Most Underrated and Overlooked Guitarists
 

I thought this might be an interesting topic to explore. Either that, or nobody'll give a damn enough to contribute, but it interests me anyway, and hopefully others will view it with a similar keenness. Basically, the idea is to think of some of the most either overlooked, or just plain underrated rock/metal guitar players out there.

I thought I'd start this one up with none other than Tool's Adam Jones - mostly because the reasons often given for treating him with disdain tend to irk me, either out of sheer redundancy, or otherwise just general lameness - also because it gives me a chance to rant!

For starters, your typical popular rock act seldom has particularly demanding guitar parts. What Adam Jones does, while not being hugely demanding in a technical sense, is a fair deal more complex and sophisticated than what you find with at least 70% of most standard bands out there - so why he's singled out among other guitar players who don't tend to play demanding parts is beyond me. But more importantly... while it is true that Adam Jones is not some guitar virtuoso who does things that make you stop and go "holy f'n WOW, that's IMPOSSIBLE!"... while he's no Hanneman or King, or Iommi or Rhoades, or Angus Young or whatever... the thing is...

...He's not SUPPOSED to be! And the issue here is some people just not *getting* Tool. Because Tool aren't about highly technically demanding riffs and soloing. The main merit in Tool lies in the rhythm, the rhythmic patterning, the polyrhythmic arrangements and the sound layering in general. And Adam Jones fulfils the role that he's MEANT to fill excellently - just as good as most others could be expected to. He's a good player. Definitely not amazing, but not at all bad. And a whole lot better than half the rubbish out there.

And if people call him bad because they don't like "his" tone, that's equally unusual, because his parts sound precisely as they're supposed to (and the mode of amplifying ensures that): that's how Tool are meant to sound - it's the target. Jones has moulded a particular style that is Tool. And anyhow, with all the funds they have to spend on studio production, they could make it sound however they wanted to, regardless of Jones' "limitations". There's a reason it sounds how it does, and it sure *ain't* because Jones is a bad player.

And finally, if people say he's bad because he supposedly screws up at live performances, then that's not generally the case. The whole band are usually tight as anything, at least when I've seen them.

More than anything else, hating and casting aspersions upon Jones' guitar-playing is really just an extension of the anti-Tool bandwaggon.

Elliott Smith, seriously, hes one sick guitar player. In fact he can write music really well, if you listen to Home To Oblivion by Christopher O'Riley you'll see that. But back to his guitar playing, Memory Lane? I Don't Think I'm Ever Going To Figure It Out? I rest my case.

John 5 is pretty amazing. With Manson, he was averege rock, but 'Songs for Sanity' was a mad album, listen to 'Damaged' blows my mind.
And Jack Johnson plays some cool acoustic.

Eddie Hazel from Funkadelic

Listen to Maggot Brain & you`ll see why

i've always liked tom verlaine's guitar playing, he's no master of the instrument, just something about it.

Agreed on Eddie Hazel.

Some other worthy mentions.

Steve Hackett
Mick Ronson
Adrian Belew
Zoot Horn Rollo
Robert Randolph
D. Boon
Larry LaLonde
Gary Green
Mike Einziger
Joe Walsh
Vernon Reid
Martin Barre
Trey Anastasio
Lindsey Buckingham
Alex Lifeson
Snakefinger
Jorma Kaukonen
Kevin Shields

Joe Walsh is amazing boo boo, they did a live dvd called....'Gotta Move' I think..he's amazing live!

Muhammad from Necrophagist is an amazing guitarist but most don't know about the band so he gets overlooked.

Not to mention "Angeles", "Tomorrow Tomorrow" and "Southern Belle" Plus he's one of the best arrangers ever when it comes to Singer/Songwriter's

Yeah, would have to agree with you there. The riff to stabwound is fantastic

1) Kai Hansen - The godfather of Power Metal. Vocalist, Song-Writer and most importantly, a stellar guitarist. The riffs in his songs usually stay stuck in your mind once you listen to them.

2) Luca Turilli - Guitarist for Rhapsody. His solos are really fiery.

3) Alexi Laiho - Vocals and Lead Guitars for Children of Bodom.

Camel - Andy Latimer (possibly the most overlooked)

Ensiferum - Jari Mäenpää (does not get mentioned enough)
Funkadelic - Eddie Hazel
King Crimson - Adrian Belew
Phish - Trey Anastasio

i think Nick Hippa is pretty good from As i lay dying and Daron Malakian from System of a down

Bruce Springsteen is overlooked. He's nothing amazing, but he's very competent. Live he's quite amazing to listen to, full of energy.

wel the first 2 are deffinitly good but alexi gets alot of recognition.

