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Rolling Stone top 100 Guitarists - Howe/Van Halen

OK, I just listened to The Yes Album for about the millionth time and I have one question; how on earth did the dudes at Rolling Stone put Steve Howe at number 69 on their list? I realize they tend to be a holier than thou (or smarter-than-thou) bunch, but come on. Didn't this guy win like every guitar award from musician magazines in the 70's? I was shocked as I read through the list and saw the names ahead of him. I just assumed he would be in the top 10 for unbelievable technical skill alone. The guy is simply amazing. I don't want to start a debate on some of the extremely questionable picks, especially in the top 10, but this guy is one of the all time greats.

To me it's like forgetting about Stan Musial because he played in St Louis instead of NY, LA or Chicago. Still one of the all time greats.

That brings me to the most amazing slight on that list: Eddie Van Halen at 70??? Didn't he basically invent speed metal? His tapping technic along with the rest of his unbelievable arsenal should put him in the top 10 if not the top 5, I mean come on. Because they didn't like Van Halen's pop/Rock they shun him down to 70?? I'm not a huge Van Halen fan but I think they had 2 great albums (Van Halen, 1984) and his playing on those alone should get him in the top 10.

I kept thinking that with the exceptions, IMO, of Jimmy Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn and Kirk Hammett no one else could play all the music of all the other guitarists as well as VH could. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton or The Edge getting through 'Eruption', 'Ain't Talkin' Bout Love' or 'Hot for Teacher'? I don't think so. I can't think of anything Van Halen couldn't play extremely well, both artistically and technically.

Most the "Greatest" lists are BS, but this instance seemed really egregious to me.
macdadtexas
tvad
9,467 posts
 
In the 1970s he and Yes were, imo somewhat bybassed because it wasn't hard and heavy like AC/DC etc.
6550c (Threads | Answers | This Thread)
Were you around in the 70s?

Among my peers in the 70s, Howe was regarded as a guitar genius, and Yes were immensely popular...equal to Aerosmith, more than AC/DC, and unquestionably more respected as musicians.

Maybe it has to do with the people we hung out with. Many of my friends were musicians and rabid music fans.
macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
Every time I listen to any Yes album, I am shocked that Steve Howe is somehow forgotten.

They guy is an absolute genius, and I have never been a huge YES fan. But how can you not just marvel at the artistry of this guy?

Does anyone know what he has been doing lately?
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
I especially dug The Syndicats, though there's no evidence of "musical genius" there (really the point)!
6550c
393 posts
 
"Maybe it has to do with the people we hung out with"

Yes, Tvad, I think that is key. I was around in 70s growing up in a very small blue collar town where only Sabbath, Led Zep,Pink Floyd, and a few others were allowed. Music had to have a hard mean edge. Anything lighter, experimental, and acoustic would get you run out of town on a rail or at least beeten up a little. :)

"Does anyone know what he has been doing lately?"

He continues to put out solo albums, and just saw him giving a free guitar lesson on Comcast on Demand.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
09-20-10: 6550c
Yes, Tvad, I think that is key. I was around in 70s growing up in a very small blue collar town...
Me too. Town of 7000 outside of Buffalo.

Still, we appreciated a wide variety of rock talent beyond the bands you mentioned.
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