LUTHER DICKINSON…PERIOD!!!! D Trucks is a step below Luther as far as Im concerned. The North Miss Allstars are hands down the best band on the jam scene!

I’m glad Mayer finally got some of the notoriety he deserves as a guitar player. He’s amazing. The blues cover’s he does with the trio are ridiculous. Watch “where the light is.”

im sorry… wheres JOHN PETRUCCI?!?!?! he islike THE god of guitar

Be careful. I mean really, is a debate about guitar gods really necessary? It’s all music. Ha. And trust me, they are all good musicians. It’s said that it’s dangerous to throw around scripture in debate, but I think it’s even more dangerous to throw about names like Hendrix vs. SRV, Clapton vs. Page, etc.

John Mayer deserves to be on there.
Cut him some slack.
He’s got awesome albums and songs.
I think that Ray Toro should be somewhere there.
He is legendary.

John Mayer deserves to be on there.
Cut him some slack.
He’s got awesome albums and songs.
I think that Ray Toro should be somewhere there.
He is legendary.

i disagree the real guitar god is the one who has the most fun while they plays:).. but if i would judge i would say that jimi hendrix stil number 1

Any one here saying oooo this person should be a god and oooo i disagree should just calm down. Even if you like a guitarist and they are really good, doesn’t mean they are a god
a guitar god is a man or woman (someday) that writes and exacutes the music they wrote really well
its not just the guitar too
its in personality
not all guitar gods are just amazing at guitar so that means they are guitar gods
if your a famous guitar player
you are really good already. so just calm down and just aknowlage that the guy you like or whatever is really good and you like him
My advice: no matter who you are and how good you are, someone is always going to be better than you. dont try to argue

The best guitarists are the ones no one pays attention to.

Nels Cline? Incredible.

You people asking who Derek Trucks is have no business even commenting on an article about guitar players. You are obviously out of touch.

Does anyone know the whole top 20 yet?

How about Johnny Lang? He should be up there, don’t ya think?

frusciante, in my opinion, should have been number one. His chili peppers work as well as solo work are amazing. and the do not mirror each other. he is my favorite guitarist of all time.

mvujpzde hbjfng khgbry keqfmrci irsnehv vtkmcu snoqkezy

JACK WHITE… maybe not as skilled, but wait til you see him live especially with the White Stripes.

Jake Cinninger. Period.

Thanks 123 adware

funny reading some of the comments above! If you have to ask “who” anyone on this list is…you should stick to american idol. actually the only reason I responded was because someone actually asked where that smashing pumpkins guitarist was…that is hilarious. kill yourself and please do us all a favor and don’t ever judge another guitar player again…in your entire life!

I’d just like to say that John Frusciante has been a guitar god for about 2 decades now. I think it’s absurd that he’s just now getting this recognition. He’s an unbelievable guitarist, and he has been for many years.

Who is on the Top 20 list?

Rolling Stone writers and editors would probably do a better job at writing about how much Meth they have smoked in the last week because the obviously know nothing about guitarists. Zakk Wylde IS GOD.

I just got the issue in the mail, and there are 20 people they picked. Trucks, Mayer,and Frusciante are just the “cover guys.” Thank god Omar Rodriguez-Lopez ade it is all I can say.

Seriously, where the hell is Tom Morello?

I second that about Mike McCready, when is he and Stone Gossard going to get their due props. How about that Josh Moses guy from Sevenkiller. I’d take him over Zack Wylde anyday.

just check out jake cinninger from umphrey’s mcgee. and also dean ween.

just check out jake cinninger from umphrey’s mcgee. and also dean ween.

Chuck Garvey is a God! Go see moe.
If you were/are a fan of the ABB and the twin lead guitar attack then go see Chuck and Al of moe.

Every hear of Zakk Wylde you stupid assholes? John Mayer? Give me a fucking break.

“Rythm [sic] players are never great.”

Wow. Congratulations. You actually made the lamest, most ignorant statement in a long line of lame, ignorant posts. You’re no-prize is in the mail.

Who is Derek? If some of you would turn off MTV and corperate music stations you might descover their are more great players outside the box.
Derek was said by many great guitarst, The ones that realy count, is said to be the next Clapton. Derek has been surrounded with the greatest players in the world and will stand the test of time. He is humble, well educated in all aspectects of musics around the would and just a great person who has fun at work. He is not a rock star, thank god for that. He is a great guitarist.
Have most of you ever heard of Buddy Guy, Eric Lifeson, Dicky Betts, Tinsley Ellis,, I could go on and on.
John Mayer is very talented. He needs to spend more time with people of his calabur and step away from the pop music, teenage girl scene. Then he can release his true greatness.
As for Dave Matthews being a great guitarist? A guitar player yes, not a giutarist. Rythm players are never great.
Jack white. Please.
Next people will be saying that Aaron Lewis is a great guitarst.

John Mayer rocks and it’s about time he got his due and recognition as the great guitarist that he is. I love John Frusciante as well, as I have been a huge Chilli Peppers fan for years.And to whoever mentioned Jack White, props to you! Jack RULES and to all the naysayers, go see him live. It is a religious experience to watch him play guitar. He is one of the greatest this generation has ever seen. Period.

To each his or her own. If it makes you feel good, have at it! Having said that, however, may I just say: John Mayer? My opinion of Rolling Stone’s critical skills has gone down. He’s pure teenybopper ear candy.

Frusciante is no god. He’s cool, he’s funky, he’s extremely talented. Hell, I was a big Chili Peppers fan before Anthony cut his hair off (see chapter on Metallica for more on that topic) and the band became the Peppers Lite. Sorry, JF.

Derek Trucks is the real deal. His command of the guitar (across many genres) is otherworldly, gifted, mindblowing. HE is a guitar god…I don’t know of anyone who is at his level out there today (including Clapton). And if you want to know about guitar…just listen to an Allmans show and revel in the interplay between Warren Haynes (my personal choice for #1 guitar god) and Derek Trucks.

They are all great guitarists. I especially like Frusciante.

Here’s the video guys, for those of you that can’t find it on your own.

http://www.rollingstone.com/r ockdaily/index.php/category/ma gazine-preview/

The guy Derek is pretty good. I enjoyed it, as well as Mayer. John Fru, im still undecided about, he doesn’t get to do much.

NOTE: Don’t argue about who is better or who shouldn’t be here. No one will ever win. It just gets stupid. They are being recognized because they do what they do very well.

posting as Derek Trucks is lame dude. I don’t think DT will be joining the chat room, but the upside down cover IS bogus

Also why am I labeled “Jam King” I am quoted as the most awe inspiring slide guitarist playing today.

Why the hell is the cover set up this way. Subscribers lables will cover my, Thanks RS! Mayer is not all that btw!

You can also click on “magazine preview”.

The video is finally up. Clik on “latest”. You’ll also see these guys are on the cover, but the article includes many more.

JACK WHITE! HAHAHA! JACK WHITE SUCKS.

How depressing.

All 3 are pretty damn good guitarists in their own right.

For all you John Mayer haters, listen to “Try” or his “Any Given Thursday” live albums, you will hear some of his guitar prowess.

Having seen the Allman Bros band play within the past couple years, its a privilege to listen to Derek Trucks. He covers some of those Allman songs quite well.

Jack White has been the most innovative guitarist in the past 7 years

JOHN MAYER???
I know he can play the guitar but he always sounds like robert cray. the best thing he ever played was on the volkswagon commerical. is there a cloning machine somewhere? does the world really need another dave matthews?

I love Derek Trucks and his band. Thank you for recognizing his music and slide guitar talent.

John Frusciante is hands down one of the best and most original musicians ever, period. (listen to his solo stuff)

…please post that video!!

Mike, what is wrong with you? Mayer is lucky the other two even know he’s alive! To say that Trucks or Frusciante aren’t deserving enough to be on the cover with a hack like Mayer…that’s just wrong on many separate, intricate levels.

mayer deserves to be on there but not the other two. and dave matthews is the guitar god of our generation.

Anythang with John Mayer onthe cover I’ll buy!! Job well done R.S.

and to the last person that posted, these guys are not boring, washed up alcoholics like axl rose

rockstar70-ohhh, man…opinions are funny. Good to see people have them.

I DISAGREE!!! Velvet Revolver??? My god, what a sweaty piece of turd! Buckcherry???? What the hell, man??? Those guys have no clue!!! NONE!!!!

trey anastasio tears the crap out of Frusciante, me being a RHCP fan, and also mayer. why isn’t trey here!?

You guys must be running out of things to write about. Put a real Screwed up and exciting musiscian on the cover, Axl Rose, Jet, Buckcherry, Velvet Revolver, Etc.
These guys are great musicians but they are sooooo boring. Unless Mayor has Nude photos of Jessica that he wants to share, please refrain from wasting our time and money on a guy that thinks running around in a bear suit is exciting!!

Fruciante is brilliant. He deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as Page, Hendrix, Clapton, Beck, and Eddie.

actually the article is dated back 2/5/2008 so it was yesterday……

If YOU would look at the date of the damned article, you’d realize it was supposed to be posted yesterday.

If you all would read the article, it says ‘tomorrow afternoon”, meaning today in the afternoon. You all left comments at 5 and 6 o’clock in the morning. Have some patience.

Hey guys,sorry the video is taking so long, John Mayer was having trouble keeping up with Derek Trucks and John Frusciante on the day of recording. We have been trying to do a lot of editing and it has been taking awhile to fix all of Mayer’s mistakes and then to rerecord so it looks like him. Thanks for the patience, video will be up soon

Video? Where is that video you guys like, promised???

When it comes to new young blues players, checkout Gary Clark Jr out of Austin. Then go to youtube and type in the Red Devils. That young guitarist, Paul Size, is playing some stuff Maher can’t tough. Not yet, anyway. imo.

any chance on getting this video?

the video please?

the video?

While I absolutely love John Mayer’s music, I have to disagree in calling him one of the ‘new guitar Gods’. John Mayer isn’t really inventing or reinventing anything new; rather he’s going back to the roots, bringing back the old blues guitar solos people only got treated to at live shows.

This is more evident in his own live show, where he plays extended guitar solos, much the same ways as his own musical influences once did.

In terms of guitar playing: what is John Mayer doing that B.B. King hasn’t already done (besides, perhaps, Jessica Simpson)?

all i know is Zakk Wylde wins the Guitar World magazine “most valuable player” just about every fucking year yet rolling stone never even mentions his name…metal music NEVER gets the respect it deserves…

where is this video already…

where the eff is the damn video? DON’T LIE TO ME ROLLING STONE, I’LL CUT YOUR P………….crap I can’t swear

Where is the video????
RS PLEASE PUT THAT SUCKER ON!!

jack white is jimi hendrix…reancarnated

To the person currently removing the comments with profanities - Why don’t you find out where the video is, and then tell us?

Yes. Where is the video you promised, LIARS?

“But all three rocked the house for a little impromptu jam session, which you can watch in its entirety right here tomorrow afternoon along with exclusive video interview of the strapping guitar gods.”

Videos were supposed to be posted earlier today. What’s up R.S.?

no-one shits me more than the john mayers and justin timberlakes of this world who attach themselves to hipper artists to make themselves appear hipper. john mayer chiming in with steve jordan and pino palladino and any dead but refuse to lie down jazz great does not make him anything special

Where is the bleedin’ video???

hey idiot who thinks clapton sucks & has done nothing in 20 years–pick up j.j. cale & clapton–2006 release–by the wayu,the album features a young guitarist,derek trucks & the last recorded billy preston work—then tell me clapton is done—–& check out cream–2005 & the current tour………

Johnny Marr should be on the cover too!!!

GT3, It’s fine that you think that Mayer shouldn’t be on this cover, thats your opinion and no one can make you think otherwise. I disagree with you though. Im not a teenage girl, a grown woman, NOR do I find him attractive. I’m a guitar player and let me tell you somthing, some of his songs take A LOT of practice to master. He uses unique and inventive picking patterns like his song “Neon, Stop this Train, and the Heart of Life” (Check them out live) and when he plays the blues he does it well. So.. . I believe that RS chose some right and non one can make me think otherwise.

I’m so happy that Derek is finally getting the recognition that he deserves. He’s an AMAZING guitar player and an amazing person as well. I’ve never met anyone as humble and gracious as Derek, he is just a genuinely nice person who also happens to be one of the greatest guitar players ever. All hail the Golden One!

P.S. I would have picked Jack White too…he is absolutely amazing as well…

P.P.S. Where IS the freakin’ video?? I wanna see this!

I think everyone hear is judging the three guitarist here according to their own personal music taste. You’re also forgetting that they are speaking of THIS generation, all the guitarists you’ve listed have been from past generations, and need not apply to this one. Step outside the box and look at this.

John Mayer - He makes pop songs, guy can write some pretty catchy riffs. He’s pretty good at blues, just watch play some of it.

John Frusciante - I don’t think theres anything this guy can’t play. I’ll admit I’m a huge RHCP fan, but take a look at his extensive solo career, its amazing. He certainly knows more than most guitarists of most of the generations past and present, and to say he’s the least technical player is completely wrong.

Derek Trucks - Guys amazing what can I say, haven’t seen someone play like that in so long, definitely one of the hot cats on the scene these days.

