Vote for Scotland’s Greatest Ever Guitarist

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Vote for Scotland’s Greatest Ever Guitarist

Many thanks to everyone who took the time to share their thoughts last week. It was incredibly difficult for us to narrow the field down to five, but in the end the Dear Scotland contributors settled on Adamson, Braithwaite, Jansch, Robertson and Young. This poll will close in exactly one week. So vote now.

I know that Roddy Hart and others will be surprised to see that John Martyn is missing from this list, I know that Vic Galloway and Kenny McColl will be slightly peeved that John McGeoch didn’t make the final five, I know that Alec Downie will continue to argue the case for Zal Cleminson and I’m pretty sure that all the Runrig fans who campaigned for their man Malcolm Jones will be disappointed when they read this, but I think we can all be proud of the five music legends listed below.

And though this poll will run for only one week, the comments section on these articles will remain open and unedited forever.

So, in alphabetical order, the Dear Scotland top five are:

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Stuart Adamson (The Skids, Big Country)

“We tried as a band on numerous occasions to do something as good as Into The Valley. Stuart Adamson’s guitar playing left me feeling wholly inadequate. He had a big influence on me.” [The Edge]

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Stuart Braithwaite (Mogwai)

“It would be Stuart Braithwaite for me, best by a mile IMO…. Anyone who’s seen or more appropriately HEARD him in action will surely agree….Those that havenae, be prepared….he can be very melodic….& a tad LOUD….” [Fiery Pict]

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Bert Jansch

“At one point, I was absolutely obsessed with Bert Jansch. When I first heard that LP [1965], I couldn’t believe it. It was so far ahead of what everyone else was doing. No one in America could touch that.” [Jimmy Page]

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Brian ‘Robbo’ Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motorhead)

“In Cava Studios one day, with a bottle of Jack in tow, I watched Robbo play an incredible guitar solo in one take. I asked him how the feck he did it. He looked at me, put his hand on his heart, ran his fingers over his chest, along his arm and down to his fingertips as he confessed: ‘Well it starts here, and comes out here’.” [Alec Downie]

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Angus Young (AC/DC)

“Alongside Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page and Tony Iommi, Angus is one of the greatest heavy blues/rock guitar players of all time — his touch is magic and instantly recognisable. I’m claiming him as one of ours!” [Vic Galloway]

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Next week: Who is Scotland’s greatest ever drummer?

Photo Credit : Glasvegas at T in the Park by Two Thumbs Fresh

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32 Responses to “Vote for Scotland’s Greatest Ever Guitarist”

  1. The ACDC video is AWESOME. Angus is the nan.

    by WIllie
    on 04 Nov, 2009 8:29am

  2. *man!

    by Anonymous
    on 04 Nov, 2009 8:30am

  3. where is Martin Taylor in this poll. A True Virtuoso Taylor is renowned as the foremost solo acoustic guiatrist in the world. Famous through his cover over “Johnnny & Mary” Renault cleo advert and playing with the likes of Stephane Grappelli, Chet Atkins, Bill Wyman, George Harrison, Dionne Warwick, Sacha Distel Bryn Terfel and Jamie Cullum. Martin Taylor is a Legend among Legends and must be included in this vote.

    Grant Tyrie

    by Anonymous
    on 04 Nov, 2009 8:48am

  4. Bert Jansch is the man. What’s with the english accent though, probably just putting it on right?

    by The Punter
    on 04 Nov, 2009 9:18am

  5. Scotland’s Greatest Drummer? It has to be the drummer in Runrig. Absolutey no argument. He is the best ever ever. No question. Whatever his name is.

    by Anonymous
    on 04 Nov, 2009 9:28am

  6. A wee bit of trivia – the guitar Braithwaite is playing on his vid was originally owned by Jansch. A pristine pre CBS tele he hacked the electronics to add an on/off switch and defaced the body by adding a Saltire decal.

    The purists would be aghast but I say well done. It is a tool still in use to this day rather than an artifact owned by a collector waiting for capital appreciation.

    by scunnert
    on 05 Nov, 2009 2:01pm

  7. Watch the Robbo video at 0.58 – 1.12. Thats all you need to know. I think he even makes himself say “woah!” at then end of that solo.

    by Anonymous
    on 05 Nov, 2009 3:25pm

  8. For me it has to be Stuart Adamson for his broad appeal and melodic guitar solos and also his longevity, having been very successful with both The Skids and Big Country…R.I.P

    by Gary Miller
    on 06 Nov, 2009 4:23am

  9. Robbo! Robbo! Robbo! Robbo! 2%? Are you serious??

    by Anonymous
    on 06 Nov, 2009 6:54pm

  10. Stuart Adamson for me. A fantastic and highly influential guitar player who brought emotion, integrity, humility and understated excellence to everything he did. No need for flashy tricks with Stuart, his songs and his playing spoke for themselves. Not just Scotland’s finest guitarist and songwriter, one of the greatest these islands have ever produced. His name will never die – RIP Stuart.

    by Phill Mather
    on 07 Nov, 2009 2:53am

  11. Stuart Adamson is simply legendary.
    Feed the people, STAY ALIVE!

    by Anonymous
    on 07 Nov, 2009 4:18pm

  12. Stuart Adamson, no question – I watched him mature from the Skids in the early days to the days before Big Country split. Melody, innovation, technically astounding and a complete songwriter to boot.

