VH1’s I Love the 70s: Volume 2 – Guitar Gods of the 70s
by renebird | created - 19 May 2018 | updated - 27 Mar 2023 | PublicArena rock star Peter Frampton has presented you with the guitar gods of the 70s (including Frampton himself).
1. Terry Kath
Soundtrack | Electra Glide in Blue
One of the most influential yet underrated guitarists of all time, Terry Alan Kath was born on January 31, 1946 in Chicago, Ill. Musical practically from birth, Kath taught himself bass, drums, and guitar, and made the rounds in local bands, impressing everyone he met. Childhood friends included ...
2. Duane Allman
Self | Untitled Allman Brothers/Nick Cassavetes Project
Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee in November 1946. On Christmas Day in 1960, Duane was given a motorcycle as a gift while his younger brother, Gregg Allman, got a guitar. A few months later, Duane wrecked his motorcycle in an accident, but traded in the spare parts for a guitar of his ...
3. Jimi Hendrix
Soundtrack | Woodstock
Widely regarded as the greatest and most influential guitarist in rock history, Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington, to African-American parents Lucille (Jeter) and James Allen Hendrix. His mother named him John Allen Hendrix and raised him alone while his father, Al ...
4. Pete Townshend
Music_department | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Born in Chiswick, London just ten days after the German surrender in 1945, Townshend grows up in a typical middle-class home. His parents, Cliff and Betty Townshend, are both musicians, and as a child he accompanies them on dance band tours. Townshend starts playing guitar at 12. He goes to art ...
5. Jerry Garcia
Soundtrack | The Box
One of the most prolific and iconic guitarists of the second half of the 20th Century, Jerome John Garcia was born in San Francisco, California, USA on August 1st 1942. Garcia, whose mother was a registered nurse and whose father, Jose, was a small time jazz musician, had a troubled childhood. At ...
6. Jimmy Page
Soundtrack | The Song Remains the Same
Jimmy Page was born on January 9, 1944 in Heston, Middlesex, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for The Song Remains the Same (1976), Godzilla (1998) and The Adam Project (2022). He was previously married to Jimena Gomez-Paratcha, Patricia Ecker and Charlotte Martin.
7. Neil Young
Composer | Dead Man
Neil Young is one of the most respected and prolific rock/folk guitarists of the late 20th century. Raised in Canada, he first became well-known as a guitarist and occasional vocalist for the band Buffalo Springfield. After the band's breakup, Young became a solo performer. However, he also has ...
8. Steve Howe
Soundtrack | Apollo 18
Steve Howe was born on April 8, 1947 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Apollo 18 (2011), Almost Famous (2000) and Toys (1992). He has been married to Janet Osborne since January 1975. They have three children. He was previously married to Patricia Stebbings.
9. Mick Ronson
Soundtrack | Fright Night
Michael "Mick" Ronson was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success while working with David Bowie as the lead guitarist and band leader for Bowie's backing band, the Spiders From Mars. Ronson was also a session ...
10. David Gilmour
Soundtrack | Pink Floyd: The Wall
David Jon Gilmour was born on 6th March, 1946, in Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge. As the lead guitarist of Pink Floyd, he is by many considered one of the most influential guitarists on the rock stage. Right up to "The Dark Side of The Moon", Dave wrote his own songs, but from then up to "The ...
11. Gary Rossington
Soundtrack | Crimson Tide
Gary Rossington was born on December 4, 1951 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. He was an actor, known for Crimson Tide (1995), Con Air (1997) and Forrest Gump (1994). He was married to Dale Krantz-Rossington and Martha Claire Millen. He died on March 5, 2023 in the USA.
12. Allen Collins
Soundtrack | Kingsman: The Secret Service
Allen Collins was born on July 19, 1952 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. He was a composer, known for Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Straw Dogs (2011) and Speed Racer (2008). He was married to Kathy Evelyn Johns. He died on January 23, 1990 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
13. Ritchie Blackmore
Soundtrack | Point Break
Ritchie Blackmore was born on April 14, 1945 in Weston Super Mare, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Point Break (1991), Twister (1996) and Almost Famous (2000). He has been married to Candice Night since October 2008. They have one child. He was previously married to Amy Rothman, ...
14. Alex Lifeson
Soundtrack | The Double
Alex Lifeson is best known as the broadly-skilled guitarist for the rock group Rush, which also features drummer Neil Peart and bassist Geddy Lee. Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records ...
15. Mick Ralphs
Soundtrack | Friday Night Lights
Mick Ralphs was born on March 31, 1944 in Hereford, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Friday Night Lights (2004), G.I. Jane (1997) and Old School (2003).
