Like for me, Terry Kath (Chicago) is one of the many guitarists that got me playing but is sometimes overlooked by many. Who do think are some overlooked guitarists?
It’s funny that you mention Terry Kath. I just posted a Youtube link here the other day of the song ‘Free Form Guitar’ off of the ‘Chicago Transit Authority’ album. I’ve been a huge fan of those first few Chicago albums for many years…that one in particular. I was in a band many years ago and we covered their song ‘South California Purples’…great soloing by Terry!
Their cover of I’m a Man was incredible too!
Terry Kath is best known for pioneering the hammer-on harmonic guitar technique. He was also worshipped by Jimi Hendrix after Jimi caught them in a live performance at The Whisky A Go Go in 1968.
It’s so nice to see somebody mention his name in this forum.
Amazing guitarist, and definitely overlooked!
RIP Terry Kath.
Another guitarist in Terry’s league back at that time was Phil Keaggy of the band Glass Harp. Ted Nugent was quoted as saying "I don’t know what happened to that Phil Keaggy, he could have saved the world with his guitar" in Guitar Player Magazine.
When Jimi Hendrix was on the tonight show in the late 60’s, Johnny Carson asked him, "what does it feel like to be the greatest guitarist in the world?" Jimi responded with, "I don’t know, you’d have to ask Phil Keaggy".
Phil was an incredilbe player, and another one of the many overlooked guitarists.
Here’s a few others that don’t seem to get much recognition:
Jim McCarty – guitarist for Mitch Ryder Detroit/Wheels & Cactus
Steve Hillage – guitarist for Kahn, Gong, Mike Oldfield, etc.
Steve Hackett – Genesis
Eddie Phillips – The Creation (first to ever bow an electric guitar)
Tony McPhee – The Groundhogs
Dave ‘Clem’ Clempson – Colosseum, Humble Pie
Jorma Kaukonen – Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, solo
Peter Kaukonen – Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, solo
Peter Banks – Yes, Flash, solo
Eddie Hazel & Ron Bykowski – Funkadelic & Parliament
Darryl Stuermer – played with Jean Luc Ponty, Phil Collins, etc.
Phil Manzanera – Roxy Music
Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter – Steely Dan
Randy California – Spirit
Uli Roth – The Scorpions, Electric Sun
D*ck Wagner – The Frost, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, etc.
Steve Hunter – Detroit, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, etc
Paul Chapman – UFO
Mick Box – Uriah Heep
Jan Akkerman – Focus, solo
Frank Marino – Mahogany Rush, solo
Walter Rossi – Charlee, solo
Adrian Belew – King Crimson, Frank Zappa, solo
Mick Abrahms – Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig, solo
Leigh Stephens – Blue Cheer
Kazuo ‘Flash’ Takeda – Blues Creation, Creation
Elliot Easton – The Cars, CCR Revisited
John Goodsall aka Johny Mandella – Brand X, Atomic Rooster, etc
Lee Pickens – Bloodrock, solo
John Nitzinger – Nitzinger
Larry Reinhart – Iron Butterfly, Allman Bros, Captain Beyond
Les Harvey – Stone the Crows
Stan Webb – Chicken Shack, Broken Glass, Savoy Brown
Phil Keaggy – Glass Harp,
Adrian Gurvitz – Gun, Three Man Army, Baker Gurvitz Army
Floyd Radford – Edgar Winters White Trash, Johnny Winter, Tin House
Tom Verlaine – Television
Dominic Troiano – Bush (Canadian band), James Gang, solo
Bob Welch – Fleetwood Mac, Paris
Ricky Medlocke – Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Harvey Mandel – Canned Heat, Rolling Stones, solo
Mike Pinera – Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Thee Image, Ramatam, Alice Cooper
Kirby (no known last name) – Stretch, Curved Air. Stretch also toured the US as the bogus Fleetwood Mac in the early 70’s
Some great answers here, but I feel many of the guitarists mentioned are not overlooked at all…and are very well known and respected musicians. Especially when it comes to the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Peter Green, Peter Frampton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pete Townsend, Frank Zappa, Eddie Van Halen, Martin Barre, Jeff Beck, and Steve Howe. No offense to the people that mentioned them…but when have they ever been overlooked?
I could list many more guitarists that I feel are overlooked…but there’s a few anyways!
May I have advice on becoming a great guitarist?
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The Essential Guide To Guitar Virtuosity is not your typical guitar instructional ebook. It is not a theory book, or how to build guitar solos from scales, rather it is a guitar exercise training ebook.
March 17th, 2010 at 9:52 pm
Prince.
Arguably the most underrated guitarist in all music history.
