1) Tony Iommi -- When I first heard the album "Black Sabbath" it was nothing like I, or anyone, had ever heard at that time. This certainly wasn't the Beatles! The way Iommi could get so much sound, such an awesome growl out of his SG just completely changed my world.
2) Tommy Bolin -- His guitar solo on the song Quadrant 4 on Billy Cobham's 1973 album "Spectrum" is still one of the most frenetic I've ever heard. The guy is all over the fretboard and except for about a 5 second breakdown where he does that typical rock guitarist repetition (da da da, da da da, da, da da, da da da), it is one of the most amazing solos I've ever heard.
3) Ronnie Montrose -- His 1974 debut album was pure guitar muscle. (Sammy Hagar on vocals.) He did some things I'd never heard a guitarist do before. His motorcycle engine sounds (imitated years later by Motley Crew on Kick Start My Heart) on "Bad Motor Scooter" were mind-blowing to me at the time. How could you get that growl out of a guitar? He again impressed me when he teamed up with jazz drummer Tony Williams for the song "Open Fire."
4) Al DiMeola -- When I first heard Suite: Golden Dawn from his 1976 debut album, oh man! I'd never heard such speed, such technical expertise in my life! And that was his goal, to prove he was the fastest. I believe he succeeded. Even today I'm still amazed at his prowess, his sheer speed.
5) Cat Stevens -- Yeah, OK, laugh. But he was a great songwriter and he did play a mean acoustic. I enjoy his work.
6) Rhino (aka Larry Rheinhart) -- Other than "Inagadadavida" (sp?) I haven't heard his stuff with Iron Butterfly, but the stuff he did with Captain Beyond still sounds as fresh today as it did back in the early 70s. I've never grown tired of their first album and still play it on a daily basis.
[Edited by The Ferret on 04-19-2001 at 12:32 PM]