Where is the damn video?

jonny greenwood.

For anyone who was curious of why John Mayer was on the cover, heres a little taste. http://youtube.com/watch?v=QPb v2bOiVBU&mode=related&search=

Where is the video???

They just don’t move me. I know you can’t reinvent the wheel, but real guitar gods did their best work in a more inspired context. These are less innocent, but much shallower times. Soul moves. What happened to it? It used to fuel the “performance.” Now the performance is the act. And it’s toilet paper.

i really hate how poeple are looking at these guys to save the sufferage of the guitar age genre. i must say, frusciante is my favorite because his stylings are smooth and very innovative to fit with any era. i haven’t heard much of trucks but enough to say he’s nothing short of amazing and i truly respect his playing. mayer makes me question but then i realise his solos are quite sharp and clean so i can’t argue with the fact these guys ARE guitar gods. just face it.

i seriously doubt that there will ever be someone to reach up to the expectations of hendrix, c’mon.

mayer is number one? you, my friend, are the idiot here. do the collective gene pool a favor and go get hit by a bus. go listen to any derek trucks song, you inbred pesant. john f is my boy but trucks takes the cake here.

Yeah. I waited a whole fuckin’ day to see that video.

Good thing Dereks here-the real talent, probably the best guitarist of this generation. John Frusciante- I haven’t heard much of him but I can say from that poppy new song from RHCP, dani california that the guitar solo at the end of that is pretty shitty, just a couple mediocre licks repeated and then some wah-wah noise. Mayer could have redeemed himself with that whole live trio album but his guitar playing is pretty sloppy on there, hes more just a little pop guy with a bit of a Stevie Ray Vaughan-abee look to him, but not too much to make him seem less poppy. Ah well, at least we have the real current god, Derek.

Mayer is Number one. You’re all idiots

ok, derek trucks and john frusciante deserve a place there, but let’s get some things straight:
a) john mayer gets way too many kudos just because he happens to enjoy taking gigantic dumps on blues scales. guys like him and jack white don’t have any true soul. instead of just plain sucking like, say, Black Eyed Peas, they desecrate genres I hold dear to my heart.

b) dear rolling stone: no one’s better than hendrix? two words: eric. clapton.
wait… make that, several words: keith richards, duane allman, pete townshend, carlos santana, robert johnson, etc.

Ok….. Where the Hell is the video?

Empty promises??

Everyone stop whining, all three gentlemen are worthy of being on the cover. If we’re talking pure licks, Mayer could make Jack White look silly and inadequate.

Rolling Stone, stop promising videos that you aren’t going to post.

Frusciante is probably the best guitar player of this generation. He does some amazing work. I think Jack White should get some props. His guitar work is very unique.

Also, the superbowl halftime show reminded me how brilliant Prince is with a guitar.

Why? Cause it wasn’t played alongside Fergie on top 40? awww
And Back Home is not the only one he’s played on. Dude shup!

Dont know why everyone keeps saying John Mayer playing with Clapton makes him a guitar god. Clapton ain’t had a good record in 20 years. The one JM is on “Back Home” is one of Clapton’s worst records ever - adult contemporary crap. Clapton lost his ear a long time ago. A lot of those old-timers will play with anyone they think will make them hip for 5 minutes. Boo-yah!

FINA-FUCKING-LY!!! FRUSCIANTE, MAYER, AND TRUCKS ARE GUITAR GODS! I think this should make up for this last month’s atrocity to music and covers on literature everywhere when america’s no talent ass clowns of “music” Panic at the disco made the cover. Thank god this month’s cover will feature REAL musicians who are incredible at what they do while still remaining true to what they got in the buisness for, making music that they love! Fuck emo, musicianship and creativity are where it’s at!

yngwie would crack my top 20, but he’s a bit too repetative.

Slash is a guitar god

Re: Mayer
The kid can play with the best of them and does. Don’t be hatin’. You’re sounding like jealous wankers.

Where is the video?

Ok so yes, I am a Mayer fan, but I’m also a Buddy Guy fan and SRV fan and B.B. King fan. Isn’t there kind of a reason these legends are asking Mayer to play on their albums? Good looks and all.
p.s.
He ain’t that good looking when he’s PLAYING is he?

“Your Body Is A Wonderland” is one of the cheesiest songs ever. How can he sing that with a “straight” face? Its the type of song you expect to see Cameron Diaz singing into a hairbrush in some chick flick?
John Mayer as a guitar god? WTF?
His songs (hell his whole career to date) are aimed at teens and moms. Teenyboppers who sing “My Humps” into hair brushes and older ladies who listen to the easy listening station at work. Rock on John!

What about Slash? Surely he is one of the greats.

That’s why Clapton, to name one great, has had Mayer play on several of his albums, and at his Crossroads Guitar Festival. But, apparently, you know more ’bout guitar players than Clapton, GTR. (rolling eyes)

Nice to have some guitar players on the cover. Kinda refreshing to be talking about which musician is more deserving…instead of picking between who is more deserving of a cover; Lindsay Lohan, Ugly Betty or the cast of “I’m With Rolling Stone”

Mike, you are correct. If John Mayer wasn’t good looking we wouldn’t be having this discussion. That’s because nobody would know who he is. He would be playing in a bar someplace like a thousand other guitarists here in Austin trying to make a living. You think more people know John Mayer than Derek Trucks because Mayer is a better player? Don’t be niave.
His good looks (and pandering songwriting) got him on MTV, VH1, and got the publicity machine behind him. Wise up, dude.

excuse me, what i mean was, the guitar solo is overplayed much like free bird

hendrix got soul

sorry but guitar solos are played out

Im sorry but Fru Fru is the best!

He is Amazing.
I saw the peppers in Concert and John is the one.

I Hate Commercial Bands!

Derek trucks whether its with ABB or dtb is a truly a guitar god and im so glad he’s finally getting the Recognition he deserves!! and john mayer rocks too!

What the Rolling Stone? Ok, ok, settle down Anthony, dont over react. that! I cannot believe you would even consider Mayer as one of the greats. Ya, “Daughters” and “Your body is a wonderland” really spoke to me musically, and you know what it said? It said, in a real sad voice, this is what will be playing in hell (on repeat) when everyone who bought a Mayer record goes there. I will give him credit for his trio stuff, theres some tasty stuff in there, but seriously dont put him on the cover of being a guitar god just cuz hes popular. Its total , and anyone who doesnt think so is an . P.S. Thats enough, John Mayer.

hendrix sound will never be duplicated, plese dont say stevie ray vaughns little wing can compare to hendrix. he could turn that guitar into any sound he wanted, he could bend notes and come up with the most insane rifts to combine a sound thats never been heard before to say they are gods than hendrix invented the guitar he could come up with rifts and rhythms that created a sound that combined bass and guitar not to mention he had hands for miles that could reach and bend notes through 5 frets

Let’s face it. If John Mayer wasn’t “good looking” than this discussion probably wouldn’t be going on. I have witnessed the kid play live and I think he is worthy enough to be on the cover. Just because girls think he is easy on the eyes, doesn’t take away from his guitar abilities.

It really doesn’t matter WHO RS puts on the cover with that title…there’s going to be crying, whining & complaining.

But, what is really interesting to me is that all these “Old School” guys who claim to “know their sh*t” and nobody’s mentioned Peter Green?

Derek Trucks deserves his spot there, and, I have no complaints about any of the three guys RS picked. Sure, there’s 100 other guys they could’ve picked, too. That’s just how it ALWAYS is. Now, if they wanted to do a Vanity Fair cover photo shoot, I think they could squeeze about 50 or 60 guys into one of their fold-out covers…but, this is RS we’re talking about.

John Mayer is more inventive with a guitar than Josh Homme or Jack White? Really?

When is the jam session and interview going to be posted?

Yeah, I’ll have to catch The Wiggles. I heard they opened for GWAR in Vegas and totally crushed!

So where’s this “impromptu jam session” we’re supposed to see?

two of the greatest guitarists no one mentioned(if they did i didnt read it)were buckethead and tom morrelo. listen to We are one by buckethead and see how amazing he is they should get a cover

Look… every so often there is a big debate over guitarists. Undoubtedly, there is a player that transcends genres. Hendrix did it. So did Clapton. So did Eddie Van Halen and Stevie Ray Vaughan. And there are scores of new players out there, like Tom Morello, Ty Tabor from King’s X,Steve Vai,Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, and so many more. John Mayer is a good player too, because he brings a bit of rock, blues and jazz to the mix, like HEndrix. Not to say that Mayer is the next Hendrix, because no one could ever touch Hendrix. But I think the intent of the article is to feature young, successful guitar players that have indeed,transcended genres.

That’s it. But if you want to talk about guitarists that actually change the instrument and the way it’s played, you can’t discuss rock only - think Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Roy Clark, Al Di Meola, Stanley Jordan, Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Tom Morello, the late Dimebag Darrell and Randy Rhoads, the aforementioned Clapton, Van Halen, Vaughan, and also Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and etc.,etc.

Nobody is winning this argument so ease up fanboys!

GTR said: you are correct I have never seen Mayer in concert. Nor have I seen Justin Timberlake, The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears (or K-Fed), Jessica Simpson, or The Wiggles.

Dude, you’re missing out. The Wiggles ROCK!

I have to agree with GTR. Lots of players, especially Jack White, deserve to be in over John Mayer. But like you say, he appeals to the ladies, and is at least good enough to be in the discussion, but not really worth making this list over a lot of other players.
Personally, I’m just glad to see Trucks get some attention.

Hey Pedro NYC, good list but dont you Yngwie Malmsteen should be in the top ten. He’s every guitar magazines top ten.

Where’s Jack White in this mix?! Would he not do it?

For someone not familiar with John Mayer beyong his radio stuff, is there a track on itunes that demostrates his ability to play guitar? maybe something from his trio work?

For anyone not familiar with Derek Trucks, check out his band’s DVD. You will be a believer! Don’t let his work with the Allmans and Clapton mislead anyone that he’s not an innovator. His work with his own band, while roots based, is very progressive. I’m not sure anyone else covers so many genres with his mastery, from world music, to jazz, to blues, to rock…

GTR,

Hey a fellow Austinite!

I think John Mayer is a very good guitar player, but like you said here in Austin there are lots of very good guitar players. Heck, I’ve played in bands with guys who were as good as Mayer.

But Austin is probably atypical in that regards. There are probably more guitar players here per capita than any city except maybe Nashville.

living best
1. eddie vh
2. clapton
3.santana
4.jeff beck
5. kenny wayne shep
6. vai
7. slash
8. joe perry
9. sambora
10. trucks

This isn’t a bash on Mayer, but he just doesn’t belong in this mix. Remember when Jethro Tull beat out Metallica for best Heavy Metal album at the Grammy Awards? Most Metalheads couldn’t care less about Jethro Tull and who likes them. The fact is they didn’t belong. Same here. That’s what this is about.
I don’t doubt he can play and do fine covers of Clapton or whomever. Good for him. I live in Austin, TX and on any given night I can go see a guy who can shred a cover of Clapton or SRV. But hey, if you like Mayer, good for you.
The fact is Mayer doesn’t belong. He’s here to appeal to the women readers… period. If this article had said Trucks, Frusciante, and Jack White (or KW Shepherd or Michael Messer or Robert Randolph) there wouldn’t be nearly as many women taking an interest. This is about RS broadening (no pun intended) their appeal. That’s fine, but just know it for what it is.

I will tell you the reason Derek Trucks is, in my opinion, the greatest living guitarist. I really don’t like to use the term “best”, because it is very subjective, but for my own personal tastes I guess it is the best description. Derek Trucks, in addition to being a guitarist, is also a musicologist. He lives and breathes music. He has studied every worthy form of music (meaning the music not usually covered in Rolling Stone) such as jazz, blues, Indian classical, African, etc. and has applied it to create a unique voice. He also is one of the most soulful musicians (not just guitarists) I have ever heard. That anyone could say that he “sucks” or has anything but platitudes for him is indicative of the sad state of music and culture at large in America.

Are you high, end it!?
Every chili peppers son sounds the same over the past 15yrs? you deaf, lying douche.

end it! | 2/6/2007, 4:36 pm ESTEvery bloody Chili Pepper’s song has sounded exactly the same for the last 15 years. there’s no innovation involved there whatsoever. sure, John Frusciante is a good guitarist - but the same sound gets pretty boring after a while don’t you think?

I’m a huge Chili Peppers & Frusciante fan but his first 2 solo albums are shit.
a brain damaged child could have done better. Sad to say he was apparantly wacked out on heroine when he did those so it’s understandable.
So anyone that says either of those were great records are full of shit or deaf.

I agree to the to the person who said most people write John off because they know him as a Chili Pepper, personally I love the Peppers but if you look into John’s solo work you’d be surprised, it’s totally different from something the RHCP have ever made, I mean listen to Niandra LaDes and Usually Just A Tshirt, it’s an amazing album, and if you have the chance go to JF’s website and listen to his free internet album(in Demos) and allt the demos and acoustic sessions for Shadows Collide With People, he has some serious skill compared to most guitar players TODAY.

I’ve seen Derek Trucks several times, both with DTB and ABB. First time I saw him play he was maybe 16 or 17 years old. He is simply best guitar player I’ve ever seen; and that includes SRV, Dickey Betts, Trey Anastasio, Adrian Belew, Pete Townsend, and yes even Warren Haynes who I think is a true guitar GOD.

