Keith Richards, the legendary guitarist of The Rolling Stones and the very embodiment of rock and roll’s gritty soul, is no stranger to controversy.

Known as “the human riff,” Richards has never shied away from speaking his mind—especially when it comes to fellow guitarists.

Over the years, he has developed some famously sharp opinions about other players on the fretboard, opinions that have sparked feuds, backstage blowouts, and plenty of drama.

Today, we dive into the six guitarists Keith Richards allegedly hates the most, exploring the clashes that reveal a deep divide in the world of rock guitar.

At the heart of Keith Richards’ grudges lies a fundamental debate in guitar playing: raw emotion versus technical mastery.

Richards champions the power of feeling, simplicity, and soul in guitar music, often dismissing flashy technical prowess as empty showboating.

This philosophy has put him at odds with some of the most skilled and influential guitarists of recent decades.

 

Kicking off the list is Swedish virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen, a pioneer of neoclassical metal known for his lightning-fast shredding and complex compositions.

To Keith Richards, Malmsteen represents everything wrong with modern guitar playing: a focus on speed and technique over soul and passion.

 

The feud allegedly began when Keith saw Malmsteen’s MTV performance in the mid-1980s.

Richards reportedly turned to bandmate Ronnie Wood and said, “Look at this pratt. That’s not guitar playing, mate.That’s just showing off.”

 

He later called the neoclassical movement a “circus sideshow” in Guitar Player magazine, emphasizing that true guitar artistry comes from passion, not bedroom practice sessions.

Malmsteen fired back in a Swedish interview, calling Richards an “old blues dinosaur” who couldn’t play a proper scale if his life depended on it.

This clash perfectly captures the age-old tension between feel and technique in rock guitar.

 

Steve Vai, often hailed as one of the most technically gifted guitarists alive, finds himself at number five on Keith’s list.

Their feud reportedly ignited during the 1991 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony jam session, where Vai launched into a dazzling display of tapping and sweeping.

 

Keith was said to watch with visible disgust, later remarking that Vai “plays like he’s performing open heart surgery, not rock and roll.

” In a 1993 interview, Richards famously said, “Some guitarists can play 500 notes and say nothing, while others can play one note that makes you cry.

” Vai responded with a cheeky retort, “Yeah, I can play more notes than Keith can count.”

 

This feud underscores the divide between pure emotion and technical brilliance, with Keith firmly on the side of soulful simplicity.

The feud with Eddie Van Halen is particularly surprising given both musicians’ revolutionary impact on guitar playing.

The tension allegedly began backstage during The Rolling Stones’ 1989 Steel Wheels tour, when Van Halen was the opening act.

 

Keith reportedly walked into Eddie’s dressing room and quipped, “Mate, save it for Guitar Center.

This is a rock show, not a bloody demonstration,” referring to Eddie’s complex tapping exercises.

Keith dismissed the “Whiddly Whiddly” guitar movement in Rolling Stone magazine, calling it unrelated to real rock and roll.

 

Eddie, known for his humility, was reportedly hurt by these comments and allegedly said, “Keith keeps it simple because that’s all he can play.

” The rivalry escalated, with Keith refusing to share a stage with Eddie at a 1992 guitar summit, calling his style “gymnastics, not music. ”

 

This feud highlights the tension between traditional blues-based rock and innovative technical exploration.

Joe Satriani, a guitar virtuoso known for his instrumental compositions, ranks third on Keith’s list.

Their feud reportedly began in 1996 at a VH1 awards ceremony, when Satriani suggested rock needed to evolve beyond traditional three-chord blues progressions.

 

Keith confronted Satriani at an afterparty, saying, “Real guitar playing is about connecting with people, not jerking off on stage.

” He later called instrumental guitar “musical masturbation” in Guitarist magazine, labeling virtuosos like Satriani as “virtuoso wankers.”

 

Though Satriani remained publicly polite, he reportedly told his tour manager that Keith “wouldn’t know good tone if it bit him on his wrinkled behind.”

 

Keith’s disdain reflects his belief that guitar music should entertain and connect emotionally, not just showcase technical skill.

 

Slash, Guns N’ Roses’ iconic guitarist, is surprisingly second on this list despite sharing many stylistic similarities with Richards.

Their feud reportedly began during the 1989 Steel Wheels tour when Slash’s use of multiple rigs and effects pedals drew Keith’s ire.

Richards allegedly asked, “Is this a concert or a bloody science experiment?” He later criticized Slash in interviews, calling him a competent guitarist who “plays too much” and relying on effects as a crutch.

 

Slash was reportedly furious backstage at a 1993 festival and fired back that Keith “wouldn’t know a good lead tone if Mick Jagger wrote a song about it.

” The feud also had generational undertones, with Keith feeling threatened by Slash’s rising fame as the new face of rock guitar.

 

Topping the list is John Mayer, a guitarist whose blend of blues, pop, and technical skill represents a new generation of players.

The feud began in 2004 when Mayer stated in an MTV interview that he wanted to be the next Keith Richards.

 

Keith was reportedly unimpressed, calling Mayer a “bedroom guitar player” who wouldn’t last five minutes on a real stage.

In a 2006 Rolling Stone interview, Keith criticized modern guitarists for spending more time with computers than guitars, dismissing their style as “PowerPoint” rather than rock and roll.

Mayer responded with respect but was reportedly deeply hurt by Keith’s harsh words.

Their rivalry reached a peak in 2009 when Mayer allegedly played a complex tapping riff of Keith’s signature *Satisfaction* riff during a festival, a pointed jab at Richards.

 

Keith’s disdain for Mayer reflects a broader critique of the Instagram generation, commercialization of blues, and emphasis on technique over raw feeling.

 

Keith Richards’ outspoken views on guitarists reveal much about his own philosophy: rock and roll is about soul, emotion, and connection—not technical wizardry or flashy displays.

His grudges against some of the most talented guitarists of recent decades highlight the ongoing tension between tradition and innovation in music.

 

Whether you agree with Keith or see him as a cranky relic, his opinions have sparked some of the most memorable feuds in rock history.

At the end of the day, Richards remains a true icon of rock’s raw power, reminding us that sometimes, less is more when it comes to making music that moves the soul.

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