Joe Bonamassa reveals “the best guitarist in blues rock that the world has right now”

Joe Bonamassa
(Image credit: Joby Sessions/Future)

Look, we write about Joe Bonamassa a lot. We hear you. But when arguably the world’s biggest blues guitarist singles out one other electric guitar player with a definitively superlative statement, we had to share the news.

In a new Instagram post, JoBo - who is in the midst of his Keeping the Blues Alive cruise - enthused, “Our best Ballad of John Henry of all time. Thank you to Eric Gales for showing us all how it’s done!

“You are the best guitarist in blues rock and that the world has right now. Epic in every way!”

Presumably, Gales was a special guest, since he wasn’t featured on the bill for this year’s cruise, which included the likes of Peter Frampton, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Larkin Poe, Eric Bibb, Bernie Marsden, Curtis Harding, Philip Sayce and many more.

Gales’ effortlessly fluid playing style was most recently showcased on his latest album, The Bookends, back in February, which featured collaborations with the likes of B. Slade, Doyle Bramhall II and Beth Hart.

Bonamassa certainly seems sure of his opinions these days, having named the ‘best’ guitar in his incredible collection only last week.

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Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.