Who is your fave unsung hero guitarist?

JookyChap

Forgot one - Debbie Smith of Curve and Echobelly

Phil_aka_Pip

Jan Akkerman is brilliant, but hardly unsung

Phil_aka_Pip

DrBob said:

+1 for Audley Freed, particularly for his playing on the 'Brother' album by Cry Of Love.

And, having just heard 'Axe Victim' for the first time yesterday (I know, I know) Bill Nelson, bloody hell !

Try Futurama next, it's just as good

MrBump

Nik Kershaw and Midge Ure - both guilty of some very cool '80's pop riffage.

PVO_Dave

Crispian Mills from Kula Shaker, maybe not the most technical player, but there's definitely something about his style / playing

Fretwired

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Jan Akkerman is brilliant, but hardly unsung

I disagree ... I spoke to the editor of Guitarist magazine in 2000 about an interview as Jan was touring and had an album out and his reply was "not interested ... what's he ever done" ... he's not very well known as he was only really in the limelight for three years ... the people turning up to his gigs were old Focus fans and they slowly died away so he no longer tours in the UK.

RocknRollDave

John Deacon (Queen) - Seen here rocking a Telecaster:




Adam Clayton (U2) - Seen here rocking a Strat:

tone1

Unsung Guitarists for me are Steve Jones (Sex Pistols) and Gerry Rafferty

XWulfhere

JookyChap;594231" said:

Forgot one - Debbie Smith of Curve and Echobelly

King of the kerb was a bloody excellent tune

Phil_aka_Pip

Fretwired said:

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Jan Akkerman is brilliant, but hardly unsung

I disagree ... I spoke to the editor of Guitarist magazine in 2000 about an interview as Jan was touring and had an album out and his reply was "not interested ... what's he ever done" ... he's not very well known as he was only really in the limelight for three years ... the people turning up to his gigs were old Focus fans and they slowly died away so he no longer tours in the UK.

It saddens me to learn that. I've been to several of Thijs van Leer's shows (late 2000s) and would still go to more, plus would go to see Akkerman as well. I'd have thought any serious guitarist would at least know of Akkerman, even if not fully conversant with his music.

The editor sounds like a twat for not knowing what Akkerman has achieved.

dilbert

Howard Leese from Heart, (also Bad Company and the Paul Rogers Band). Has that knack of playing the right things at the right time and let Ann and Nancy take the front of stage. 

Sadly, his reward for such stellar service (he also did backing vox, keys and was arranged their' songs) was, of course, the sack. Word is that he doesn't have to worry about those kind of things these days, he is minted !. Big mate of Paul Reed Smith too. 

 BTW, Nancy deserves a mention as she is no mean player herself. 

Jeremiah

Gary Marx. As if anyone will have heard of him.

richardhomer

Jeremiah;596398" said:

Gary Marx. As if anyone will have heard of him.

Is he Karl or Richard's brother?

xSkarloey

Robert Smith out the Cure. He's such an arresting figure and seen as more as a front man, but he's a very, very capable guitar player.

markv

Andy Bell - mainly for his playing in Hurricane #1 which I love, but also Ride. Hurricane #1 were written off as Oasis wannabes (perhaps with some justification) but I think the guitar on "Remote Control" and "Rising Sign" is brilliant.

Tony Peluso - not sure if he counts as a guitar hero since I only really know one solo of his, but it's one of my favourites - the one(s) on "Goodbye To Love" by Carpenters.

Handsome_Chris

It has to be Randy Rhoads for me. I love it tasteful phrasing. If I could play like him, the world would be a happier place.

Sassafras

Not sure Randy Rhoads qualifies as unsung.

albanov

Good calls on Timony (love the detuned non-solo on Helium 'XXX'), Reis, Bickers.

I'd add Bernard Sumner of Joy Division/New Order, Marco Pirroni of Adam & the Ants, Craig Scanlon of the Fall. 

Who all have being overshadowed somewhat by more forceful / flamboyant / mad bandmates in common now I think about it...

Also I don't care for his band much, but when Paul McCartney took a solo he did a pretty good job of it.

Fortheloveofguitar

Steve Rothery- Marillion

Fantastic player and writer that is often overlooked

RocknRollDave

albanov said:

Marco Pirroni of Adam & the Ants

Oooh, good call, sir!