that's a pretty risky statement pal, you probably think Jimi Hendrix is the greatest guitarist in the history of recorded music too, eh?
Risky? Is an anvil going to drop on my head on the off chance I'm wrong?
OK, who's better than Freddie Mercury and why?
To be honest I never cared for Jimmi Hendrix's songs. If he's the greatest guitarest of all time that's fine I suppose. But I still don't care for his music.
I think some knowledge of how to play guitar, of which I have none, would be needed to evaluate the all time greatest guitarists. Where as EVERYBODY sings from time to time, be it alone or in front of an audience. Singing is also much more of a natural talent. Sure schooling CAN help, but in the end it comes down to either you have it or you don't . But everyone can sing song and have it be recognizable. Where as you can't just pick up a guitar and start playing a song even on a rudimentary level without at least SOME education. This makes judging singersmuch more accessible than judging guitar players, IMO. All that makes me feel quite free to "risk" calling Freddie Mercury the best ever. Nobody had the vocal AND emotional range of Freddie Mercury. Nobody.
Jeff Buckley > Freddie Mercury
I don't think that Freddie ever really got to the emotional heights that others did. He was better than most, and under-rated by many, but he didn't have the emotional depth of, say, Bill Withers, Thom Yorke or Johny Cash.