Jimi Hendrix is Tapped as Greatest Guitarist Ever in New Poll

Thousands of guitarists have emerged since his untimely death in 1970 at age 27. But out of everyone who has ever played the instrument, Jimi Hendrix is the all-time greatest, according to a new Rolling Stone list that includes plenty of notable axemen among its voters.

Those who had a say in compiling the magazine's list of 100 greatest guitarists included Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple), Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band), Robby Krieger (the Doors), Alex Lifeson (Rush), Nils Lofgren (Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band), Brian May (Queen), Joe Perry (Aerosmith) and Carlos Santana (Santana).

Of those voters, six made the list: Santana (20), May (26), Blackmore (50), Krieger (76), Perry (84) and Lifeson (98).

Rounding out the top 10, in order, are Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, Chuck Berry, Eddie Van Halen, Duane Allman and Pete Townshend. (For those keeping score, three of the top 5 — Clapton, Page and Beck — once played in the Yardbirds. Not too shabby.)

Like any best-of list, this one has a few head-scratchers: Lou Reed (81)? Kurt Cobain (73)? Let the debates begin.