    Sadly missed, never forgotten…

    by Polaris
    on 07 Nov, 2009 7:11pm

  13. Have to agree, with Stuart Adamson.

    Anyone heard his Johnny B.Goode when he was in the Skids? Became a songwriter with Big Country but his live work always shone through.

    Left us too soon………

    by Fisherman
    on 07 Nov, 2009 8:46pm

  14. Has to be Stuart Adamson…

    The man and his band compiled the sountrack to my life,for that i will always be eternally grateful.

    Sadly missed

    by Anonymous martin
    on 08 Nov, 2009 2:21pm

  15. Stuart Adamson by a short head from Malcolm Jones…can`t believe that whoever compiled this list of 5 could possibly leave out Runrigs finest…obviously not got a clue about guitar players…or not Scottish

    by Anonymous
    on 08 Nov, 2009 9:44pm

  16. Just watched the ‘Anvil’ documentary last night and guess who makes a brief cameo – the legend that is Robbo!
    2% really? Talk about no clue.
    By the way, I’m Scottish and I can confirm that Runrig are s***e.

    by Anonymous
    on 09 Nov, 2009 12:37pm

  17. Sorry to have missed your poll.
    So glad it’s Stuart Adamson who won – his music was the soundtrack to my life too.
    Never met him, but he seemed the genuine article to me.
    Of all the gigs I’ve been to, there was nothing to touch a Big Country concert – the love & warmth shone through.
    Words won’t express how much I miss not having him around.

    by Bernie from England
    on 03 Dec, 2009 8:28am

  18. Stuart
    He had EVERYTHING!
    The Working Man’s HERO.

    A bit surprised that Dick Gaughan isn’t mentioned..

    by Darren N.Ireland
    on 08 Dec, 2009 5:58am

  19. Angus Young for sure!! You should also add Malcom Young he is amazing Rythim Guitarist.,

    by Ac/Dc91191
    on 21 Dec, 2009 1:25pm

  20. What about Tony MacManus?

    by Anonymous
    on 27 Dec, 2009 11:08am

  21. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLVsrlObxO8
    Tony McManus link.

    by Anonymous
    on 27 Dec, 2009 11:10am

  22. Stuart Adamson:- A unique and special talent…. Live, Stuart & his BC colleagues, delivered ‘rock’ music in an untouchable fashion. Lucky enough to have met the man on two occasions and he was as impressive off stage as he was on it. RIP Stuart!

    by Ian Shanahan
    on 31 Dec, 2009 4:39pm

  23. A lot of people who influenced my life musically have passed away, eg Ramones,Malcolm Owen etc, and I can cope ok. One man however, Stuart Adamson, still leaves me emotional whenever I hear him sing and play. I thank him for so many happy times over the years and put quite simply, the man was a legend. R.I.P Stuart

    by gary payne
    on 17 Jan, 2010 10:46am

  24. I absolutely love Stuart Adamson and his Skids and Big Country work – both live and in the studio. I’m wondering if Roddy Frame made the top 10. Roddy’s playing certainly covers a wide range of styles and his songwriting is also first rate.

    by DiscoDave
    on 12 Feb, 2010 12:14am

  25. Why the hell did you pick THIS clip of Adamson? I love him but listened to the first 4 mins before anyting at all interesting happened…

    by SFinSF
    on 30 Mar, 2010 3:39pm

  26. [...] Full details are available from the Dear Scotland Website [...]

    by Stuart Adamson top place in Dear Scotlands Top 5 Guitar Players
    on 24 Jul, 2010 9:05am

  27. Stuard Anderson….His music changed my life and inspired me!!! “A Clown and a Wolfman”……Bear the Torch for the one who died…… I’m a Restess Native!!!! Stuart…you were the best!!!!

    by Kel
    on 19 Aug, 2010 6:21am

  28. Why the heck wasn’t Manny Charlton of Nazareth not included on this list? He was around and popular before any of the above fellows, though Robbo and Angus will work for me.

    by Carmine
    on 21 Aug, 2010 11:34pm

  29. Hi Carmine – Manny was mentioned in the original article that spawned our Greatest Ever series here:
    ‘The Mafia Stole My Guitar‘
    We asked for comments on who should be on the list and our top five was based on that.
    Manny also featured in the article that still contains my favourite pun headline: ‘Jesus, It’s Nazareth‘.

    by Shiner
    on 22 Aug, 2010 1:10am

  30. Type your comment here… How are runrig s***e they r the biggest scottish band ever. Or r u just jealous .

    by Anonymous
    on 19 Nov, 2010 8:55am

  31. There is a difference between loving Runrig and loving Scotland. I love Scotland but Runrig are pish – that’s why no one outside Scotland has ever heard of them.

    by Anonymous
    on 22 Nov, 2010 10:49pm

  32. Got to be the SAHB axeman-Zal Cleminson-totally awesome-didn’t even make the list -obviously readers are too young to remember.
    And does Mark Knopfler not qualify-Scottish born-although a Geordie upbringing from about 8 I think! These two must be all time greats up there with Angus Young.

    by alan Thomson
    on 20 Apr, 2011 6:56am

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