INTRODUCTION
Dave DiMartino
Personally, when I say the words “guitar hero" I think of Jimi Hendrix. Maybe that’s because of his War Heroes album; when the distinctions get blurred there’s really no difference between a sniper running through the jungle and a crazy man pouring lighter fluid on an electric guitar.
CREEM SPECIAL EDITION
FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME
We’re ready for argument.
SOUTHERN MASTER: DUANE ALLMAN
Rob Patterson
Duane’s achievement was to create a new mixture of American musical styles within a propulsive rock format, melding blues, jazz, country influences and rock together in a signature sound that has yet to be equalled.
STUDIO CLASSICIST: DAVE EDMUNDS
John Neilson
You’ve gotta hand it to Dave Edmunds —he knows what he likes.
THE FLEETWOOD MAC GUITARS
Iman Lababedl
In 1966 Peter Green(baum) joined that breeding place for surrogate blues guitarists, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, as the replacement for a certain Mr. Clapton. Green spent a year there and garnered a monster reputation (give a spin to “A Hard Road,” if you wanna find out why).
CRIMSON TECHNICIAN: ROBERT FRIPP
John Neilson
In the world of rock guitar heroes it’s often hard to separate the musician from the myths that have grown up around him.
OF FREAKS, DEATH, AND THE BLUES JIMI HENDRIX
Robert A. Hull
There is no way to write about James Marshall Hendrix without sentimentalizing the myth, yet at the same time, there is no way to write about him without revealing a desire to debunk that myth.
FLANNELED VIRTUOSO: RORY GALLAGHER
Susan Whitall
You have to feel for any band opening for a Rory Gallagher show.
JIMMY PAGE: HEAVY METAL GODFATHER
Dave Zimmer
Page, using more foot pedals, feedback and bottom end, produced a metallic blast of sound that would come to be labeled “heavy metal.”
BACKSTREET CRAWLER: PAUL KOSSOFF
Iman Lababedi
As a guitarist I preferred him to may of his better contempories; that had everything to do with a love of imperfection.
ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ARCHETYPE: KEITH RICHARDS
J. Kordosh
Keith Richards might very well be the most obnoxious likeable musician around. My main gripe with the guy is that he keeps dropping and adding the “s” to his surname.
NEW MASTER? EDWARD VAN HALEN
J. Kordosh
Many people think Eddie Van Halen is the best guitar player in the world. This is something like being God, except that you still have to die.
JEFF BECK TECHNICAL MAGICIAN
Rob Patterson
If you want proof that Jeff Beck is a notch above the rest, ask a guitarist.
THE ORIGINAL CHAMELEON: CHRIS SPEDDING
John Neilson
If all of the albums on which Chris Spedding has played guitar were to suddenly disappear tomorrow, the world would be deprived of a considerable body of music.
ERIC CLAPTON: A GOD, OF SORTS
J. Kordosh
In the case of Eric Clapton, one is tempted to say that his reputation superceded his ability to deliver.
PEROXIDE POLICEMAN: ANDY SUMMERS
John Neilson
One moment his shimmering guitar will be all that is holding the band together.
POWER CHORD KING: PETE TOWNSHEND
John Neilson
It’s hard to write objectively about Pete Townshend these days without grappling with all sorts of ambivalent feelings.
INTO THE BLACK: NEIL YOUNG
Bill Holdship
Neil Young is an enigma when it comes to musical categories.