We like rock music more than you. It's just the way it is…

I was sitting around earlier this weekend and asked myself a puzzling question. “Sami,” I said. “When will you try that new Double Down Sandwich from KFC?”

After nearly throwing up in my mouth, I moved on to the more puzzling question; who is today’s best guitarist? Apparently, my question was answered twice over the weekend.

Former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist John Frusciante was recently voted “Best Guitarist” of the last 30 years according to listeners of BBC 6 in the U.K. Rounding out the top five of that list was Slash, Matt Bellamy of Muse, Johnny Marr formerly of The Smiths and Tom Morello.

However, at the Revolver Magazine Golden Gods award ceremony this past weekend, the honor of “Best Guitarist” went to Black Label Society’s Zakk Wylde, according to voters. Now how can there be two “best guitarists” on the planet at the same time? Surely there can only be one who holds that lofty title, right?

So who is today’s best guitarist? What qualities does a guitar player have to possess so that he or she can forever be engraved in the minds of the public as the number one wielder of an axe? If you ask the question to someone who doesn’t follow rock, blues or jazz, their answer usually will be Jimi Hendrix. But why? I’m not knocking Hendrix’s skill at all but how has a man, who’s been dead for 40 years, still manage to get that much respect from people who may not even listen to his music?

Is it a familiar riff or song that a guitarist writes? In that case Slash would be the best because the opening riff to “Sweet Child Of Mine” is regarded as the most famous guitar riff of all.

Is it technique? Is it a skill set that a guitarist has? Because Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Stevie Ray Vaughan are right up there in that category. But then there’s the question of relevance. Clapton, Page and Vaughan aren’t of the “new school” of guitar players. One could say they’ve had their time in the sun. So who carries the torch for them now?

Is it experimentation or a genre of rock that’s played? Guitarists like Jonny Greenwood of Radiohead and Tom Morello crafted sounds with a guitar that weren’t heard before they came along. Plus, can someone who shreds in a metal band not be considered for “Best Guitarist” because of the style of music they play? Are critics who hold yearly “Best Guitarist” polls biased against shredders because that music may not be their cup of tea?

I’m not trying to write a paper or thesis (did too many of those in college) but I’m just curious as to know, at the end of the day, how someone can be called the best guitarist? Hendrix still stands at the top of the mountain. Will someone from this generation ever manage to join him or even best him? Let me know. I wanna be on that look out for that person.

Tags: Eric Clapton, Guitar, Jimi Hendrix, John Frusciante, Johnny Marr, Jonny Greenwood, Matt Bellamy, Slash, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Tom Morello, Zakk Wylde