Top 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time Rolling Stone

Soundtrack | Woodstock

Widely regarded as the greatest and most influential guitarist in rock history, Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington, to African-American parents Lucille (Jeter) and James Allen Hendrix. His mother named him John Allen Hendrix and raised him alone while his father, Al ...

Soundtrack | Lethal Weapon 3

Eric Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, on March 30, 1945. His real father was a Canadian pilot but he didn't find that out until he was 53. When he was 2 his mother felt she was unable to look after him, so Eric then went to live with his grandparents. When he was 14 he took up the ...

Soundtrack | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

Keith Richards is an internationally recognized iconic figure in contemporary culture and popular music as a singer, guitar player, songwriter, film actor, and public figure. He was voted 10th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, and was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of ...

Soundtrack | The Boat That Rocked

Jeff Beck was born in Surrey in 1944. He grew up in a suburban street in Carshalton. When he was about 10, he wanted to play the guitar. His mum, however, wanted him to play the piano because she didn't approve of the guitar. When he was in his late teens, he joined "The Tridents" on lead guitar. ...

Soundtrack | Men in Black

Chuck Berry was born on October 18, 1926 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA as Charles Edward Anderson Berry. He is known for his work on Men in Black (1997), Back to the Future (1985) and The Hitman's Bodyguard (2017). He was married to Themetta "Toddy" Suggs. He died on March 18, 2017 in Wentzville, ...

Soundtrack | Twister

Edward Van Halen was a musician who along with his brother Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, formed the band Van Halen in the early '70s, with Eddie on guitar, Alex on drums, Michael on bass and David on vocals. The band had different members over the years, but the core (...

Self | Untitled Allman Brothers/Nick Cassavetes Project

Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee in November 1946. On Christmas Day in 1960, Duane was given a motorcycle as a gift while his younger brother, Gregg Allman, got a guitar. A few months later, Duane wrecked his motorcycle in an accident, but traded in the spare parts for a guitar of his ...

Music_department | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Born in Chiswick, London just ten days after the German surrender in 1945, Townshend grows up in a typical middle-class home. His parents, Cliff and Betty Townshend, are both musicians, and as a child he accompanies them on dance band tours. Townshend starts playing guitar at 12. He goes to art ...

Actor | A Hard Day's Night

A master musician, a film producer and actor, best known as the lead guitarist and occasionally lead vocalist of The Beatles, George Harrison was born February 25, 1943, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He was also the youngest of four children, born to Harold Harrison and Louise Harrison.

Like ...

Soundtrack | Unbreakable

Stevie Ray Vaughan was born on October 3, 1954 in Dallas, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Unbreakable (2000), Multiplicity (1996) and From Dusk Till Dawn (1996). He was married to Lenora "Lenny" Darlene Bailey. He died on August 27, 1990 in East Troy, Wisconsin, USA.

Soundtrack | Star Trek Into Darkness

Albert King was born on April 25, 1923 in Indianola, Mississippi, USA as Albert Nelson. He died on December 21, 1992 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA.

Soundtrack | Pink Floyd: The Wall

David Jon Gilmour was born on 6th March, 1946, in Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge. As the lead guitarist of Pink Floyd, he is by many considered one of the most influential guitarists on the rock stage. Right up to "The Dark Side of The Moon", Dave wrote his own songs, but from then up to "The ...

Soundtrack | Legend

Freddie King was born on September 3, 1934 in Gilmer, Texas, USA as Fred King. He was married to Jessie Burnett. He died on December 28, 1976 in Dallas, Texas.

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 ...

Actor | The Guardian

Born in Minden, Louisiana, on August 21, 1939, James Burton began playing guitar at the age of thirteen, and turned professional the following year. His first recorded track was the Dale Hawkins hit, "Susie Q", in 1957. His dynamic rockabilly style of playing brought him to the attention of ...

Soundtrack | La Bamba

Carlos Santana is a guitarist, composer, singer and band-leader who helped to shape the concept of "world music" by his experiments with blending many styles of music from a multitude of ethnic sources.

He was born Carlos Augusto Alves Santana on July 20, 1947, in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, Mexico....

Soundtrack | Michael

Chet Atkins was an A&R (artist and repertoire) executive for RCA Victor Records from 1958 until 1974, producing recordings for such artists as Elvis Presley, Bobby Bare, Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Skeeter Davis, Waylon Jennings, Duane Eddy, The Browns, Charley Pride, Hank Snow and The Everly Brothers...

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 ...

Soundtrack | Last Action Hero

Angus Young was born on March 31, 1955 in Glasgow, Scotland. At school, Angus was an unenthusiastic student. His only real academic interest was art wich allowed him some freedom of expression. He gave up school at 15 and went to work for a soft porn magazine called Ribald as a printer. But his ...

