One of the countless rock legends who left us too soon, Terry Kath, lead guitarist of the band Chicago, sold more than 22 million records. Producing one of the greatest guitar solos in history, he has been dubbed better than Jimi Hendrix (by Hendrix himself.) The band was formed in 1967 and -described itself as a “rock and roll band with horns.” In 2008, Billboard listed Chicago at number thirteen and fifteen in a list of the top 100 artists of all time (from 2008 and 2015, respectively).
The band has sold over 40 million albums domestically and has released twenty-three gold albums, eighteen platinum albums, and eight multi-platinum albums. In 1974, the group had seven albums on the Billboard 200 simultaneously.
Leslie West
Born Leslie Weinstein, with his cover of Otis Redding's "Respect," was the moment that he was truly recognized as a guitar legend. By 1969 West was in the band Mountain, churning out songs like the 1970 hit "Mississippi Queen."
Playing blues with an R&B flair, the guitar legend played with unhinged mentioned and played with amp distortion in a way that might make Hendrix jealous.
Jerry Cantrell
The co-vocalist but lead guitarist of the alternative metal band Alice in Chains rose to fame not only because of his unmistakable voice but also because of his distinct guitar style. While the 1990s Seattle-based band is often lumped with other grunge bands of the time, their take contained far more heavy metal elements. It was one of the most successful acts of the 1990s, selling over thirty million records worldwide, with eighteen top 10 songs and eleven Grammy nominations.
Due to vocalist Layne Staley's substance abuse, the band was often inactive since the 1996s. In 2009 they released two more albums. For the real Alice in Chains experience, check out “Man in the Box” from 'Facelift.'
Robert Fripp
King Crimson's Robert Fripp blew his bandmates away in their very first rehearsal in 1969. His famous fuzzy guitar in one of the best progressive rock bands in music history has cemented his spot in the arena of legendary rockers. Crimson's 1973 metal classic, Larks’ Tongues in Aspic, is where one can best hear Fripp's genius.
Fripp has also collaborated greatly as a session musician with David Bowie, Blondie, Brian Eno, and David Sylvian.
Nancy Wilson
As the first hard rock band fronted by women, Nancy Wilson certainly deserves a spot on this list. The American musician rose to prominence alongside her older sister, singer Ann Wilson in the band Heart. Wilson was playing as a teen and, by college, in 1974, followed her sister into the iconic band. The group started with fellow members Steve Fossen, Roger Fisher, David Belzer, and Jeff Johnson.
One of the band's fundamental attributes is its versatile set of musical styles, which has covered genres including everything from heavy metal to easy listening and more. The band has sold over 35 million records worldwide to date and has been ranked as one of the greatest hard rock bands of all time. Also, in 2013, Heart was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.