The 50 Greatest Guitarists of All Time
by yankofau | created - 15 Apr 2015 | updated - 20 May 2017 | PublicAs the title states, this is a list about my perspective on who are the 50 greatest men who ever picked up a guitar. As i said, this is my personal appreciation, which is based on my personal prog./alternative rock genres affinity, to be clear about the choosing method for this chart.
1. Frank Zappa
Soundtrack | Baby Snakes
Of all the qualities that typified Frank Zappa, perhaps the most striking is that he was a paradox. A workaholic perfectionist rock star who eschewed the hippie culture of the 1960s, deploring its conformism, spurious ideals and drug use, Zappa was not only a brilliant rock guitarist but an ...
2. John McLaughlin
Soundtrack | Where the Truth Lies
John McLaughlin was born on January 4, 1942 in Yorkshire, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Where the Truth Lies (2005), Biker Boyz (2003) and Cartes sur table (1977). He is married to Ina.
3. Robert Fripp
Soundtrack | Children of Men
Robert Fripp was born on May 16, 1946 in Dorset, England, UK. He is a music artist and actor, known for Children of Men (2006), The Big Boss (1971) and Power Rangers (2017). He has been married to Toyah Willcox since May 16, 1986.
4. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Composer | Amalia
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is known for Amalia (2018), Los Chidos (2012) and El Divino Influjo de los Secretos (2013).
5. Michael Karoli
Soundtrack | Los abrazos rotos
Michael Karoli was born on April 29, 1948 in Straubing, Bavaria, Germany. He was a composer, known for Broken Embraces (2009), Inherent Vice (2014) and The Gentlemen (2019). He was married to Shirley Argwings-Kodhek. He died on November 17, 2001 in Essen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
6. Daevid Allen
Soundtrack | Entre Oscuros Sueños
Daevid Allen was born on January 13, 1938 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was a composer and director, known for Entre Oscuros Sueños (2018), Near Orouet (1971) and The Black Balloon (2012). He was married to Gilli Smyth. He died on March 13, 2015 in Byron Bay, New South Wales, ...
7. Trey Anastasio
Soundtrack | 127 Hours
Ernest Joseph "Trey" Anastasio III (born 30 September 1964) grew up in Princeton, New Jersey, playing drums. He worked with his mother, an editor for Sesame Street Magazine, developing stories and songs of fantasy and fun and meaning. (His father was an executive with the Princeton-based ...
8. Thurston Moore
Soundtrack | The Perks of Being a Wallflower
In 1980, Thurston Moore formed the band Sonic Youth as a lead guitarist and singer with Kim Gordon (bass guitars/vocals) and Lee Ranaldo (lead guitars/vocals). In 1981, they released their debut album "Sonic Youth", which attracted lots of attention for using feedback in music. They later released ...
9. Jonny Greenwood
Soundtrack | The Master
Jonny Greenwood was born on November 5, 1971 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for The Master (2012), There Will Be Blood (2007) and Phantom Thread (2017). He has been married to Sharona Katan since 1995. They have three children.
10. Trey Spruance
Composer | Aylaqruh:hurqalyA
Preston Lea "Trey" Spruance III is an American composer, producer, and musician, perhaps best known as guitarist and keyboardist with Mr. Bungle and for his short time in Faith No More. He is also leader of the multi-genre outfit Secret Chiefs 3. Originally a guitarist and trumpeter, Spruance later...
11. Jerry Garcia
Soundtrack | The Box
One of the most prolific and iconic guitarists of the second half of the 20th Century, Jerome John Garcia was born in San Francisco, California, USA on August 1st 1942. Garcia, whose mother was a registered nurse and whose father, Jose, was a small time jazz musician, had a troubled childhood. At ...
12. Joey Santiago
Soundtrack | Empire Records
Joey Santiago is known for Empire Records (1995), Undeclared (2001) and All the Birds Have Flown South (2016).
13. Tom Verlaine
Soundtrack | The Diary of a Teenage Girl
Tom Verlaine was born on December 13, 1949 in Morristown, New Jersey, USA. He was a composer, known for The Diary of a Teenage Girl (2015), I'm Not There (2007) and Gold (2016). He died on January 28, 2023 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
14. Steven Drozd
Soundtrack | Ender's Game
Steven Drozd was born on June 11, 1969 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Ender's Game (2013), Christmas on Mars (2008) and Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011).
15. Jim Martin
Soundtrack | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Jim Martin was born on July 21, 1961 in Oakland, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) and Black Hawk Down (2001).
