Who Do You Regard As The 3 Best Rock Guitarists And Why?

[KL70]

Including any current / former Metallica members (if any qualify in your view),
who do you currently regard as the 3 best (electric only) guitarists and please
say why, for each person named (whether anyone named is either presently
deceased or still alive and playing, isn't important).

[even13flow]

James Hetfield (Metallica) - Amazing songwriter and vocalist. I choose him over Kirk anyday.

Adam D (Killswitch Engage) - Another great songwriter as well as singer when called upon to do so. He even recorded the drums on the Alive or Just Breathing album!

Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains) - Even without Layne, the band lives on and the songs he wrote are still living on.

[LeperMessiah26]

James Hetfield - His palm muted picking accuracy,and speed is bloody frightening!

Todd Rundgren - Not the greatest of Guitar players,but he was very good,and was a multi instrumentalist,and innovator of things,including one of the first to make music videos

Paul Crook - Currently touring as Meat Loafs Lead player,he is an awesome player,played with Anthrax for a while

[dmegametal#1]

Gary Holt-a great/talented Songwriter and Lead guitarist for Exodus..a really down to earth guy!!

Lee Altus-a great guitarist for Heathen and currently with Exodus!!

Doug Piercy-former guitarist for Heathen..don't know to much about this guy..from what i know was involved with a bunch of great SF bands back in the 80's

[King_Nothing]

James Hetfield - very unique style of playing and he delivers all the time. And like already stated, his palm mutes are deadly, and his down-picking is dead on! Not to mention he is a great songwriter/lyricist.

Alex Leifson (Rush) - The name pretty much explains itself. Great songwriter, and also has a one of a kind playing style. He is a part of one of the most successful bands in rock history, and after over 30 years of working in the business, his (Rush's) music will live on forever.

Jerry Cantrell - His work with Alice In Chains is amazing, him and Layne were a great 1-2 punch, and Jerry can come up with the most beautiful melodies, and also very eerie ones. His acoustic abilities are boundless, and he is also a very good singer. A well rounded musician overall, Jerry is indeed an all time great.

[slayerdiabolus]

Jeff Hanneman (Slayer) - His solos are just so much better than Kerry Kings. King might write kick ass riffs but Hannemann pumps out both solos and riffs!

Phill Demmell (Machine Head) - Unbelievable Player. He makes everything look easy and his Signature red Jackson is the nicest guitar ever.

James Hetfield - Enough said.....


Gary Holt, Micheal Amott and Oli Herbert would be there for me too...

[Leighton]

Matt Bellamy is the next generation folkes. Get on board!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tbj6G-c ... re=related

Check out the respect!

[Cliff]

James Hetfield - Easily the best rhytm guitarist out there, still as good as he was 20 years ago

Dimebag Darrell - Best solo guitarist ever lived. R.I.P.

Tony Iommi - The Riffinator, creator of heavy metal

[desert_rat]

Jimmy Page - Although he stole a lot from the blues this guy is amazing. The Rain Song says it all.

Tony Iommi - Killer riffs, enough said.

Jimi Hendrix - Maybe it was all the drugs, but this guy did stuff on guitars that no one had even thought of at the time.

I think these guys have inspired more people to pick up the guitar than any others.

[Duane]

I agree with Jeff above me.....on two of the three!

Iommi - started it all, every awesome riff is a Iommi riff.

Hendrix - getting to be a bigger fan every time I listen to him, another player who's so good that he looks like he's not doing anything, very cool.

Rik Emmett - from the Canadian group Triumph of course, saw him play amazing, amazing. Jazz, classical, rocking tunes and ballads, very, very under-rated!!

There are a few more that never get recognition, Gary Rossington, John Sykes, Scott Gorham...many and many more of course Stevie Ray.