References :
March 17th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Billy Joe Armstrong (Green Day)…people tend to forget that all the guitar on the albums used to be just him, and it was pretty damn good. Also, Pete Loeffler (Chevelle)–highly overlooked. Chevelle gets credit for being a great band, but has anyone even listened to this guy play? If you get a chance, definitely go see them…they deliver a great live show, and Pete is an awesome guitarist.
References :
March 17th, 2010 at 11:16 pm
Alex Lifeson
References :
March 17th, 2010 at 11:57 pm
Pete Townshend -The Who
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Kirk Hammet-Metallica
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 12:17 am
<<definately me
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 1:07 am
Jake E Lee, often viewed as the fourth best guitar player to share the stage with Ozzy, his work is often overlooked and it should not be IMO.
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 1:27 am
Richie Blackmore
Eric Braun
Eric Johnson
Stevie Vai
Joe Satriani
George Harrison
Michael Nesmith
Randy California
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 1:46 am
Robin Trower
Garry Moore
Jeff Beck
Alvin Lee
Ronnie Montrose
Steve Howe
Peter Green
Mick Ronson
Frank Zappa
Billy Gibbons
All great guitarists that hardly get mentioned.
Edit: Will, how could I forget Mahogany Rush, one of my favorite bands!
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 2:35 am
Did a person seriously say Pete Townshend Stevie Ray Vaughan? Brilliant guitarists, but they don’t belong in this thread – both are among the most famous musicians of the 20th century.
I would put forth Denny Laine of Wings.
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 3:16 am
Tim Pierce
Tim is currently one of the top studio guitarists in LA. Prior to concentrating on studio work he played/toured with Rick Springfield and other bands. He has played lead guitar for many artists over the years including Michael Jackson (Thriller, Black & White), Rob Thomas, Bon Jovi and many others.
For further information I’ve included a link to an interview with Tim: http://www.melodicrock.com/interviews/timpierce.html
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 4:06 am
all of what "Beatle fanatic" said, and.
Gary Richrath, REO Speedwagon (when they still rocked before the ballads)
Tommy Bolin Deep Purple and as a solo
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 4:13 am
Ritchie Stotts of the Plasmatics, he made his axe sound like he was killing it every night
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 4:47 am
I think Nikki Sixx is overlooked a lot. He is great.
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 5:11 am
All the guitarists I listen to…why do people like rap anyway?
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 5:37 am
Jagori Tanna
Mike McCready
Alex Lifeson
Steve Howe
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March 18th, 2010 at 6:22 am
I agree with Beatle fanatic…
adding:
MARK KNOPFLER
STEVE HACKETT
PACO DE LUCIA
AL DI MEOLA
JOHN MC LAUGHLIN
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 6:54 am
if you ever have a yen for the blues, check out Sonny Landreth. Overlooked by rockers, I think.
(give a listen to "A World Away")
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 7:31 am
OMG –
C.C.DeVille of Poison
SLASH from gunners / velvet revoler
Shane Howell – KISS
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Vernon Reid of Living Colour. Has constantly flown under the radar b/c of Living Colour’s lack of commercial success, but he’s one helluva technical shredder.
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 8:59 am
Poor old Frank Marino…he gets overlooked in the overlooked question…
Earl Johnson of Moxy…
Mark Chatfield of The Godz
Edit: Neil Giraldo Pat Benatar’s guitarist husband
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 9:34 am
Jerry Cantrell
Zakk Wylde
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 10:05 am
Jake Cinninger- Umphrey’s Mcgee
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 10:26 am
Bucket Head (Guns n Roses)
Billy Duffy (The Cult)
Jade Pudget (AFI)
Dan Jacobs (Atreyu)
Billie Joe (Green Day)
Maybe Carlos Santana
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 11:02 am
Les Paul, Leo Kottke, Jose Feliciano, Roy Buchanan, Paul Simon, James Taylor, Shawn Phillips, Peter Stroud (Sheryl Crow), Mike Campbell (Tom Petty), Bonnie Raitt, Chrissie Hynde, Roy Clark (although primarily country – an amazing guitarist, along with fiddle, mandolin, banjo, and you name it!), Chet Atkins, Lindsey Buckingham, Rick Neilsen (Cheap Trick), I’ll be back if/when I think of more.
Will: I would have added Frank Marino if you hadn’t – overlooked for sure!
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Martin Barrie (Tull)
Ritchie Blackmore (Purple)
Tony Iommi (Sabbath)
Peter Green (Fleetwood)
Gary Moore
Peter Frampton (Herd & Humble Pie)
Gerry Rosington(Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Mark Knopfler(Dire Straits)
Brian May (Queen)
but the two best guitartist out there are Clapton and Page
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 11:58 am
Engwey Malmstein, Ace frehley, Eddie Van Halen,Don Dokken,Mark Slauter,Steven Piercy(ratt)
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 12:23 pm
It’s funny that you mention Terry Kath. I just posted a Youtube link here the other day of the song ‘Free Form Guitar’ off of the ‘Chicago Transit Authority’ album. I’ve been a huge fan of those first few Chicago albums for many years…that one in particular. I was in a band many years ago and we covered their song ‘South California Purples’…great soloing by Terry!