16. Adrian Belew
Soundtrack | Free Guy
Adrian Belew caught the public attention for the first time around 1977 when he played guitar with Frank Zappa, David Bowie or the Talking Heads. He began his solo career in 1981 as singer, guitarist, drummer, lyricist, composer and producer of his own records. Since then he has released 15 of them...
17. John Frusciante
Soundtrack | Stealth
John Anthony Frusciante was born on March 5, 1970, in New York. He became interested in rock music at an early age. After his parents divorced, John and his mother moved to California when he was seven. When he was nine, his stepfather offered him his first acoustic guitar.
John taught himself how ...
18. David Byrne
Soundtrack | True Stories
David Byrne is an Oscar winning composer, songwriter and singer, best known for being frontman of the New Wave/punk band Talking Heads, which was active between 1975 and 1991. Born in Scotland but raised in the United States in Maryland, Byrne began performing musically in high school.
Byrne ...
19. Al Di Meola
Soundtrack | The Sopranos
Al Di Meola was born on July 22, 1954 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. He is a composer and producer, known for The Sopranos (1999), Eric B. & Rakim: Move the Crowd (1987) and Gary Makes a Sandwich (2007).
20. Larry Lalonde
Actor | Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey
Larry Lalonde is known for Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991), Zack and Miri Make a Porno (2008) and Detention (2011).
21. Greg Ginn
Soundtrack | Repo Man
Greg Ginn was born on June 8, 1954 in Tucson, Arizona, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Repo Man (1984), Boss Level (2020) and The Pelican Brief (1993).
22. Johnny Ramone
Soundtrack | Spider-Man: Homecoming
Johnny Ramone was born John William Cummings in Queens, New York. He went to be the guitar player for the Ramones, alongside Jeffrey Hyman and Douglas Colvin (later Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone). They also hired Thomas Erdelyi (later Tommy Ramone) as drummer. Tommy disbanded in 1978 and asked ...
23. Wayne Kramer
Soundtrack | Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Wayne Kramer is a songwriter, producer and composer whose reputation writing music for television and film risks supplanting his legend as one of music's stellar guitarists. Rolling Stone Magazine recognizes him as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time and highlights from recent composing and ...
24. Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein
Actor | Animal Room
Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein was born on September 15, 1964 in Lodi, New Jersey, USA. He is an actor, known for Animal Room (1995), Death Ward 13 and WCW Monday Nitro (1995). He was previously married to Stephanie Bellars.
25. Steve Howe
Soundtrack | Apollo 18
Steve Howe was born on April 8, 1947 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Apollo 18 (2011), Almost Famous (2000) and Toys (1992). He has been married to Janet Osborne since January 1975. They have three children. He was previously married to Patricia Stebbings.
26. Ian MacKaye
Soundtrack | SLC Punk!
Ian MacKaye formed the Washington, D.C. band Fugazi with Brendan Canty and Joe Lally and Guy Picciotto in 1987. Before that, he was a member of Egg Hunt, Embrace, Minor Threat, Skewbald/ Grand Union, and Teen Idles. Ian created "Dischord Records" in 1980 to document the music coming out of the ...
27. Mick Jones
Soundtrack | Grosse Pointe Blank
Mick Jones was born on June 26, 1955 in Clapham, London, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Die Another Day (2002) and 500 Days of Summer (2009).
29. Tony Iommi
Soundtrack | Iron Man
Tony Iommi was born on February 19, 1948 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Iron Man (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000). He has been married to Maria Sjöholm since 1999.
30. Tom Morello
Soundtrack | Real Steel
Tom Morello was born on May 30, 1964 in New York city. He has become an influential guitarist due to his work with Rage Against The Machine in the 1990s. Tom got his Social Studies degree from Harvard and went to L.A to start a band. He briefly played guitarist for a band named Lock Up with fellow ...
31. Ron Asheton
Soundtrack | Smokin' Aces
Ron Asheton was born on July 17, 1948 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He was an actor, known for Smokin' Aces (2006), Predestination (2014) and Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998). He died on January 6, 2009 in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
32. Kurt Cobain
Soundtrack | The Batman
Kurt Cobain was born on February 20 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. Kurt and his family lived in Hoquiam for the first few months of his life then later moved back to Aberdeen, where he had a happy childhood until his parents divorced. The divorce left Kurt's outlook on the world forever scarred. He...
33. Adam Jones
Special_effects | Jurassic Park
Adam Jones was born on January 15, 1965 in Libertyville, Illinois, USA. He is a composer and director, known for Jurassic Park (1993), Escape from L.A. (1996) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).
