Who is the most underrated guitar player in your opinion?

Question

Bilboes · Accepted Answer

I'd like to say Gary Moore, but I wouldn't say he's too urderrated. Apart from that, Terry Kath is a pretty underrated guitarist too.

I love Eddie Hazel's performance in Maggot Brain. I can easily say that it is the most painful guitar solo I have ever heard.

But my favorite underrated guitarist is Freddie King.. He may be the most talented and underrated guitarist among the 3 Kings of Blues.. And he has a great voice too..

JSkye · Accepted Answer

Alex Lifeson. He had to keep up with Geddy and Neil. Additionally, I don't think Rush ever got the recognition they deserved.

Lliam · Answer

When I saw the question and photo, before I saw the update, I thought "That looks like Rory Gallagher!"

Loved him! Friends and I went to see him one time at the Whiskey A Go Go in Hollywood in probably 1975 when I was 21.
We were sitting in the front row of the small balcony. A door at the top of the balcony stairs opened and Rory and the band came out, descended the steps, and we had to stand to let them pass in front of us on their way to a ramp against the wall that descended to the stage.

The ramp was in kind of a tunnel. Only the people in the balcony could see the entrance.

The band started playing and I thought it would be interesting to go down the ramp to watch the band close up, so I did.

I was standing at the end of the tunnel out of view of the audience. I was close to the keyboard player and he and Rory looked at me. I was totally jazzed and was rocking out.

Pretty soon, I was kind of being pushed. I stepped down the first step. The pressure continued, so I stepped down the last step onto the stage. I realized that a whole bunch of people from the tunnel had followed me and were crowding the tunnel. Rory and the keyboard player both glanced with looks of concern.

All of a sudden, I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned and saw that the tunnel was empty. An employee was next to me and said "You know you're not supposed to be here." 🤣 So I went back up to my seat.

The concert was great! Afterward, the band came back up the ramp and pass in front of us again. We congratulated them enthusiastically.

I would add Martin Barre of Jethro Tull and Mick Box of Uriah Heep to the list.
I saw every one of Tull's tours in the '70s, beginning with Aqualung. Holy shit!
I don't know if Martin ever got the credit he deserved because Ian upstaged him.

I first saw Uriah Heep in about 1971 or 2 when they opened for Deep Purple. They were fantastic and Mick Box blew me away. His guitar work and showmanship were unbelievable.

There are so many other amazing guitarists. It's hard to pick the ones who are underrated.

RebelinSteel · Answer

I was going to say Rory Gallagher but also

Gary Moore, Thin Lizzy

Annie Clark - St Vincent

Eddie Clarke - Motörhead

and a bunch of others, also a huge number of session musicians that are there and get things done.

Makeushiver · Answer

Wow, you know your guitar players. As son as I saw Rory Gallagher's name I knew you knew what you were talking about. To me there is Jimi Hendrix... and then etc. as far as underrated Rory is probably the best nominee. There are a few girl guitarists that should be included, Samantha Fish, Rory Block, Ana Popacic, Beth Hart are all very solid blues rockers. A great musician,. if not top ten guitarist is Bonnie Raitt.

The single best guitarist I've ever seen is Eric Johnson. If you don't know him one of his showcase tunes "Cliffs of Dover" has some excellent renditions on YouTube. For acoustic guitar you can't get much better than Tommy Emmanuelle, he's fantastic check out his cover of Classical Gas or Somewhere Over The Rainbow,

Do you play?

loveslongnails · Answer

Huh? Of all these people, I'd say none of them are underrated! They're all very well known for their expertise, though some get mentioned less by the "general public" as opposed to guitar players or guitar aficionados.

When I think of "underrated", I think of someone who is rarely if ever mentioned as great, but is truly an expert player. Keeping it in the rock arena, (not studio players or country guys) two people come to mind: Frank Zappa and Todd Rundgren.

People forget or don't know Todd's prog rock work with Utopia, or that he played every instrument on every song for his double LP "Something, Anything". It makes me laugh when I see a list that puts "Slash" ahead of either of these guys OR ANY of the guys Nikki named in this post!

Slingblade1126 · Answer

Late to the question but I always thought, Neil Shon, was very underrated. He played very clean and precise. Honorable mention to, Frank Hannon, from Tesla. I believe, he really made acoustic guitar a main staple in rock during that time and he played it brilliantly. I honestly believe that's why acoustic guitar is still very prevalent in rock today.

abc3643 · Answer

Kirk Hammett of Metallica who replaced... Dave Mustaine, founder of Megadeth. Both are pioneers of thrash and, in the 1980s, were otherworldly.

LiamJHayden · Answer

I love that you put the late, great Terry Kath on your list. I'd add Peter Green, Ty Tabor, Richie Kotzen for starters. One that most overlook - Peter Frampton. His solos are distinct and often Jazz-flavored.

FreyaRed · Answer

I don't play guitar and maybe I'm wrong but I think real guitar virtuosos play acoustic guitar

DrPepper12 · Answer

Alex Lifeson Adrian Smith George Harrison  Tony Iommi

fuddly · Answer

I love Rory Gallagher Jimi Hendrix But that from older era recent times  Johnny Marr And Alain White

BoobMan · Answer

Steve Clark of Def Leppard. Amazing band when he was alive. Not really even interesting without him.

ThinkerShell · Answer

Yingwie Malsteen i guess  Nuno in the second place

Anonymous · Answer

A couple that come to mind are Todd Park Mohr and Shakey Graves. Probably wouldn't win any popular vote but I enjoy their guitar playing and style.

mrkdvsn · Answer

I saw this same question and picture were on Twitter. I would say Eric Gillette as a possibility. (The Neal Morse Band)

KamIAm93 · Answer

Michael Bloomfield Played on Dylan's 1965 album "Highway 61 Revisited". If you're looking for songs he plays on, listen to The Trip or East-West.

beefcakebradybatson · Answer

Robin Trower, with my late high school buddy Rob Borrink close.

AviatorTom · Answer

Jose Feliciano Yes, I am old

BLP11520 · Answer

Walter Becker, Leslie West

Smashingdoozy · Answer

Wes Borland Limp Bizkit

RetroReviews · Answer

Paul Reynolds- AFOS

CubaPirate · Answer

Possibly Santana

Jpie555 · Answer

Joe Pass.. best guitar player ever!

Dongie · Answer

Mark Knoffler. Dire Straits.

LazerMan · Answer

the one from de beatles

A_Nihilist · Answer

Nickleback. He gets so much shit for no reason.

DJB72 · Answer

My mate Mark...

RHK36 · Answer

Prince

Inthelines · Answer

None

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