Their cover of I’m a Man was incredible too!
Terry Kath is best known for pioneering the hammer-on harmonic guitar technique. He was also worshipped by Jimi Hendrix after Jimi caught them in a live performance at The Whisky A Go Go in 1968.
It’s so nice to see somebody mention his name in this forum.
Amazing guitarist, and definitely overlooked!
RIP Terry Kath.
Another guitarist in Terry’s league back at that time was Phil Keaggy of the band Glass Harp. Ted Nugent was quoted as saying "I don’t know what happened to that Phil Keaggy, he could have saved the world with his guitar" in Guitar Player Magazine.
When Jimi Hendrix was on the tonight show in the late 60’s, Johnny Carson asked him, "what does it feel like to be the greatest guitarist in the world?" Jimi responded with, "I don’t know, you’d have to ask Phil Keaggy".
Phil was an incredilbe player, and another one of the many overlooked guitarists.
Here’s a few others that don’t seem to get much recognition:
Jim McCarty – guitarist for Mitch Ryder Detroit/Wheels & Cactus
Steve Hillage – guitarist for Kahn, Gong, Mike Oldfield, etc.
Steve Hackett – Genesis
Eddie Phillips – The Creation (first to ever bow an electric guitar)
Tony McPhee – The Groundhogs
Dave ‘Clem’ Clempson – Colosseum, Humble Pie
Jorma Kaukonen – Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna, solo
Peter Kaukonen – Jefferson Starship, Hot Tuna, solo
Peter Banks – Yes, Flash, solo
Eddie Hazel & Ron Bykowski – Funkadelic & Parliament
Darryl Stuermer – played with Jean Luc Ponty, Phil Collins, etc.
Phil Manzanera – Roxy Music
Jeff ‘Skunk’ Baxter – Steely Dan
Randy California – Spirit
Uli Roth – The Scorpions, Electric Sun
D*ck Wagner – The Frost, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, etc.
Steve Hunter – Detroit, Alice Cooper, Lou Reed, etc
Paul Chapman – UFO
Mick Box – Uriah Heep
Jan Akkerman – Focus, solo
Frank Marino – Mahogany Rush, solo
Walter Rossi – Charlee, solo
Adrian Belew – King Crimson, Frank Zappa, solo
Mick Abrahms – Jethro Tull, Blodwyn Pig, solo
Leigh Stephens – Blue Cheer
Kazuo ‘Flash’ Takeda – Blues Creation, Creation
Elliot Easton – The Cars, CCR Revisited
John Goodsall aka Johny Mandella – Brand X, Atomic Rooster, etc
Lee Pickens – Bloodrock, solo
John Nitzinger – Nitzinger
Larry Reinhart – Iron Butterfly, Allman Bros, Captain Beyond
Les Harvey – Stone the Crows
Stan Webb – Chicken Shack, Broken Glass, Savoy Brown
Phil Keaggy – Glass Harp,
Adrian Gurvitz – Gun, Three Man Army, Baker Gurvitz Army
Floyd Radford – Edgar Winters White Trash, Johnny Winter, Tin House
Tom Verlaine – Television
Dominic Troiano – Bush (Canadian band), James Gang, solo
Bob Welch – Fleetwood Mac, Paris
Ricky Medlocke – Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Harvey Mandel – Canned Heat, Rolling Stones, solo
Mike Pinera – Blues Image, Iron Butterfly, Thee Image, Ramatam, Alice Cooper
Kirby (no known last name) – Stretch, Curved Air. Stretch also toured the US as the bogus Fleetwood Mac in the early 70’s
Some great answers here, but I feel many of the guitarists mentioned are not overlooked at all…and are very well known and respected musicians. Especially when it comes to the likes of Ritchie Blackmore, Gary Moore, Peter Green, Peter Frampton, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Pete Townsend, Frank Zappa, Eddie Van Halen, Martin Barre, Jeff Beck, and Steve Howe. No offense to the people that mentioned them…but when have they ever been overlooked?
I could list many more guitarists that I feel are overlooked…but there’s a few anyways!
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
It’s nice to see Robin Trower on your list, Beatle.
I’ll second Carlos Santana’s nomination as well.
Also, Bonnie Raitt. Killer slide guitar…
References :
March 18th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
seriously you guys. Steve Vai, Stevie Ray Vaugn? Mark Knopfler and Frank Zappa? the question was about OVERLOOKED players, not legends.
References :