January 1982

INTRODUCTION

Dave DiMartino

Personally, when I say the words “guitar hero" I think of Jimi Hendrix. Maybe that’s because of his War Heroes album; when the distinctions get blurred there’s really no difference between a sniper running through the jungle and a crazy man pouring lighter fluid on an electric guitar.

CREEM SPECIAL EDITION

FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME

We’re ready for argument.

SOUTHERN MASTER: DUANE ALLMAN

Rob Patterson

Duane’s achievement was to create a new mixture of American musical styles within a propulsive rock format, melding blues, jazz, country influences and rock together in a signature sound that has yet to be equalled.

STUDIO CLASSICIST: DAVE EDMUNDS

John Neilson

You’ve gotta hand it to Dave Edmunds —he knows what he likes.

THE FLEETWOOD MAC GUITARS

Iman Lababedl

In 1966 Peter Green(baum) joined that breeding place for surrogate blues guitarists, John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers, as the replacement for a certain Mr. Clapton. Green spent a year there and garnered a monster reputation (give a spin to “A Hard Road,” if you wanna find out why).

CRIMSON TECHNICIAN: ROBERT FRIPP

John Neilson

In the world of rock guitar heroes it’s often hard to separate the musician from the myths that have grown up around him.

OF FREAKS, DEATH, AND THE BLUES JIMI HENDRIX

Robert A. Hull

There is no way to write about James Marshall Hendrix without sentimentalizing the myth, yet at the same time, there is no way to write about him without revealing a desire to debunk that myth.

FLANNELED VIRTUOSO: RORY GALLAGHER

Susan Whitall

You have to feel for any band opening for a Rory Gallagher show.

JIMMY PAGE: HEAVY METAL GODFATHER

Dave Zimmer

Page, using more foot pedals, feedback and bottom end, produced a metallic blast of sound that would come to be labeled “heavy metal.”

BACKSTREET CRAWLER: PAUL KOSSOFF

Iman Lababedi

As a guitarist I preferred him to may of his better contempories; that had everything to do with a love of imperfection.

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL ARCHETYPE: KEITH RICHARDS

J. Kordosh

Keith Richards might very well be the most obnoxious likeable musician around. My main gripe with the guy is that he keeps dropping and adding the “s” to his surname.

NEW MASTER? EDWARD VAN HALEN

J. Kordosh

Many people think Eddie Van Halen is the best guitar player in the world. This is something like being God, except that you still have to die.

JEFF BECK TECHNICAL MAGICIAN

Rob Patterson

If you want proof that Jeff Beck is a notch above the rest, ask a guitarist.

THE ORIGINAL CHAMELEON: CHRIS SPEDDING

John Neilson

If all of the albums on which Chris Spedding has played guitar were to suddenly disappear tomorrow, the world would be deprived of a considerable body of music.

ERIC CLAPTON: A GOD, OF SORTS

J. Kordosh

In the case of Eric Clapton, one is tempted to say that his reputation superceded his ability to deliver.

PEROXIDE POLICEMAN: ANDY SUMMERS

John Neilson

One moment his shimmering guitar will be all that is holding the band together.

POWER CHORD KING: PETE TOWNSHEND

John Neilson

It’s hard to write objectively about Pete Townshend these days without grappling with all sorts of ambivalent feelings.

INTO THE BLACK: NEIL YOUNG

Bill Holdship

Neil Young is an enigma when it comes to musical categories.