Visions of Axemen: A Resource Guide to Guitarists and Their Recordings

Specific guitarists establish particular images that appeal to their fans, other artists, music critics, or even academics. This study probes some of these images. It also addresses the nature of fame and obscurity, the attachment to particular genre and style characteristics, the rarity of eclectic musical approaches, the relevance of career longevity, the importance of both cover recording and original artistry, and the distinction between studio session work and concert stage showmanship. Rather than simply determining the top 10, 20, or 30 guitarists of the past century, the following pages illuminate the wide range of roles that axemen elect to pursue.