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Our 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time generated over 400 letters and e-mails from readers praising and damning our selections. Here's a sample of the mail we received.
Dear Rolling Stone,
As a lifelong subscriber, it is always fun to read your lists of the "100 this" or the "100 that" and I realize you can't possibly fit everything into these lists to please everyone. But it is almost a crime that on the list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" that there was not a single Ted Nugent song. How could Gonzo's "Stranglehold" not have been in the top 10? As far as a guitar song goes, it blows Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" out of the water! When I bought my guitar, "Stranglehold" and "Free For All" were the only songs I wanted to learn. I was seriously disappointed that one of the "greatest guitar players of all time" didn't make the cut on this list. Shame on Rolling Stone!
Jim Olson
Des Moines, IA
PS — Another guitar song missing is "Frankenstein" by The Edgar Winter Group.
Major respect to David Fricke and Co. for an overall excellent list, but the Velvet Undergound's "Oh! Sweet Nuthin'" is one of the 100 greatest guitar songs of all time and should have made the cut.
Steven Bonaccorso
San Francisco, Ca
The latest issue of Rolling Stone arrived in my mailbox on the same day that I heard we had lost Bo Diddley. I thought, how fitting that the cover story for this issue is "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" and immediately began to search for any Bo Diddley songs in the list. I was amazed to find, that through your lack of historical rock and roll perspective, not one of The Mighty Diddley's songs was on the list. I wonder how many songs on the list exist because of Bo Diddley's influence. We know he was cheated out of financial security by unscrupulous recording executives and now this list cheats him out of the recognition of his influence on early rock and roll, which survives to this day through the music of many who, ironically, are on your list. The irony will compounded when, in the near future, he appears on the cover of your magazine.
Jerry Johnson
Twinsburg, Ohio
This is my first time ever commenting to a magazine about an article. In a word, your list of "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" stinks! The most blatantly misguided omissions are "Comfortably Numb" followed closely by Beck's "Bolero." And, how could you possibly ignore one of the all time greats - Joe Walsh? That said, I personally disagree with about 90% of your choices by the artists with whom I'm familiar. Rolling Stone's Rock & Roll expertise really takes a hit in my book with this one.
Chris Jones
Quincy, MA
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I am glad Rolling Stone cleared their inbox for responses on this issue. First off, David Fricke is the main reason I subscribe to Rolling Stone every year, he is one person who knows almost as much as I do about good music. Kudos for including "Holidays in the Sun" by the Sex Pistols, if the solo in that song doesn't generate some heat, you're dead. One huge omission, which Kirk Hammett would agree, is anything off UFO's live album, Strangers In the Night. Micheal Schenker's solos on "Lights Out" are not only blazing fast but melodic as anything in the Lennon/McCarthy songbook. Schenker picked every note, no tricks, with a killer tone only a Marshall stack, wah, and a Flying V could produce (or as Keith Richards called those guitars, "Flying Arrows").
Russ Hofmaier
Omaha, NE
I really enjoyed the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs" article and agreed with the majority of the entries. There's only song I believe you missed, which definitely should have been included, especially since it is mainly the bass guitar that makes the song and it's from one of the greatest bass guitarists of all time; The Who's "The Real Me." If there was ever a lead guitar played on a bass guitar this has to be it. John Entwistle is at his best on this song, and I can't help playing Bass Air Guitar whenever I hear it. While I am raving about The Who, you could almost include some of Keith Moon's drum riffs as a lead instrument in a lot of their songs. For two instruments that are supposedly there to provide the rhythm and back beat Entwistle and Moon showed us what great players can do by bringing their instruments to the forefront. They are both surely missed.
Steve Berto
Annandale, Va
There certainly were great guitar songs in this issue. Hendrix, Zeppelin, and Cream received their due (although I like "Tales of Brave Ulysses" better than "Crossroads"). A few things did bother me. I love Nirvana but "Smells Like Teen Spirit" cannot beat Tom Morello on guitar. Then there is the whole Tool thing. Adam Jones at #100? Really? I was surprised (a good, happy, surprise) to find Queens of the Stone Age on your list, hooray. However, my real beef is the ranking for Alice in Chains, or the lack of their presence in the issue! Can you honestly tell me that you can listen to "Nutshell" (MTV Unplugged) and not want to break down emotionally? It is a great song on guitar and in all other aspects, yet somehow it was entirely overlooked. What happened?
Joni O'Lague
Albuquerque, NM
While my son usually gets to your magazine first I had to fight him for it when I saw your article picking the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time." What a great review, I would only add, maybe because of my love for southern rock, that I was disappointed that "Green Grass and High Tides" by the Outlaws didn't make the final cut - like a good story teller the artist takes his time to develop his story to a fevered pitch that leaves the listener begging for more.
Lorn Green
Miami, FL
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Your list of the "100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time" was a great read and all of those songs should be required listening to any music lover. I understand that there is always room for debate on which songs should or should not be on the list. What I can't understand is how "Smoke on the Water" was not on the list. I'm guessing that was an oversight. That song has the riff that launched a million guitar players. "Highway Star" should have been on there also.
Paul Curtin
Bronx, NY
Dear Rolling Stone,
Your list has gaping holes in it, most notably "Since I've Been Loving You" By Led Zeppelin, which may be the greatest guitar song of all time. Your Pink Floyd choices are equally baffling. Of all of David Gilmour's masterpieces, you chose "Money" and "Interstellar Overdrive" and overlook "Shine on You Crazy Diamond?"?? Even "Sorrow" or "Wish You Were Here" would have been reasonable. I know, there are only 100 slots and an incredible amount of good music to consider. So let me help you. Take Michael Jackson off your list. His music should never appear any list of great guitar songs. Ever. While you're at it, take John Mayer off the list too. This is not Seventeen Magazine.
I will give credit where credit is due, however. "My Iron Lung," though not the obvious choice, is an excellent song and clearly deserving of being on the list. "Little Wing," "You Enjoy Myself," "The Thrill is Gone," and "Whole Lotta Love" are guitar masterpieces as well. The rest of your list is suspect.
Bill Hitch
To The Rolling Stone Magazine Editors,
I just wanted to commend you on your inclusion of Omar Rodriguez Lopez in this month's issue. I've been reading your magazine since I could read and listening to music for as long as I can remember and The Mars Volta and Omar are truly the most amazing band I've ever experienced. I tell everyone that I believe Omar is one of the three greatest guitar players that I've experienced from my generation live and it couldn't make me happier than to see him rightly and deservedly recognized by your magazine. Kudos to you guys! Thanks for your time.
Lacey Reilly
I am very much in agreement with most of your list, especially the lesser known picks like "Over Under Sideways Down" at #23! But I was really surprised when there were two Steely Dan songs listed and neither of them was "Reelin' In The Years!" Not sure who is playing, Denny Diaz or Elliott Randall, but the solo in "Reelin" is all over the place! Triads, bends, hammers, slides, it is all there in one incredible frantic run! Also notably absent is anything by The Doors' Robbie Krieger.
Shawn Whalen
Natick, MA
Finally, how can Rolling Stone leave Muddy Waters off the list?
Nelson Barnes
Lexington, KY