To me Derek Trucks just stands apart from ‘em all as a unique and singularly gifted voice on guitar.

John Mayer is a pretty darn good guitar player, but here in Austin TX there are dozens of players as good.

I’m not a big RHCP fan so have no opinion on JF.

“All I have heard of Mayer is a few singles and I had to sit through an entire cd at my sister’s baby shower. Everything I’ve heard is schlok… not awful, but sappy “pout rock”.”

Then you really aren’t qualified to comment. If you only bother to listen to what’s on the radio, or some songs at a baby shower, then of course you jump to compare to Justin, Backstreet Boys, and Britney - it’s all you think exists.

Have seen these 3 play live, as well as listened to the body of their work with their bands, solo, and collaborations with other great musicians. All 3 are deserving of the recognition.

Well, GTR, thank you for properly identifying me as a woman, but I’m no teenager - in fact, I’ll be 49 this year, and am no stranger to the work of the conventionally accepted “guitar gods” - SRV, Clapton, Hendrix, Beck, (Eric) Johnson, Page et al. And while I make no aplogies for enjoying the senstive side of JM, what REALLY made me a true fan is his ability to play the ELECTRIC guitar. If you should ever have occasion to view his Any Given Thursday DVD, watch him perform “Covered In Rain” - that was the first indication I had that this boy could play. I’ve since seen him live numerous times, and while he’s more than covering Clapton and Hendrix with the best of them, playing his original blues based music is where he truly shines. Really give him a listen sometime…..I don’t think you’ll be sorry.

And thanks, JM Lover, for backing me up…..

JOHNNNNNNNY! (fru not mayer) but he’s not all that bad.

So someone going under the name JM Lover is going to accuse me of not being objective. LOL! I don’t dislike Mayer because I don’t want to like him. If I liked his music I would say so. Unfortunately the vast majority of his music is made for teenage girls. That doesn’t bother me until RS tries to pass him off as a Guitar God. He just isn’t. I don’t doubt he can play and I don’t doubt he could’ve been a guitar god, but right now he ain’t. Playing “pout rock” to middle school girls just doesn’t cut it. Liberace could really play the piano, but he wouldn’t belong on the list of Piano Gods… ha!

to FED UP, GTR

You’re fuckin idiots, go listen to anything he’s done with the trio. Check out all of Mayer’s work with Buddy Guy or with Herbie Hancock. Check out him on Eric Clapton’s crossroads festival DVD. John Mayer can play, he fuses jazz elements and blues into his guitar playing. Even his live DVD (in which he plays primarily off of his 1st album) does a great job of showing John play. Beyond the solo stuff he does amazing things with chords. The dude went to Berklee for god sake, he knows what he’s doing.

Loving the love for Frusciante here…whoever said he and the Peppers are boring, and that he just keeps recycling his ideas has no idea what the hell theyre talking about.

We should all just be glad these three are on the cover and its not a repeat of the Panic! at the Disco mistake.

My top 10… today (tomorrow it could be different):
1. EVH
2. Page
3. Gimour
4. Harrison
5. Dr. Know (Bad Brains)
6. Alex Lifeson
7. Santana
8. SRV
9. Dickey Betts
10. Trucks
But then there’s Joey Santiago (Pixies) and Andy Summers (The Police) and The Edge and the guys from moe and the guy from The Disco Biscuits and Cobain and Billy Joe and Frusciante and… ugh just too many.

They’re all good. The one thing I think they have in common isn’t they’re “virtuosity” but they’re ability to emote through the instrument. If you’re looking for sheer skill Satriani, Vai and their disciples are continually at the top of the “shredding” game.

Mayer isn’t on par with any of the jam-rock or prog-rock players but he’s special because he’s found a way to incorporate top-line guitar skills into great pop songs (If you can’t respect the genius on Continuum, I guess any rational debate with me ends here…).

The same goes for Frusciante. He’s the reason the Peppers have grown musically, he’s the man tweaking the knobs and fleshing out their arrangements. It just happens that he expresses his music best through the guitar. Frusciante, in fact, is probably the least talented “player” out of three but he’s definitely had the largest impact on popular music.

Trucks is probably the best guitarist in the group. He’s had some pretty big shoes to fill (The Allman legend looms large…) and he’s done it while establishing himself as his own entity. I give him personal props because slide guitar is an entirely different animal. All three of these guys have used their instrumental skills to crossover and connect with a larger audience than normally attributed to “guitar gods.”

there, it’s out there , I said it.

Every bloody Chili Pepper’s song has sounded exactly the same for the last 15 years. there’s no innovation involved there whatsoever. sure, John Frusciante is a good guitarist - but the same sound gets pretty boring after a while don’t you think?

To Fed Up re GTR and the like:

Sounds to me like GTR is incapable of appreciating JM because he doesn’t want to…GTR is more comfortable believing in the impossibility of John Mayer being a gifted musician because JM has appealed to teeny boppers (among many other age groups.) And GTR thinks you’re a teenager! Hilarious! RS’s decision to crown JM as one of the new guitar gods is informed ..and he’s oh so deserving of the honor.

This is easy - You all have your lists upside down…. Living guitarists only!

1. EVH
2. David Gilmour
3. Pat Methany
4. Keith Richards (Riffs and rhythm count too)
5. Scotty Checkbooks
6. Steve Jones
7. Johnny Marr
8. The Edge
9. Slash
10. Everybody Else in the world but CLAPTON

Problem with picking guitarists is there are sooo many variables (technical ability vs texture vs soul).
Blues fans will like Clapton and Page, Metal fans will like Randy Rhodes and Zack Wylde, Progressive fans will like Robert Fripp and Frank Zappa, Psychodelic fans will like Hendrix and David Gilmour, Rock fans will like Van Halen and Alex Lifeson, Jam fans will like Jerry and Trey, Southern Rockers will like SRV and Dickey Betts. And there are dozens and dozens more.
And almost all these guys cross over into other catagories. Its all about personal taste. Be thankful we have so many to choose from.
Peace.

For what it’s worth (which is absolutely nothing), my top 10 favorite (and I think best) LIVING guitarists in order:

1. Derek Trucks
2. Eric Clapton
3. BB King
4. Carlos Santana
5. Warren Haynes
6. Trey Anastasio
7. Luther Dickinson (North Mississippi All Stars)
8. David Gilmour
9. John Frusciante
10. Jake Cinniger (Umphrey’s McGee)

The reason Jimmy Page isn’t on there is because he is too cracked out now to be any good anymore. He is one of the best of all time, but not in the state he’s in right now. Obviously, my opinion isn’t worth much, but I definitely agree with who is on the cover. I hope Derek gets the center seeing as what he does blows both of these other guys on the cover out of the water.
If you need proof, at any Eric Clapton show, Derek will make Eric work to be as good as he is. I saw three shows on their current tour, all three nights, Derek got the loudest ovation out of anyone on “Little Queen of Spades”. The man can flat out play. I gave a link earlier to a download, I would strongly suggest you listen to him before you start badmouthing him.

Derek Trucks is without a doubt the greatest guitar player of his generation. His musical family background obviously contributed heavily but the fact is he was/is a child protege and is probably going to be the inspiration of ‘guitar gods in training’ for decades to come. Buy his CD Storylines for some of the most original music of this time.

All Time Guitar Gods
Derek Trucks
Eric Clapton
Ronnie Wood
Robbie Robertson

Where is markom?

Let us also remember that just because someone plays fast, that doesn’t mean they suck. Blues fans love to say “shredding is stupid.” That’s a copout, and rooted in jealousy. I’m tired of watching the blues players do the same SRV thing over and over again.

I can hardly put into words how blessed I have been to sit (literally) at the feet of Duane Allman then, and now to sit at the feet of Derek Trucks. This young man is clearly the best guitarist on the planet. Don’t take my word for it, ask Eric Clapton.

Okay, lets just get this straight. John Mayer is good, but he wants to copy SRV in every aspect. Just look at his SRV signature Strat, all he changed is like the tremelo, otherwise its an exact copy of the SRV strat. He tries to copy him a lot…

testing 1,2…testing 1,2, I did not call you an idiot by any means, but if you’re going to call someone your favorite, at least spell their name correctly..

To Fed Up, you are correct I have never seen Mayer in concert. Nor have I seen Justin Timberlake, The Backstreet Boys, Britney Spears (or K-Fed), Jessica Simpson, or The Wiggles.
All I have heard of Mayer is a few singles and I had to sit through an entire cd at my sister’s baby shower. Everything I’ve heard is schlok… not awful, but sappy “pout rock”.
The fact that you are a woman (or girl, I assume you are probably a teenager) just reinforces my argument. John Mayer is fine for you and I’m happy his songs make you want to sway back and forth and feel all warm and fuzzy. I’m talking about him being a Guitar God. The fact that he can “rip that electric guitar” at some point in his show when he’s not being “a sensitive, acoustic guitar weilding, balladeer” doesn’t qualify.
Buddy Guy has played with hundreds of guitars and probably has very nice things to say about them all and considers himself a “fan”. The fact is Mayer doesn’t belong in this particular group.

John Frusciante, Steve Vai and Richie Sambora

Once again one of my favorite guitar players Mike MCcready, however he’s not a new player nor is Frusciante or perhaps a Kim Thayil from Soundgarden, someone that wasn’t mentioned. Lets not mention anymore older guitar heroes, we all know they were incredible. The cover is what it is and until you’re writing for Rolling Stone stop your belly-aching, the cover DOESN’T read 3 Best it suggests they’re part of the new “revival,” we can hope. Why don’t we just suggest new arists to go and listen too. There will never be a master list of the best guitar players ever, even Rolling Stone’s list in 04-05 left out Mike McCready.

For all you Derek Trucks lovers, and who think he’s the best slide guitarist out there, why don’t you go and sit in on a Robert Randolph show,someone I saw in October, not sayin he’s better cause that doesn’t make sense. Unfortunately I sat in the front row in front of the speakers, so the thrill wasn’t all that pleasant on my ears but he is one of the best slide and traditional guitarist’s I’ve ever heard or seen, especially his rendition of the Doobies “Jesus is Just Alright.”

Also I love the comment that someone made about Vince Gill. Now I probably know someone is gonna try and say I’m ridiculous or something b/c they obviously don’t know who he is or that he’s a Redneck contry guitar player, but when Mark Knopfler (Guitar Legend from Dire Straits) tells you that he doesn’t want you in his band b/c you’re extremely talented and should start something on your own then I think you’ve got something.

Lastly, I can’t stand hippies, but Trey is awesome. That’s the problem with 95% of the people on this blog, you can’t admit when someone is good cause you’re trying to hold you’re image, as a headbanger, alt rocker, classic rocker, or whatever, so go back to playing with your collector’s addition Star Wars characters you dorks!!

my top 10 is….
1.EVH
2.Jimi
3.Page
4.S RV
5.Allman
6.Beck
7.Clapton - sorry, i think he is overrated.
8.Pete T
9.Eric Johnson
10.Steve Morse

ex-junkie frusciante best after hendrix!amazing

Derek Trucks absolutely shreds. So stoked to see this acknowledged.

TO GTR. I heard some of John Mayers CD “Try” last year which is him in a 3 piece blues line-up with Steve Jordan on Drums & Pino Pallidino on Bass ( a rythmn section any player with chops would drool at the opportunity to play with ) and he more than backs that up ! As for Derek Trucks , who as I’ve seen stated simply is plugged directly into his amp ( no effects whatsoever) will be mentioned as a guitar player for the ages before he’s done. For those uniformed I suggest you take a listen or better yet see him Live in a smaller venue setting while you can. The man is on the verge of “Hitting the Big Time” IMO , especially after a cover like this on a national music rag.

Robert Fripp is, was and will always be the greatest guitarist known to man.

“Let’s get serious here. John Mayer is a guitar god, but only to teenage girls and women who like soft rock. He sings pop songs and emotive ballads. There is nothing Guitar God about him. He’s basically “easy listening” music. He’s more Kenny G than Jimmy Page.
Honestly, do you know a single (straight) guy who owns a John Mayer cd? I don’t. Sorry if that’s not PC, but its the truth.”

Whoever wrote this obviously isn’t familiar with John Mayer’s work beyond the few singles he’s (I must assume this was written by a man) heard on the radio. As I’ve said in this forum before, write an INFORMED opinion, or don’t write anything at all. Yes, John Mayer may be a sensitive, acoustic guitar weilding, balldeer, but he can also rip that electric guitar along with few peers alive today.

As for his music only appealing to non-straight guys (not that there’s anything wrong with that), well, my VERY straight boyfriend discovered John quite by accident one evening while at Buddy Guy’s Legends in Chicago, when he joined Buddy in an impromptu jam session. He was blown away by John’s talent, and he’s been a fan ever since. Perhaps the only way to KNOW this is to see John live, which I would assume you’ve obviously never done. John more than deserves to be included on this RS cover. In fact, it’s LONG overdue.

BTW - LOVE John’s rejection of wearing the stylist’s clothes…..so sterotypically….him.

