Best Irish guitarist ever

A Primal Nut

Just decided to find out what the general consensus was on the top five Irish guitarists, Yes, one of those options is a joke! I'm guessing it'll be a race between three for top spot but anyway here's my top five

5. Eric Bell

Well, he did write the Whiskey In The Jar riff and solo we all love so much, so he's gotta be in there. Rocker's another great track.

4. Pat McManus

Always blows me away when I see him play live. Apart from his obvious technical gift and ability as a showman, Mama's Boys had some great songs. Possibly Ireland's greatest metal band, although that's not saying much! Not to mention the fiddle solos! Nice guy too and great teacher - I know people he's thought and they are both amazing, extremely versatile and very tasteful players.

3. Gary Moore

Still Got The Blues is one of the most beautiful solos are ever composed. Parisienne Walkways is another obvious one. I love those bluesy melodies he always writes. Some cool rocky tracks like Walking By Myself. His solos always sound so big.

2. The Edge

Probably a controversial inclusion but I don't care, coz I believe songwriting is the most important part of being a musician, not seperate from it. And its not like he's just strumming chords, he takes chords and plays them in ways nobody else does, I love the melodies he plays.

1. Rory Gallagher

Obvious choice, but anway, he had to be no.1. So many great songs - Bought & Sold, Bad Penny, Tattoo'd Lady, Moonchild, Goin' To My Hometown, Bullfrog Blues, etc. he just rocks and he always plays amazing solos. Great showman, would love to have seen him play live.:(

breadmonkey

Actually, I've seen Ash a few times and Tim Wheeler is a fúcking savage guitarist. Still voted for Rory G though obv.

EDIT: John Feeley anyone?

Mushy

I thought the joke was The Edge:D...honestly

MagnumForce

Was a toss up between Gary Moore and vivian Campbell(never knew he was Irish til about 10 mins ago) but had to pick Gary Moore

TelePaul

I had to vote Rory, but Johnny Fean was a close second.

dimerocks

Jim Corr all the way

gucci

i voted for pat mcmanus because he is such a genuinely nice fella.iv had many a chat with him when i was both sober and disgustingly drunk yet he always has time for a chat. an unbelievable artist and musician. he also is a fabulous fiddle player as mentioned above. but i think rory is number in a more world wide impact level!

ChainFireMetal

The Edge?
come on man...

A Primal Nut

ChainFireMetal wrote:

The Edge?
come on man...

Meh, he's the guy who got me started playing guitar and the fact I realised his songs are easy to play doesn't diminish his value in my eyes. He's written so many great riffs that I love. Although not in the last decade or more, I admit.

ec18

RG with pat mcManus second, hes a great guitarist and a geuinely nice guy saw him in waterford in october fantastic show

Double C

So which one is the joke? Jim Corr or Tim Wheeler?

Alter-Ego

2. The Edge

Probably a controversial inclusion but I don't care, coz I believe songwriting is the most important part of being a musician, not seperate from it. And its not like he's just strumming chords, he takes chords and plays them in ways nobody else does, I love the melodies he plays.

With loads of crappy effects.

Its gotta be Rory.

A Primal Nut

Double C wrote:

So which one is the joke? Jim Corr or Tim Wheeler?

I don't like Tim Wheeler either but I thought someone would wanna vote for him.

adox

Im surprised you even have to ask.

And seriously wtf is the edge doing on the list?:D

Giblet

Tim Wheeler plays some good guitar, he's not some crazy lead guitarist but he plays better than most artists in that niche on 1977 for someone so young at the time. And leave the slaggins of the edge out of it, you guys are talking through yer arses. Write riffs half as legendary as him before you start spouting.

I wonder if any of you guys are "better" than the edge, or what you define "better" as. Jesus he's only one the most famous Irish guitarists in the world. Ya must be kids playing One on yer squiers.

adox

Giblet wrote:

I wonder if any of you guys are "better" than the edge, or what you define "better" as. Jesus he's only one the most famous Irish guitarists in the world. Ya must be kids playing One on yer squiers.

Ronin Keatings one of the most famous Irish singers,so what?

The Edge is an average guitarist at best.Writings great riffs as you think he does would maybe make him a great song writer.Anyway this is always going to happen in a whos the best thread but to be fair,wtf is The Edge doing on the list?:D

SouperComputer

Rory Gallagher, no contest

A Primal Nut

adox wrote:

The Edge is an average guitarist at best.Writings great riffs as you think he does would maybe make him a great song writer.

Songwriting is the most crucial part of being a musician.

ec18

A Primal Nut wrote:

Songwriting is the most crucial part of being a musician.

Its not actually, sure alot of great musicians were great songwriters too, some of the most famous songs in recent history were not written by the singer. Robbie Willams- Angels for example or jimi Hendrix's version of all along the watchtower(i know its not recent but jimi didn't write it)

Thin Lizzy's version if Whiskey in the Jar, i know they revamped it with the music but they didn't write it.

so its good if your a songwriter but its not the most important part.


Having talent and being able to play or sing is the most important part

old boy

how can to op compare rory gallagher with the edge,

Civilian_Target

Where's Christy Moore on this list?

I'm voting for Joe Dolan and the Drifters anyway, but still...

nehpetsdnalob

It's gotta be the 'G man'!:cool:

So Glad

Rory Gallagher, no question.

Bradidup

Rory Gallagher without a doubt.

Mental Mickey

Rory Gallagher for me. Closely followed by Gary Moore & The Edge.

I was driving home from work earlier and Tony Fenton played "Shadow Play" by Rory - I had to turn it up loud. Bloody fantastic song.

EDIT: Why on earth is Jim "The Odd One Out" Corr included on this?? Ye can hardly hear his guitar playing because of all the fiddles n tin whistles.....?

