guitar heros

[andynpeters]

Hank Marvin (the reason I wanted to play the guitar)
Scotty Moore (though I don't think I knew his name till years later)
Bruce Springsteen
Billy Gibbons
BB King

 

[fogman]

I think this list would be a lot easier if it were the top 10 or 20!!!!

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Buddy Guy
Ritchie Blackmore
Edward VanHalen
Jimi Hendrix
BB King
Jimmy Page
John Petrucci
Steve Lukather
Albert King
T-Bone Walker
Freddie King
Steve Morse
Robert Cray
Joe Walsh
The Edge
Bill Gibbons
Carlos Santana
Pete Townsend
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
John Sykes
John Mclaughlin
Joe Bonamassa
Tonni Iommi
Steve Stevens
Vivian Cambell (older stuff)
yes and Clapton's pretty good but highly overrated in my opinion!

 

[dougiefresh]

Sorry, Had to do 10 -

Paul Gilbert
Richie Kotzen
Vinnie Moore
George Lynch
John Norum
Doug Aldrich
Warren Demartini
Dweezil Zappa
YJM
Brett Garsed

 

[KennethB]

Guitar rules!

It sure does!......And bass too!!!!!

 

[Dizzy]

On top of my previous post, Lindsey Buckingham is well worthy of a mention.

This performance blew me away :

[nomedia="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwGQKuUeQC8&mode=related&search="]YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.[/nomedia]

One Man, One guitar, a great vocal, and one hell of a delivery.

 

[puppyonacid]

darn I forgot Gilmour! What a Brain Freeze!I'm always listening to Floyd as well. I feel bad now. Also for not mentioning Hendrix. I do like Vai and Satch as well but I wouldn't say they are major influences. As for Clapton being over-rated........I dunno Foggy. I think there are better blues players but I'm always blown away by his playing. And I love that Reptile album he had out around 2000. I don;t think that album did so well but there are some great songs and some awesome playing on it. But I respect your opinion none the less.

 

[paranoid70]

Tony Iommi
Steve Morse
Steve Howe
Joe Satriani
Ritchie Blackmore

 

[GHWelles]

1. Robin Trower
2. Ritchie Blackmore
3. Malmsteen
4. Ace Frehley
5. Randy Rhodes

 

[Axilla]

1. JP
2. Luke
3. Morse
4. Satriani / Gilbert / Vai
5. EvH
6. Chris Thornton Jr.

 

[Mayo 84]

oh yeah - gary moore and david gilmour - truly masters...

+1

 

[lord lemons]

1: Vai
2: Malmsteen
3: Herman Li (Puts up flame shield; What can I say, I love his solo writing)
4: Petrucci
5: Gilbert

 

[JMB27]

Nice to see Roy on the list.

been a huge fan of Buchanan since I got my first guitar back in the early 80s
and, he's partly why I still own a Tele (yes, I still got some non-Balls)

cheers

Joel

 

[Pablo]

Well, with so many great players out there, it truly is dificult to limit my heroes to 5, but when pressed, I can actually bring my list of MAIN inspirations down to four, so here's my stab at it:

1) Ritchie Blackmore - I was practically raised with Rainbow Rising blasting away in the background... Awe inspiring feel and taste and one of the best improvising rock guitarists ever. One of the greatest days of my life was meeting and chatting a short while with Blackmore after one of his medieval gigs.
Favourite Blackmore moment (apart from many breathtaking live experiences): The outro to "Stargazer"... IMHO music doesn't get better than this!

2) John Petrucci - Simply an awesome player: great tone, great feel, great skill... plus he's playing in a great band and continues to put out great music. What more do you want? - oh yeah, and he's a very nice guy as well (being Ball family that one's a given ) Favourite JP moment: the solo in "Fading Fast" - I get goosebumps every time I hear that!

3) Shawn Lane - One of the truly great greats, that sadly left us much too soon. IMHO way too much focus has been put on Lane's incredible technique and not enough on his tone, his phrasing and his spine tingling melodies... Listening to Shawn Lane play truly reminds me of how music can (/should?) feel when it's right: free, flowing and elegant. Even the most insanely complex lines flow a long as were they most natural thing in the world... and that amazing singing tone is always there. Favourite Shawn Lane Moment: "Hardcase" - well, it's just a great piece of music.

4) Joe Bonamassa - This guy made me believe in the blues again!!! Seriously, I had been disenchanted by the whole '90's blues revival thing (the new guys simply didn't rock my world) and along comes this guy and totally blows me away - amazing! Again, here's a highly accomplished player with a huge musical vocabulary and a spooky sense of what works both on a record and live... but especially live, Bonamassa will floor and inspire you. My favourite Joe Bonamassa moment: "Colour & Shape"... LIVE!!! I know it's kind of cheating, but this an amazing song that Bonamassa makes even better when given free reign over the stage. If you don't know this guy, you need to check him out!

Honorable mentions: Dweezil Zappa - hugely underrated guitarist that really rocks in a happy Van Halen-ish-meets-weird kinda way. Ron Thal aka Bumblefoot - insanely inventive and one of these musicians that truly reminds what's hiding out there... Matthias "IA" Eklundh - Creative, inventive and funny as hell... oh, and he's a jolly nice guy to boot. Robert Fripp and Jeff Beck - come on people: just listen

Cheers

Eske

 

[dmullen]

5 is hard. My 5 favorites for various reasons....

Stevie Ray Vaughan
Jeff Healey
Joe Bonamassa
Steve Lukather
Neal Schon

 

[Ripper]

Not in order, here's my all-time top 5:

1. Satriani
2. EVH
3. Morse
4. Brian May
5. Gilbert

 

[Blind Lemon]

Top 5 in no particular order

Jimi Hendrix
Ry Cooder
Billy Gibbon
Jeff Beck
Stevie Ray

 

[Blind Lemon]

Hey lord lemons, Are we related?

 

[jamminjim]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Earplayer
oh yeah - gary moore and david gilmour - truly masters...

+1


definitely +++2 on that! I can listen to Gary Moore all day long


I'll add

Chet Atkins
Carlos Santana
Leslie West
Jeff Beck
Roy Clark

 

[edrod]

Marty Friedman
John Petrucci
AJ Minette
Yngwie Malmsteen
Vai

 

[morsecode]

While I wouldn't use the word "hero" or "idol" for that part, my 5 favorite would be in no particular order:

Alex Lifeson
John Petrucci
Steve Morse
Steve Vai
Jimmy Page

If I expanded it to 10, I'd probably add:

Jimi Hendrix
Stevie Ray Vaughan
Randy Rhoads
Eric Clapton
Joe Satriani