Let us also remember that just because someone plays fast, doesn’t make them SUCK either. I often fnd “blues” fans are dismissive of the shredders out of perhaps a slight jealousy. It’s easy to say, “well shredding is stupid.” That is a cop out. I think hearing the bluesmen do the same SRV thing over and over again gets stupid.

Where’s Billie Joe?

Well these guys are very exceptional guitar players.

Frusciante is my modern day favorite…Love him and his work with the Chilis and solo.

For those who say that metal guitarists are better than these guys…yeah they probably can play faster and are technically better.

But guitar playing isnt about whose ego is better or how fast you play…It’s all about soul and feeling when you play and these 3 probably possess that better than the majority.

Just because someone is sick of Blues players, doesn’t mean they don’t get the importance of its history. I fully appreciate the great bluesmen, but I’m also sick of it. What made a players like Jimi and Eddie VH so wonderful was their originality. These young blues players are great, but not very unique.

AND YES…I kow Jimi and Eddie were influenced by blues players. Clapton is Eddie’s hero. BUT…they did more than just play blues like their idols.

All three of these guys are phenomenal guitarists! I am a straight guy, and yes I own all of John Mayer’s cds. Anyone who doubts his skill and writes him off as a baladeer, go listen to the John Mayer Trio and see if you don’t change your mind.

But bravo to all three!!

Give RS some credit. At least 2 of the 3 guitarist here are worthy. Mayer is thrown in to appeal to the girls. They are trying to sell magazines. Yes, RS sells out a lot to keep up circulation, but that’s business. There are other smaller mags that cater to serious musicians.

Matt…a few posts down, you spelled ridiculous wrong!!!! And you’re on me for SRV???? You’re so stupid, you don’t even know you’re stupid!!!!

A great Mike mccready Song to listen to would be Reach Down on the Temple of The Dog cd…Mike’s lead is amazing, as well as on any pearl jam recording, or mad season….i also beleive Mike McCready played the lead in the recording for the make beleive band stillwater in the movie almost famous.

There are many gifted guitar players, but as many folks inside music have known for years, Derek Trucks possesses the hallmarks of authentic genuis. The Allman Brothers Band were and are the top of the line when it comes to instrumental virtuosity in rock music, one of the very few bands who could/can more than hold their own with the finest jazz ensembles. Trucks and Warren Haynes are an incredible guitar duo. The percussion section, which includes Derek’s uncle, is remarkable. Hence Derek has had the advantage of playing with people who can compliment and extend him.

Trucks’ work with his own band isn’t as strong in the sense that The Derek Trucks Band’s songbook isn’t on par with the Allman’s, but his guitar work on those projects is stunning. He also has a very good head on his shoulders and has the potential to become an even better than he is now.

The funny thing about all this talk about who is Derrek and if he is any good or not is that anyone who knows anything about Derrek knows that he does not give a rats ass about being on the cover of rolling stone or getting any kind of accolades. He plays music because it’s in his soul. That’s why he doesn’t make the “guitar face” or prance around on stage. He stands there and rips it up. There are no Derrek Truck Band videos on MTV. There are no Derrek Truck Band “pop” hits. Sure, the band could come up with some meaningless catchy tune, but that’s not what they are about. There’s a reason Clapton tapped him to play on tour with him. So, please, please, please, all of you just ignore Derrek so I can continue to go see him play for $15 at small venues.

Yea I agree, JM, JF, and DT are all great guitarists, and i do enjoy their music because it is original…We’ve all heard about trey and jack white and slash, and many other guitarists, but MIke McCready has not had any recognition…I dont even rememvber seeing him on Rollingstone’s top 100 greatest guitarists..when jack white was on it and kurt cobain (I am a fan of nirvana and white stripes) I am not leaning towards Mike because i enjoy pearljam, I just think Mike needs some recognition for being an an awesome guitar player…He has influeneced so many people.

Frusciante is probably the least talented of all 3. Has everyone forgotten he left the band due to and incredible amount of shows he fucked up. (I know the drug story so don’t bother) Watch a Chili Peppers DVD. The band is incredible but in no way does he make the band. Come on, I know you probably like RHCP but lets be honest, He’s not half the talent. And where does the innovation come into play? What did he innovate? Cool effects on his pedals…

You’re all a bunch of dumb asses who know nothing at all about guitar. Jimi Hendrix’s time has gone, his was the 60s. He was innovative, but as far as technicality goes, he sucked, especially live. If you think his technique wasn’t sloppy, you’re ignorant, do some research.
There were people long before Hendrix who could easily out play him, jazz guitarists like Django Reinhardt.

Now since we’re in the 1990/2000s, look up Michael Romeo from the band Symphony X. He is at the stage where he can do literally ANYTHING and his compositions are as flawless as his playing. Also, Stebe Vai has been one of the best for some time and still is.
I suggest all of you go back to music school of some shit. John Frucantewhateverthefuck as a guitar god? LMAO, you gotta be kidding me

Let’s get serious here. John Mayer is a guitar god, but only to teenage girls and women who like soft rock. He sings pop songs and emotive ballads. There is nothing Guitar God about him. He’s basically “easy listening” music. He’s more Kenny G than Jimmy Page.
Honestly, do you know a single (straight) guy who owns a John Mayer cd? I don’t. Sorry if that’s not PC, but its the truth.

Derek Trucks isn’t even the best guitarist in the Allman Brothers Band. That distinction goes to WARREN HAYNES. This magazine named Warren the 23rd Greatest Guitar Player of All time (12th living) a few years ago. He definitely deserves to be on cover before Derek.

I just love it when people rip on the blues. Especially since the Blues is the origin of all Rock n Roll not matter if its heavy or anything else. And anyone who says that you can close your eyes and not tell the difference in a blues guitar solo obviously doesnt like Rock n Roll at all. Pretty much everyone and anyone whom people will list as the great guitar players (new or old) have listened studied and know the blues from front to back. That is why they are great guitarist. (Hendrix!, Josh Homme, Eric Clapton!, Jimmy Page!, SRV!, The Edge!, Mike McCready, Pete Townsend, JEFF BECK, etc etc etc)

Dont rip on the origin of your favourite musical style(s) unless you can in anyway prove that the Blues has never had a hand in Rock n Roll, Heavy Metal, Grunge, Alt, Alt Country, EMO:(, or whatever else usless term people try to explain Rock with. Thank you for your co-operation. Have a nice day all.

For anyone who doesn’t know about Derek Trucks you should check out “Songlines Live”, the Derek Trucks Band DVD that came out last year. He proves his worth there, both as a player and innovator. I think you can grab one track of video off of itunes, “Crow Jane”. The old Youtube stuff is cool but not representative of his talent.

John is just so great!

Josh Homme makes every one of these players sound like the biggest pussy ever.

clapton and guy aren’t lying - john mayer is a guitar god.

warren haynes isn’t ‘new’

Derek Trucks does keep the southern slide alive, but takes it far, far away from there.

I’m telling ya, listen to “Sahib Teri”. Hell, they do a great job on “Afro Blue” too. I wonder how many that have posted on this list even know AFRO BLUE?

I bet half the people on here don’t even know who Warren Haynes is

“What about Warren Haynes??”

Good call!

For all u degenerates that claim you know what your talkin about, just stop immediately if not sooner. Lets start here, Pearl Jam (my Favorite band of all time), however I’m not gonna claim that Mike McCready is a god, b/c for all you that play guitar know that he plays the same penatonic progression over and over in a different key, point #1 concluded. John Mayer according to Rolling Stone and by not enough people should and will be regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time. Until Queens of the Stone Age, Jack White, the new “Edge” and all these new age MTV Panic at the Crackhouse guitarists get invited to play with Double Trouble, Buddy Guy or Eric Clapton and many more, then we’ll talk until then know something before you spew stupid talk. And if none of you have actually seen these artists in concert then stay off this blog b/c your opinion means nothing. All you that claim John Mayer is pop puppet, you would, b/c you’ve obviously never seen him live. And for all you that don’t know who Derek Trucks is, wait I’m gonna stop there b/c you’re trying to comment on something you once again have no idea what your talking about. Oh he plays for the Allman Brothers, thats right, only one of the greatest classic, southern and rock bands of all time, probably one out of millions that could actually take Duane Allman’s place as the slide player he is. I’m not gonna comment on John Frusciante, b/c I’ve never seen him live. I do think he’s innovative but that’s all I’ll say about that.

The last comment I will make is for all you that claim your so knowledgable about all these “underground musicians” who never “sold out” and arent pop puppets, I can only laugh at you b/c you’re on the Rolling Stone website, probably the most commercial music and entertainment magazine on the market, spitting your thoughts about how Herring, Michael Bloomfield, Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanon are great. The average reader has no idea who they are. We’re talking about a magazine that has the Muse, widespread panic, panic at the disco and FERGIE on its cover. Are you really serious, this isnt the magazine that it use with Ben Phong Torres writing articles NOR should it be. So stop taking yourself so seriously, and go back to writing those big hits you were busy with before this blog caught your eye. It’s obvious Frusciante, Trucks and Mayer took all sorts pills and got all sorts of thrills, cause they’re on the cover of the Rollin’ Stone. Until next time, in the words of another guitar legend Vanilla Ice, see on the flip side, PEACE!!

What about Warren Haynes??

I agree with some of the earlier posts. I’m a fan of all three of these guys, but I wouldn’t quite call John Mayer’s guitar playing innovative. Honestly, I doubt he would use that word to describe his playing either. He’s from the Stevie Ray Vaughan school of blues playing and his playing style has hardly stepped away from that mold over the course of his career. Similarly, Trucks is keeping the Allman Bros. style of classic southern slide alive. Both guitarists are fantastic players, but not innovative. Frusciante, however, is the standout “innovator” of the group. His playing style is unique and singularly identifiable. There is room to celebrate all three of these guitarists for their respective crafts, but save Mayer and Trucks for another feature on guitarists with chops and find some other more deserving candidates to join Frusciante in the “innovators” category.

The art of reinventing a style of guitar playing is no small feet. However, I feel that Rolling stone nailed this issue with these three guitarists. John Frusciante with his work with the Peppers, Ataxia, and his solo work has formed a style that can’t be overlooked. John Mayer too has already left a lasting impact on the music scene, for he to me is the Eric Clapton of my generatias on. Once people get over him the person who sings, Your Body Is A Wonderland, everything falls into place. Its not by chance that people like BB King, Robert Cray, Muddy Watters and Eric Clapton so often collaborate with him. As for Derek Trucks, the man has been tearing it up since he was twelve. His style and technique are flawless, and in due time he will obtain his noteriety. Well done fellas.

Has anyone really listened to John Mayer play? Aside from playing on Eric Clapton’s Buddy Guy’s, and B.B. King’s records, he has continuously show his ability to play the blues, and translate the blues to a form of music that average music listeners can enjoy and “understand”. He certainly belongs on the cover, despite his newness to style.

For a good video, search Jammy’s and john mayer on youtube. You’ll find a video of him with Buddy Guy. Wait for the back and forth between them two, and then say he sucks.

John Mayer? Don’t you think you’d have to play/write songs other than pop songs for 12 year old girls to be a guitar god?
The solo in “Your Body Is A Wonderland” is mindblowing! Ugh, right, the mind of Jessica Simpson.
Which one of The Wiggles plays guitar? Rolling Stone totally forgot him.

Okay, testing 1,2…testing 1,2 If SRV was one of your favorite players, you would at least know how to spell his last name, its VAUGHAN, not vaughn

ATTENTION…ATTENTION:

This is about NEW guitar talents. Not the Claptons or the BB’s or the Stevie Rays. So come on people - focus on the 21st century. Tell us something NEW.

some people on these lists are crazy. If you don’t know who Derek Trucks is you should not be in on this discussion. Here are my current top four guitar players.

Bill Frisel
John Scofield
Trey Anastasio
Derek Trucks

JOHN FRUSCIANTE OWNS ALL

From a Child Prodigy:
http://www.youtube.c om/watch?v=bomDm0HF30U

To a Guitar God:
http://www.youtube.com/w atch?v=w6Mncn0crgY

And his Soulful Diversity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=6UILdefFyrc&mode=related&se arch=

Keep making your Joyful Noise Derek! YOUR THE BEST!!! Thank you for what
you’re doing for Music!!

John Frusciante owns you all!!!!!

“There is no such thing as the best guitar player ever, but there are many that are better than you.”

- Tom Huston

There have been some good comments and that’s refreshing.
People that post stupid comments, well you do the math.
Derek Trucks continues to take it to a higher level every time I see or hear him. Please check out an Allman Brothers and/or Derek Trucks Band live show this year and see/hear it for yourself.
Also, check out the websites that have been mentioned so you can hear today what true Derek Trucks fans have know for a long time.
For us, it did not take a RS cover or even an invite from Clapton to turn us on.

MY TOP 10
1. Jimi Hendrix
2. Eric Clapton
3. Eddie Van Halen
4. Stevie Ray Vaughn
5. Jimmy Page
6. Chet Atkins
7. Carlos Santana
8. Terry Kath
9. Pete Townshend
10. Slash

Steve Cropper, Eddie Van Halen, Albert King, Freddie King, BB King, Robben Ford …. in no particular order. These guys should be mentioned in this conversation.

Les Paul knows Jon Paris in NYC … he’s my local favoriate.

