hmm....as a guitarist....it's a toughie
Brian May is defiantly up there....I got tickets to Queen + Paul Rodgers for my 16th birthday....he put on an amazing show, and the Brighton Rock solo was a definite highlight, the way he co-ordinates the echoes into cohesive harmonies and strings the whole thing together so that it makes musical sense is nothing short of spectacular.
Then there's Mark Knopfler of Dire Straits (who I am seeing live in may)
He is certainly one of the most underrated guitarists that I know of, some of his solos are nothing short of breathtaking, especially listening to the live coda and outro solo of sultans of swing, and to think he doesn't use a pick or cover it up with masses of distortion shows his true talent.
I'm not a big fan of Metal Guitarists, tapping and sweep picking at a million miles an hour through shed loads of distortion, just always sounds a mess to me, and lacks the soul and emotion of players like Mark and Brian.
I'm not sure who is the best guitarist then....
but my
favorite guitarist has to be Mr Angus Young, especially on the Bon Scott tunes:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MznksIbMXFg[/youtube]
(i know Brian Johnson is singing before someone points it out, but it;s the only good video of the song performed live)
Technicly, Mark Knopfler and Brian May are in a completly different league to him...as are hundreds of other guitarists, including those in the metal genre....
but watch and listen to the solo at 1:18....that is pure rock and roll. The look on his face. The uniform. The guy is an average guitarist, but a fantastic showman, and that is why he is my favorite.
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