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Who do YOU think is the greatest guitarist who has ever lived?
I'll stick my vote in a spoiler, so that I don't influence anyone's choice

SPOILER ALERT!  Highlight to view:

I vote Eric Clapton, not only for his undeniable skill (let's face it, no one ever spray painted HENDRIX IS GOD on any walls...) but for his blues purist approach toward music, as well.

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I close my mouth now and I scream,
Open the door, there's nothing worth redeeming
I saw your face before in rough,
You should wait around a while, your body's bound to turn up.
So low for how high?
-Matt Good, "Running for Home"

I voted for Knopfler because out of the choices, I'm most familiar with his skill, and it is undeniably great.  His ability to go from heavy to soft really sets the mood of the songs and must have been one of the reasons for the band's fame.

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Hey, put the cellphone down for a while
In the night there is something wild
Can you hear it breathing?
And hey, put the laptop down for a while
In the night there is something wild
I feel it, it's leaving me

Jimi Hendrix is great, because he flows very naturally, from what I've heard. I haven't heard all of the choices, not lately anyways, but whatever.

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Lou: There's a couple of guys fighting down at the aquarium, Chief.
Wiggum: Do they still sell those frozen bananas?
Lou: I think so.
Wiggum: Let's roll.

I'm split between Jimmy Page and Jimi Hendrix. Hendriz is amazing, but I just listened to Dazed and Confused and Whole Lotta Love like 20 minutes ago. Damn I wish I could play like that.

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What would Zorro do?-Homer Simpson

why the F_CK is Alex Lifeson(lead guitar from Rush) not up there.

I was watching him play last week at the vapor trails concert, and all I can say is "Damn"  

Rush is great to listen to, but you have to SEE them do it.

If I had any hope of becomeing a rock star it's dashed now

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"Number One, I order you to go take a number two."

I'm gonna have to go with Joe Satriani. And that's not just because I saw him in concert not a week ago.

And then there's Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, plus all three guitarists who played on Ozzy's solo albums over the years *Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde*, Glenn Tipton and KK Downing from Judas Priest, Eric Johnson, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Dimebag Darrel of Pantera-I could go on forever. There are many gods on Mt. Olympus.

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"Nothing exists, but atoms and the void"
-Democritus

I'm a big fan of Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. He's IMO, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time when he should be at the top of the list. He plays the guitar so well that when he went on one of his stints out of the band, they needed two guitarists to replace him. So......I voted 'other'.

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"If it is weak, either kill it or ignore it. Anything else honors it."
-Kaervek

I voted 'Other.'  My choice is Alex Lifeson of Rush.  He is an absolutely amazing guitarist (especially live!) who can tackle anything from heavy metal to classical guitar.  But what sets him apart from a lot of other guitarists out there is that he never really shows off; he has all the technical ability in the world, but he is experienced enough to know that good guitar playing is not just playing as fast as you can at all times.  

Suggested listening for Alex Lifeson: A Farewell to Kings, Working Man, YYZ.

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Always hopeful, yet discontent; he knows changes aren't permanent --
But change is!

Don't get me wrong, Jimi Hendrix, and Jimi Page, are guitar gods, to say the least. I'm wondering why Toni Iommi wasn't on there, because Black Sabbath was great and his guitar skilsl were insanity.

For best guitarist, being the metal addict I am, I give it to Kerry King. Listen to Jesus Saves, or Angel Of Death. These songs have riffs that are played not only to perfection, but hauntingly so. He plays as if possessed, and doesn't need drugs to do it either, not to take anything away from the others though.

Another great, is Tom Morello. Listen to him do Killing In The Name Of live at Woodstock. The solo is just plan crazy. All the effects his goes through are just freakish. He is truly deserving of the title most innovative guitarist.

Another great guitarist, who is commonly forgotten, is Randy Rhoads. He was the one that brought Ozzy back to life with his crazy solos and genious riffs in the 80's when Sabbath no longer wanted him. The album "The BLizzard Of Ozz" is a testament to that. It was a shame he died so young.