That’s Andy Hess, Gov’t Mule’s bass player. He’s very cute too.

I can’t believe this many people have never heard of Derek Trucks and so many people are bashing him. There are videos of Derek on youtube when he was 12 where he would smoke most of the names some are throwing out.

>>>But still, nobody is (or ever will be) better than Hendrix.>>>

If you are willing to take up the challenge, I will direct you to Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule.

Go to www.muletracks.com and download 10.11.06 Santa Cruz, CA @ the Cocoanut Grove and listen to Warren on Catfish Blues. Or download 11.05.06 Tampa, FL @ the Tampa Theater and listen to Brand New Angel into Machine Gun. Or pick up 06.04.06 Mountain Jam - Hunter, NY and listen to the encore of Red House.

Warren Haynes is where Hendrix would have been guitarwise, had Hendrix lived.

And if you don’t know Warren Haynes or Gov’t Mule, then you are missing out on the most versatile, powerful and emotive guitar player alive today as well as the best rock band in the country. Gov’t Mule is Warren Haynes, Matt Abts, Ansy Hess and Danny Louis.

Derek is great too, especially when his wife Susan Tedeschi sings with his band.

Derek and Warren are two of the top electric guitarists in the USA. And they come in a nice little package called the Allman Brothers Band. Check them out this March/April at the Beacon Theater in NYC.

BNA

second that

Wow, nice comeback, seems as how I only used it twice, and if you do a search for find on this page and type in “obviously”, its used about 5 times in things that other people have said….

Sadly, music no longer requires the “guitar god”. These guys, with the possible exception of Trucks don’t even come close. The guys who inspired these three, who are still alive, are better still. Why must music be so horrible. There is no revolution coming. Rock is dead.

you guys sound like a bunch of little girls

one sustained note from Derek has the ability to send me to tears….

and remember this is “The NEW Guitar Gods”, and while just about every guitarist mentioned here qualifies as GOOD, a lot of them are over.

oh, and Derek’s band, the Derek Trucks Band - allows taping, so therefore there is a ton of FREE music availabe for you all to listen to, and make your opinion of based on that!

Derek Trucks new album is solid piece of work

ask the other guitar players who’s better–no one really cares what all of us who are not up on that stage have to say.

Matt - you use the word “obviously” a lot. You need to expand your vocabulary. Obviously.

“you’re rediculous” You obviously have no idea what you’re talking about…in 1995, trucks was only 16. The Allmann brothers still tour you dumbass

“Derek Trucks? Okay, he must be pretty good if he’s playing with the Allmans - but he’s playing with the Allman Brothers Band! That would certainly disqualify him from being a “new” guitarist. He’s playing classic rock slide guitar for chrissake.”

This is why I dont get involved in discussions like this. Because 95% of the people participating have NO idea what they are talking about. Go home.

these guys are really good players…but most heavy metal guitarists are better…zakk wylde, kirk hammett, dave mustaine, kerry king, Slash, they are all better…but heavy metal has NEVER gotten the respect it deserves…the genre is not very popular anymore…but they can all play circles around these guys…

Let us not forget Madonna, she’s obvious a guitar goddes, plus she hangs on a cross these days

Appollonia, you obviously know nothing about great guitarists, as you left out the best Stevie Ray Vaughan, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Eric Johnson, Paul Gilbert

Trucks is great - but has nobody heard of Joe Bonamassa? Best blues guitarist playing today. If you haven’t heard this guy play yet go and listen to one of his albums. You will be blown away

Sorry Trey, I didnt mean for it to sound like you were bad, you’re incredible, Vai has more musical background

1. HENDRIX
2. PAGE
3. PRINCE
4. JACK WHITE
5. CLAPTON
6. EDGE
7. HONEYMAN-SCOTT
8. GILMOUR
9. BECKER
10. EDDIE

Clay Aitken is guitar God bar none

I can’t believe you people, practically all Jam Band guitarists are undiscovered talents, but Trey is not the best in the world right now…Uhhh how about Steve Vai anyone? wow…If any other young person should be on the cover, its Dweezil Zappa, currently heading the Zappa plays Zappa tour…

Frusciante, yes. Those other clowns, no. Where’s Dean Ween?

I totally agree with this cover. I know a lot of people would say John Mayer does not deserve to be a “guitar-god.” Granted he is not even close to Hendrix, Clapton, Vaughan, or some others we could name (none of the three on the cover are). But he is very skilled, has great chops, and is an excellent songwriter. Trucks is just amazing. I got to see him with Clapton on tour and he rocks!! When you are good enough to play with Eric Clapton, you rock!! As for Frusciante, well is just amazing.

But I think a lot of people are missing the point. None of these guys can hang with with “true” guita gods form the 60’sand 70’s, but these guys are the “new school” ones. They are bringing the guitar back to the mass’s, byt which I mean they are younger performers of this generation that have brought back imprmptu jams in the middle of sets. They have brought back the guitar solo in general (someting Kurt Cobain destroyed…along with Rock in general as well).

What these guys have done is make guitar playing “cool” and “popular” and “art” again. They don’t just sit up there and play the same 3 chords over and over again and call it a song. They bring it to life for today’s generation who never got to see Clapton or Hendrix. That is why they are the “NEW Guitar Gods,”

Don’t forget SpongeBob. He rocks.

Where’s the guitarist from panic at the disco?

yeah, the edge is good but I don’t know if he can be called a guitar god because he has a different aim…he enhances the atmosphere perfectly and effects the mood rather than striving to show off chops.

mayer and frusciante are good (especially the latter) but derek trucks is just downright nasty. please youtube him or listen to a song like Frisell (a random one i just listened to). i respect shredders but i cant stand to listen to it. yeah they can move their fingers fast but so what? does it express anything? the wilco guitarist is pretty sick. i saw them live and he looked like he was having spasms the entire time.

What about the guitar anti-heroes? The ones who play so few notes and fill up so much space? Anyone can shred with enough practice. It takes talent to use restraint.

Viva la Edge!

fruscinate best past ten years

Pat Martino, Brian Setzer, Tim Easton

John Mayer ???

Try:

Josh Homme-Queens of the Stone Age
Mike Mccready-Pearl Jam
Stone Gossard-Pearl Jam
Omar Rodriguez-The Mars Volta

(laughs)More cowbell!Will Farell(sp?)should be the cover boy for that.

EDDIE VAN HALEN!!!!!!!!! THE LAST GUITAR GOD!!!!!!

I can’t stand when people think all great guitar playing is about is the blues. Blues solos are a dime a dozen. Close your eyes and you can’t even tell the difference between most of them.

There was a reason i invited Derek Trucks to my birthday show at Carnegie Hall.He is a child prodigy who grew into a talented guitarist.No offense to Trey,but he is no Derek Trucks!

There was a reason i invited Derek Trucks to my birthday show at Carnegie Hall.He is a child prodigy who grew into a talented guitarist.No offense to Trey,but he is no Derek Trucks!

You are all all all missing one of the best guitarists out there right now who deserve way more props than mayer and frusciante. Let me say though i like both. Obviously the list is missing Trey, but Jake Cinninger is the best guitarist out there not on this list, and anyone who has seen him live will know his mighty power and bow down the the power that is. Jake could f*ck up Mayer and Frusciante any day.

no way man. for me the three be: cc deville, the guy in jessica simpson’s band, and the guy in cream.

Trucks - fine. J Fru - fine. JOHN MAYER???? JOHN MAYER???? A GUITAR GOD???? This would be like having a dream cover of Hendrix, Clapton, Page, Van Halen, Vaughn, Beck, Santana, and then tossing JAMES TAYLOR on there too!!!
No disrespect towards Mr. Taylor of course, but he isn’t a guitar god.

I think anyone who has seen Derek Trucks live knows he belongs on the cover. For those of you who don’t know who he is, he is the nephew of Butch Trucks, drummer for the Allman Brothers. Frusciante is amazing and although I don’t particularly like Mayer’s music, there is no denying his talent. True guitar gods need to know the blues, Clapton, Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughn, etc.. Mayer is good with the blues and gets respect with all the living legends including Clapton as does Trucks who just did a full tour with Eric Clapton. Anyone guitar player who is invited by Eric Clapton to play alongside him for a full tour deserves to be on the cover. As for all the Trey fans, I always thought RS was for yuppies not hippies. They could have included Johny Lang or even Kenny Wayne Shepherd too.

Where is Doyle Bramhall II, When Derek Trucks is, they are both better than John Mayer.. And they are in school at Eric Clapton..

For me there is no new god, i love Eric Clapton, and i’ll have Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy in the top 3 ever..

My vote goes to Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars…anyone who has seen or heard him knows the undeniable talent I’m talking about. The guy was flat-out BORN to play…

Trey is the best right now hands down. Right now…not the best ever. Mayer is a really good guitarist. I was never into his stuff until this lastest album. Great guitar work. and frusciante is the man!!! very experimental and innovative. I think thats what RS is looking for. Frusciante something that the others dont have.

hey,seiously,hippies don’t hate,but you may be an exception.Trey is mentioned and reference is made to the Grateful Dead…….hmmm…….could it be that Phish was a Dead cover band for years,that they have a lyric writer(Hunter/Barlow,that they modeled themselves on the Dead,that Trey has spent years trying to play like Jerry,& on & on.Trey is nothing but a second tier copycat.Jack White is an ass–who says? You?Stay away from Trucks,who is an original.

Derek is in a league of his own, no effects pedals, just a guitar plugged straight into an amp.

Trucks is amazing. Period.

Frusciante is NOTHING compared to Hillel Slovak and never will be.

The only thing I can say positive about Mayer is maybe that his tuning pegs smell like Jessica Simpson’s poontang. He’s just another cookie cutter housewife rocker.

1st of all… where have they been the last 15 years?!! They are just now recognizing john frusciante as a guitar god??!! and what the hell is john mayer doing on the cover

Bravo RS for finally recognizing a huge talent (Dereck Trucks)! The rest of you will eat your words once you hear his genious.

Trey Anastacio is the #1 Guitar God of all time…tied for first with Hendrix and light-years ahead of these clowns on the next cover. Give me a break. Rolling Stone never gave Trey and company the exposure they deserved. The magazine couldn’t even put out an article without making a corny Grateful Dead reference.

Tom Morello and Slash deserve some love too.

Have I not heard a single Jack White nomination out there? Wasn’t he one of, like, 1 or 2 new school guitarists that RS put in their top 20 when they ranked em all a little while back? I know he’s an asshole (and that “Raconteurs” is a pretentious name), but give him the credit he deserves.

You people pain me.

These are innovators who are changing what it means to play lead guitar, not just good examples of solid players (i.e. McCready). Obviously, the list is a lot longer than these three.

Let’s be honest here — you either listened to Phish or you didn’t. The fan base was an absolute joke, and I hate hippies more than anyone.

But it takes a guitar player to know why Trey Anastacio deserves to be considered a top ten guitarist of all time, and any guitar player who paid attention to Trey knows why he is so respected in the community. Should he have been on the cover as a “Guitar God”…??? Who cares?!? We’re talking about splitting hairs here.

And whoever said the thing about his “lyrics”…I don’t get it. Wasn’t everyone talking about…guitar playing?

Mike McCready, Jerry Cantrell and Josh Homme would have been a better threesome to pick

Mike McCready, Jerry Cantrell and Josh Homme would have made a better threesome

Where the hell is Zakk Wylde? Maybe he said “NO” to Rolling Stone?

Finally, JF is getting some props! I don’t know about Mayer, i’d rather see Buckethead in his place.

RS must have been feeling the heat from that idiotic cover of those soon to be off-off-off broadway clowns Panic! at the Disco.

Bravo for putting three great, and deserving guitarists on the cover. Trucks and Fruscanti speak for themselves. And though I cringe at Mayer’s pop tendencies, he has great skill, and is one of the best personalities to grace mainstream music in a decade.

Oh, and as far a Trey is concerned, maybe if he would have laid off the pills 10 years ago he might be where these guys are today. He became the joke that his fan base always was.

Where’s Buckethead?

Buddy Guy gave John Mayer his blessing onstage at the Jammy’s at Madison Square Garden Theatre in 2006 and Mayer responded in kind with sizzling blues guitar. At Bonnaroo in 2005, Mayer joined Herbie Hancock on stage and ripped it to shreds on his axe. Enough said, the guy has chops. Derek Trucks is brilliant and his show at the Nokia in 2006 proved it.

to “I hate Mike Anthony” Derek is only 27 yrs old. And this a HUGE deal for him to be on the cover of Rolling Stone, for him and his band. If you have not heard/seen him play then you can’t judge, it is truly something everyone needs to experience. You can’t compare his sound to anyone else’s, it is the purest thing I have ever heard.

More cowbell !

Finally! AN RS cover with some sophistication and class! Get to know Derek Trucks, people!

Thanks, Rolling Stone…

yeah,and TREY sings intelligent lyrics too……….face it TREY is a second tier guitarist

Pretty sure that whole me-getting-pulled-over-all-f’e d-up-on-heroin story kept me off the cover of this one. But John Mayer over me? No…really…John Mayer?!?

Donde esta Trey?

Trey Anastasio is the kingpin of all Guitar God lists. ‘93-’98 especially. End of discussion.

