If I wasn't in the middle of a 2+ hour drive or it was one of the "best of" days (where they replay the best bits - usually when one person it out) I would have called a local morning show with a strong disagreement with what they said.
They were talking about the albums that ruined classic rock and they got on the topic of one guitar player (I forgot who they were talking about). The younger members commented on someone and the lead person (older) shot back that this person is no Jimmy Page and then go on to say that Jimmy Page is the greatest guitarist of all times. I had to strongly disagree.
I don't want to hear people trashing me thinking that I think he sucks, he has no talent, etc. Jimmy Page is a PHENOMINAL guitar player. I'll even agree he's up there - one of the best and Led Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands (so I don't want to hear people saying I think they are bad).
I just don't think he is the best guitar player. Here are some others I think are as good, or even better, than he is.
Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme). This guy is up there. While Extreme never achieved the fame and success Led Zeppelin did Nuno is, IMO, one of the best guitar players I've ever heard (on par with Page - maybe slightly above). When you hear the solo from "Do You Wanna Play" played live it's just incredible how he does that.
Barry Goudreau (Boston). While his skills with the guitar are not as high as Page his inventiveness with the instrument, even teaming up with other band members to invent new pedals / effects for the guitar. He had a lot of creativity and was able to make the guitar more than it was before.
Terry Kath (Chicago). His life was cut short and people remember him more for his addictive baritone voice, he was also a great guitar player. Terry played the guitar like any of us breathe and he is also credited for being one of the (if not the) first people to "shred" (a.k.a. shredder) their guitar. (Yes, the Scoripions are technically credited with this but Terry was doing it 4 years before they did).
Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominoes, Cream, solo) - do I need to continue?
Who do I think is the best?
Brian May (from Queen and other projects). He had it all, inventiveness, the dexterity to control the instrument, the stamina to remain as a very strong guitar player for over 30 years, and, the best part - he made his own guitar (with his father). The "Red Special" (as it was called by other band members) is a one of a kind with a unique sound, rumor also has it that Brian usually didn't use a guitar pick - he used a coin ( I can't find any official confirmation on this - just rumors).
Brian could play a C-major scale on his guitar and make it sound like a hit.
They were talking about the albums that ruined classic rock and they got on the topic of one guitar player (I forgot who they were talking about). The younger members commented on someone and the lead person (older) shot back that this person is no Jimmy Page and then go on to say that Jimmy Page is the greatest guitarist of all times. I had to strongly disagree.
I don't want to hear people trashing me thinking that I think he sucks, he has no talent, etc. Jimmy Page is a PHENOMINAL guitar player. I'll even agree he's up there - one of the best and Led Zeppelin is one of my favorite bands (so I don't want to hear people saying I think they are bad).
I just don't think he is the best guitar player. Here are some others I think are as good, or even better, than he is.
Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme). This guy is up there. While Extreme never achieved the fame and success Led Zeppelin did Nuno is, IMO, one of the best guitar players I've ever heard (on par with Page - maybe slightly above). When you hear the solo from "Do You Wanna Play" played live it's just incredible how he does that.
Barry Goudreau (Boston). While his skills with the guitar are not as high as Page his inventiveness with the instrument, even teaming up with other band members to invent new pedals / effects for the guitar. He had a lot of creativity and was able to make the guitar more than it was before.
Terry Kath (Chicago). His life was cut short and people remember him more for his addictive baritone voice, he was also a great guitar player. Terry played the guitar like any of us breathe and he is also credited for being one of the (if not the) first people to "shred" (a.k.a. shredder) their guitar. (Yes, the Scoripions are technically credited with this but Terry was doing it 4 years before they did).
Eric Clapton (Derek and the Dominoes, Cream, solo) - do I need to continue?

Who do I think is the best?
Brian May (from Queen and other projects). He had it all, inventiveness, the dexterity to control the instrument, the stamina to remain as a very strong guitar player for over 30 years, and, the best part - he made his own guitar (with his father). The "Red Special" (as it was called by other band members) is a one of a kind with a unique sound, rumor also has it that Brian usually didn't use a guitar pick - he used a coin ( I can't find any official confirmation on this - just rumors).
Brian could play a C-major scale on his guitar and make it sound like a hit.





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