Best lead singer lead guitarist ever

[StephenM]

After watching Sammy Hagar and Eddie Van Halen tearing it up on "Only One Way to Rock" I got to thinking.... Sammy Hagar was probably better known for his vocals but he is an amazing guitarist as well...really super good...
so I was wondering who comes to mind as someone who was at the top of their game as both singer and guitarist? 

[T.C. Elliott]

Hendrix was an underrated singer but some of his stuff is great. And, of course, no better guitarist out there (imo.)

[Greeny]

Jeff Buckley.

Outstanding at both.

His dad was pretty good too.

[Bluesberry]

Jeff Buckley.

Outstanding at both.

I agree....

Pete ham (Badfinger) was damn good at both

[StephenM]

Jeff Buckley.

Outstanding at both.

I agree....

Pete ham (Badfinger) was damn good at both

great band and sound....

[Kody]

I've always loved Zakk Wylde's vocals on his solo stuff (Pride & Glory, Book of Shadows...) & his guitar playing is some of the best I've ever heard.

[Ferryman]

Adrian Belew for me.

[Ted]

Adrian Belew for me.

I never miss a chance to say that Adrian Belew is my favorite, all-around musician ever. He can do a Beatles-ish pop song, he can do avant-garde, he can do animal sounds, he can touch your heart. He's not a bad drummer. He has produced great albums where has played every instrument.  He's in a class with Todd Rundgren, Paul McCartney, and Prince.

There. I said it. Again.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq-KGGJnEbM

[AndyR]

I feel uncomfortable talking about "best", especially "ever" so I'm just gonna talk "my favourite" 

Also, you mean folks who do both, don't you? That's how I'm reading it.

Anyway, actually, it's favourites, I find it hard to separate them.

I've personally seen these guys live, they're all on the list:

Alvin Lee
Rory Gallagher
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Ted Nugent
Mark Knopfler
Charlie Starr
Brad Paisley
JD Simo
Billy Gibbons

Of the guys I haven't seen, I'd have to add Jimi Hendrix to the list, and probably Prince too.

Of the guys I have seen but DON'T want to add, there's a surprising standout - Eric Clapton. Seen him a few times, got nearly everything he's on, but he doesn't make my list of favourites (actually, the only time I've seen Mark Knopfler was as Eric's rhythm guitarist... Eric finally convinced him to do a solo on Same Old Blues... and omigoodness... that was the highlight of the night/year/decade... even the girl I was with, for whom "Clapton" had no equal, admitted MK's playing for that few minutes was probably the best bit).

OK, right now, if I had to pick one favourite of the favourites... it has to be Charlie Starr (Blackberry Smoke).
Put it this way, if you could bring the dead ones on my list back, in their prime, and then offered me ONE gig only that I could go to tonight...
It would be Blackberry Smoke... for me, his singing and playing are mesmerising

But I certainly wouldn't want to claim he's the "best ever"

BTW - I SO wanted to get a woman in that list, but couldn't... most of the women artists I love don't play guitar, let alone lead guitar.
Joanne Shaw Taylor does, and is SO close, but doesn't quite make it onto my "OH YEAH" list above.
She is flippin brilliant, but, for me... she plays long solos, not necessarily a bad thing, but each one is a masterpiece/monument of dynamics and build-up... also not a bad thing... but it's the same bluddy thing in every bluddy song! (or it was a few years back when I saw her 2 or 3 times). And on record, I don't really like her voice.

Lzzy Hale? - although she does play some lead, she's not really the lead guitarist in Halestorm, but FLIPPIN HECK what a singer/guitarist/songwriter/frontperson.

Kelly Johnson? - original lead in Girlschool and took approximately half the lead vocals. But I didn't really like her voice, and I MUCH preferred Kim anyway (I stood in front of her mic-stand at Tiffany's in Bristol, she gave me her half-finished Special Brew when they realised the audience was about to pass out... I kept it for YEARS!)

Taylor Swift? - can't really count her playing as "lead" at all I spose, but she's a pretty good guitarist... I didn't realise until recently... and WHAT a singer-songwriter...

[pjd1]

Gary Moore for me but there are so many out there Eric Clapton , Marc Knopfler , Jeff Heally , John Martyn ,  Joe Walsh , Joe Bonnamassa , i could go on all night , nice to see what everyone else,s is listening to

Dunny