Soundtrack | Iron Man

Tony Iommi was born on February 19, 1948 in Birmingham, England as Frank Anthony Iommi. He is a composer and actor, known for Iron Man (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Kong: Skull Island (2017). He has been married to Maria Sjöholm since 1999.

Soundtrack | Flash Gordon

Brian May is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential, innovative, technically gifted and recognisable guitarists in the history of rock. He is also a prolific songwriter, responsible for writing or co-writing many international hits with Queen. He was educated at Hampton Grammar School ...

Actor | Blues Brothers 2000

Ever heard "I Want Candy" or "Not Fade Away" or "Willie & The Hand Jive", Shirley & Company's "Shame, Shame, Shame" or U2's "Desire" or George Michael's "Faith"? If you have, then you've heard the "Bo Diddley beat", the most famous beat in the world! One of the founding fathers of rock 'n' roll, Bo ...

Soundtrack | 11:14

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 ...

Soundtrack | '71

Mississippi-born Elmore Leonard was a blues musician known as "The King of the Slide Guitar". He played on various radio shows throughout the South and built up a following. In 1951, he recorded his first record, "Dust My Broom", for the small Trumpet Records label out of Jackson, MS. It became a "...

Soundtrack | Primary Colors

Born in Santa Monica, Ca., Ry Cooder, at the age of four had an accident which left him blind in one eye. He became a bit secluded and began playing the guitar. His biggest influences include Blind Willie Johnson, Arthur "Blind" Blake, Joseph Spence and Curtis Mayfield. Cooder has played on several...

Soundtrack | Under the Cherry Moon

Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mattie Shaw, a jazz singer and social worker, and John L. Nelson, a lyricist and pianist. His father's stage name was "Prince Rogers". His parents were both from African-American families from Louisiana. They separated during his youth, ...

Soundtrack | Armageddon

Rhythm and blues performer/songwriter credited with defining 1960's Chicago sound in hits like "It's All Right" and "Gypsy Woman." His style influenced other artists from pop to hip hop. Has been a quadriplegic ever since he was struck by lighting rig during outdoor concert in New York, 1990. ...

Soundtrack | Hancock

John Lee Hooker was born on August 22, 1917 in Clarksdale, Mississippi, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Hancock (2008), The Blues Brothers (1980) and The Colony (2013). He was married to Maude Mathis, Alma Hopes and Sarah Jones. He died on June 21, 2001 in Los Altos, California, USA.

Soundtrack | Megamind

Randy Rhoads was born on December 6, 1956 in Santa Monica, California, USA as Randall Williams Rhoads. He is known for his work on Megamind (2010), Ghost Rider (2007) and Tag (2018). He died on March 19, 1982 in Leesburg, Florida, USA.

Soundtrack | Gangs of New York

One of the most instantly recognizable and influential guitarists in rock history, The Edge was born David Howell Evans, in Barking, Essex, in 1961. When he was two years old the family moved to Dublin. During his childhood he learned how to play the guitar and the piano. In 1978, the Edge became ...

Soundtrack | Easy A

If not the most influential guitarist in the Memphis soul music scene, Steve Cropper is definitely near the top. He was a member of Booker T. & the M.G.s', wrote songs for and performed with Otis Redding, Aretha Franklin and Sam & Dave (he's the Steve referred to when they say "Play it, Steve!" in ...

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 ...

Soundtrack | Bones

Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success while working with David Bowie as the lead guitarist and band leader for Bowie's backing band, the Spiders From Mars. Ronson was also a session ...

Soundtrack | Sneakers

Mike Bloomfield was born on July 28, 1943 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is known for his work on Sneakers (1992), Easy Rider (1969) and The Trip (1967). He died on February 15, 1981 in San Francisco, California, USA.

Soundtrack | Wag the Dog

Mark Knopfler recorded his first single at age 16, but it was never released, He started the band Dire Straits in 1977, they were signed to Vertigo Records in 1978 and recorded the album "Dire Straits", which featured their first major hit single, "Sultans of Swing". Their follow-up albums include ...

Soundtrack | Twelve Monkeys

Rock'n'roll musician Link Wray reigns supreme as one of the best, most important, influential, and innovative guitarists to emerge from the 1950's. Wray was the creator of the power-chord and was one of the first musicians to experiment with both distortion and the burning fuzz-tone guitar sound in...

Soundtrack | Great Expectations

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 ...

Soundtrack | Annihilation

Stephen Stills was born on January 3, 1945, in Dallas, Texas. He dropped out of college to play music professionally. He formed Buffalo Springfield ("For What It's Worth") with Neil Young and later became part of Crosby Stills & Nash. After they broke up, Stills joined Manassas, then helped to form ...

