The top 100 metal guitarists? Let the debate begin...
Let the flailing begin! Guitar World picks the "100 greatest metal guitarists of all time" in its March issue, due out next week. Tony Iommi is numero uno - pretty hard to argue with that.…
"A sinister cabal of superior writers."
Article comments
— go to most recent comments76 - Josh
C'mon, just because those guys are fast, that doesn't mean they're any better than Jimmy. Let's see any one of those guys play their guitar with a violin bow!
77 - jeje,,,
96. Alexi Laiho (CHILDREN OF BODOM)
He should be on the top 10...
78 - Josh
Right on, Red! Way to stick it to that punk Anthony!
By the way, me and Cannabus are NOT the same person.
79 - Anthony G
Look Josh I checked out all of the
postings that this so called Cannabus
did, and all of his postings were about me. And he only shows up at
times when Josh is there, check the
posting times and find out for yourself.
And when I said I was a thug I didnt
a gangsta. Thug means you dont take
nothing from anybody, far different
form a gangsta.
And I am probabally better eduecated
than all you put together, cuzz I
have a 3.8 and ranked 27 out of 927.
I am literate its just that I am not
the best typer.
80 - Anthony G
Yo Josh Red knows that you posted as
Cannabus also(comment 75). So just stop
posting as Cannabus and we will never
mention it again.
81 - MALFA
JUST ONCE I WOULD LKE TO SEE A LIST THAT IS RESEARCHED,INSTEAD OF A POPULARITY CONTEST,THE TERM HEAVY METAL WASNT USED UNTIL BLACK SABBATH AND ALL BANDS AFTERWARDS,I COULD DO A MUCH BETTER LIST OF BANDS THAT ARE TRULY METAL
82 - Guitar Freak
Shitty list!
83 - Josh
Hey Anthony, believe whatever you want to believe. To claim that I posted as Cannabus is stupid. You know nothing. And there's no difference between "thug" and "gangsta". They're both just different words for WORTHLESS PUNK. Period.
Also, you don't have no 3.8 GPA, quit bullshitting us. That makes me wanna laugh my ass off! And no, Red didn't accuse me of posting as Cannabus, he just thought that we are both similar. He even said, and I quote, "It could just be a coincidence".
Sorry, but you've lost. Game over. Try again.
84 - Anthony G
A thug is much different than a gangster.
A ganster is a hitman or a husler. A gangster could be a thug, but a thug is
not nesesarily a gangster. A thug is a
tough guy who does not take anything
from anybody.
I am not a punk. I agree someone who
guys around killing people is a
worthless punk. I have knocked people
out for talking trash wich makes me
a thug, if a was in a gang and go around shooting people I would
be a punk. So how dare anybody call
me a punk.
I swear on MY life that I have a 3.8.
Red may have not came right out and say
you are cannabus but he sure did infure
it.
Cry some more dogg.
85 - Josh
Yes, people like Anthony are the reason why these polls get so ridiculous.
86 - Josh
Hear that, everyone? Anthony has knocked people out for talking trash about him. Wow! Everyone be scared of him because he's a thug!
Also, "infure" is not a word. I realize that rap has polluted your brain, but if you're gonna make up words, at least try and make them sensible, alright?
By the way, you did a good job of posting as Guitar Freak over at the Greatest Guitarist poll. Congratulations! You even spelled his e-mail address right! You're learning, my son!
87 - Anthony g
Sorry, Josh. I just get carried
away sometimes dogg. I want to
stop fighting just like you do.
Let's quit this stupid crap and
get on with our lives. It would make me much happier.
88 - Anthony G
Stop posting my name its getting old man. I am a thug and proud of dogg. So what goin to do, talk more trash. And why are you talking about a guitar poll this is the guitar poll. Wow maybe there is two guitar polls, after all there is two hip hop polls, you tree huggers are sure spoiled. I am goimg to find this poll and diss you tree huggers there also.
89 - dave
sorry, but there is no way that the SOAD and Korn guitarists are better than scott Ian, its just wrong, also dave mustaine should be higher, higher than kirk hammet and hetfield anyway
90 - kyle
Numerous things wrong wit this list.
It shows loack of thought and knowledge on guitar playing worldwide. I agree wit numerous things but come one? This list is HORRIBLE. I think that many guitarists got it bad on this list.
