I love your examples of 'Pop' (a term not used by anyone under 20 since 1983) are both from the '60s. Late '60s mind so you're not too out of date.
I think your question is less about technique and more about being unfulfilled in a remote musical location and age (not you, I'm referring to our shared musical environment in 2015 - moribund, sparse and at times, hostile). I suspect even the modern 'super' players you mention struggle to earn an income and rely on equipment endorsements and hence their conspicuous demonstrative styles.