SweetDaddyPatty wrote:Led Zeppelin by a fucking country mile.

SecondEdition wrote:

Skronk wrote:

NerblyBear wrote:Keith Richards is the master of the riff. There's obviously no question about that.

"Master of the riff"? When I think of riffs and the guitarists who write them, Richards isn't even a contender.

Sorry to come off like a Stones fanboy (which I am, to a degree), but you're insane. Every guitarist that came after Richards, whether trying to emulate him or disregard his influence, owes something to him in some way, however small.

To say that Keith Richards isn't an important guitarist - and a rock-solid riffer - is not only pretentious, it's stupid. I mean, for God's sake, have you ever listened to "Monkey Man"?

Skronk wrote:
Oh Come on, this hero worship is enough, don't you think? Richards has had an influencial career longer than most of have been living, but it's such a stretch to say every guitarist owes something to him. Guitar doesn't begin nor end with Richards.

To say that Keith Richards isn't an important guitarist - and a rock-solid riffer - is not only pretentious, it's stupid. I mean, for God's sake, have you ever listened to "Monkey Man"?

I didn't say he wasn't important, but that when I think of the best riffs I've ever heard, Richards doesn't even come to mind. Even someone like Page, whose style is riddled with others work, is a better player. I've heard Monkey Man, and I couldn't care less. If there's anything pretentious about letting the air out of an overinflated sense of importance, I'm guilty, but let's stop this tired guitar worship.

SecondEdition wrote:Ok, I can buy that. I guess it's all a matter of opinion, but I'm not tired of paying at least some reverence to Richards. The man's sense of timing is incredible and he came up with some truly great riffs. What I didn't like was the attitude you took. Granted, I think I was half awake when I responded, but it felt to me like, "well, he's sooooo overrated, I couldn't possibly waste my time on such twaddle." You know? A mite snooty. But it's all a matter of perception.

For curiosity's sake, what do you believe are some of the best riffs ever?

Skronk wrote:

SecondEdition wrote:Ok, I can buy that. I guess it's all a matter of opinion, but I'm not tired of paying at least some reverence to Richards. The man's sense of timing is incredible and he came up with some truly great riffs. What I didn't like was the attitude you took. Granted, I think I was half awake when I responded, but it felt to me like, "well, he's sooooo overrated, I couldn't possibly waste my time on such twaddle." You know? A mite snooty. But it's all a matter of perception.

For curiosity's sake, what do you believe are some of the best riffs ever?

I didn't mean to come off like that, liking the stones and Richards playing is alright, I just personally don't see the appeal. I can understand the respect for his playing, but there are other guitarists I feel that should've gotten at least the same amount of recognition from a rock audience.

Outside of the standard examples like Iommi, I think Ubu's Tom Hamlin was great. Django Reinhardt was an incredible jazz guitarist. About riffs themselves, I think the opening guitar line of "Minor Swing" by Reinhardt was great, and a lot of stuff by John Fahey was amazing. Rock riffs, I think some of the best were by Hendrix, hand down.