Guitar men in a row - Live

You likely enjoy the three of these prog gtr icons performing live, but hardly to the same degree.

NOTE: "Fripp & Howe" means "both equally", NOT "both together against the other guy".

One vote. Speak your mind and preference. Post favorite videos, if you had the time!

Edited by Heart of the Matter - January 24 2025 at 07:16

Cristi wrote: Three quite different guitarists, no preference.

Fripp > Hackett > Howe

Voted Hackett & Fripp > Howe. I like Fripp most of these on albums, but Hackett (as well as Fripp) gave me several very enjoyable live performances, and for this specific poll I will also take into account how warm and nice he comes across on stage.

Fripp. I don’t really care for the other two.

progaardvark wrote: Fripp > Hackett > Howe. I hope the extraterrestrials like my videos about washing machines.

Howe, Hackett, Fripp. Howe in my opinion is the most versatile guitarist between the three. Steve Morse and Rik Emmett, two very versatile guitarist too, have mentioned how big an influence Howe was on their playing.

Not that polls are everything, but during the 70s and into the mid 80s Howe was a constant winner in these polls. He won Guitar Player Magazine's Best Overall Guitarist five times in a row. He was the first guitarist to win any of the categories ( rock, jazz, classical, country, etc) five times in a row. Howe was ineligible to win that category going forward ( Morse was to win the Best Overall five times in a row following Howe).

I have played guitar for about 45 years now and back during that time, Howe was a heavyweight. It was Eddie Van Halen, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jimmy Hendrix, Alex Lifeson, Al DiMeola, John McLaughlin, Alan Holdsworth, Pat Metheny, as well as Morse. Hackett and Fripp were appreciated, but really they never came up much in the discussion among the guitar players I knew during those days.

Howe was seen not only as the more versatile guitarist, but his lead guitar playing was considered better than Fripp and Hackett.

It's all subjective. All three are tremendous players with very different styles. I think Howe since those days has seen his reputation go down based somewhat on the politics within Yes and a discography that has seen more mediocrity than highs with a few duds mixed in ( talking the music, not so much the guitar playing). Hackett and Fripp have been more consistent since those days. Hackett seems to be a more pleasant person to be around too.

Edited by Big Sky - January 24 2025 at 17:39

Atavachron wrote: ^ It's not subjective to say Howe was the most versatile or overall best player, because he was.   Not better than Hackett or Fripp, but certainly more multi-skilled.   Versatility is a funny thing, it's like Jack of all trades, Master of none.   Whereas Holdsworth, Hendrix, Van Halen were all superb at what they did, but couldn't compete with Howe as far as being able to play country or classical or folk in addition to being a great rock player.

Don't disagree, although some guitarists who are versatile are also masters of various styles. Check out virtuoso classical guitarist Matt Palmer, whose technique is as good as it gets. Before he decided to become a full-time classical guitarist, he was a neo-classical heavy metal shredder in the mold of Yngwie Malmsteem, but with restraint when called for.

My point was more that this would have been a no contest back in the 70s to mid 80s. Howe would have won handily as he was one of the giants. Hackett and Fripp were well respected, but never were the "guitar hero" that Howe was.

Edited by Big Sky - January 24 2025 at 20:29

I've seen Howe 8 times (Yes between 1995 and 2005 and with Dylan his son a couple of times after that and once with Asia on the Phoenix tour), Hackett 3 times with his band and Fripp just the once with the 3 drummers line up. Hard to weigh them up on those numbers.  It's a random thought but I would love to have seen any of them play with Keith Emerson then I would know which I prefer! I find it odd that Howe has almost become a villain in modern prog circles for his apparent vice like grip on Yes. He always comes across as affable and personable as does Hackett. Fripp has always been an odd sort but his marriage to Toyah has done him a power of good and I find myself warming to him. I suppose it's Howe > Hackett > Fripp but really they are all equals.

Hrychu wrote: Both.