Most Overrated Rock Guitarists

The Top Ten
1 Kurt Cobain Kurt Cobain was born February 20, 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. In 1987, he started the grunge band Nirvana, which became one of the most successful bands ever. He was a talented yet troubled grunge performer. Kurt Cobain became a rock legend in the 1990s with his band. He committed suicide at his Seattle home in 1994.

Many people state that he sucked at guitar, so I wouldn't really say that he's overrated as a guitarist. On the other side though, I would count him as an overrated artist eventhough his music is really good and contains a lot of characteristics, and once again, that's my opinion. Mark my words.

Oh, I just can't handle life or success or fame. I'm just a poor skinny, sucked up junkie. I think I will just set a great example for all of those scuzzy fans of mine and blow my brains out.

Yeah so overrated.

2 Synyster Gates Brian Elwin Haner, Jr., better known by his stage name Synyster Gates or simply Syn, is an American musician, best known for being the lead guitarist and backing vocalist of the band Avenged Sevenfold.

Any random guy in any random guitar shop can play way better than this guy, that sort of confuses odd or wrong notes with originality.

3 Jimmy Page James Patrick Page is an English musician, songwriter, and record producer who achieved international success as the guitarist and founder of the rock band Led Zeppelin.

Hey Jimmy puke. Been drunk on stage lately. Remember back in the seventies, it was Minnesota, you were so drunk that you feel over and knocked your guitar more out of tune then it already was. Kids today think you suck. You do suck. If it weren't for recording studio professionals you would sound like just another bum off of the streets. Oh, by the way, why did you let John die of alcohol poisoning in your own house. What a bad friend you were. You will be for ever dead. Just like the devil you serve. Oh, you did not age well at all.

4 James Root James Donald Root, also known by his number #4, is an American musician, songwriter and guitarist, best known for being the rhythm guitarist for the American heavy metal band Slipknot, and the former lead guitarist for the American alternative metal band Stone Sour.

Why is he up here all out of sudden? He's not overrated

5 Kirk Hammett Kirk Lee Hammett is the lead guitarist and songwriter for the heavy metal band Metallica and has been a member of the band since 1983. Before joining Metallica he formed and named the band Exodus.

What a scribble artist. Hey guys, let's play minor scales over suspended 4th chords. Our stupid fans won't know the difference. Hey guys, let's play a major scale over a bunch of diminished chords. Our stupid fans will never know the difference, Just turn up more distortion.

Ok, Metallica are my favorite band.
That being said, I can definitely see Kirk being overrated. While he did create some great solos and all, I don't think he's deserving of the 7th best guitarist of all time. Tony Iommi should be higher than him. I would place him down at 12 or 13, not up at 7.

James is better guitarist than him

Boring Sludge.

6 Angus Young Angus McKinnon Young is an Australian guitarist of Scottish origin, best known as the co-founder, lead guitarist, songwriter and sole constant member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. When performing live he does his own version of Chuck Berry's "duck walk" and has also spun on his side while still playing songs accurately.

Angus make all other blues rockers look like fools. Hey Clapton, you are a joke compared to this "real blues" master.

7 Keith Richards Keith Richards is an English musician—primarily a guitarist—singer, songwriter, best-selling memoirist, and founding member of the rock band The Rolling Stones.

Here is another junkie who should have been sent to prison for keeping the planes flying. If you don't know what that means I will give you a hint. The Rolling Stones spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on illegal drugs. That's were your ticket and CD money goes. Fools.

I know only two or three good riffs of him,never found any good solo of him

8 Jimi Hendrix Jimi Hendrix (born November 27, 1942 - September 18, 1970) was an American rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Although his mainstream career spanned only four years, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential electric guitarists in the history of popular music, and one of the most celebrated musicians of the 20th century. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame describes him as "arguably the greatest instrumentalist in the history of rock music". Hendrix is consistently ranked on lists of musicians who died too soon.

Hey every body. I'm dead because I overdosed on barbituates and alcohol. All of my groovy friends let me die. They were afraid of the police. Hey Eric burton, I'm waiting in hell for your arrival. We'll do lunch and you can choke on my vomit.

