Steve Stevens recently added to the ongoing discussion about the Best Guitarist list with a pointed critique of it — for not including Joe Bonamassa. According to the guitarist, there was a reason behind this decision.
Through a tweet, he pointed out the reason for the omission of Bonamassa, who he dubbed as probably the most influential guitarist of the last decade:
“This is the exact reason that Rolling Stone omits obvious great choices. To get people talking about Rolling Stone. The most obvious omission was Joe Bonamassa. Probably the most popular guitarist in the last ten years. I haven’t read Rolling Stone in thirty years. It’s irrelevant.”
According to the magazine, the list, which has grown from its initial 100 guitarists in 2011, now features a wide array of artists. This expansion aimed to recognize talent from varied genres, including rock, jazz, reggae, country, Congolese rumba, and flamenco. However, it’s clear that not everyone agrees with their picks.
Alex Skolnick’s Criticism About the List
Alex Skolnick also took to social media to voice his concerns. Among his observations was the absence of Gary Moore. Still, Skolnick’s surprise wasn’t limited to Moore:
“Getting asked about this. Anything I say will draw scrutiny (I swear I don’t consider myself a candidate). So I might’ve missed a few (strange formatting), but did I not see John Scofield? George Benson? Gary Moore? Frampton? (BTW, my pick for under-recognized great is Emily Remler.)”
The discussion expanded further as followers chimed in, questioning the exclusion of other artists like Uli Jon Roth, Neal Schon, and John Petrucci. While Skolnick suggested that Roth might be more of a ‘guitarist’s guitarist’ with less mainstream visibility, he agreed about the absence of Neal Schon.
Recent News From Stevens and Bonamassa
While discussions around the list continue, Stevens is busy with his upcoming commitments. He is currently touring with Billy Idol, with performances scheduled for October 27, October 28, November 5, and more dates in February 2024.
Bonamassa, whose omission from the list spurred the debate, isn’t slowing down either. He recently released ‘Blues Deluxe Vol. 2,‘ his sixteenth solo studio album, on October 6. Besides, he is in the midst of his US Fall Tour, which will conclude on December 2 at Hard Rock Live in Hollywood, FL, with additional dates lined up for 2024.
You can see Steve Stevens’ tweet below.
This the exact reason that Rolling Sone omits obvious great choices. To get people talking about Rolling Stone. The most obvious omission was Joe Bonamassa. Probably the most popular guitarist in the last ten years. I haven’t read Rolling Stone in thirty years. It’s irrelevant.
— Steve Stevens (@Stevestevens) October 25, 2023