16. Eric Clapton
Soundtrack | Lethal Weapon 3
Eric Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, on March 30, 1945. His real father was a Canadian pilot but he didn't find that out until he was 53. When he was 2 his mother felt she was unable to look after him, so Eric then went to live with his grandparents. When he was 14 he took up the ...
17. Billy Gibbons
Soundtrack | Battleship
Billy Gibbons was born on December 16, 1949 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Battleship (2012), Armageddon (1998) and The Perfect Storm (2000). He has been married to Gilligan Gibbons since December 14, 2005.
18. Joe Perry
Soundtrack | Armageddon
As co-founding member, principal co-songwriter, electrifying lead guitarist and co-producer of Aerosmith--America's Greatest Rock & Roll Band--Joe has achieved permanent iconic stature in the pantheon of rock. He has helped to drive his band, over the course of three decades, to sales of more than ...
19. Jeff Beck
Soundtrack | Pirate Radio
Jeff Beck was born in Surrey in 1944. He grew up in a suburban street in Carshalton. When he was about 10, he wanted to play the guitar. His mum, however, wanted him to play the piano because she didn't approve of the guitar. When he was in his late teens, he joined "The Tridents" on lead guitar. ...
20. Ace Frehley
Actor | Detroit Rock City
Former lead guitarist for hard rock super group KISS, best known for his "space ace" character, on stage stagger, cackling laugh and smoking guitar effects. Frehley was born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27th, 1951 in The Bronx, New York City and received his first electric guitar at age 14. A ...
21. Keith Richards
Soundtrack | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Keith Richards is an internationally recognized iconic figure in contemporary culture and popular music as a singer, guitar player, songwriter, film actor, and public figure. He was voted 10th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, and was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of ...
22. Peter Frampton
Soundtrack | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
Peter Frampton was born on April 22, 1950 in Beckenham, Kent, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (1978), Almost Famous (2000) and Dazed and Confused (1993). He has been married to Tina Elfers since January 13, 1996. They have one child. He was ...
23. Mick Jones
Soundtrack | Spaceballs
Mick Jones was born on December 27, 1944 in London, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Spaceballs (1987), Eternals (2021) and Pacific Rim: Uprising (2018). He has been married to Ann Dexter-Jones since March 16, 2017. He was previously married to Ann Dexter.
24. Lindsey Buckingham
Soundtrack | Back to the Future
Lindsey Buckingham was born on October 3, 1949 in Palo Alto, California, USA. He is a music artist and actor, known for Back to the Future (1985), Twister (1996) and Vacation (1983). He has been married to Kristen Leigh Messner since February 15, 2000. They have three children.
25. Ted Nugent
Soundtrack | Superbad
Ted Nugent was born on December 13, 1948 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Superbad (2007), The Heat (2013) and Pain & Gain (2013). He has been married to Shemane Nugent since January 21, 1989. They have one child. He was previously married to Sandra Ann Jezowski.
26. Joe Walsh
Soundtrack | The Warriors
Joe Walsh was born on November 20, 1947 in Wichita, Kansas, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for The Warriors (1979), Spy Game (2001) and Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). He has been married to Marjorie Bach since December 13, 2008. He was previously married to Denise Driscoll, Juanita ...
27. Mark Knopfler
Soundtrack | Local Hero
Mark Knopfler recorded his first single at age 16, but it was never released, He started the band Dire Straits in 1977, they were signed to Vertigo Records in 1978 and recorded the album "Dire Straits", which featured their first major hit single, "Sultans of Swing". Their follow-up albums include ...
28. Edward Van Halen
Soundtrack | Twister
Edward Van Halen was a musician who along with his brother Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, formed the band Van Halen in the early '70s, with Eddie on guitar, Alex on drums, Michael on bass and David on vocals. The band had different members over the years, but the core (...
29. Angus Young
Soundtrack | School of Rock
Angus Young was born on March 31, 1955 in Glasgow, Scotland. At school, Angus was an unenthusiastic student. His only real academic interest was art which allowed him some freedom of expression. He gave up school at 15 and went to work for a soft porn magazine called Ribald as a printer. But his ...
30. Glenn Tipton
Soundtrack | Godzilla vs. Kong
Glenn Tipton was born on October 25, 1947 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), Adventureland (2009) and Bride of Chucky (1998).
31. K.K. Downing
Soundtrack | Godzilla vs. Kong
K.K. Downing was born on October 27, 1951 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), Adventureland (2009) and Bride of Chucky (1998).
32. Brian May
Soundtrack | Flash Gordon
Brian May is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential, innovative, technically gifted and recognisable guitarists in the history of rock. He is also a prolific songwriter, responsible for writing or co-writing many international hits with Queen. He was educated at Hampton Grammar School ...
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