Seriously, the more I listen to The Donnas, the more i’m impressed, not just with her, but with the entire band. But yeah…”tasty”. That’s one of the best descriptions of her solo work.

And I have to say, “I Don’t Want To Know (If You Don’t Want Me)” is one of the best Cheap Trick songs they never did.

But Jim did nail it…there’s always one more person…hell, i couldn’t do a top ten list in less than eleven people.

I don’t know if I could come up with a definitive list—every time I see a name, I say “oh yeah, him too!”

I think Robert Johnson and BB King would have to be on a list somewhere.

My list:
10. This list is written inversely so forgive that I’m putting all of these as my number 10 – they are all part of what made me start playing and still give me goosebumps to keep playing so my list can’t ignore them: Alex Lifeson, Warren Hanes, Dicky Betts, George Harrison, Angus, Jimmy Page, Roy Buchanon, Frampton, Chuck Berry, Stevie Ray, Jimi, Paul Simon, Joe Strummer, Roger McGuinn, Clarence White, Jeff Beck, Albert King, BB King, Bo Diddley, Rossington & Collins, Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Robben Ford.
9. Mike Campbell – a great and original rock player. Effortless, too. I’ve seen Petty many, many times and Campbell is always on – always tasty. Those riffs at the end of American Girl are vintage. He plays understated – always adds to the song without trying to dominate. Also a tonemeister.
8. Eric Clapton – well, what list of great guitar players wouldn’t include Slowhand? This new Cream reunion that’s going around now is testament to how wonderful Clapton is – he sounds bigger, better, cleaner, tastier than ever. The amount that he has contributed to all guitar players psyche’s is immeasurable – you doodle around on your guitar and you come across Layla and Badge. You futz around with power chords and you find yourself playing Sunshine of Your Love or Cocaine. We all owe a lot to EC.
7. Brian Setzer – playing those big, beautiful Gretsch 6120’s – Setzer has real Jazz chops, real Rockabilly chops and real rock chops. He mixes them together in one of the great original styles of our time.
6. Danny Gatton – a magician. Could do anything he wanted with a guitar. He has one of those Hot Licks training tapes – get it. Don’t ask why – just get it. The section of him and Albert Lee should be illegal.
5. James Burton – played for Elvis, Rick Nelson and many others – this is where country and rock and roll comes together. All those tricks of how open strings ring and make you look one way, while another riff starts and makes you look the other. Great stuff. See him in action on the Roy Orbison Black & White Night DVD.
4. Steve Cropper – Memphis soul, understated rhythms, perfect feel.
3. Springsteen – he never shows up on people’s lists and I don’t get it. Yeah, I’m biased cause he’s my all time favorite musician, but, you should love him too because his tone is absolutely unique, he wills certain sounds out of his solo’s, plays his ass of every night, and he just looks so friggin cool all of the time. Try and figure out the solo to “Prove it All Night” off of Darkness. The first bar of that solo is killer. If you ever can find any of his early band Steel Mill bootlegs around, you’ll hear tremendous 60’s blues chops. Viva la Bruce.
2. Larry Carlton – one of the reasons I picked up the guitar, and often one of the reasons I think about putting it down – ‘cause I can’t play like him. His playing is just so…...musical. Guitar solo in Kid Charlemagne – ‘nuff said.
1. Keith Richard – every time I detune to “Keith” tuning and hit one of his power chords, I get all woozy. The opening to Brown Sugar, Start Me Up, Jumpin Jack Flash, Honky Tonk Woman and, of course, Satisfaction – rock guitar riffs just don’t get in your soul like this anymore.