Survey: What are the 5 greatest guitarists and drummers?

[LedZep1969]

My top 5 Guitarists:

1.Jimmy Page

2.Eddie Van Halen

3.Kirk Hammet

4.Eric Clapton

5.Yngwie Malmsteen

*NOTE*Hendrix is good but I don't like his style and he is overrated he would be #6

My top 5 drummers:

1.John Bonham

2.Neil Pert (Sorry Rush fans I just plain think Bonzo is better, John doesnt need a giant set to sound big)

3.Danny Carey

4.Ian Pace

5.Lars Ulrich

Edited July 11, 2008 by LedZep1969

[jimmie ray]

Not a big Eddie fan - it's like he's off playing a different song or just randon tweedling, to me. Stevie Ray Vaughn is much more impressive. And I'd find a place for Ginger Baker and Carmine Appice in the drummer list, somehow...

[wanna be drummer]

My Favorite Guitarists:

1. Jimi Hendrix

2. Jimmy Page

3. Joe Perry

4. Eddie Van Halen

5. Brian May

Best Technical Guitarists IMO:

1. Buckethead

2. Steve Vai

3. Paul Gilbert

4. Joe Satriani

5. Yngwie Malmsteen

Favorite Drummers:

1. John Bonham

2. Keith Moon

3. Lars Ulrich

4. Neil Peart

5. Joey Kramer (not the greatest in technical skill, but he's damn good live and I love his style)

[Jarlaxle 56]

Lars is now an above average drummer? o_O When did that happen? =P

If I were to pick the best Thrash drummer it would be Dave Lombardo...but then again, Metallica isn't Thrash Metal anymore.

Anyways...I guess I should come up with a list or something.

Guitarists

1. John McLaughlin

2. Frank Zappa

3. Jimmy Page

4. Mikael Akerfeldt

5. Mike McCready

Drummers

1. Billy Cobham

2. Bill Bruford

3. Flo Mounier

4. Martin Lopez

5. John Bonham

Edited July 12, 2008 by Jarlaxle 56

[lucyinthesky]

Here's mine though there should be more than 5:

Guitarists:

1. Jimmy Page/Jimi Hendrix (couldn't say who's better)

3. Brian May

4. Frank Zappa

5. Paul Gilbert

Drummers:

1. Carl Palmer

2. John Bonham

3. Phil Collins (think what you want about his music, but on drums he's excellent)

4. Keith Moon

5. Dave Grohl

[Jarlaxle 56]

Here's mine though there should be more than 5:

Guitarists:

1. Jimmy Page/Jimi Hendrix (couldn't say who's better)

3. Brian May

4. Frank Zappa

5. Paul Gilbert

I have to say, Paul Gilbert is awesome. He's just as technical as guitarists like Vai or Malmsteen, but his songs are really interesting and creative nonetheless. Even his purely instrumental stuff is awesome, hell, especially.

[zosodude13]

Guitarists: (on ability)

1. Jimi Hendrix

2. Jimmy Page

3. Allen Holdsworth

4. Carlos Santana

5. Eddie Hazel (just listen to Maggot Brain!!!)

just missed the cut: Wayne Kramer/Fred "Sonic" Smith

whose overrated: Eddie Van Halen

Drummers: (on ability)

1. John Bonham

2. Ginger Baker

3. Bill Bruford

4. Neil Peart

5. John Densmore (the best of the "minimalist" drummers)

just missed the cut: Carmine Appice

whose overratted: Keith Moon

Edited July 13, 2008 by zosodude13

[Suz]

My top drummers (off the top of my head) would be Carey, Bonham, Peart, Stewart Copeland.

I always liked Alex Van Halen, too.

Edited July 13, 2008 by Suz

[zosodude13]

I find it interessting to see Eric Clapton only mentioned once out of all the lists on here...

[docron]

You can't talk about top 5 drummers without mentioning Grand Funk Railroad's Don Brewer. The dude was absolutely phenominal live and hes totally under-rated.

Also, how does everyone over-look Gene Krupa? The dude practically brought the drums out of the closet as an instrument in the 1930's... the 1930's for christ's sake - 40 years before the next greats of the 70's

Tommy's Top 5 Drummers

John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)

Danny Carey (Tool)

Gene Krupa (Various)

Neil Peart (Rush)

Don Brewer (Grand Funk Railroad)

Edited to add: I agree with whoever above said Keith Moon is over-rated.

Edited July 14, 2008 by docron

[docron]

As far as inventive guitar work goes, Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine is always over-looked. People on this forum also seem to forget how Page was sort of slow (comparitively) on the frets after 1971. His real claim to fame IMO is his insane riffs and his work in pioneering creative new studio effects/arrangements. That is why I put Clapton ahead of him I guess, IMO he is the best overall. Its really a toss-up for me between Hendrix and Page for number 2, tho I give it to Hendrix for coming out a few years before Page and being able to recreate what he did in the studio (to some degree) and all that on the guitar live while also being lead singer.

Tommy's Top 5 Guitarists

Eric Clapton (Cream)

Jimi Hendrix (Band of Gypsys)

Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)

Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)

David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)

[beansback]

You can't talk about top 5 drummers without mentioning Grand Funk Railroad's Don Brewer. The dude was absolutely phenominal live and hes totally under-rated.