34. Neil Young
Composer | Dead Man
Neil Young is one of the most respected and prolific rock/folk guitarists of the late 20th century. Raised in Canada, he first became well-known as a guitarist and occasional vocalist for the band Buffalo Springfield. After the band's breakup, Young became a solo performer. However, he also has ...
35. J. Mascis
Soundtrack | Reality Bites
J. Mascis was born on December 10, 1965 in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Reality Bites (1994), Yes Man (2008) and The Double (2013). He is married to Luisa Mascis. They have one child.
36. Josh Homme
Soundtrack | End of Watch
Josh Homme was born on May 17, 1973 in Palm Springs, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for End of Watch (2012), Hot Rod (2007) and Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000). He was previously married to Brody Dalle.
37. Mikael Åkerfeldt
Soundtrack | Saints Row: The Third
Mikael Åkerfeldt is known for Saints Row: The Third (2011), Clark (2022) and Saints Row 2 (2008).
38. Johnny Marr
Music_department | Inception
Johnny Marr made his name as lead guitarist with the cult British rock band, The Smiths, regarded by some as one of the most influential bands of the 1980s. Along with Morrissey, Marr created some of the most memorable and acclaimed songs of that decade, with Morrissey's witty, satirical lyrics and ...
39. East Bay Ray
Soundtrack | The Manchurian Candidate
East Bay Ray was born on November 17, 1958 in Oakland, California, USA. He is an actor, known for The Manchurian Candidate (2004), Planet Terror (2007) and Grindhouse (2007).
40. Mike McCready
Soundtrack | Out of the Furnace
Mike McCready was born on April 5, 1966 in Pensacola, Florida, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Out of the Furnace (2013), 50/50 (2011) and Almost Famous (2000). He has been married to Ashley since 2005. They have one child.
41. Pete Shelley
Soundtrack | If I Stay
Pete Shelley was born on April 17, 1955 in Leigh, Greater Manchester, England, UK. He was an actor, known for If I Stay (2014), Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Some Kind of Wonderful (1987). He was married to ??? and Greta. He died on December 6, 2018 in Tallinn, Estonia.
42. Poison Ivy Rorschach
Soundtrack | The Return of the Living Dead
Poison Ivy Rorschach was born on February 20, 1953 in Sacramento, California, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for The Return of the Living Dead (1985), The Social Network (2010) and Poltergeist (2015). She was previously married to Lux Interior.
43. Matt Pike
Soundtrack | Destroyer
Matt Pike is known for Destroyer (2018), Broken Flowers (2005) and Gummo (1997).
44. Johnny Thunders
Soundtrack | Bringing Out the Dead
Born in Queens, NY, Thunders is best known as the lead guitarist for the New York Dolls in the early 1970s and unintentionally helped inspire the Punk movements in New York City and London. He later formed The Heartbreakers and went on to a solo career. His career was often interrupted by issues ...
45. Steve Jones
Soundtrack | The A-Team
Stephen Philip Jones, was born on September 3rd, 1955 in West London. His real father, an amateur boxer, named Don Jarvis left Steve and his mother when he was just two years old. Sometime later his Step-father arrived on the scene, for a time, Steve lived in a house with his parents and ...
46. Jerry Cantrell
Actor | Jerry Maguire
Jerry Cantrell is an American musician best known as the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist and main songwriter for the Seattle Rock band Alice in Chains since 1987. The band was part of the Grunge movement and is known for the unique vocal harmonies between Cantrell and Layne Staley, and ...
47. Brent Hinds
Soundtrack | The Big Short
Brent Hinds is known for The Big Short (2015), Monsters University (2013) and Better Living Through Chemistry (2014).
48. Graham Coxon
Soundtrack | The End of the F***ing World
Graham Coxon is an English musician, singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and painter who came to prominence as a founding member of the rock band Blur. As the group's lead guitarist and secondary vocalist, Graham Coxon was featured on seven of Blur's studio albums, from 1991's Leisure to 2015'...
49. Brian James
Soundtrack | Baby Driver
Brian James was born on February 18, 1955 in England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Baby Driver (2017), The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2 (1986) and The Hidden (1987).
50. Dave Navarro
Soundtrack | Twister
Born June 7, 1967 to James Raul 'Mike' Navarro and Constance Colleen Hopkins. His paternal grandparents immigrated from Mexico; his mother, Constance, was a model and worked on Let's Make a Deal (1963). After his parents divorced when he was seven, Dave moved with his mother to Bel Air, and lived ...
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