10 Best Classic Rock Guitarists

10. Joe Perry/Brad Whitford

As the 70's arrived, an incredible influx of bands arrived on the scene that would become staples of the rock genre. Most of the bands would often use two guitar players, with one taking the lead parts and the other filling out the rhythm. While these roles came to be adopted by future generations of rock and rollers, Aerosmith's approach to the twin-guitar assault was much different.

The combination of Joe Perry and Brad Whitford made for unreal solo work across the golden run of Aerosmith in the 70's. On one side of the record, Perry was the most rhythmic lead player you had ever heard, with licks that sounding like they could have been played by a horn section in an R&B band. However, Whitford would also fill out the lead sound with a much more precise attack and a bluesy texture reminiscent of blues guitarists like Jeff Beck.

The best moments for this duo were when the band would stretch songs out to have multiple solos and Whitford and Perry would play off each other beautifully. Though Joe Perry gets much more of the adulation because of his rock star behavior, his interaction with Brad Whitford made Aerosmith virtually untouchable.