Without the Blues, there’d be no rock n’ roll as we know it. Had Robert Johnson not sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads, we might never have heard the amazing blues artists of the 20th Century, nor the iconic rock n’ roll artists they inspired and influenced. As we get all excited about the Bluesfest over this Easter Weekend, we count down our favourite Blues artists. Some of these choices might offend the sensibilities of Blues purists, but hey, we like what we like!
10. Robert Johnson
The first and the original, who allegedly sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in return for the ability to play the blues in return. You don’t get much cooler than that.
9. John Lee Hooker
Another one of the true originals, Hooker’s one chord style, boogie influenced playing was a massive influence on other blues and rock n’ roll artists.
8. Blind Willie McTell
Despite dying in 1945, Blind Willie McTell’s influence on rock n’ roll was vast, with artists ranging from Led Zeppelin to the White Stripes, Nick Cave to Bruce Springsteen paying tribute and covering his songs.
7. Buddy Guy
Another complete original, the Chicago Blues legend has influenced countless rock n’ roll artists and pioneered playing his guitar with a drumstick long before Sonic Youth’s Thurston Moore ripped him off.
6. John Mayall
The legendary British bluesman and front man of The Bluesbreakers pioneered the blues in the UK; and saw the likes of Eric Clapton, The Rolling Stones’ Mick Taylor and Fleetwood Mac’s Peter Green and John McVie all pass through the ranks of his band and serve apprenticeships under him.
5. Muddy Waters
Waters shocked audiences with his electric Chicago blues when he first toured the UK in 1958, and his releases on Chess Records would lead two young aspiring musicians names Keith Richards and Mick Jagger to bond as fans and decide to form a little band called The Rolling Stones.
4. Peter Green
The British blues guitarist founded Fleetwood Mac in the 1960s when they were a blues band and inspired a generation of artists. Although he left the band as drug and mental health issues took their toll, he inspired none other than BB King to say “He has the sweetest tone I ever heard; he was the only one who gave me the cold sweats.”
3. Stevie Ray Vaughan
The legendary American bluesman was feted by artists ranging from The Rolling Stones to BB King. His output was limited by his struggles with alcoholism, although he had recently gotten sober before his death in 1990.
2. Eric Clapton
Possibly the greatest white guitarist of all time, when Clapton was playing with the Yardbirds and The Bluesbreakers, graffiti stated popping up on London walls stating ‘Clapton is God’.
1. BB King
Arguably the greatest blues guitarist of all time, King is still going strong in his 80s and is worshipped by artists ranging from U2 to Eric Clapton, and is reported to have played 15,000 gigs throughout his career.
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