Web Art Studio Entertainment

Don’t write an article entitled “Best Guitarist Alive Today” and not have the courage to go out on a limb. Defend your choice. Don’t go for the coy approach and give an “anti” list of great guitarists. Oh, and certainly don’t accuse us music writers of “chasing (our) ‘tale’ ” (his word). I will tell you who the best guitarist is and I will not cloud the answer with dead guitarists, “anti” answers, or any of the other trickery that apparently lands your article at the top of the heap in this category.

Jerry Cantrell of Alice in Chains is the best guitarist alive today. Here’s why;

JC is a gifted songwriter and lyricist. Much of the credit given to singer Layne Staley (R.I.P.) for his dark connection with his audience can be attributed to JC’s ingenious mix of dissonant minor melodies, down tuned guitars, and vocal harmony. These are the foundations of a band that was a cornerstone for what was soon dubbed the “grunge” movement. A great guitarist is one who can innovate with consistency and make it stick. Eddie Van Halen was interesting for a few years. Honestly, can anyone defend his choice of Gary Cherone to front the band a few years back? EVH lost his edge. JC is still selling out large venues with the resurrected Alice in Chains and is being urged by fans to produce a new album. Usually, when an iconic singer (Staley) dies, the band dies in kind. Not in this case. The guitarist is so great that he can command the spotlight as a solo artist, producing three outstanding albums and then single-handedly resurrecting the infamously dysfunctional family of Alice in Chains.

Michael Jackson lived a life of great contrasts. Born into a show business family, he never had anything resembling a normal childhood. First brought on-stage during Jackson family performances at age three, by the time he was just a year older, he was performing as a regular member of the singing group. By the time he was 15, he was the star of the family show, and by 18 branched off by himself to become one of the most renowned superstars in pop music history.

More of a performer than accomplished singer, Jackson developed a precise, jerky dancing style that appealed to young fans and appalled traditionalists and parents. His flashy costumes were odd combinations of military and masquerade glitter. His squeaky barks of barely understandable lyrics were accompanied by expert spinning dance steps, and often by forward thrusts of his hips and grasping his crotch. As with other sexually-daring entertainment idols of the day, including Elvis, Mick Jagger, Madonna, and others, Jackson drew young fans to him because of his outrageous originality and notoriety.