A few years ago I wrote an article about the best rock and blues guitarrists. They included the likes of Eric Clapton, Peter Green, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Jeff Beck, Joe Walsh, Dave Gilmour, Hank B Marvin, Jimmy Page, Mick Taylor, Mark Knopfler and George Harrison.
[Image: www.posters.es]
So, what’s new?
I’ve been sorting out my CDs and came across a double live album by Dave Gilmour playing in the docks in Gdansk, Poland.
Dave Gilmour as a young guitarrist with Pink Floyd Dave Gilmour in 2024, aged 78
I’ve always rated Gilmour highly from his days with Pink Floyd, but this album blew me away. His playing was sensational, better than Clapton at his peak, I reckon.
Let’s be honest, since he deserted Blind Faith after one tour and one album, Clapton never achieved greatness on the guitar again.
Distracted by his obsession with Patti Boyd, George Harrison’s missus .....
..... and later by the death of his 4-year-old son Conor, who fell from a balcony at his estranged wife's home, he’s done very little of worth since.
Now aged 78 he is no longer active.
***
Peter Green was sensational as the front man of the original Fleetwood Mac, but after he fried his brains on drugs, he never produced great guitar playing again. He is now dead.
Carlos Santana is amazing. He still plays live concerts, although he is 77 years old.
Peter Green as a young guitarist in Fleetwood Mac Carlos Santana still going strong, now aged 77
Jeff Beck from The Yardbirds was a top guitar player. He sadly died in 2023, aged 78.
Joe Walsh of The Eagles was also a great guitarrist who contributed hugely to the success of this California band.
The late Jeff Beck in his heyday [Britannica] Joe Walsh [Billboard]
Hank Marvin was a pioneer on the guitar. His playing on those great instrumental hits by The Shadows in the 60s was superb.
Brian May was as important to Queen as the late Freddie Mercury. His playing on the roof of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee in 2002 was astonishing.
Hank Marvin [Wikipedia] Brian May [Photo: X]
Led Zeppelin without Jimmy Page wouldn’t have achieved greatness, despite having a great drummer in John Bonham and a wonderful singer, Robert Plant.
Mick Taylor’s spell as a Rolling Stone marked him out as a great guitarist. Keith Richards? I’m not sure about that.
Jimmy Page [YouTube] Mick Taylor, Ronnie Wood and Keith Richards [Wikipedia]
Mark Knopfler as the lead guitarist of Dire Straits, proved himself over a decade. Outstanding!
Towards the end of The Beatles and subsequently, George Harrison demonstrated not only his ability as a songwriter but also his great guitar playing.
Mark Knopfler in Dire Straits [Reddit] The late George Harrison, ex-Beatle [Rolling Stone]
Interestingly, of all the guitarists I’ve mentioned here, a number were given their big break playing for John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers. Mayall was no slouch on the guitar either, by the way.
There are other great guitar players from the 60s and 70s. I’m thinking of Jimi Hendrix, Chris Rea, Pete Townsend of The Who, Jet Harris of the original Shadows, and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith.
© The Culture Vulture
Links:
Best Of Joe Walsh - Joe Walsh Greatest Hits Playlist Full Album
Blind Faith - Sea of Joy
Blind Faith - Can't Find My Way Home - London Hyde Park 1969.
Brian May on the roof of Buckingham Palace- Queen's Jubilee - God Save The Queen - YouTube
Dire Straits Greatest Hits Full Album 2022 | Best Songs Of Dire Straits
Fleetwood Mac Peter Green - Black Magic Woman (Live Boston Tea Party) 1970
George Harrison - My Sweet Lord
Hank Marvin - Apache
Pink Floyd - The Dark Side Of The Moon (50th Anniversary) [2023 Remaster] {Full Album} - YouTube
Santana - Black Magic Woman - 8/18/1970 - Tanglewood (Official)
The Best Live Perform Ever!!! Jeff Beck - Beck's Bolero | HD
And what about this for a bonus treat? George Harrison on stage at Wembley Stadium with Eric Clapton, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Phil Collins, Jeff Lynne in a concert in aid of The Prince's Trust in 1987:
George Harrison & Ringo Starr - While My Guitar Gently Weeps (The Prince's Trust Rock Gala 1987)
Photo acknowledgements:
20Minutos, Amazon, Billboard, Britannica, El Español, Facebook, Reddit, Rolling Stone, Royal Albert Hall, Wikipedia, www.posters.es, YouTube, X
Tags:
Aerosmith, Blind Faith, Brian May, Carlos Santana, Chris Rea, Dave Gilmour, Dire Straits, Eric Clapton, Fleetwood Mac, Freddie Mercury, Gdansk, George Harrison, Golden Jubilee, Hank Marvin, Jeff Beck, Jet Harris, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Joe Walsh, John Bonham, John Mayall, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, Keith Richards, Led Zeppelin, Mark Knopfler, Mick Taylor, Patti Boyd, Peter Green, Pete Townsend, Pink Floyd, Poland, roof of Buckingham Palace, Queen, Robert Plant, Rolling Stone, Steven Tyler, The Beatles, The Eagles, The Rolling Stones, The Shadows, The Who