Q Magazine - 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Ever!

[BadCoverVersion]

From Q#224 March 2005

1. Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze
2. The Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack Flash
3. Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta’ Love
4. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Sprit
5. The Beatles – Helter Skelter
6. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child Of Mine
7. The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again
8. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
9. The Kinks – You Really Got Me
10. The Stone Roses – I Am The Resurrection
11. Black Sabbath – Paranoid
12. Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water
13. The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog
14. Blur – Song 2
15. Radiohead – Creep
16. AC/DC – Whole Lotta’ Rosie (Live)
17. John Lee Hooker – Boom Boom
18. The Velvet Underground – Sweet Jane
19. Cream – Sunshine Of Your Love
20. Oasis – Supersonic
21. Pixies – Debaser
22. Metalica – Master Of Puppets
23. Aerosmith – Walk This Way
24. Rage Againsed The Machine – Killing In The Name
25. Pink Floyd – Shine On You Crazy Diamond
26. Sex Pistols – Pretty Vacant
27. Motorhead – Ace Of Spades
28. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now
29. Van Halen – Eruption
30. Red Hot Chilli Peppers – Can’t Stop
31. Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop
32. Neil Young – Like A Hurricane
33. Queen – Now I’m Here
34. The Clash – White Riot
35. My Bloody Valentine – You Made Me Realise
36. T.Rex – Get It On
37. Fleetwood Mac – Albatross
38. Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town
39. MC5 – Kick Out Thejams
40. Prince – Purple Rain
41. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
42. Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
43. Derek And The Dominos – Laya
44. Muse – Stockholm Syndrome
45. Public Image – Public Image
46. Beastie Boys – Sabotage
47. The Darkness – I Believe In A Thing Called Love
48. Can – Mother Sky
49. Howlin’ Wolf – Smokestack Lightnin’
50. The Byrds – Eight Miles High
51. Television – Marquee Moon
52. Gang Of Four – At Home He’s A Tourist
53. Captain Beefheart – Big Eyed Beans From Venus
54. The Hives – Hate You Say I Told You So
55. Elvis Presley – Hound Dog
56. David Bowie – Heroes
57. R.E.M. – The One I Love
58. U2 – Vertigo
59. Echo And The Bunnymen – Rescue
60. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Freebird
61. The Yardbirds – Shape Of Things
62. Slade – Cum On Feel The Noise
63. Joy Division – Shadowplay
64. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
65. Iron Maden – Phantom Of The Opera
66. The Strokes – Last Night
67. Smashing Pumpkins – Cherub Rock
68. The Sonics – Strychnine
69. Sonic Youth – Teenage Riot
70. Queens Of The Stoneage – No One Knows
71. Funkadelic – Maggot Brain
72. The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
73. The Jam – Going Underground
74. John Lennon – Cold Turkey
75. Faith No More – Everything’s Ruined
76. Boston – More Than A Feeling
77. Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues
78. Dinosaur Jr. – Freak Scene
79. PJ Harvey – 50 Ft Queenie
80. Bob Dylan – All Along The Watchtower
81. Magazine – Shot Both Side
82. Verve – Slide Away
83. The Only Ones – Another Girl Another Planet
84. Sly And The Family Stone – I Want To Take You Higher
85. Joan Jett And The Blackhearts – I Love Rock And Roll
86. Spaceman 3 – Revolution
87. Link Ray And His Ray Men – Rumble
88. Husker Du – Friend, You’ve Got To Fall
89. Dick Dale & His Del Tones – Misirlou
90. Siouxsie & The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden
91. Interpol – Obstacle 1
92. ZZ Top – La Grange
93. Korn – Blind
94. Foo Fighters – All My Life
95. Steely Dan – Reelin’ In The Years
96. The Shadows – Apache
97. Suede – Animal Nitrate
98. The Jesus And Mary Chain – Sidewalking
99. Richard And Linda Thompson – Shoot Out The Lights
100. The Osmands – Crazy Horses

Some nice choices, my personal favourites being...

8. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
10. The Stone Roses – I Am The Resurrection
13. The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog
18. The Velvet Underground – Sweet Jane
20. Oasis – Supersonic
28. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now
36. T.Rex – Get It On
40. Prince – Purple Rain
41. Franz Ferdinand – Take Me Out
44. Muse – Stockholm Syndrome
51. Television – Marquee Moon
61. The Yardbirds – Shape Of Things
62. Slade – Cum On Feel The Noise
63. Joy Division – Shadowplay
97. Suede – Animal Nitrate

I'm saddened by the lack of Pulp. Surely Sunrise and Do You Remember The First Time are worthy contenders? Such is life I s'pose...and I'd have chosen Joy Division's Disorder too.

[jeo4]

Not a terrible list. I'd have made quite a few different choices, though.

[therealjohng]

Shitty.

[TheJadedGamer]

Pretty....bland? Glad to see Dinosaur Jr.'s 'Freak Scene' on there...it brings back old memories.

[Sugar Magnolia]

No list of this kind is complete without Cream's Crossroads. Also, Smells Like Teen Spirit doesnt deserve to be anywhere near the top ten...

[Frank the Tank]

Well, Metal is completely ignored save for Metallica, Maiden, and Sabbath as usual. Hell, there are better Sabbath guitar parts than "Paranoid", Symptom Of The Universe being one. Certainly better than Korn. Hell it's better than the most overrated song of the decade "Seven Nation Army". Pretty weak Maiden song they chose too. They have many better songs that display the talent of their guitarists. Why the fuck are The Darkness or The Hives anywhere near this? Franz Ferdinand was also placed way too early as well. Needs more Zappa as well.

I really liked that they included Everything's Ruined though. And The Husker Du, Jesus And Mary Chain, and Dinosaur Jr. choices put a smile on my face. Shocked they put Rage so high, and thankfully a damn fine song too. The Captain Beefheart choice was good too.

[Sugar Magnolia]

As I look at the list some more, there's more things about I just don't like...

Not one single Rush song
Whole Lotta Love is one of Page's weaker solos in my opinion
No Zappa
If you're gonna have the Beatles there, at least have While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Why is Sabotage there? It has one riff
No Satriani or Vai
Hendrix had much better songs
Needs Eric Johnson's Cliffs of Dover

[e_lateralus]

That list is pretty bad, for the same reasons SM and FtT listed (minus Rush, sorry I just dont like them), but I would like to add that there is only one Skynard song. Free Bird's ending is what makes the song great to me so I can understand that choice, but you almost have to add "Call me the Breeze" or "Saturday Night Special", or "I Aint the One" etc. to that. The fact that there are not more AC/DC songs (Sin City, Its a long way to the top, Thunderstruck, etc.) and that the Stonies "Gimme Shelter" isnt on there pretty much makes this list useless.

[BakeTheMooCow]

Some really good choices, some not so much.

Would've added:

U2 - Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me
Pearl Jam - Even Flow
System of a Down - Chop Suey!
Alice in Chains - Grind
Deftones - 7 Words
Soundgarden - Jesus Christ Pose
Bush - Machine Head
The Cardigans - My Favorite Game

Those really make me kick out the air guitar.

[paul calf]

not the worst list ever but would have shaken it up a little,instead of vertigo u2 would have had the much better the fly,would have had my generation by the who,but you could go on all day like that the ones i did like are.


2. The Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack Flash
4. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Sprit
6. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child Of Mine
7. The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again
8. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
9. The Kinks – You Really Got Me
10. The Stone Roses – I Am The Resurrection
14. Blur – Song 2
15. Radiohead – Creep
20. Oasis – Supersonic
26. Sex Pistols – Pretty Vacant
27. Motorhead – Ace Of Spades
28. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now
34. The Clash – White Riot
36. T.Rex – Get It On
38. Thin Lizzy – The Boys Are Back In Town
40. Prince – Purple Rain
42. Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
43. Derek And The Dominos – Laya
44. Muse – Stockholm Syndrome
46. Beastie Boys – Sabotage
50. The Byrds – Eight Miles High
55. Elvis Presley – Hound Dog
56. David Bowie – Heroes
57. R.E.M. – The One I Love
59. Echo And The Bunnymen – Rescue
62. Slade – Cum On Feel The Noise
63. Joy Division – Shadowplay
66. The Strokes – Last Night
72. The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary
73. The Jam – Going Underground
77. Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues
82. Verve – Slide Away
90. Siouxsie & The Banshees – Hong Kong Garden
97. Suede – Animal Nitrate
100. The Osmands – Crazy Horses

[Lumiere]

I think they made an effort with the first few, and totally lost interest. U2's Veritgo at 58?

