I understand what markl is saying...but I don't agree. Performance level does not necessarily equate to musical skill. Take for example...comedians...Jerry Seinfeld makes people laugh, so does Chris Rock. Jerry Seinfeld brings to the audiences attention trivial things in life which upon analysis are really quite outrageous. His craftsmanship is of a higher level than say Chris Rock's. Chris stands on stage, bitches and complains and makes diggs at everyone and everything. I can diss people with the best of them but I may not be able to make an audience laugh while doing that, Chris Rock can; he is a successful comedian for doing so...but Jerry Seinfeld is ground breaking! His indepth analysis of the world around him and his ability to bring those issues to the attention of the audience, to QUESTION AND POINT OUT...well, that's on the level of genius.
I would never say Chris Rock is one of the greatest comedians of all time. I would say he may be one of the most successful, money-wise and fame...but put skilled comedians in a room and they may grade him quite low. Now then, Seinfeld who is even more successful and famous is also EXTREMELY talented and once again, ground breaking. Put him in the same room, have him graded and he will make any list. Likely in the top 10.
The same goes for ANY field. There are some phenomenal scientists, those who have 6 PhD's, 3 of which were obtained by the age of 25 and score off the charts on every aptitude test. Their skill is nearly unparallelled But...they don't have any Nobel Prizes under their belts. Meanwhile, we have a handful of perhaps LUCKY scientists, who...were in the right place at the right time and happened to make an observation. This observation may have been sooo simple for even an average teenager to witness and record...but this person was there first, followed up the research, replicated it and published the results. This person's methods may be HORRID, I mean...would fail ANY lab technique course...but dang...they ahve that Nobel hanging around their neck. Who is the better scientist? Who is the more successful scientist?
So...with musicians, skill on a list of SKILL (which is obvious since they did say BEST OF ALL TIME) has to be based on well...skill! If Kurt can't play more than 3 chords...then heh...he sure as hell should not be on the list. Being a creative SONG WRITER is not the same as being a skilled guitarist. Take the buddies from the Ace of Bass...these guys sit in their offices and make up quick licks that are played ALL OVER THE WORLD because these songs are sung by the likes of Britney and NSYNC. Are these guys talented musicians (they actually may be but for thesake of this argument lets just go on what they are pumping out) no they are creating catchy drivel which appeals to teens. I can make up a catchy lick on a guitar using three cords, I couldn't even begin to touch Joe Satriani on playing even a scale. Skill, its all about the skill.
This list is not about skill, its about selling magazines, its about some guy sitting on the crapper one day figuring out a list of artists he's heard without actually doing any real research. I don't expect one to have listened to EVERYONE, but surely they should do some research. Maybe starting by checking out some guitar mags would be a good idea....
