Heartbreaking tales of these fleeting stars
Eddie Van Halen was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His passing sees rock music deprived of one of its most original and dazzling exponents, a musician whose virtuoso guitar technique prompted his contemporaries to call him a modern-day Mozart. Indeed, he was one of a select group of guitarists whose creative clout and amazing technical ability has inspired thousands to pick up the instrument and learn to play. But who else can strike such a resonating chord with rock music fans?
Click through the following gallery and take a look at some of the world's most influential guitarists.
A two-time inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Jeff Beck played with all the greats throughout his lengthy and distinguished career. Dubbed the 'Six-stringed warrior' by Jimmy Page, he was revered for redefining guitar music in the 1960s. Beck rose to fame playing with the Yardbirds before forming the Jeff Beck Group with Rod Stewart. Over the years he won the Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental Performance six times and is remembered for legendary performances alongside the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and David Bowie.
Principal songwriter and lead guitarist of American rock band Van Halen, Netherlands-born Eddie Van Halen popularized the tapping guitar solo technique, exemplified on tracks like 'Eruption' and 'Hot for Teacher.' He sadly passed away in 2020 at the age of 65.
'Purple Haze,' 'Hey Joe,' 'Foxy Lady,' and his Woodstock jaw-dropper 'The Star-Spangled Banner' are all instantly recognized as the work of Jimi Hendrix, who most regard as the greatest guitarist in music history.
Listen to Eric Clapton perform 'Bell Bottom Blues' or 'Crossroads' and you'll appreciate why the ex Yardbirds and Cream guitarist is considered one of the most important and influential musicians of all time.
Founder and guitarist of legendary rock band Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Page has been described by Rolling Stone magazine as the "pontiff of power riffing." Listen to 'Kashmir' or 'Heartbreaker' and bang your head in agreement.
As lead guitarist with the most famous band in history, George Harrison introduced some of the Fab Four's most memorable hits, tracks like 'I Feel Fine' and 'Day Tripper.' But listen to 'I Saw Her Standing There' and 'Something' for his equally catchy and haunting guitar solo work.
Brian May's distinctive sound created through his layered guitar work led considerable weight to many Queen tracks. He also co-wrote some of the band's most memorable songs. But to really appreciate May's fine fret work, spin lesser-known classics like 'Brighton Rock' and 'Keep Yourself Alive.'
Best known as the lead guitarist of hard rock band Guns N' Roses, Slash is one of the industry's most accomplished musicians. His guitar solo on 'November Rain' and the opening riff in 'Sweet Child o' Mine' are regularly voted as among the greatest in rock history.
His energetic performances, schoolboy-uniform stage outfits, and his own version of Chuck Berry's duckwalk have made AC/DC's lead guitarist one of rock's most applauded performers. His licks and solo work are legendary: listen again to 'Thunderstruck' and 'Highway to Hell.'
The guitar boogie sound that defined Chuck Berry influenced a generation of musicians, including John Lennon and Keith Richards. Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode,' 'Roll Over Beethoven,' and 'Maybellene' rank among rock 'n' roll's great anthems.
Co-founder and lead guitarist of the Rolling Stones, Keith Richards has also co-written some of the band's most memorable work, tracks that include '(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction' and 'Gimme Shelter.'
Who doesn't know 'Black Magic Woman'? Together with 'Oye Como Va,' these are two of Carlos Santana's signature compositions, fueld by melodic, blues-based lines set against Latin and African rhythms played on percussion instruments not generally heard in rock, such as timbales and congas.
Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader, Frank Zappa could conjure up some intricate and blistering solos when in charge of a guitar. One of his most influential tracks is the extraordinary 'In-a-Gadda-Stravinsky.'
One only has to listen to 'I Will Follow,' 'Pride (In the Name of Love),' and 'The Fly' to appreciate the intricate and melodic sound U2's The Edge effortlessly creates to complement Bono's vocals.
His emotional 'Purple Rain' features arguably the greatest power-ballad guitar solo in music history. But Prince could also perform a funky six-string groove when in the mood, as demonstrated on his smash hit 'Kiss.'
Known for his colossal ringing chords used in The Who, Pete Townshend has always been an exciting and aggressive guitar player, his instrument often ending up in pieces next to Keith Moon's shattered drum kit. His urgent playing is particularly appreciated on 'My Generation.'
Regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time, B.B. King introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending and shortened bursts of shimmering vibrato that influenced many later blues electric guitar players. 'The Thrill is Gone' is a perfect example.
One of rock's seminal instrumentals remains 'Albatross,' written by Peter Green and recorded by his band Fleetwood Mac. Described as Britain's "most progressive blues guitarist," Green's trademark sound included string bending, vibrato, and economy of style.
His contemporaries called him "one of the greatest white blues players of all time" and certainly when you listen to 'Statesboro Blues,' or 'Whipping Post,' Duane Allman is deserving of the honor. Founder and leader of the Allman Brothers Band, Duane Allman's skills as a guitarist place him among the very best masters of the instrument.
Mark Knopfler's distinctive fingerstyle guitar style comes to the fore on 'Sultan's of Swing,' a huge hit for his band Dire Straits. But the softer and more harmonic 'Romeo and Juliet' is equally representative of his virtuoso finger work.
David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd in 1968 shortly before the departure of the doomed Syd Barrett, which led to a change of musical direction for the pioneers of psychedelic rock. His dreamy, melodic solos can be heard throughout 'Dark Side of the Moon.' But 'Comfortably Numb' from 'The Wall' and, of course, 'Shine on You Crazy Diamond' also exemplify Gilmour's sprawling and elegant playing.
Johnny Marr achieved fame in the 1980s as lead guitarist and co-songwriter of seminal post-punk era band The Smiths. His jangling Rickenbacker strings are prominent on 'This Charming Man,' while the reverberating 'How Soon Is Now?' demonstrates a darker, more strident sound.
'Cold Shot,' 'Love Struck Baby, and 'Look at Little Sister' are considered key tracks in the career of Stevie Ray Vaughn. He combined jazz, blues, and rockabilly in a style that still influences and inspires generations of guitarists.
Before all rock's great innovators there was Scotty Moore, who many described as inventing a new musical language in the 1950s with his playing on 'Baby, Let's Play House,' 'Mystery Train,' 'Lawdy Miss Clawdy,' and many other songs for Elvis Presley. "Everyone else wanted to be Elvis," Keith Richards once said. "I wanted to be Scotty."
Best known as the lead guitarist for the Shadows, Hank Marvin is responsible for some of the most endearing instrumentals of the 1960s. His playing style is distinctive and instantly recognizable, characterized by fluid use of the tremolo arm on hits such as 'Apache.' Eric Clapton, Mark Knopfler, and Jimmy Page are among those Marvin has influenced.
Often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues," Mississippi-born Muddy Waters recorded a string of blues classics in the 1950s, among them a smoking rendition of 'I Just Want to Make Love to You.' His music has influenced various American music genres.
Robert Fripp's work as guitarist with progressive rock band King Crimson produced masterpieces such as 'Larks' Tongues in Aspic,' which features one of Fripp's most acclaimed guitar lines. His compositions often feature unusual time signatures, which have been influenced by classical and folk traditions, and are appreciated by the likes of David Bowie and Brian Eno.
Belgian-born Romani-French jazz guitarist and composer Django Reinhardt was the first major jazz talent to emerge from Europe and remains the most significant. 'Minor Swing' has become a standard within gypsy jazz.
"Satch" is the best-selling instrumental rock guitarist of all time. These days he keeps busy by touring with G3, where he invites other notable guitarists to join him in concert. One of Satriani's signature numbers, 'Summer Song,' is an often-performed number.
Les Paul was as much a musical engineer as a guitarist, and was responsible for some truly original technical innovations in the studio during the 1950s. He is, of course, forever remembered as the inspiration for the Gibson Les Paul guitar, and for tracks like 'How High the Moon,' 'Vaya Con Dios,' and 'Tiger Rag.'
See also: Beat it! The best drummers in the world
The world's greatest rock guitarists
The most influential guitar players in rock music history
MUSIC Guitar
Eddie Van Halen was considered one of the greatest guitarists of all time. His passing sees rock music deprived of one of its most original and dazzling exponents, a musician whose virtuoso guitar technique prompted his contemporaries to call him a modern-day Mozart. Indeed, he was one of a select group of guitarists whose creative clout and amazing technical ability has inspired thousands to pick up the instrument and learn to play. But who else can strike such a resonating chord with rock music fans?
Click through the following gallery and take a look at some of the world's most influential guitarists.