[Pulp_Joker]

Maybe it was just my mistake, but it seemed they limited it to one per artist or group, which is crap. Hendrix had a few great guitar tracks. And where the hell is Stevie Ray Vaughan. You're telling me that Korn is better than SRV, that is fucking shit. This list sucks.

[blankpage]

There are some good tracks on there, that deserve to be there...but then there are some that shouldn't be anywhere near there. The list isn't that edgey, IMO...and there are many great tracks that are left out.

[CheekyShepherd]

Not a bad list, there's some glaring omissions though. Some should be a lot higher than their current pos and there's some which should be burned!

My personal faves:

1. Jimi Hendrix – Purple Haze (My #8)
2. The Rolling Stones – Jumpin’ Jack Flash (My #10)
3. Led Zeppelin – Whole Lotta’ Love (My #9)
4. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit
6. Guns N’ Roses – Sweet Child Of Mine (My #2)
7. The Who – Won’t Get Fooled Again
8. The White Stripes – Seven Nation Army
9. The Kinks – You Really Got Me
11. Black Sabbath – Paranoid
12. Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water (My #3)
15. Radiohead – Creep
19. Cream – Sunshine Of Your Love
23. Aerosmith – Walk This Way (My #4)
28. The Smiths – How Soon Is Now (My #6. I fucking love Johnny Marr!)
36. T.Rex – Get It On
40. Prince – Purple Rain
42. Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
43. Derek And The Dominos – Layla (My #5)
47. The Darkness – I Believe In A Thing Called Love
56. David Bowie – Heroes
60. Lynyrd Skynyrd – Freebird (My #1)
66. The Strokes – Last Night
72. The Cult – She Sells Sanctuary (My #7)
73. The Jam – Going Underground
76. Boston – More Than A Feeling
77. Eddie Cochran – Summertime Blues
89. Dick Dale & His Del Tones – Misirlou


Where is The The?


Why are these here?

20. Oasis – Supersonic
39. MC5 – Kick Out Thejams
58. U2 – Vertigo
96. The Shadows – Apache
100. The Osmands – Crazy Horses

[scottish-movie-freak]

I may be alone here but I think that Come As You Are should be there in place of Smells Like Teen Spirit.

But on the whole, not a bad list. Glad to see The White Stripes (among others) on the list.

[chasingbanky]

Any list that has franz Ferdinand on it can blow me.... Most of these songs are ridiculously easy to play on guitar.. Smells like teen spirit? Fucking gotta be kidding me...

[Sigur509]

Im glad to see The White Stripes on that list, but I wish they would have picked another song of theirs, not that great of a riff. And to be #8, bullshit.

15. Radiohead – Creep

Fuckin' A.

[therealjohng]

Where Streets Have No Names - U2



Where the hell is this?

[bowieee]

Originally posted by BadCoverVersion
From Q#224 March 2005


40. Prince – Purple Rain
.

I'm really glad this song got noticed for it's guitar. The guitar was the icing on this already tasty cake.

[BadCoverVersion]

Is it me or is All The Young Dudes (Moot The Hoople OR Bowie) missing from the list...!?

Um...it'd be a travesty if it was.

[bowieee]

Originally posted by BadCoverVersion
Is it me or is All The Young Dudes (Moot The Hoople OR Bowie) missing from the list...!?

Um...it'd be a travesty if it was.

Your right....

I didn't even think about that. That had the catchiest guitar intro in the world. Plus it's my fave of the bowie bunch.

