10 Greatest Keyboardists In Hard Rock

In rock and roll's golden age, there was no real reason to be a rockstar when you were standing in front of a piano. Though acts like The Beatles did have their traditional ballad heavy material in their time, it wasn't until Elton John and Billy Joel came around that rock finally had the rockstars tickling the ivories. However, if there was one keyboardist who deserves more of a say in the rock world, it's Ian Stewart.

While most people might not know this man's name offhand, he was incredibly important in what would become known as the British Invasion. Compared to the pop stylings of the Beatles, Ian was integral in creating the Rolling Stones, with him behind the piano providing a bluesy foundation for the rest of the songs. Once they started to pick up steam though, Stewart was quickly ousted from the band after not being considered as photogenic as the rest of rock and roll's bad boys.

That's not where his story ends though, as Stewart would eventually be immortalized for jamming with Led Zeppelin on Boogie With Stu from Physical Graffiti along with jamming with acts like the Yardbirds. It would seem that the rock community at least remembered Ian though, after he was inducted with the other Stones at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Though he might be faceless, Ian Stewart is one of the few artists who just needs to be heard to be fully appreciated.