There's a saying in professional soccer that there are piano players and piano movers.
There are the forwards (the players), who—with skilled footwork and finesse—score goals, and therefore score with fans.
And there are the backs (the movers), whose grunt work, though important, doesn't appear in the stats.
The point is, you can't have success without both. In the world of guitar, this metaphor is best illustrated by AC/DC's Young brothers during that band's heyday. While Angus did most of the "playing,"Malcolm, with his yeoman-like rhythm work, really moved pianos.
And in doing so he became the ultimate unsung rock guitarist.
Here are some others.
By the way, we are well aware of the fact that this list could go on forever. We all know incredible players who don't get the recognition they deserve—while Miley Cyrus is raking it in for some reason. Off the top of (at least one of) our heads, there's Clarence White,T.K. Smith,Dave Wronski of Slacktone, Frank Marino (who is featured in the upcoming August 2015 issue of Guitar World, Albert Collins,Bob Warford,Shawn Lane,Criss Oliva,Rik Emmett, almost anyone in any corner bar in Nashville ... .
We invite you to list your own unsung picks in the comments below or on our Facebook page!