Also, how does everyone over-look Gene Krupa? The dude practically brought the drums out of the closet as an instrument in the 1930's... the 1930's for christ's sake - 40 years before the next greats of the 70's

Tommy's Top 5 Drummers

John Bonham (Led Zeppelin)

Danny Carey (Tool)

Gene Krupa (Various)

Neil Peart (Rush)

Don Brewer (Grand Funk Railroad)

Edited to add: I agree with whoever above said Keith Moon is over-rated.

what about phil collins in early genisis days before they went pop he was wild

[3hrsoflunacy]

Guitarists

1. John McLaughlin

The man who Jimmy lessons.

My favorite guitarists (I know you asked for greatest, but that's subjective)

1. Jimmy Page

2. Alex Lifeson

3. Angus Young

4. David Gilmour

5. Jimi Hendrix

My Favorite Drummers

1. Buddy Rich

2. John Bonham

3. Neil Peart

4. Bill Ward

5. Steve Smith (Journey)

Edited July 14, 2008 by 3hrsoflunacy

[SteelersFreak]

Guitarists:

Eric Clapton

Jimmy Page

Jimi Hendrix

George Harrison

Pete Townshend

Bassists:

Geddy Lee

John Entwistle

Les Claypool

Steve Harris

John Paul Jones

Drummers:

Neil Peart

John Bonham

Keith Moon

Nicko McBrain

Ringo Starr

[Bring Them On Back]

Drummers:

1. John Bonham

2. Cozy Powell (my favourite drummer but Bonham's got more talent)

3. Bill Ward

4. Joey Jordison

5. Nicko McBrain

Guitarists:

1. Jimmy Page

2. Jimi Hendrix

3. Angus Young

4. Ritchie Blackmore

5. Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

[Layali]

I don't know who are the greatest, I'll just give my favourites

Guitarists:

1. David Gilmour

2. Jimmy Page

3. George Harisson

4. Slash

5. The Gipsy Kings

Drummers:

1. John Bonham

2. Michael Giles

3. Stewart Copeland

4. Carl Palmer

5. Michael Lee

Funny thing is I'd vote Led Zeppelin members number one of their category, except for the guitar.

Edit: I agree with you Docron, I could definitively have put Tom Morello somewhere in my list. And thanks Jarlaxe for reminding me of Mike McCready

Edited July 15, 2008 by Layali

[Scott78]

Guitarist

1. Jimmy Page

2. Tony Iommi

3. Marty Friedman

4. Neal Schon

5. Steve Vai

Drummers

1. John Bonham

2. Ian Paice

3. Cozy Powell

4. Jimmy Degrasso

5. Simon Wright

[Anarchy2Howard]

My favourite guitarists:

1. Jimmy Page

2. Eric Clapton

3. Jeff Beck

4. Jimi Hendrix

5. David Gilmour

[louis]

guitarists:

1 Jimmy Page

2 Steve Howe

3 Jimi Hendrix

4 David Gilmour

5 Ritchie Blackmore

drummers:

1 John Bonham

2 Nick Mason

3 Phil Collins

4 John Densmore

5 Ian Paice

[cowbell666]

Guitarist:

1. John Mclaughlin

2. Jimmy Page

3. Eric Clapton

4. Jimi Hendrix

5. Robert Johnson

Drummer:

1. John Bonham

2. Billy Cobham

3. Roy Haynes

4. Keith Moon

5. Krupa

Singer (oh what the hell):

1. Robert Plant

2. Little Robert Anthony

3. Percy

Edited July 24, 2008 by cowbell666

[JTM]

Guitarists

Jimi Hendrix

Jeff Beck

Eric Clapton

Dave Gilmour

Frank Zappa

Drummers

John Bonham

Mitch Mitchell

Keith Moon

Terry Bozzio

Ed Cassidy

[BenderWho]

Guitarists:

1. Jimi Hendrix

2. Jimmy Page

3. Eric Clapton

4. Kirk Hammet

5. Robert Johnson

Drummers:

1. Buddy Rich

2. Keith Moon

3. Neil Peart

4. John Bonham

5. Moe Tucker

[ZeppFanForever]

My Favorite Guitarists:

1. Jimi Hendrix

2. Jimmy Page

3. Joe Perry

4. Eddie Van Halen

5. Brian May

Best Technical Guitarists IMO:

1. Buckethead

2. Steve Vai

3. Paul Gilbert

4. Joe Satriani

5. Yngwie Malmsteen

Favorite Drummers:

1. John Bonham

2. Keith Moon

3. Lars Ulrich

4. Neil Peart

5. Joey Kramer (not the greatest in technical skill, but he's damn good live and I love his style)

I like your lists, however, I wish that Stevie Ray Vaughan could have made the list. ROCK ON!

[Adi]

my favourute guitarists are:

1. Jimmy Page

2. Jimi Hendrix

3. Eric Clapton

4. David Gilmour

5. Brian May

Drummers:

1. John Bonham

2. Keith Moon

3. Neil Peart

4. Ginger Baker

5. Ian Paice

[bodhran]

in no particular order and straight off

guitarists:

Jimmy Page

Jimi Hendrix

Robert Fripp

David Torn

John Mc Laughlin

drummers:

John Bonham

Stewart Copeland

Neil Peart

Steve Jansen

Terry Bozzio