Yea, yea, I'm dead because I overdosed on barbituates and all of my "groovy" friends let me die. I died a junkie and everyone thinks I'm so... Great. Come and join me in the grave, I'll be here rotting away waiting for you.

John fogerty in my book was one of the best rock guitarist ever. He was simple in style but he had an ear for tone and melody. How about "born on the bayou" for an example.

Way too much credit. Again... proof that people in the 60's were on drugs. There were other guitarists better than him at that time... he wouldn't even be able to keep up in the latter 70's if he had lived.

9 Slash Saul Hudson, known professionally as Slash, is a British-American musician and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist of the American hard rock band Guns N' Roses, with whom he achieved worldwide success in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

His oversaturated ear piercing style gives me a headache

His riffs are awesome.but if he is great than what's wrong with izzy?

10 Zakk Wylde Zakk Wylde is an American musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and occasional actor who is best known as the former guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne, and founder of the heavy metal band Black Label Society.

Please zakk, don't play the piano. You just don't cut it.

The Contenders
11 John Frusciante John Anthony Frusciante is an American guitarist, singer, producer and composer.He is best known for his time with the Funk Rock California based band the Red Hot Chili Peppers. He was also part of the Mars Volta, Swahili Blonde, Ataxia and more.

This dude is just bad

12 Ace Frehley Paul Daniel "Ace" Frehley is an American musician, singer and songwriter best known as the former lead guitarist and founding member of the rock band Kiss.

Ace Frehley is not overrated! He's been in several other bands other than KISS and Jimi Hendrix himself said that he was an amazing guitarist! And considering he's the only KISS member who hadma successful solo career if anything this guy is underrated! -Avery

13 Dimebag Darrell Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of two bands, Pantera and Damageplan, alongside his brother, Vinnie Paul. Abbott died in 2004 after he was shot by a mentally unstable fan.

"Overrated" is an understatement

14 Lil Wayne Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. is an American rapper from New Orleans, Louisiana. He was discovered by Brian "Baby" "Birdman" Williams at a very young age, and was signed to Cash Money Records, where he would be one quarter of the rap group Hot Boys. In the years to follow, he would go on to find his own label, Young Money, where he would sign popular artists such as Drake, Nicki Minaj and Tyga, and he would go on to be one of the most popular rappers of all time. ...read more.

This guy is legend

15 Billie Joe Armstrong Billie Joe Armstrong is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and actor who is best known as the lead vocalist, primary songwriter, and guitarist of the punk rock band Green Day, which he co-founded with Mike Dirnt. He's also in side-project groups such as The Network, Foxboro HotTubs, Pinhead Gunpowder, ...read more.
16 Eddie Van Halen Edward Lodewijk "Eddie" Van Halen (January 26, 1955 – October 6, 2020) was a Dutch-American musician, songwriter, producer, and inventor. He was best known as the lead guitarist, occasional keyboardist and co-founder of the hard rock band Van Halen.
17 Brian May Brian Harold May is an English musician, singer, songwriter and astrophysicist, best known as the lead guitarist of the rock band Queen.
18 Brad Delson Bradford Phillip Delson is an American musician, best known as the lead guitarist and one of the founding members of the Grammy Award winning rock band Linkin Park.
19 Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, led him to both great success and initial controversy. ...read more.
20 Tom DeLonge Thomas Matthew "Tom" DeLonge, Jr., is an American musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, entrepreneur, and film producer. He was born in Poway, California on December 13, 1975. When he was in high school at age 15, he got expelled for drinking at a basketball game. He also used to play the trumpet, ...read more.
21 Dave Grohl David Eric "Dave" Grohl is an American rock musician, multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer and film director. He is best known as the former drummer of the hugely popular 90s grunge band Nirvana and the vocalist/guitarist for the alternative rock band Foo Fighters. He has sat behind the ...read more.
22 Johnny Ramone John William Cummings, better known by his stage name Johnny Ramone, was an American guitarist and songwriter, best known for being the guitarist for the punk rock band the Ramones.
23 Richie Sambora Richard Stephen "Richie" Sambora is an American rock guitarist, producer, singer and songwriter who was the lead guitarist of the rock band Bon Jovi for 30 years. He is known for his work with Bon Jovi from 1983 to 2013. He is a very praised guitarist who played solos for songs like Dry County, Stranger ...read more.
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