Thetownend.com

From folksy acoustic to full on metal shredding.......

Some Rory Gallagher for starters.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlEfyMoR49M

John Martyn - the Solid Air album is one of those often referred to as "seminal"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOi_wxypeGc

Johnny Marr - not claiming any of these were the best guitarists ever, but were all involved with great music.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJRP3LRcUFg

 Steve jones from the sex pistols, massively under rated IMHO

Jeff Healey

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acD6Yy_FeDk

Peter Hook. Not sure bass really counts as proper guitar though :)

Oh go on - though he will never win any prizes for his singing...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U08U2RbqFi8

I am trying to avoid the obviois ones here - Tom Verlaine of Television

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LmVeXJHM9s

If you want just pure guitar playing skills, I give you Igor Presnyakov. He can play anything. Check out his Youtube channel (https://www.youtube.com/user/Iggypres/videos).

From AC/DC:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou8Gb6iSh6k

To Daft Punk:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TMIUAzF2q4

Mikael Akerfeldt - also happens to have just about the best voice in the rock business - amy excuse to post some Opeth (Gods of the Death Prog niche!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqz2Fw6lI0E

Richard Kruspe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qydHfYC0duc

The proper Fleetwood Mac with the brilliant Pete Green

www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dZ0No5EG5k

http://youtu.be/qyrrTK_xzj4

John Squire. When you make one of the best British albums of all time despite the fact that Ian Brown is, objectively, an awful singer, you must be doing something right.

I was just going to suggest Squire. Love him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFCbacVw94Q

Kirk Hammett was my hero growing up
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqCeCRqcVho
Skip to 1.20 for solo

My guitar hero: John McGeoch. RIP.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J1sOQdvudc (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0J1sOQdvudc)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZgNlWRWtp0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZgNlWRWtp0)

Mine too. Plus the late Dimebag Darrell.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJrjXsNlxNQ&feature=player_detailpage

Brilliant,new to me i have to say but enjoyed that.

Gary Clark Jr. Monster guitarist for the modern age.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukTUVthCSQg

3:30 if you just want the solo. Love the guy's tone.

Alex Lifeson.... Rush.
Voted the best live band by fellow musicians.

You greasy rocker  ::)

Now here's a guitarist...http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6jwvS0mHwo
The bloke on the fiddle's not too bad either 8)

Good shout for Pete Green

Too many to choose from but Dave Gilmour of Pink Floyd and Jan Akkerman of Focus are a couple of my favourites.

The late great Gary Moore

I can't view any videos at work but I went to some music museum in Seattle and there was a video of Hendrix playing live. It was magical, and he was playing the thing upside down!! (not sure how difficult that actually is having never played guitar)

In the flesh, I went to see Joe Bonammassa in Luxembourg. He is shit hot.

Well if Peter Hook is allowed then I'm having Les Claypool. He plays bass like a lead instrument anyway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kY7jSesdxl0

John Petrucci is probably the best guitarist I've ever seen, for technical ability and versatility. But there are way too many to choose from, and depends what you like!

Rob Arnold, former lead guitarist of Chimaira.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jCnYf4r_bk (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jCnYf4r_bk)

^this^

And for Bass = Phil Lynott

Richie Blackmore with the late lamented town fan Cozy Powell (far right) on drums

Cozy Powell used to play football with me in the Park.
Yes he was a Swindon fan. Lived in Harwell village.
Great bloke with a White Alsatian.
Loved village life and always mixed in.
Never forget when my Labrador walked over his newly wet concreted garage floor :)
Look on one of his old albums and he mentions STFC.

These not for your rock fraternity.

That Django Reinhardt - ace guitarist, and he didn't have a full compliment of fingers either.

For absolutely left field out there acoustic guitar, John Fahey is your man.

And for the future, check out the young guitarist in this lot, The Sleepy Man Banjo Boys. They're all brilliant and teenagers or younger, but the guitarist Tommy makes it all look so easy. Bastard. Vids are on YouTube of course.

Saw Steve Hackett the former Genesis guitarist at The Colston Hall in Bristol late last year. He did a set of the 70's era material which was stunning. He is touring again in the Autumn and I would highly recommend this concert to anyone who can get a ticket. http://youtu.be/mLTlAnVUx3A     

Aside from David Brent (obviously)..

I love the riffs of Tom Morello..

kelly joe phelps, master of slide.bert jansch, great innovater.neil young, the greatest

James Dean Bradfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zJzwIFyZfck

Apparently the inspiration for Tony Iommi when he lost his fingers in a machinery accident.