Trey is a small time player–when he sttood next to Trucks & Haynes–he got lost & clearly was a minor league player in the company of two greats.

Not a single mention of John Petrucci (Dream Theater) or Jerry Cantrell (Alice In Chains)??? I think both these brilliant guitarists are really overlooked by the mainstream.

Frusciante is an exceptional guitarist, but I dont think the other two are in quite the same league.

“Dude, put the bong down. ”

Like him or not, the music Anastasio made in the 90s with Phish was as inventive and influential as any musician of that generation. Obviously people are going to disagree, but you’d be hard pressed to find another guitar player who’s work rivals Anastasio’s.

Derek Trucks, are missing out. And if you’ve never seen him, you can’t love music that much because he’s been on tour for the past 13 years.

“Derek Trucks belongs there…but how could not have Trey Anastasio??!! You want guitar god?!! That man is the best player alive right now…”

Dude, put the bong down.

All 3 are great people.They are by far better then most of the lame pompous crap out there today.
I will say this though.. Derek Trucks is in a class by himself.
Take a trip to the Beacon Theatre in NYC next month and see for yourself.
You will never be the same.
I know I haven’t.

All of you who are speaking without having heard Derek Trucks should just stop talking because you are only embarassing yourselves.

Nice cover. All these dorks can debate about guitar gods all day. I’m just glad that I won’t have to deal with more crap on the cover like Fall Out Boy, Panic at the Disco…or whoever those posers were on the last cover.

Derek Trucks belongs there…but how could not have Trey Anastasio??!! You want guitar god?!! That man is the best player alive right now…

derek truck is by far the best of those three

ha! This comment cracked me up! “Obviously these guys are all looking up at Slash?”

i had the dubious honor of standing next to Axl at this years last Allman Brothers Band Beacon show….Apparently, Axl was trying to talk Derek Trucks into playing on a few tracks on whatever that album is they keep yapping about, and for the second time in a month Axl came to see Derek play.

After Derek nailed the classic “Dreams”, my jaw was down to my knees and i tapped Axl on the shoulder and said “He’s better than Slash, isn’t he?”. Well, i thought Axl was going to punch me out at first, but then he realized i wasnt being sarcastic, and finally said “Yeah, yeah he is”.

but these things are not pissing contests boys and girls! all three guitar players featured are pretty damn good compared to some of the other crap you get these days, and its MUCH better (for me) to see Derek Trucks, John Frusciante and John Mayer on the cover of RS than whoever the hell Panic!at the Disco is.

peace all over y’all…..
go out and buy “Songlines” by the DTB, you will be amazed….

Oh My God!

this is great. I’m so glad that Derek Trucks is finally getting the recognition he deserves. for thos questioning who he is, he has been the lead guitarist for the Allman Brothers Band for the past five or so years, as well as the centerpiece to the Wonderful, Derek Trucks Band. He also is featured on several tracks on the Eric Clapton, JJ Cale record.

He has been playing guitar since he was 9 years old, and was considered a prodigy way back then. Now, he’s apparently graduated to Guitar God!

He is probably THE BEST slide guitar player to ever walk the earth - and i’m not kidding.

He’s also married to Susan Tedeschi.

Keep an open mind, and you will be AMAZED! Don’t knock ‘em till you try ‘em…..

my only disappointment is that for the past 10 years it was real easy to see, meet, hear Derek……getting coverage on the cover or rolling stone is probably going to change all of that, but i’m real glad that the masses will be able to share this wonderful young man with all his current fans.

The Derek Trucks Band will not be for everyone, they do a mix of world music with a blues undertone….but man, when you hear their version of “Sahib Teri” you may never be the same.

Horray!

DEREK TRUCKS IS THE MAN

Why would i pick Trucks for my tour—you think i can judge talrnt……if so,listen to Trucks,as a soloist with his band,tha Allman Brothers,& his session work.Heis a natural & many of MY peers seem to agree–I love Mayer,but Trucks stands alone.

John Mayer is a very telented guitarist but the reason everybody seems to hate him or underestimate him is because of his pop sound. But his songs also have an influence of the blues and more so in his new album. so if everybosy could just get over their bias against pop music they would realize how talented some of them really are. Im not talking about the backstreet boys or anything but genuinely talented artists.

P.S. Ugh.I really do despise John Mayer.There is no excuse for him,his lame-ass music or the people who love it (for what reason? I have nooo idea)

Sorry,guys .. But the only person on this cover who has any right to be there IS Frusciante.Of course,his work with the Chili Peppers is as good as it ever was (particularly special on “Stadium”),but seriously .. His 2004 release,”Shadows Collide With People” is one of my absolute favorites.I command you.Give it a chance and it could be yours,too.

um…where are Mike McCready, Billy Corgan, Tom Morello, Jack White? Thank god no-ones said Kurt Cobain!

Only one Guitar God ! EDDIE VAN HALEN , EDDIE VAN HALEN , EDDIE VAN HALEN….

“New Guitar Gods” is only a title hook. Will be interesting to read the story and analysis. Don’t take it too seriously. All three are great players, which is not to say there aren’t others. Look forward to seeing how the article presents its case.

The Edge make all those American wanky players (look ma, I learned the blues scale) look like small kids.

who cares about technical skills? there are thousands of “good” guitarists who don´t have anything interesting to say/play

Panic at the disco is gay

john petrucci (dream theater’s “this dying soul”)

joey eppard (3’s “bramfatura”)

JF is the best rock guitarist alive today. John Mayer is definitely talented, Derek Trucks too, but the depth and breadth of Frusciante’s work both as a solo artist and as a Chili Pepper represents a level of quality no one else is touching these days. Tone, texture, melody, rhythm, variety, experimentation, composition - by any measure, this man is THE man.

Tom Morello? A great rhythm player but a one trick pony as a soloist. Heard one, heard ‘em all.

Slash? A talented lead player but pretty limited. Shows little interest in development - his VR work is inferior to what he did on Appetite.

Ditto Mike McCready. I would even venture to say Stone Gossard is the superior player of that pair.

As for others - what about Dean DeLeo? Jack White? Jonny Greenwood? Daron Malakian? All heroic, all very now.

I only know one guitar god of this time and it´s J.F.
I don´t know or recognaize any one more.
J.F you´re the really best!!!

are you kidding? seriously what about slash and mike mccready? they’re the last guitar god…

All of them are awesome but what about Tom Morello?

John Frusciante is the ultimate new guitar gods. He is by far the best guitarist out of the group. I don’t know much Trucks so I can’t say much for him. As much as I hate to say it Mayer is an extreamly talented guitar player, most people under estimate him because of his pop sound and fan base but he is very talented. Frusciante owns all though.

“these guys are good players….but ANY 80’s guitarist is better..”

Bull. Any 80’s guitarist may be faster, but you are grossly misinformed if you think that someone playing fast makes them a good musician.

Yeah, I gotta give props to Mr. Mayer for not following the herd and instead following his muse, even if it’s not my thang, per se.

Folks: Pay attention because i know what i’m talking about. I hate to be a hater but Mayer is a pop pussy turned SRV hack and it pains me to constantly hear rolling stone mention him as a guitar god. He’s like Kenny Wayne Shephard or Jonny Lang. Same fate. DO NOT imitate SRV because you can’t. Simple as that. Trucks is cool. I saw Frusciante at two festivals in europe last summer and the man is f-ing incredible, by far the the most innovative, funky, and just plain better than the other two. I saw The Raconteurs at the Leeds festival in england and Jack White is definitely good, but guitar god? We’ll see. Saw Pearl Jam at the same festival. Say what you will. 90’s band, not relevant anymore, whatever. I thought they were, too. But I’ve seen a lot of gigs and PJ is the heaviest, most kickass band in the world. Only show i’ve seen that’s come close is Rage Against the Machine in ‘97. Mike McCready is not a dinosaur. He deserves to be on this list WAY more than Mayer or Trucks. Also, apparently nobody has heard of Mato Nanji of Indigenous. Native American, plays mostly blues festivals and Indian reservation casinos. Yes, he sounds like Hendrix and Vaughan, but if you want to see the real living reincarnation of the two, catch an Indigenous live show and you won’t be disappointed. Went to a Hendrix tribute show in portland, OR a couple of years go featuring the likes of Buddy Guy, Jerry Cantrell, that Living colour guitarist, some other unknown hendrix hacks and when Mato Nanji took the stage, people were speechless. He was clearly the best one there. He channels Hendrix and Vaughan but is one of a kind. Anybody agree with me? I don’t care because i know i’m right. Also honorable mention: Robert Randolph. Somebody said Steve Vai and Joe Satriani? Please. Why not add Yngwie Malmsteen? Bunch of dorks. Technically great but no soul. Comments?

Note about John Mayer: I’m not going to disagree with anyone who says that there are better guitarists out there, but for someone who is such a prominent figure in pop music to be such an accomplished guitarist is quite special. Of course, JF and DT are better (for now), but John Mayer is the most talented solo POP guitarist since Prince. Thanks to JM, you’ll be hearing blues guitar on the radio again. Gotta give it to him for that.

I’m a fan of complimentary guitarists - that’s where true creativity is. Moore and Ronaldo or Valensi and Hammond Jr. - both duos provide their respective bands w/ “signature” sound and are capable of stylistic and technical virtuosity.

these guys are good players….but ANY 80’s guitarist is better..

Derek Trucks’ brand of guitar playing is something fresh. Unique style, unique tone. To the loser who said he is nothing more than a packaged version of Duane Allman’s sound, it’s obvious you haven’t sat down and listened. It excites me that he’s getting recognition, even if it is from MTV in print form. Frusciante and Mayer are awesome too, for what they do. But on a personal level, Derek is the one I enjoy the most. But who the hell am I?

I saw Trucks play with Clapton a few nights ago. That guy is just something else. Give that guy an SG and look out. Technically, Clapton didn’t come close in my mind. don’t get me wrong, clapton is good and may have been better at some point, but currently, Trucks is THE SHIT!

Derek Trucks is the best, John Mayer sucks ass, so he learned some penatonic scales and now can jack off the guitar with some blues licks instead of playing for 14 year old girls. John Frusciante good but not equal to Derek. Check out some videos on www.youtube.com of Derek. You will probably find a video of him when he was about 14 years old playing better than Mayer is now or go to www.dtbsetlists.com to listen to a live show.

Where is the great Mike McCready!?!

“There is nothing original about Derek Truck’s sound.” Daniel L.

Daniel, not sure you have done your homework.

I agree that these three guys are all extremely talented, but calling them gods is a bit much. I’ve seen Derek Trucks play, and it’s great that he’s finally getting some mainstream attention. He is probably the most diverse and versatile player of the three.

I’ve known Mayer could rip the blues with just about anybody for a long time, even though he went through the whole pop-bullshit phase.

And Frusciante’s catalog is perhaps the most consistently appealing of all three.

That said, let’s not forget about the power of great interplay and pure licks as far as space and time constraints go.

Because in that case, and in making a case for rock ‘n roll being alive and well, Matthew Followill (lead for Kings of Leon) has to be thrown into the mix.

KOL is rock, and Matt’s licks and solos are, pound for pound and in terms of originality and distinctiveness, some of the best in today’s musical spectrum.

They’re making people remember what it’s like to hear stuff that could be written, produced and put up alongside the Stones, Zeppelin, the Who and Hendrix.

JOHN MAYER IS SOOOO BAD.
really. really. really. bad.
if i was a fat soccer mom who needed some really “edgy” music to listen to while doing yoga, i would probably put on some john mayer.

further proof of his sucking is the fact that he hung out with eric clapton, who is the golden god of over-rated guitar mediocrity.

i dont like RHCP but i totally dig fruciante…great player. original sound, very tasteful, and his solo discs are really far out…

Yeah okay, I have no idea who Derek Trucks is either.

ANYWAY, John Frusciante IS the Guitar God. Not to mention the greatest human being in the entire universe. People are writing him off because they only know him from the Chili Peppers. He was amazing on BSSM but his best work can be seen on his solo albums, FO’ SERIOUS! Check ‘em out.

Vince Gill

I wouldnt have agreed with the Frusciante selection until I saw him perform a 20 minute solo with Omar Rodriguez of the mars volta during their encore. Completely blew my mind.

Also agree with the Jonny Greenwood votes.. Paranoid Android live also blew me away.

mayer’s on the cover instead of every recycled metal guitarist. get over it, you whiney fucks, it’s just one magazine’s opinion.

I’m sorry but it’s bullshit that Doug Martsch of Built To Spill is not included here. Every song by Built To Spill is a guitar classic damnit!

John Frusciante surpasses the other two by far, not to say Mayer and Trucks aren’t talented. John is just so extroadinarily, amazingly, magnificently talented. So versatile, creative, passionate.

MIKE McCREADY IS GOD!! so underrated…put him his own cover

Derek Trucks is a slide guitarist that has his own band and plays with the Allman Brothers Band…oh yeah and Clapton picked him up for the world tour he’s doing now, just a minor accomplishment there. He has a very original style and plays everything from blues to jazz, and even Eastern music. He’s relatively young, but a great player.

