I won't call this a "top ten underrated guitarists" because I know I have probably forgotten someone and I didn't rank them, I just listed ten that I consider to be underrated. Guys like Eddie Van Halen and Jimmy Page get a lot of credit. I think that eventually guys like Iommi, Blackmore and Iron Maiden's fantastic duo of Smith and Murray have also gotten their due. Yet what about the guys who have been tearing it up and never gotten their fair credit? Well here are some that I think are underrated.
Andy LaRocque(King Diamond)-Kind of like Yngwie Malmsteen only with more flare and less self indulgent.
Michael Schenker(UFO,Scorpions, MSG)- Stunning guitar parts and always seemed to be progressing as a player.
John Sykes(Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy,Whitesnake and Blue Murder)-
Severely overlooked at times, but he was a great hard rock guitarist who could shred, but knew how to make it catchy. Also he could play some original tones as well.
Kai Hansen(Helloween, Gamma Ray)-How much does the genre of power metal owe to this guy? He founded perhaps the two most influential bands of the genre and always seemed to be moving forward with his playing.
Vito Bratta (White Lion)-Obviously influenced by Eddie Van Halen, but he grew as a player as was really coming into his own on the last White Lion album.
Tony Bourge(Budgie)-He was playing some heavy, unique riffs at the same time as Iommi and Blackmore, but got overlooked. Budgie was not the same after he left.
Ronnie LeTekro(TNT)-Sometimes passed off just another flashy player with little soul. I disagree, he could play the virtuoso role, but could really tie in with some solid chops and make it interesting as well.
Wolf Hoffman (Accept) -A real team player laying down some solid heavy riffs for his band. Far better and far more versatile then he got credit for.
Phil Campbell (Motorhead)-Still seems like the new guy in Motorhead, but he has been with them for 22 years now. Always seems to be trying to improve, never one to rest on what he did in the past.
Fast Eddie Clark (Motorhead,Fastway)-His work with Motorhead was way too brief, but he left his mark. Speed metal would not be the same without this guy. He took what had been done by bands like Sabbath and Priest, but took it a step further.
hey, that's a great post. i've been following your blog for a while, and i must say i love the passion you put into it. thank you for helping in the inspiration to create my own. you've got a regular visitor here. :)
ReplyDeletePhil Cullen of Def Leppard has never gotten his due, as far as I'm concerned. Of course, for years, he was overshadowed by Steve Clark, but the guy can flat out play.
ReplyDeleteAnother guy I think is underrated is Adam Jones of Tool, IMO. The dude has incredible range.
Your knowledge of music and musicians never ceases to blow my mind. Very impressive.
ReplyDeleteI loved MSG!
ReplyDeleteGreat post-especially mentioning Andy LaRocque,Schenker,and Ronnie from TNT.My vote for most underrated guitarist is Michael Denner,ex-Mercyful Fate,ex King Diamond-now with Force of Evil.Uli Jon Roth also.
ReplyDeleteJose Carlos Santos-Welcome and thank you.
ReplyDeleteEarly Def Leppard had some interesting guitar parts, very sharp. Then Hysteria came and it's like they weren't playing as much.
Layla-Sometimes I think I have forgotten more than I have remembered.
Onmywatch-I liked some of their material.
Webpirate-I will check it out.
Great list. I was thinking of Vito Bratta myself--someone who gets less credit than he should because people too often dismiss anything to do with the band b/c of their pop singles.
ReplyDeleteGood one, Bruce--Phil Cullen is solid, if not a guitar god.
I'll add Warren DeMartini of Ratt to your list.
-- david