Soundtrack | The Master

Jonny Greenwood was born on November 5, 1971 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England as Jonathan Richard Guy Greenwood. 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.

Soundtrack | Adventures in Babysitting

Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) was one of the major forces in contemporary blues. He was instrumental in bringing the sound of the Mississippi Delta to Chicago in the 1940s, where his recordings for the Chess label exerted an enormous influence on both blues and rock musicians from the ...

Soundtrack | Twister

Ritchie Blackmore was born on April 14, 1945 in Weston Super Mare, England as Richard Hugh Blackmore. He is a composer and actor, known for Twister (1996), Point Break (1991) and Almost Famous (2000). He has been married to Candice Night since October 2008. They have one child. He was previously ...

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 ...

Soundtrack | A Sense of Freedom

Blues guitarist Rory Gallagher was born in Ballyshannon, Ireland, in 1959 (his brother Donal Gallagher is also a blues musician). He began his career in the 1960s in Ireland, playing in a variety of show bands. In 1965 he formed his own band, Taste, a blues-based rock trio. They had some success ...

Soundtrack | Frequency

Peter Green was born on October 29, 1946 in London, England as Peter Allen Greenbaum. He is known for his work on Frequency (2000), 6 Underground (2019) and Munich (2005). He was married to Jane Samuels. He died on July 25, 2020 in Canvey Island, Essex, England. UK.

Soundtrack | When Harry Met Sally...

Dickey Betts, born in West Palm Beach, Florida in 1943, was the oldest member of the Allman Brothers Band when they formed in 1969. He shared lead guitar duties with band founder and leader Duane Allman, also playing alongside bassist Berry Oakley, drummers Jaimoe and Butch Trucks, and Allman's ...

Soundtrack | The Accused

Johnny Winter was born on February 23, 1944 in Beaumont, Texas, USA as John Dawson Winter III. He was an actor and composer, known for The Accused (1988), Sliver (1993) and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978). He was married to Susan Warford. He died on July 16, 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland.

Soundtrack | Fantastic Four

Saul Hudson, mainly known as Slash, was born on July 23, 1965, and was raised in Stoke-on-Trent. Both his parents worked in the entertainment business, his mother being a clothing designer (she did some of David Bowie's costumes) and his father being an art director for a record company. When Slash...

Soundtrack | Vanishing Point

Leslie West was born on October 22, 1945 in New York City, New York, USA as Leslie Weinstein. He was an actor and composer, known for Vanishing Point (1971), The Expendables (2010) and Spenser Confidential (2020). He was married to Jenni Maurer. He died on December 23, 2020 in Palm Coast, Florida, ...

Soundtrack | The Firm

T-Bone Walker was born on May 28, 1910 in Linden, Texas, USA as Aaron Thibeaux Walker. He was married to Vida. He died on March 16, 1975 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Soundtrack | Looper

Talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist co-founded the British folk-rock group Fairport Convention in 1967. He left the group in 1971 to perform and record solo and then with his wife, Linda Thompson, with whom he made the legendary albums I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight (1974) and Shoot...

Soundtrack | Quantum of Solace

Jack played guitar and sang in the band The White Stripes. They released six albums: their self-titled debut -- "The White Stripes", "De Stijl", "White Blood Cells", "Elephant", "Get Behind Me Satan", and "Icky Thump", before breaking up in 2011.

White also sings and plays guitar in the band The ...

Soundtrack | The Skeleton Key

Despite his very limited body of recorded work (1936-1937), he is ranked among the greatest of the Delta blues musicians.

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 ...

Soundtrack | Moulin Rouge!

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...

Soundtrack | Escape from L.A.

Hailed as the "King of Surf Guitar, " Dick Dale virtually galvanized the surf rock sound in the 1950s. An avid surfer and accomplished musician, Dale and his band, 'Dick Dale and the Del-Tones', appeared in several of the ever-popular "Beach Party" teen flicks starring Annette Funicello and Frankie...

Soundtrack | Two Weeks Notice

Joni Mitchell is one of the most highly regarded and influential songwriters of the 20th century. Her melodious tunes support her poetic and often very personal lyrics to make her one of the most authentic artists of her time. As a performer she is widely hailed for her unique style of playing ...

Soundtrack | Road House

Robby Krieger was born on January 8, 1946 in Los Angeles, California, USA as Robert Alan Krieger. He is a composer and actor, known for Road House (1989), Forrest Gump (1994) and The Watch (2012). He has been married to Lynn Ann Veres since December 26, 1970. They have one child.