I don’t see why the instant this was posted everyone broke out into who they think is better. As its been said before different people have different tastes, but that doesn’t make those 3 guys bad. I personally love Derek and John Mayer has really reverted back to some great blues, falling in love with Stevie Ray Vaughan, after a stint with the disgusting pop world. You guys don’t know who Derek Trucks is, but maybe thats part of the reason the article was written, so you could find out some other new talent. I don’t know Frusciante, but I’d like to check him out after seeing him with those two. So in the end maybe your favorite guitarist didn’t make it into those 3, but how do you know one of them won’t become one of your favorite guitarists? Just ease up a little bit and enjoy the chance of hearing something new.

Mike McCready makes me wet my pants. Put him on the list.

mayer is definitely a guitar god.
he deserves it, if you dont think so youve never heard him live.

Where’s Dick Cheney? this list is so incomplete. They even left out Bush!… lol Cheney shot someone in the face and they guy who got shot appologized. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA Iraq should apologize for being invaded. lol. anyways… guitars, this list needs Jack White quite definitely. And what about Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead? he’s good.

Jack White is a great musician but he’s NOT a guitar god by any measure. Trucks is an amazing player and Mayer is on the fast track to being a cross between Sting and SRV by the time his fourth or fifth album hits. Anyone who is a naysayer about Mayer should actually listen to not only his studio stuff but some of his live stuff, both solo and JM3. As for Frusciante… I’m disappointed that he was taken over many other people. To me, he isn’t original and he isn’t a god by any means. He is inventive, similarly to Jack White, but he’s not uber-talented. Trucks and Mayer can really rip it up when the solo and John is just… boring.

Better yet wander on down to Live Oak Florida on April 14th for a midnight show that will change your view on music and life.Derek Trucks has no equal these days.

I agree with Deb!

Big Dave,bring a paicifier for these babes! Derek Trucks needs no introduction. Just ask Eric Clapton who the hell Derk Trucks is!

MIKE CAMPBELL

jack white=#1

While Mayer is a great guitarist, there is no doubt about it, I don’t know if he is ready to be called the new guitar god. It’s obvious he was put on the cover to sell it.

Jack White…so…awesomer…defies …language…

John Mayer?! LOL! That’s a good joke. Rolling Stone always makes me laugh. Oh, they should have put Jewel on there too

..Other greats worth metioning…
Chris Cheney-The Living End
Omar from The Mars Volta
Dave Matthews
Matt Bellamy-Muse
Billy Corgan
Justin King
Johnny Greenwood
Mike Einzinger
Chad Kroeger…hah! just kidding…

john frusciante is ok at guitar..kind of boring…the red hot chilli peppers are one of the most boring bands around…they definitely suck..jack white is amazing at the guitar

Like his style or not, you can’t deny Zakk Wylde is a guitar virtuoso.

I’ll give you John Frusciante. That guy plays a beautiful guitar. But Mayer Sucks. One of my personal faves is Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys.

Mayer’s got a bad rap because of his early shit but the kid can fuckin’ jam… check out his Trio band and his new album Continuum…but then again you must like real strapped down blues and rock and roll with soul…no distored speed queen bull shit

fuck dave matthews and arcade fire

Mike McCready is much more deserving than Frusciante or Mayer. I was just listening to him put his spin on Maggot Brain. Unbelievable.

DEREK TRUCKS is the MAN!!

check out dani california and fallout off of one of frusciante’s albums, he just keeps recycling his ideas, and u call him a guitar god…..

Claudio Sanchez?

who cares? JUST GET TO THE ARCADE FIRE ISSUE ALREADY

Mike McCready

Warren Haynes

JG

Skydog

Dear Rolling Stone,

After the P!ATD cover, you almost left me in the dust. But with this new cover, you’ve saved your ass. Good job. Best line-up of talent on the cover in a very long time.

PLEASE don’t say John Mayer FINALLY gets on the cover of this music magazine for fucking Jessica Simpson?

If Trucks is good enough to match Clapton head to head onstage, he’s good enough for the cover of Rolling Stone, or at least until they want to put one of the kids from the O.C. or Snoop Dogg on the front.

Frusciante + Trucks = 100%

Mayer = WTF?

If you dont know who Derek Trucks is, do your self a favor and find out, he is awesome.

Mike Campbell

Mike McCready, Trey Anastasio and Dave Matthews should all be there to join Mayer, Trucks, and Frusciante. How cool would that lineup be? I love to hear all of their guitar solos in songs! Amazing stuff….we are lucky!

All you people talking about guitarists from ages past, this about living innovating and modern day players just reaching their hayday. Read the damn article. You guys piss me off sometimes.

John deserves to be called a “Guitar God” of this day and age. He’s the most uniqie one out of them.

Slash is amazing. He hasn’t even lost it yet. He continues to impress me. And he most definately makes the top 3 in the 90’s. The Nineties, for christ sake.

Joe B.: although you have mentioned some truly talented metal guitarists, and even some emo ones, none of these players match up to the modern sounding, truly inspired and awesomely innovative styles brought forth with these three (actually, I’m not completely sold on John Mayer).

And whoever mentioned Slash - I hope that was tongue in cheek. Even in the early 90s he wasn’t in the top 3. Cool dude, though.

RS must have been feeling the heat from their idiot last cover of that soon to be off-off-off broadway act Panic! at the Disco.

Thanks for putting together a musically relevant cover with three of the best young guitarists around.

Fruscanti - one of the few TALENTED and COMPITENT original guitarists of our time. Other guys today masquarade their lack of skill as stylistic or innovative, but this guy is the real deal.

Trucks - Slide guitar is simply the hardest style to do well, and to combine that with the other influences that he has is simply superb.

Mayer - Though I cringe at his pop tendencies and fan base (although I’d probably do the same if I had his skill set - top shelf pussy is never to be taken lightly), he does have incredible skill, as well as incredible potential. And he’s one of the great personalities to grace main stream music in the last decade.

P.S. - Maybe if Trey would have laid off the pills 10 yrs ago he mught be where these guys are today.

Mike McCready is great…but he was the 90’s. Doesnt anyone realize this is for the upcoming years (as in 2007+). It is not 95′ anymore.

Three words for y’all. Derek Trucks Sucks. Get Morello on there.

ditto on mike mccready… sooo underated

Derek IS god

Derek is a god

geez stop whining…….its getting ridiculous…..i mean people are throwing out names like billy corgan……..he sucks

Apparently no one at RS has ever heard Zakk Wylde play…

its kinda sad that you ignore some very skilled guitarists in the metal field. true, john frusciante is awesome, and derek trucks has some god stuff too, but what about : matt heafy - trivium, alexi laiho - children of bodom, zakk wylde, claudio sanchez - coheed and cambria, and the guys from My Chemical Romance?

I had the privilege of seeing Trucks live. The Allman Brothers stopped by Philly a few years ago and Warren Haynes, an unbelievable guitar god himself, was sick. So the guitar duties fell solely on Trucks and he didn’t even flinch. Best guitarist I have ever seen or heard. He is unbelievable.

Warren Haynes would have worked for mid 90s guitarist. His time has sadly come and gone. He is getting older now. But dont get me wrong, hes great. Same to Jimmy Herring. Hes a genious, but hes older now. Trucks is the shining star of our generation. Mayer can be with a little more originality put into his guitar work.

To me “guitar god” is a phrase that sort of explains who people, guitar players as well as non players, are looking to as the new leaders in the way of guitar driven music. That being said, dosent mean these guys are fastest, or funkiest, or technically THE BEST.(picking a best guitarist is like picking a fav song, it can change everyday) If you look around at who people are paying attention to on the guitar… as far as 40 yr old under crowd goes… these 3 can fill that place. Theyre damn good. Sure we all have our allegiace to certain bands and certain players for our own reasons. I know who you are, the guy, who loves the non-mainstream guitar player and you think everyone else is a sale out. Thats great, whatever works for you. These people are leading the way in one way or another. And if you dont like them just cause theyre popular or your not into there style, then your selling yourself short. Personally, I couldnt give two shits about John Mayer… but I saw what he did with the JM trio, they rocked. I hated to admit it. But they did. Nothing fancy. Nothing over thought or special. They threw down good blues based rock. Trucks style is different. He brings something new to the table, well maybe not new. He plays more like duanne allman, and that says alot. Frucsiante… he is the renaissance of guitar. He continually develops and changes his style. Im as excited to see where he goes in the future as I am to see him jam with flea now.

Derek Trucks is from The Allman Brothers Band. I also am surprised Jack White is not there, mostly because Rolling Stone loves talking about how great he is (though I am also a fan of his).

Anyway though, why are we arguing? It all comes down to opinion and no small amount of luck.

Regardless, RS is saying that these three men are recognized as (young) “guitar gods” like those of old-Clapton, Hendrix, Page, the sort of player that makes really ugly faces while playing while many of the fans close their eyes and make the same faces in (real or exaggerated) ecstasy. All three are also “known” for guitar playing specifically….QOTSA rock hard but aren’t really a “guitar band”, same as the Pumpkins. Plus, all three are throwbacks-Trucks is literally taking on the role of Duane Allman/Dickey Bettes, Mayer has the Clapton-esque pop-music-mixed-with-intense-s olos vibe (though that comparison is a bit of a stretch, I couldn’t think of a better one) and Frusciante has the Hendrix/Zappa mad scientist/genius thing going, along with a Santana-like deep, soulful thing. Trucks is a perfect choice, as is Frusciante….Mayer works but I wouldn’t have chosen him first. That said, to all you haters, Buddy friggin’ Guy thinks Mayer is awesome, and personally I hold his opinion higher than angry former stoners sitting in their office cubicles (and, no offense, Rolling Stone in fact). I’ll watch the video, read the story, and enjoy all the talent on display.

How about Warren Haynes?

Actually you should see Derek Trucks & Robert Randolph trying to jam with John Mayer on the Jammys 2002 Awards Show. The only problem was that John Mayer couldn’t hang. He was totally lost in an improvisational forte. He is tits with his studio work & I’ve watched his concert footage on Direct TV, with his backing band & as the John Mayer Trio. And yes he is a great perofrmer. But there is nothing spontaneous about it.

John Frusciante is great too. I’ve been a Chilis fan since they appeared in the old 80’s skateboarding movie “Thrashin’”.

I agree that RS proclaiming new guitar gods lets you know what you are in for- another last-ditch effort to try to save the recording industry on their way down the drain. There are Derek Trucks quotes that are applicable here but I will save my words.

So many guitarists that Derek has toook the stage with, as well as many other musicians, stop playing, drop their jaw and listen. They are listening to something they had never dreamed could come out of a guitar. He plays notes that don’t actually exist, his phrasing is completely unique, his tone is from Heaven above.

What about Matthew Heafy from Trivium?

WHERES OMAR A. RODRIGUEZ!!?? Yes John Mayer has come a long ways since Room For Squares in terms of guitar but this is a crime to Omar off.

Froosh is the best one up there….

Derek is Zeus.

I sure wish Derek Trucks would join my band.

Derek is so much better than Eddie.

Yes, Derek is the greatest guitar player on the dace of the earth today.

You won’t hear Derek Truck’s on commercial radio and you won’t see him on MTV or doing TV commercials. If these are the things that make up your musical universe I guess you wouldn’t know who he is. Good.

by the way,i love jack white–he may belong up there too—BUT–he’s not in the same ballpark as derek trucks….

if these guys are guitar gods rock and roll really is dead, where the hell did the energy go?

Mayer is so lame. If I’m a 14 year old girl I might find him interesting and talented.

derek trucks is the most creative guitarist ever after duane allman & hendrix—thosr who don’t kow–fine–you can have your own tastes……..rolloing stone–derek would have been paired with doyle bramhall * warren haynes..

Good selection of new guitar Gods.

Before you idiots post, please listen to the music. Then, and only then, should you respond.

And just because Mayer is fornicating with the previous Mrs. Nick Lachey does not make him any less of a guitar player.

For all of the recent crap that RS has conducted stories on, this is a breath of fresh air.

Just thank god you didn’t put Jack White up there.

That said, those who are bitchin’ right should realize that, yes a.) none of these guys have that original of a sound (although Frusciante is very skilled), and b.) yes, there are more deserving guitarists of this generation, but, these are the only ones anybody has ever heard of, so they win.

Where the hell is Omar Rodriguez of the Mars Volta?!

Frusciante definetly is the most versatile of this group (and most modern players) Slash is cool but, who ever said these guys are looking up to him is a little silly. I would’ve like to see a Jack White & Frusciante jam session.

Billy Corgan can destroy all of these guys.

hendrix? fuck that.. zakk wylde man

Derek is so good that I want you all to ignore his music. He’s probably the only one of these three that actually knows many of his fans on a first name basis. The music industry has a way of luring the best of the best down the wrong path. Thanks a lot RS. Why don’t you go back todoing what you do best- shooting your Britney Spears covers so we can actually appreciate the fruits of your only talented staff- your photographers.

i think john mayer is the most competent musican in pop right now.

I would’ve liked to see Kevin Shields up there, but of course, he would to have needed to do an album in, say, the last 15 years…

Next issue…Cowbell GODS!!

No disprespect to Mayer as an artist–he’s alright as a guitaist–but why the hell him? Of all the people that could have been chosen. Please explain. Now.

P.S. Never heard Trucks, so I’ll hold my WTF for him.

Josh Homme should be in that photo, QOTSA rocks hard!