For example:
-Hendrix at 12? U gotta be fuckin kidding me, he should be in the top 5 easy
-Ace Frehley at 14? I understand Paul there but Ace? The guy made metal what it is today.
-Mick Mars at 46? MARS is GOD, and the fact that he rates lower then people like CC Deville from Posion, guys from Korn, Def Lep, and SOAD, NO WAY!!!
-Dave Mustaine at 20? more like top 10
-James Hetfield at number 2? Him and Hammett aren't even on the same playin level
-Ted Nugent at 46? Gotta Be Shitin Me, this guy is amazing should be in top 30, or even top 20
-Vai and Joe Satriani not in the top 30?
This list is a BIG piece of crap, and Guitar should really revise before putting shit out.
91 - Roger
Take 9 and 10 and replace them with George Lynch and Fast Eddie Clarke.
The End...
92 - POIU
This list is a huge improvement if any of you saw the Rolling stones list. However I still agree that this has some major flaws. Once again. Michael Angelo Batio barley mentioned at 98. WHAT EVER!!!! Does anyone around here play the guitar. This says the GREATEST guitarist. That meants the most talent. It doesnt mean who inspired someone at a certain time. They had just as much time when they were alive back then to do something amazing like michael. NO ONE does what michael can do. Doesnt mean hes my favorite but it does mean he as the most ability to do WHATEVER THE HECK HE WANTS. Rock on ya'll
POIU
93 - POIU
This list is a huge improvement if any of you saw the Rolling stones list. However I still agree that this has some major flaws. Once again. Michael Angelo Batio barley mentioned at 98. WHAT EVER!!!! Does anyone around here play the guitar. This says the GREATEST guitarist. That means the most talent. It doesnt mean who inspired someone at a certain time. They had just as much time when they were alive back then to do something amazing like michael. NO ONE does what michael can do. Doesnt mean hes my favorite but it does mean he as the most ability to do WHATEVER THE HECK HE WANTS. Rock on ya'll
POIU
94 - sonny
Great list! Was proud of numbers 5, 15, 18, and 58.
95 - Blanton
While not a HM rock guitarist, David Gimore of Pink Floyd should be on every guitar list. If not for his playing alone, but for his innovation as well.
As for the rock/rap vs. Mozart battle. True genius, be it Dr. Dre, Alex Lifeson, or Bela Fleck, should be able to appreciated by anyone in any genre. And to belittle a genre outside of your preference demonstates not only a lack of musical intregity but frightneing lack of courage to explore original thought.
96 - slash
OKHHAY!LEMME TELL U WHAT---THERE IS NO MUTHER FUCKIN WAY BY MEANS OF WHICH THAT SON OF A WHORE------KIRK HAMMET STAYS AT NO.2.
WHERE THE HELL IS SLASH,SNAKE SABO,MALMSTEEN......
AND THERE IS NO WAY ...I MEAN I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THOSE ASSHOLES FROM KORN OUTDO PETRUCCI.
ALL THAT I HAVE TO SAy IS----------I DONT GIVE A FUCKIN SHIT WITH YOUR LIST
'COZ IT'S CRAP AND IT SSSSSSSUCKKKS
97 - Fedde
Cool!
98 - Matt
That argument between the rap fans and the metal fans was hilarious..congratulations to the rap guys for making complete idiots of themselves...and congratulations to the metal guys for burning them so bad...me and my friends laughed our asses off at them...how more stupid can you get...dissing metal fans on a metal poll...complete idiots.
99 - Martin
YOUR SHITING ME RIGHT?!?!
How could some one like Alexi Laiho get 96?!?! THE BULL SHIT!!!! He should be like.... in the top 20
100 - steve vai
this is shitty as hell.
eronymous beats steve vai! enough said, and satriani isn't even in the top 70! hahaha
101 - joebob
My comments on this subject may not be totally agreeable because every one different tastes. But since there is no way to really measure a guitarists talent, why is every one upset? You like who you like and thats cool. I personally believe that Michael Angelo Batio #98 on the list is amazing but I'm not whining that he's not higher on the list. Also, for the people commenting on Tony Iommi being a riff maker not a soloist, I dont believe the title of this list is 100 Greatest Guitar Soloists of all time. If a man can make a riff that can make your bones rattle and the hair on the back of your neck stand up every time you hear it maybe he should be number one.
