You can and should disagree, but these are the ones that move me the most.”
The 11 Greatest Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Guitarists in History
(in my opinion)
By Nando Machado
Another list, another controversial one.
These are my favorite guitarists in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, the ones that move me the most. You can and should disagree, send your list too, there are certainly others missing.
If we were talking about Rock, Jimi Hendrix, Brian May, and Eric Clapton would be prominent names, but here we're talking about Heavy Metal and Hard Rock. Steve Vai and Satriani are definitely missing, but these 11 names are the ones I like the most. Send me your list; I also want to know your opinion.
Randy Rhoads – The most beautiful melodies in Metal were created by this genius on just two albums, Blizzard Of Ozz and Diary Of A Madman . Imagine what he would be doing if he were still alive today. Watch the After Hours on YouTube and see why Randy is my favorite Metal guitarist.
Eddie Van Halen – Eddie changed the way guitar was played. Even on Van Halen's first album, he showed what he would do for the next 34 years. The guitar work on Van Halen's last album is also amazing.
Jimmy Page – Page took various musical styles and put them all in a blender. The guy simply created Led Zeppelin and made them the biggest band in the world. His guitar playing, his arrangements, his innovations in the studio, Jimmy Page is a genius, and you can say whatever you want, the solo in Stairway To Heaven is one of the most wonderful of all time.
Tony Iommi – If I had to choose the most important person in the creation of Heavy Metal, that person would be Tony Iommi. Without one of the phalanges of a finger on his right hand, he created the most killer riffs in Metal, and if it weren't for Tony, perhaps Heavy Metal wouldn't be what it is today.
Ritchie Blackmore – Blackmore was one of the most influential guitarists of all time. He blended rock with classical music and created a new style of playing, whether in Deep Purple or Rainbow.
Jake E. Lee – Another brilliant guitarist discovered by Ozzy. Jake E. Lee has fantastic taste. His solos and melodies are legendary, as is the sound he got from his guitar. It would be excellent if he reappeared with a new band.
Alex Skolnick – The number 1 guitarist in Thrash, this guy plays incredibly well, whether it's Metal, Jazz, or in the Trans-Siberian Orchestra . Highly technical and creative, there's no one in Thrash who does what he does (sorry Dave Mustaine fans). Click here for Alex's chat with Wikimetal.
Yngwie Malmsteen – Yngwie took Blackmore and put him on 45 rpm, took classical music and added distortion. Far Beyond The Sun is simply brilliant.
Dimebag Darrell – Another riff creator who makes us want to headbang like there's no tomorrow. Dimebag's guitar tone is unique, and he certainly changed the sound of metal with Pantera in the early 90s.
Angus Young – Angus picked up the blues guitar and sped it up as much as he could. Anyone who's been to an AC/DC show knows there's no one in the world who does what he does; rocking and playing like Angus is something only he can do.
Dave Murray – the brilliant guitarist from Iron Maiden couldn't be missing from this list. Adrian Smith could also be included, but Dave is the master of legato; it's very difficult for anyone to play a solo like him.