Creative,adventurous,and talented(i’m not sure about Mr. Trucks’ background)-they were meant to share a cover together.

Finally.

DUDES!!!

Stop the whining about “Where’s Matt Bellamy or the dude from the Slip?” This is RollingStone. You have to be RHCP or f-ing John Mayer to get on the cover (I don’t know why Derrick Trucks is there, to be honest. And yes, you internet savvy fanboys, I have heard Derrick Trucks.) Guess what. Your friend Wayne from your friend Wayne’s band didn’t make the cover, either. How come nobody asked why Wayne didn’t make the cover?

What…no guitar Godesses?
Allison Robertson…The Donnas
Kaki King
Ani DiFranco-VERY underrated
to name only a few…c’mon RS, don’t forget the ladies (Jennifer Batten too!)

Does rolling stone know Jimmy Herring…come on now…seeing jimmy and Derek…does not get any better than that…

When will RS ever cover Robben Ford? He’s played with George Harrison, Miles Davis, Joni Mitchell, Rickie Lee, Little Feat, on and on, and has been one of the premier blues players for the past 20 years, yet NO INK at all. I don’t get it.

As someone stated: If you’re already ONLINE - and anxiuous enough to make a smart ass comment about who Derek Trucks is - why not, just surf around and look him up and maybe…just maybe…discover something that isn’t spoon fed to you by FUSE, US Magazine or a beer commercial.

There is plenty of great music out there kids….do yourself a favor and find it.

I haven’t seen any mention of Luther Dickinson from the North Mississippi Allstars or Eric Krasno from Soulive…both great guitarists.

If you have to ask “who is Derek Trucks” you don’t know much about
music….

If you hear Brad Barr of “The Slip” play live you’ll discover what innovation is. These guys are good though.

Why does it always have to be “THE BEST”?? That doesn’t even mean anything. Best what-fastest, bluesiest, blah, blah? Music isn’t about “The Best”, “The Gods”…please, let’s move the discussion past this obsession.

Trey Anastasio?

their all sick, but as frusciante is clearly the best out of that trio. hes a songwriting, musically talented genius of our age. no doubt he is the greatest guitarist of our modern music.

Then i guess you havent seen Mayer play, he may be “Jessica Simpsons boyfriend but that dosent change how great of a guitarist he is. He can straight up play the blues and plays with legends like Clapton, BB, Jeff Beck, and Buddy all of the time. Its about time he got recognized for his true talent!

Prince is good, yes. But is he the best? No. Any guitarist who is on top of their game can replicate princes licks (and awful vibrato may i add) after a solid 5 years of playing. Now, I would go ahead like everyone else and say, ohh Jimmy Bruno is the greatest guitarist ever cause he pioneered fast bebop jazz guitar, but he runs scales, just like all those names a few posts below. Having soul in your playing, now thats a little different!

Mike McCready Of Pearl Jam is so under rated its funny…. and Stone Gossard aint so bad himself…

Marc Ford, formerly of the Black Crowes, kicks the tar out of these guys… especially if you’re looking for a blues/swamp/funk rock player.

And… a lot of people don’t realize this… but Prince is one of the sickest guitar players in the world.

Glad to see Rolling Stone acknowledging the guitar genius of Derek Trucks. Anybody who hasn’t heard his work - get yourselves a listen. If you’ve only heard him with Eric Clapton this past tour, listen to him with the Allman Bros. If you’ve only heard him with the Allman Bros listen to his solo work. I think Songlines (Derek Trucks Band) is an amazing CD - on regular rotation through my player. I just may purchase myself a copy of RS this month…

www.myspace.com/somebodytalked

Awesome to see Derek Trucks getting his due. His work with the dTb and the Allman Brothers has been flooring people all decade. Clapton has turned part of his show over to him nightly over the past year. Derek’s eastern influence and five-finger plucking style in open E is a marvel. No one has ever played with that exact style. He would be a guitar god just with his straight playing, but he’s even better on slide.

Mayer has surprised a quite a few folks with the level of his playing the last few years, but I’m not sure there is anything innovative there.

Frusciante has turned a RHCP show into a jaw dropping guitar shred fest. He’s an all around talent with a great voice too. Quite unique in his style.

EDWARD VAN HALEN IS THE BEST EVER,
PERIOD !!!!!

Does this ‘Guitar As Cock’ award always have to go to the guy who plays blues? Are any of these people innovative? I like Frusciante, especially on B, S, S, M…but we have certainly heard the others before…on any classic rock radio channel. RS knows who the game-changers are…they also know they don’t sell mags…Doug Martsch, Stephen Malkmus, J Mascis, and of course…the great Bob Mould who practically wrote almost every chord you here in ‘modern rock’. If you want Blues guitar, check out RL Burnside, T Model Ford, Junior Kimbrough, or a Black Keys record…not Jessica Simpson’s boyfriend…no blues there.

Oh, and if your tastes are simple, and you’re looking for the next great blues-rock guitar slinger, just wait until Eric Steckel hits the national stage. Incidentally, Eric Steckel’s drummer is Derek Truck’s younger brother Duane.

JACK WHITE?? are you kidding? he sucks and that “Steady As She goes” shit fest is just a reworking of “Is She Really Going Out with Him”

Passion and Warfare? I had to look that up to make sure I was thinking of the right album. Yeah, that “WAS” guitar, 17 years ago. Steve Vai is a master, there’s no question about that. This article, which I’ve not yet read, but will, seems to want to highlight some music that’s being made NOW.

Derek Trucks is THE BEST living guitar player even though The Derek Trucks Band is a bore. Nobody can touch him.

Derek Trucks is the best guitar player alive, hands down. Personally, I think he deserves his own cover at some point, but these other two guys can both rock when they want to as well. If only Mayer would stay away from that pop crap and would play the blues…
For everyone badmouthing Derek Trucks, here is an easy solution, download this show, listen, and tell me he is still “only a classic rock guitar player”:
http://www.archive.or g/details/dtb2006-10-28.gefell m200.flac
Get informed before you start making generalizations.

You’d have to put Mrs. Booth and Cantwell of elfshu up there.

www.myspace.com/elfs hu

Jimmy Herring definately deserves a nod. I saw him guest with Derek Trucks Band in March of 2006 in Athens, GA. If there is a tape of this show out there, it’s worth tracking a copy down. They also played together briefly in The Allman Brothers Band, and those shows are highly sought after as well.

The link to the video featuring Derek and Trey side-by-side:

http://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=oK3CgCdpWYw

The first video features Trey’s solo. To see Derek’s solo, just click on In Memory of Elizabeth Reed 2. For all of those who are still wondering whether or not Derek Trucks deserves to be on the cover check this clip from Eric Clapton’s summer tour:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =DHRY6JnkIm4

hey, these guys are ok…

But still, nobody is (or ever will be) better than Hendrix.

i’m with brian
mayer’s good, yeah, live…
let’s see him make a balls out album already and one’s that’s not called continuum
mike mcready is way underrated
at least they didn’t put fucking panic! at the disco on the cover… shit, they fucked that one up!

I’d add Nels Cline (Wilco) for sure and Jimmy Herring (Widespread Panic, Allman Bros., The Dead)

Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Slash were a guitar gods in the 80’s and 90’s, RS is talking about Guitar gods in this day and age who are also well-known to a broad audience and commercially successful.

You have to check out the Derek Trucks Band. Derek is such a phenomenal guitar player. Do yourselves a favor!

you have frusciante, who is slightly original. Does some interesting things with mars volta and such. John Mayer, who currently is still kicking the hendrix.srv.wannabee stage, so its gonna be a few more years before he kicks it in. And then Derek, who by all rights is the best guitarist of our generation. Good job rolling stone, this will be the first purchase of your magazine i make since the top 500 albums issue.

okay i agree with John Frusciante but trucks and mayer suck what about joe Satriani or tom morello or even BUCKETHEAD

please…buy “Passion and Warfare”….THIS is GUITAR!!!!!!

In terms of style and technique, Derek Trucks is, without question, the most innovative guitar player on this cover. Daniel L. is mistaken when he claims that Derek’s style is “exactly what’s packaged in Duane’s”. For those of you who think that Trey should take Derek’s place on this cover, check out this video - it features Trey and Derek side by side… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =oK3CgCdpWYw

www.myspace.com/ruse music

M ayer’s favorite LA bans….

Derek is about 27 or so, not in his 30’s. Did somebody mention Trey? The last time Trey and Trucks shared a stage, Trey flubbed his own solo, then stopped playing completely, and with his mouth hanging open, stood there and stared while Derek took his solo. Jazz, fusion and jam fans all know very well who Derek is. There are a lot of young guys out there right now who can play, but Derek is truly doing something new.

Jack White better than Derek Trucks? As Homey the Clown would say, “I DON’T THINK SO!” I knew there was a reason I quit subscribing to RS back in the late 80’s. It went the way of MTV.

Nobody hears guitar here?
This guys??? guitar gods????? LOL
The Rock`N`Roll is dying

Good call, BigDave. SONGLINES is a tremendous record!

why no jack white? you guys are bitches

There’s nothing terribly innovative about John Mayer’s playing. Frusciante is a good funk player, and adds some intersting voicings to RHCP’s sound, so ok, has been to hell and back and will be an interesting read, but still…anyone hear of Shawn Lane who passed away a couple years ago? He was an innovator, Reeves Gabrels is too.
Jimmy Herring’s a monster! Still, thanks RS for putting some guitar players on the cover.

my bad, he is in his 20’s…he just looks like he’s 40

You guys who think Derek Trucks is just a classic rock slide guitarist obviously haven’t listened to his own music with The Derek Trucks Band. Do yourself a favor and go buy a copy of SONGLINES and get educated. This guy is SO much more than just a classic rock slide guitarist.

I don’t know if The Raconteurs are still on tour and he wasn’t available, but Jack White should be on the cover as well. He’s as good or better than Mayer, Frusciante & Trucks.

Um, you guys are presumably online when you write “Who is Derek Trucks?” right? So why not go look him up?

John Frusciante is a genius and his status as a new ‘guitar god’ is more than deserved. don’t believe me? check out any of his work with the peppers but even more so with his debut album ‘niandra lades and usually just a t-shirt,’ his second album ’smile from the streets you hold’ as well as his entire 6 albums in 6 months series (tho the artwork for ‘curtains’ fell through at the last minute so technically it was seven months…).

Who is Derek Trucks ???
WHO IS DEREK TRUCKS ???
A beacon of guitar light. FINALLY.
By the way he’s still in his 20s.

JOE SATRIANI OWNS

Who cares about what Rolling Stone magazine has to say. They’re so passe’ and have been for quite some time now. It sort of sad that Derek is on the cover. Kind of trivializes him in some ways. At least give him his own cover.

Just go to Archive.org and pick out a DTB show.

It figures that once RS finally dug it’s head out of the pop sand and featured a true musician on the cover (Trucks), the idiot 16-year-olds that read it have to ask who he is. Sad statement on RS and it’s readers…

Look, i hate to be Captain Bringdown, but where Matt Bellamy of Muse? Have you not heard this guy play?

Mayer and Frusciante are both excellent, but Derek is completely out of their league. He sings through his guitar, and borrows from countless genres of music, not simply classic rock.

Just one think….STEVE VAI RULES!!!!!!

Obviously these guys are all looking up at Slash?

These guys are all great players, already critically acclaimed, and commercially successful-a HUGE omission is leaving out Jimmy Herring, but what about some of the other lost, loved geniuses like Michael Bloomfield, Danny Gatton, Roy Buchanon who left too soon?

Well, the Allman Brothers Band keeps putting out new music, not to mention he has his own band, the Derek Trucks Band, plus he’s only in his early thirties, so Trucks is a guitarist from this generation. And if you actually listen to him, he’s real innovative w/ slide guitar.

Derek Trucks has taken Duane Allman’s influence and made something his own. He quotes Coltrane, Indian ragas, gospels…he’s the real deal, and it’ll be fun to be along for the ride.

Derek Trucks? Okay, he must be pretty good if he’s playing with the Allmans - but he’s playing with the Allman Brothers Band! That would certainly disqualify him from being a “new” guitarist. He’s playing classic rock slide guitar for chrissake. Actually, same goes for Mayer.

Frusciante has a more original, distinctive sound than either of those guys. He plays guitar in a way that emphasizes creativity, not technicality, but he’s got that too.

There is nothing original about Derek Truck’s sound. It’s exactly what it’s packaged as Duane Allman. If your looking for signature sound I agree Trey Anastacio should be on this cover.

Was Trey Anastasio not available?

Frusciante is by far the genius of that group

About frickin’ time Mayer made the cover.

Trucks wipes these other guys easy.

He also has been playing with Clapton the past year.

Derek Trucks is probably the best slide guitarist alive right now, Clapton recruited him for his latest touring band….nice to see Rolling Stone put real musicianship on its cover

Hard on me, but who the hell is Anonymous? (and is he hot?)

Derek Trucks is one of the guitarists for the allman bros and solo artist in his own right. He is also Butch Trucks’ nephew (drummer for Allmans)

Who the fuck is Derek Trucks, and where the hell is Mike McCready?

John Frusciante is awesome.

jay is a bum.

who is this derek trucks..i second that

Pardon me, but who the heck is Derek Trucks?