Soundtrack | The Dukes of Hazzard

This versatile, eclectic, rather wanderlust country crossover star known for his classic ballads ("Always On My Mind"), autobiographical road songs ("On the Road Again") and catchy rhythms ("Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys") started out life as Willie Hugh Nelson on April 30, ...

Soundtrack | The Horse Whisperer

John Fahey was born on February 28, 1939 in Takoma Park, Maryland, USA. He died on February 22, 2001 in Salem, Oregon, USA.

Soundtrack | Mr. Nobody

Buddy Holly was born on September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas, USA as Charles Hardin Holley. He is known for his work on Mr. Nobody (2009), Big Fish (2003) and Ondskan (2003). He was married to Maria Elena Santiago. He died on February 3, 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa, USA.

Soundtrack | Lords of Dogtown

Eddie Hazel was born April 10, 1950 in Brooklyn, New York. He died December 23, 1992 in Plainfield, New Jersey. When he was eight years old, his older brother, Sonny, gave him a guitar for Christmas. Self-taught, by age twelve, he was winning guitar contests in Plainfield. Most of the guitarists ...

Soundtrack | Armageddon

As co-founding member, principal co-songwriter, electrifying lead guitarist and co-producer of Aerosmith--America's Greatest Rock & Roll Band--Joe has achieved permanent iconic stature in the pantheon of rock. He has helped to drive his band, over the course of three decades, to sales of more than ...

Soundtrack | Copycat

Andy Summers was born on December 31, 1942 in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England as Andrew James Somers. He is known for his work on Copycat (1995), The Medallion (2003) and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). He is married to Kate Summers. They have three children. He was previously married ...

Actor | The Double

J. Mascis was born on December 10, 1965 in Amherst, Massachusetts, USA as Joseph Donald Mascis Jr. He is an actor and composer, known for The Double (2013), Brainscan (1994) and Reality Bites (1994). He is married to Luisa Mascis. They have one child.

Soundtrack | Metallica Through the Never

His parents were divorced, and at a young age, he lost his mother to cancer. He grew up hunting, playing guitar, and was an ordinary quiet kid. Lars Ulrich put out an ad in 1981 in a newspaper asking somebody to jam out and listen to rock music with him and he replied. Lars Ulrich and James hooked ...

Soundtrack | Battleship

Carl Perkins was born on April 9, 1932 in Tiptonville, Tennessee, USA as Carl Lee Perkins. He was an actor and composer, known for Battleship (2012), The Outsiders (1983) and Pawn Sacrifice (2014). He was married to Valda Crider. He died on January 19, 1998 in Jackson, Tennessee.

Composer | Village of the Damned

Dave Davies is the brother of Ray Davies, the lead singer and songwriter of The Kinks, of which he was the lead singer up to 1964, when Ray joined. He was also the lead guitarist and backup singer for the Kinks. As children, both brothers were immersed in a world of different musical styles, from ...

Soundtrack | The Big Short

Dimebag Darrell was born on August 20, 1966 in Dallas, Texas, USA as Darrell Lance Abbott. He was an actor and composer, known for The Big Short (2015), Heavy Metal 2000 (2000) and Strangeland (1998). He died on December 8, 2004 in Columbus, Ohio, USA.

Music_department | The Graduate

Born on October 13, 1941, in Newark New Jersey, Paul Simon is one of the greatest singer/songwriters ever. In 1957, he and high school pal, Art Garfunkel, wrote and recorded the single, "Hey Schoolgirl", under the name "Tom and Jerry". After some failures, they broke up. Simon still wrote and ...

Soundtrack | Man on the Moon

Peter Buck was born on December 6, 1956 in Oakland, California, USA as Peter Ernest Lawrence Buck. He is an actor and composer, known for Man on the Moon (1999), Independence Day (1996) and Blast from the Past (1999). He has been married to Chloe Johnson since June 1, 2013. He was previously ...

Soundtrack | Easy Rider

James Joseph McGuinn III was born in Chicago to Dorothy and James Jr. At 14, he took up guitar and soon attended the Old Town School Of Folk Music. He was discovered at 17 and began touring with The Limelighters shortly after his 18th birthday. He later toured and recorded with The Chad Mitchell ...

Soundtrack | The Wrestler

Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen was born September 23, 1949 in Long Branch, New Jersey, USA. His father, Douglas Frederick Springsteen, worked as a bus driver, and was of Irish and Dutch ancestry. His mother, Adele Ann (Zerilli), worked as a legal secretary, and was of Italian descent. He has an...

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 ...

Soundtrack | Small Soldiers

Alex Lifeson is best known as the broadly-skilled guitarist for the rock group Rush, which also features drummer Neil Peart and bassist Geddy Lee. Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records ...

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 ...

Top 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time Rolling Stone

Source: https://www.imdb.com/list/ls066632618/

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