Another Irish guitarist who I think is brilliant is a guy called Barry Conboy from the Galway based band Big Generator - pure class.

Jack Vegas

I vote for me.

Futureman

Eh, Louis Stewart is - what a topic full of ignorance.... "The Edge" - f*ck off, you uneducated goof.

BostonB

I haven't heard of some of these guys. Must check them out.

Moore then Gallagher would be my choice. But then I generally listen to metal or blues.

But having said that playing the guitar or music in general is about music, not simply shredding scales and nodes as fast as you can, basically just widdle in all meanings of the word. I think The Edge is great musician and guitarist. He definitely has written some great rock riffs, songs and has gets some great sounds out his gear. If he never did a single solo in his life that would enough to put him on this list.

A Primal Nut

Futureman wrote:

Eh, Louis Stewart is - what a topic full of ignorance.... "The Edge" - f*ck off, you uneducated goof.

Nothin' to do with education, purely musical taste. So **** off yourself and check out the rules of how to post on this forum,.

As for Louis Stewart, well I posted this is Rock/Metal section so probably shoulda said rock guitarist.

Lemming

Rory Gallagher by a country mile. (well, a country mile that's six foot under alas), followed by Gary Moore and Eric Bell

Mr. Presentable

Where's Bernie Torme on your list? You need another option - other!

http://www.bernietorme.com/

damonjewel

Rory Gallagher for me, but I think its worth mentioning the briliiant Louis Stewart, even though he is a Jazz musician

Run_to_da_hills

Whats the story on Cork Airport? I heard reports that there is a campaign to have the airport renamed "Gallagher International Airport"

brianthebard

Alter-Ego wrote:

With loads of crappy effects.

Its gotta be Rory.

With that attitude, I hope you don't listen to metal. I'd have picked Rory or the edge myself.

Baggio

Rory was goood .....
a real virtuoso...didnt like his music overall tho...was all centered on his top notch playing....although he and Alex Lifeson were great guitar buddies when Rory supported RUSH at many a USA Canada gig, so thats a plus ....mind you Johnny Fean...man what a player...he was superb for Horslips...I remember the 2 gigs at Wembley arena in 78 the " live and dangerous " special with Thin Lizzy and Horslips...wow did Horslips blast that place...remember talking to a good few UK Lizzy fans who didnt know Horslips...they were blown away by them and Feans Guitar really made em thirst for more......Gallagher 1st - Fean second for me

ciao' amigos...Baggio....

nacho libre

If the criteria is the ability to both shred and pen a tune then the winner has to be Rory Gallagher in my opinion.

fobster

Mental Mickey wrote:

I was driving home from work earlier and Tony Fenton played "Shadow Play" by Rory - I had to turn it up loud. Bloody fantastic song.

Shadowplay on the Live at Montreux dvd is the business, pure showmanship at its best.

BossArky

Jim Corr? I voted for LOL's sake.

Gaspode

I voted rory Gallagher, but Gary moore is a close second. Saw him in vicar Street last night, he's still the dogs doodahs!

I would rate Louis Stewart very highly, what a player, but sadly he chose Jazz as his medium and I hate Jazz. Still should have been an option on the poll.

Irishfella

Gary Moore is not only the Best Irish Guitarist, he's one of the best in the world. During the early to mid 80's no one else could touch him including Eddie Va Halen


Prefer his rock to blues myself

badgerbadger

ec18 wrote:

Its not actually, sure alot of great musicians were great songwriters too, some of the most famous songs in recent history were not written by the singer. Robbie Willams- Angels for example or jimi Hendrix's version of all along the watchtower(i know its not recent but jimi didn't write it)

Thin Lizzy's version if Whiskey in the Jar, i know they revamped it with the music but they didn't write it.

so its good if your a songwriter but its not the most important part.


Having talent and being able to play or sing is the most important part

they changed some of the words in whiskey

Steve_o

Rory Gallagher without a shadow of a doubt!!

CrazyPJ

Saw Rory live at the Reading festival in the early seventies and he just mashed the place up. He was awesome! Then Genisis came on and everyone fell asleep. And should the Edge be really on this list??

Steve_o

CrazyPJ wrote:

And should the Edge be really on this list??

Ah i think the Edge has a right to be there, he does have some smashing riffs...There are alot worse guitarists than him!!

blastman

Rory, no contest, although I'd rate Gary Moore and Pat McManus highly as well.

faceman

I voted rory as he was best all rounder to me, technically amazing, great tunes (be them his own or his spin on covers) and top class live act. He would rate in my book as one of the greatest guitarists of all time. I read his biography a few years ago, very interesting.

Crumble Froo

id have to say rory, i think the defining moment for me getting into his music was listening to lotsa stuff on random, when 'too much alcohol' came on, and at the end, when he says 'wana try some'... id swear, that guitar really wants that alcohol! just the way he can make his guitar speak, sing, and shred.... beautiful:D

artnotort

its between gary moore and rory gallarhar , very hard to deicide but gary moore is just godlike compared to everyone else , needless to say he's the irish jimi hendrix

Froot

A Primal Nut wrote:

2. The Edge

Probably a controversial inclusion but I don't care, coz I believe songwriting is the most important part of being a musician, not seperate from it. And its not like he's just strumming chords, he takes chords and plays them in ways nobody else does, I love the melodies he plays.

LOOOOOL As soon as I saw this clip I just new it was destined for greater things.

That is my opinion of The™ Edge™™™™ and U™2™


™

Philemon86

"he takes chords and plays them in ways nobody else does"
if you mean that he plays a chord into a computer and it tells him what the next one should be then yes i guess he does

ogy

rory was a brilliant guitarist but his songwriting was just ok if were totally honest about it

if the edge is in there then surely kevin shields has to be included, one of the most innovative guitarists ever