The Greatest Guitarist of All-Time? Rolling Stone Says Hendrix [Video]

Who is the world’s greatest guitarist? If you trust Rolling Stone’s opinion, then there is no greater guitarist than Jimi Hendrix. Rolling Stone has just released a list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all-time and the leader of the Band of Gypsys tops the list.

Rolling Stone assembled a pretty impressive panel to create the 100 greatest guitarists list. Trey Anastasio, Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains), Billy Corgan, Warren Haynes (The Allman Brothers Band), Lenny Kravitz, Robby Krieger (The Doors), Mike McCready (Pearl Jam), Tom Morello, Carlos Santana, and several other musicians gave their opinions to Rolling Stone to create the list.

Hendrix, famous for songs like “Purple Haze,” “Foxey Lady,” “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and “Hey Joe,” inspired generations of musicians to pick up a guitar.

Tom Morrello writes: Hendrix guitar was “like a divining rod of the turbulent Sixties – you can hear the riots in the streets and napalm bombs dropping in his “Star-Spangled Banner… His playing was effortless. There’s not one minute of his recorded career that feels like he’s working hard at it… His riffs were a pre-metal funk bulldozer, and his lead lines were an electric LSD trip down to the crossroads, where he pimp-slapped the devil.”

Not familiar with Jimi’s music? Here’s a little reminder.

Here’s the rest of the top five as chosen by Rolling Stone.

Eric Clapton #2

Eddie Van Halen writes: “There was a basic simplicity to his playing, his style, his vibe and his sound. He took a Gibson guitar and plugged it into a Marshall, and that was it. The basics. The blues.”

Jimmy Page #3

Joe Perry writes: “Listening to what Jimmy Page does on guitar can transport you. As a lead player, he always plays the right thing for the right spot – he’s got such remarkable taste.”

Keith Richards #4

Nils Lofgren of the E Street Band writes: “Keith wrote two-and three-note themes that were more powerful than any great solo.”

Jeff Beck #5

Mike Campbell of the Heartbreakers writes: “Jeff Beck has the combination of brilliant technique with personality. It’s like he’s saying, “I’m Jeff Beck. I’m right here. And you can’t ignore me.”

What do you think of the greatest guitarists of all-time list? Is Jimi Hendrix really the world’s greatest guitarist?