And I'd hit myself if I didn't mention Daron Malakian, of System Of A Down. He is truly talented, you may not always hear it, because of the simplicity of most of SOAD's songs, but after seeing him play live, I know he is truly talented. Then there is Gian and Martin, of Cradle Of Filth, who can shred a guitar to peices with their super fast played guitar riffs, and with all that hair flying around they look so damn cool. Finally, Silenoz, one of my idols on guitar, guitarist for Dimmu Borgir. He goes from something slow and soothing to something fast and just plain metal ish, and he does it in half a second. It's sheer talent.

Other greats to me, are James Black(Finger Eleven), Kirk Hammet(Metallica), Dime Bag Darrell (Pantera),Jade (AFI)
and there are so many other great ones, if you know where to look, and what to listen for.

-says the metal loving guitarist for Zealous Apathy, who would mention himself, but isn't good enough to be put in a category with these guys.

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Okay, but there was a goat!

Quote (Alexandr @ 22 Aug. 2002, 10:40)

Suggested listening for Alex Lifeson: A Farewell to Kings, Working Man, YYZ.

2112.  Before I saw it at the concert i could have sworn there were two people playing lead guitar in Overture  good shiet  

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"Number One, I order you to go take a number two."

Quote (Ninja Edge @ 22 Aug. 2002, 07:52)

I'm a big fan of Lindsey Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. He's IMO, one of the most underrated guitarists of all time when he should be at the top of the list. He plays the guitar so well that when he went on one of his stints out of the band, they needed two guitarists to replace him. So......I voted 'other'.

Same thing with Stevie Ray Vaughan, actually, when he died his band needed two guitarists to replace him.

I'd like to remind people that it only allows for TEN choices.  "Why the **** is (so-and-so) not up there" can be answered as such.  I would have loved to put Stevie Ray Vaughan, Carlos Santana, Neil Young, as well as the umpteen dozen great guitarists from the bands I don't listen to, but sorry folks, no room.  Just click other and tell us who.  Thanks a heap.

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I close my mouth now and I scream,
Open the door, there's nothing worth redeeming
I saw your face before in rough,
You should wait around a while, your body's bound to turn up.
So low for how high?
-Matt Good, "Running for Home"

Hendrix, baby.

I have to get something in. I hate Van Halen. I hate Eddy Van Halen even more. He was not a guitar great, they were the reason metal turned into tight spandex pants and fluffy hair. Eddy Van Halen made it big because of that, and because he can finger tap on the fret board quickly. So can any other guitarist after practicing that for about A WEEK. Sorry, I just get upset when I hear someone giving Van Halen props for being a big thing in 80's metal. Randy Rhoads was a billion times better than Eddy Van Halen. Let's see Eddy play Mr. Crowley, or all of Crazy Train. He can't! Guitar God? I say Nay.

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Okay, but there was a goat!

Agreed. Don't forget "Over the Mountain"-I yearn for the day that I learn how to play that song all the way through, stride into Guitar Center, plug a Gibson SG into a Marshall stack and let 'er rip...

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"Nothing exists, but atoms and the void"
-Democritus

UHHH! i couldn't vote. I think that Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and David Gilmour are equally great. But you forgot to mention someone.... DF already did though... TOM MORELLO! I saw that video of him playing Killing In The Name of live at Woodstock. IT was insanity!
And of course Kerry King from Slayer... Yes Angel Of Death is INSANE as well as War Ensemble. We both know who could play that well eh DF!?
And finally but not least... Daron Malakian. Yes at first you might think that he isn't all that great cuz the songs are easy but like DF said... WATHC HIM LIVE!!! AHHHHH!!!! I WANNA SEE THEM AGAIN!
Notice how i practically said everything that DF said...

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You were in my arms, clutching me tight
We were in the darkness, searching for light
Then you left me, all alone
To walk this world, all on my own!
--Rob--Zealous Apathy