I spent the majority of my teen/young adult years growing up listening to everything from the Doors and Joplin, to Hendrix and the Jefferson Airplane. I loved Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich and Miles. I cut my teeth , as far as guitar players were concerned on Wes Montgomery, Charlie Byrd, Joe Pass and Herb Ellis....
Then here comes the age of "GUITAR".....The Rock & Roll era...It started with the Beatles and from that point on flourished with a multitude of incredible guitar players.
I could never name them all and I'm sure you can think of a few more but for the sake of guitar lovers everywhere let me just list a few... Not in the order of greatness, just in the fact they contributed to Rock and Roll history.
1. Randy Rhoades
2. Eddie Van Halen
3. Gary Rossington/Alan Collins
4. Tony Iommi
5. Brian May
6. Zakk Wylde
7. Alvin Lee...(Ten Years After)...Check out Woodstock if you don't know who I'm talking about
8. Frank Marino...(Mahogany Rush)
9. John Petrucci...(Dream Theatre)
10. Angus & Malcolm Young...(AC/DC)
11. George Lynch...(Dokken)
Ok....I missed a shitload....But the purpose of the article is this...
I just watched the DVD "Dokken Japan Live' 95" (thanks to my 5 yr old daughter who seems to think she is going to marry Don when she grows up...NOT...) and as much as I have loved the band and worshipped George over the years when it comes to playing guitar, I noticed that in this concert especially; he was just NOT on his game.
In the video they also have a version of "Paris is Burning" (Bonus footage, if you are not a Dokken fan you won't be familiar with it,) with Reb Beach; ex-guitar player for Winger. He also did a stint with David Coverdale and Whitesnake.
Well, Reb simply tears it up. In the concert footage George plays it also. In comparision....Reb kicks his ass....
Now the point of this article is simple...I LOVE George Lynch, but at the same time Reb ain't nothing to sneeze at...He was a part of Dokken for quite awhile....Just curious....
WHO DO YOU THINK DESERVES THE TITLE OF "MOST ASS-KICKIN GUITAR PLAYER" for DOKKEN.... Now that I think about it John Norum was/is a part of the band in the recent years. They are still touring and they are releasing a new C.D. this summer of all new material.
I have seen both of them play live and I have to admit it's a close call. So I leave it up to all you metalheads out there who believe that banging your head still RULES....
Give me some FEEDBACK......
Is it George or is it Reb....Who is the Man?


Comments: 62
a hard one to decide. I am going with Angus because they were my favorite band back in 1979 early 1980 I was a 6th grade rocker!
J. Hendrix
E. Clapton
J. McLaughlin
S.R. Vaughn
J. Beck
J. Page
Y. Malsteam
Anne Marie.
Can't argue with you sweetheart, them boys in AC/DC trump most of the guitar players out there....
Ron,
That is by far a superlative list of guitar GREATS. Especially McLaughlin and Malmsteen.
I just happened to post this cause of Cheyenne. She wandered in the other day when I was listening to Dokken and "fell in love" not just with the lead singer but actually with the music. So, every day and night we have to have our normal "music hour" include Dokken. Not to mention like I said, the guitar players within that band throughout time have kicked ass, so I just thought this would be interesting. Just to see what people thought....
Yeah Yeah...I know, point whore that I am...LOL...Sorry I'm tired of 3-4 days of proof-reading to write an article...Just thought I throw one out there off the cuff... I'll get back to serious stuff in a few days.....
Did you say BALLS?!
Happy Easter!
Even as great as both of them are, Eddie Van Halen and Randy Roades blew both of them away. I rember the cover of Guitar World back in the early 80's with Eddie and Randy on the cover with the question " Who is the best? " Of course, my answer was Eddie.
Then you have Southern Rock where Rossington, Gaines and Collins ruled with Skynyrd. And then blues where SRV ruled as far as I'm concerned.
Great article Todd !! I'm glad that you finally wrote an article along these lines !!
Not hard rock, but I'd like to see any of them match him with the exception of Jimmy.
Recording Artist&Studio Musician
Sir Douglas Quintet
Roy Head
Chuck Berry
Bobby Freeman
Little Jr. Parker
Screamin' Jay Hawkins
are some of the people he has played with.
His playing is simply fantastic!
Check out this site for Hewlett Crist music. It seems these days, well for most days Hewlett is and has been involved in mostly Flamenco/Spanish styles of music. True Dan.....VERY TALENTED!!!!
Thanks for the insight and the new music connection
Now another question..where was Slash born ???
Hey..I sent you an e-mail.
For three easy payments of $1.00 , I can hook you up with a new battery for your wussie " Honda Shadow "
Stop pretending....Buy a ........
I like Ron's list including the last two.
I'd add Sat and Frank Hannon.