I'd have to add Greg Howe mainly because he works as a studio musician and even though he's been in some big numbers he hasn't really been recognized and if you check out anything he's done with Vitalij Kuprij you'll see although im sure he's got alot of hter great stuff too.

and Tokki from stratovarius a small band over here and probally in a lot of places although i immagine there big in finland and the surrounding countries.

Zachary Hietala from Tarot, the founder Marco Hietala is probally more known for his role in Nightwish but his brother (and probally marco) is a great guitarist and does so pretty cool things.

Mats Haugen from Circus Maximus a very small time Norwegian Prog Metal band. but he's insanely good albeit a little too john petrucci-ish.

Jari Maenpaa (Wintersun, Ensiferum)
Tim Roth (Into Eternity)


there probally **** loads more too.

steve howe.
no one hardly knows him whenever i mention the man.

How is Hendrix overlooked?

Just my dumb way of voting for Jimi

Oh, I love Strato. One of my favorite bands. But they are not a small band, they have established quite a legacy.

Oh, here's another to add to my first post. Marty Friedman. Does not get enough recognition. He has some freakin' sweet solo stuff - not to mention Cacophony as well.

And I agree on Adam Jones. He does a good job of what he is required to do. He may not solo that often, but when he does (i.e. Parabola), it's good.

No he's no Robert Fripp who he shares some similarities with, but he does a good job. He's not amazing, just good.

Hell yeah! The dude's amazing. Even Brian May, who's a great and well trained guitarist, admitted to not being able to play the Spanish guitar section of Innuendo - hence Queen getting Howe in for the job.

Actually, now that I mention him, anyone think Brian May counts?

Paul Leary

Joe Perry from Aerosmith, he's pretty damn amazing, good live, but he never seems to put that bit extra in, it's a shame. Songs like 'Love in an elevator' and 'Crazy' some cool solos in there, he has style. And his image is pretty cool too.

nobody ive seen in the states knows about them i thought they were big over in europe and japan but that was it.

Agreed on Howe a million times over.

As for Jones, I don't think his playing sounds that much like Fripp, even though he did cite him as a major influence, he still has his own rather unique sound IMO.

Yes, I think that's exactly true. If anything, he's "reinvented" guitar-playing in SOME sense or other. At least in the sense of eschewing all conventions, anyway.

I know no one has ever heard of them, but whatever. Dan "Thunder" Bolton and Rontrose Heathman.:hphones:

I don't know about Dan Bolton, but Michael Bolton is definitely an overlooked guitarist.

Michael Bolton?The cheesy love song dude?

Michael Schenker - UFO. He was Clapton and Hendrix combined.

The late Terry Kath of "Chicago". Hendrix once stated that Kath was a better guitarist (from a technical standpoint) than he was.

Kath is a virtual unknown today, because he rarely recorded any hard rock songs.

Isn't he just a singer? If he played it was probably nothing more than chords, no solos, just can't imagine that. Gary Moore gets hugely overlooked considering his talent. I mean one listen of 'Parisienne Walkways', and the assualt on the whammy barwas insane, you'll have to appreciate his talent.

the guys from ZZ top are good

Y'all are forgeting about Michael Bolton's Heavy Metal days, back with Blackjack. Blackjack was a wicked album - you can hear Michael's raw guitar talent on it.

I think that the above is the first time the name Michael Bolton and the word "talent" have been used in the same sentence.

I hate Michael Bolton. His stuff gets played quite often here.

Stupid love songs, I hate 'em.

The love songs suck. You really should check out his heavy metal stuff, though. You'd be surprised at what a phenomenal piece of talent he was, before he completely sold out.

Kim Mitchell is definitely that someone that is worth checking out. He is great. In particular his stuff with the much underrated band Max Webster.

They made about 7 records 1975-1980 and were one of the best bands around. Being Canadian and on the same label as Rush meant they were always playing in their shadow. Unfortunately they never made in big in the states and folded in the early eighties.

Kim went on to have more success as a solo artist with hits like "Go for a Soda" and "Patio Lanterns" but the really kickin' stuff was with Max Webster.

They kind of sound like Rush meets Frank Zappa if you have never heard them check them out.

i think Robert Quine can be added to the list.