poll.

 

[LG]

I've never been a massive Hendrix fan, or SRV fan for that matter. EC his solo material is boring, except for Slowhand which is the only album of his I own.

It's refreshing to see other names slotted above the old guitar heroes, even if Eddie is a dinosaur himself.

I don't pay any attention to MTV or VH1 and never have, but I can say this, no other album I've ever listened to in any record store had the visceral impact of Van Halen's debut when the clerk played it, just about everyone in the store immediately went over and looked at the album and about 8 of us picked up a copy right there.

Michael Schenker would also be high up on my personal list.

 

[Khor1255]

He's great and probably deserves to be really high on the list. My issue was with number 2 especially and even number three (even though Lifeson is my personal favorite). I just don't think they've brought as much to the instrument as people like Django, Hendrix, Howe, Page and even people like Chet Atkins, Segovia and Les Paul for that matter.

 

[E-Z]

Official Eddie Van Halen greatest guitarist of all time!!

14/10/12. Eddie Van Halen has just been voted by the reader's of GUITAR WORLD magazine ''The greatest guitarist of all time'' with Brian May of Queen coming 2nd.

 

[Chevelle]

Re: Official Eddie Van Halen greatest guitarist of all time!!

Very interesting, E-Z. I hope you don't mind my adding the top ten from this list so we can see who Eddie and Brian were up against.

1. Eddie Van Halen
2. Brian May
3. Alex Lifeson
4. Jimi Hendrix
5. Joe Satriani
6. Jimmy Page
7. Tony Iommi
8. Stevie Ray Vaughan
9. Dimebag Darrell Abbott
10. Steve Vai

 

[E-Z]

Re: Official Eddie Van Halen greatest guitarist of all time!!

Feel free Chevelle.

Personally Jimi (Hendrix) was and still is THE MAN as far as i'm concerned.

The 'usual suspects' i see BUT WAIT where is someone like JEFF WATERS of the trash metal band ANNIHILATOR??.

Jeff Waters is HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT HOT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.