[shobhit359]

Many songs of artists should be replaced by their other tracks like

Hetler Sketler of Beatles should be replaced by "While my guitar gently weeps" or "And your bird can sing"

"Creep" of Radiohead should be replaced by their "Paranoid Android" or "My iron lung"

"Jump in jack flash player" of Rolling stones should be replaced by "Brown sugar" or "Can't you hear me knocking"
its is such a horrible list my personal 10 best guitar tracks are...........
10# My Generation- The Who
9# Purple rain- Prince
8# Black sabbath- Black sabbath
7# Smell like teen spirit- Nirvana
6# Stairway to heaven- Led Zeppelin
5# Back in black- AC/DC
4# Layla- Derek and Dominos
3# Jonny B Good- Chuck Berry
2# Purple Heze- Jimmy Hendrix
1# Crossroad- Cream

[hoojib127]

Originally Posted by Sugar Magnolia

If you're gonna have the Beatles there, at least have While My Guitar Gently Weeps

I'm betting it wasn't picked because Clapton played the lead guitar part rather than any of the Fabs themselves. But, honestly, "Helter Skelter" is arguably singlehandedly responsible for modern day heavy metal; it was, after all, before both Sabbath and Zeppelin. Even by today's standards the song still sounds quite heavy.

Funny they picked "Won't Get Fooled Again" as The Who's representation. I mean, that song is arguably even more synth-dominated. I'd say "I Can See for Miles" or "Pinball Wizard" might've been better picks.

As far as The Stones go, I'd have probably gone with "Satisfaction" based on sheer influence (even though I think "Jumpin' Jack Flash" is the better song).

For Hendrix, I'd have gone with "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)".

Seeing "Albatross" on the list was a pleasant surprise, though I wonder if "Oh Well" would've been a better choice for representing Fleetwood Mac.

And, yes, "Whole Lotta Love" is Zeppelin's most overrated song from their most overrated album (on top of that, it's really just a rip-off of Willie Dixon's "You Need Love"). I'm not sure what song I'd have replaced it with, though. "Black Dog," perhaps?

[PSU80]

No Alex Lifeson (Rush)? No Randy Rhoads?

This list is complete bullshit.

[Dirtyfrog]

Funny to see Sweet Child O' Mine so high in the list since Slash acknowledged the riff was just a string skipping exercise he was doing for practice. It was never meant to be an actual song.

Sad to see metal is ignored again saved for Metallica

[shobhit359]

the songs should be in that list
Sympothy of detruction- Megadeth
American idiot- Green Days
All nightmare long- Metallica
Money for nothing - Dire Straits
Sultans of swings- Dire Straits
Honky Tank Women- The Rolling stones

My top 10 favorites are
1. Jonny B Good- chuck Berry
2. Purple Haze- Jimmy Hendrix
3. Smell like teen spirit- Nirvana
4. Whole loota love- Led Zeppelin
5. You really got me- Kinks
6. Layla- Derek and Dominoes
7. Killing in the name of- Rage against the Machine
8. Back in Black- AC/DC
9. Crazy Train- Oazy Osbourne
10. Voodoo Child- Jimmy Hendrix

i know some people screaming me to place "Smell like teen spirit" on 3# but in my opinion it is important guitar riff which should be here

[jaw2929]

Where the fuck is Through the Fire & Flames by DragonForce?

[Dirtyfrog]

Originally Posted by jaw2929

Where the fuck is Through the Fire & Flames by DragonForce?

too extremely crazy for the average music lover. "Greatest of all time" needs a lot of votes meaning only the mainstream rock/metal genre THAT ALSO was liked by the pop/radio top40 population will get votes.

Also ... It's Q Magazine

Edit : I'll also add that Dragonforce will not give you an guitar earworm like Jimi Hendrix and Metallica can .

[jaw2929]

Originally Posted by Dirtyfrog

Edit : I'll also add that Dragonforce will not give you an guitar earworm like Jimi Hendrix and Metallica can .

Ear worm? I don't know what that is/means....

[Jerk Shapiro]

From the mind of Dave Chappelle: "What can I say about this list that hasn't already been said about Afghanistan? It's bombed out - and depleted."