102 - chemical angel
Hendrix & Blue Cheer's Leigh Stephens is without a doubt the guitarists that have had the most overwheliming impact on the hard rock scene. Both of them were many years (& lightyears) ahead of their time. Lots of kids listened to: Zeppelin, Purple, Stooges, MC5, Who (Tommy), Sabbath etc... but they never understood (or cared) wich guys went there first. Blue Cheer's one of the most underappreciated & ripped off hard rock groups of all time. i mean their "OutsideInside" album was recorded as early as in the summer '68 (a full year before "Kick Out The Jams" & 2 years before Sabbath first showed up)! & that album rocks the shit out of everything Zeppelin, Sabbath, Stooges (etc) ever did! Leigh Stephens is god (& the other two too)! So now you know! Ok, take care boys & girls! peace.... P.S. Those totally soul/blues/vibe/coolness/good looks/talent-lacking assholes from Metallica on second place?! c'mon, give me a break! D.S.
103 - Glick
"P.S. Those totally soul-blues-vibe-coolness-good looks-talent-lacking assholes from Metallica on second place?! c'mon, give me a break! D.S."
You might want to check Rolling Stone's top 100 guitarists, chemical angel. You'd be much happier with their soul and blues players crushing the talented metal guys.
-Glick
104 - Jake41
above "bricklayer" stated that he thought that "the dude in the gorilla suit who plays the solo in the video for the Beastie Boys No Sleep Til Brooklyn video should be number 1" He also stated that "The bald dude from Slayer should be number 11" when actually Kerry King (the bald dude) is the one playing the solo for the video
105 - BRICKLAYER
Sir, I am not familiar with this Kerry King fellow, but I will check him out! Many thanks!
106 - whogivesafukc
u r all wasting your time trying to argue with each other, all of u r sad to waste so much time, i feel sad goin to the effort to say this. IM a huge metal fan but who gives a shit and just enjoy the music ALL MUSIC , all this bullhit about who knows more about music or a given genre who gives a shit
OPEN YOUR EYES
107 - Jeav
Actually KoRn has really good guitarists and they can play very well, if you ever go to their concerts and hear the instrument checks. They play to Metallicas: Master Of Puppets. And they concieved the U-Bar. So they are actually very intelligent, but the reason you hear not much guitar playing in some of KoRn's songs is because the lead singer waters it down to match his emotions.
108 - Guitar Hero
I think this list is the right list...Just I do think Hendrix and Slash deserve to be in the Top 10....But overall,GREAT and CORRECT list.Some positions are wrong,but would you rather have the Rolling Stone list?I don't think so.
109 - slayer of homos
This list is crappy. Here is mine.
1.Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
2.Jeff Hanneman & Kerry King (Slayer)
3.Kirk Hammet & James Hetfield (Metallica)
4.Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth)
5.Randy Rhoades (If you don't know who this is then you should not consider yourself a metal fan)
6.Dave Murray & Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
7.Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
8.Dave Mustaine & Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
9 John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
10.Joe Stump
11.Yngwie Malmsteen
12.Hank Shermann & Michael Denner (mercyful Fate)
13.Paul Stanley (Kiss)
14.Andre Olbrich (Blind Guardian)
15.Mike Wead & Andy Larocque (King Diamond)
16.Munky & Head (Korn)
17.Dave Linsk & Darek Eailer (Overkill)
18.Eric Rutan & Doug Cerrito (Hate Eternal)
19.Chuck Schuldiner (DEATH)
20.Jimi Hendrix
I hope this list enlightens you. This list is far superior to all.
110 - Anthony G
Guitars Suck!!!!!!!!
Yeeaaaah
111 - Eric Olsen
yeah, too bad they were ever invented
112 - Eric Olsen
I thought this plug was banned long ago
113 - Anthony G
I was never banned. Why would you think that my freind.
114 - JSD
KORN CAN KISS MY ASSSSS
115 - JSD
KORN CAN KISS MY ASSSSS
116 - Anthony G
[edited]
117 - Anthony G
Why you edit me.
118 - Anthony G
All these guitar sites have been ghost towns ever since I was band. Do realize no one has posted here for three days. Before I was band there was about five postings a day because I was the center of attention. All the guitar sites are like that.
119 - Joel
Banned
B - A - N - N - E - D.
Jimmy Page was in a BAND, his band was amazing, and he made it better.
You were BANNED from this site.
120 - Joel
I have an Idea!!
Put in a time period on one of these lists, because there is absolutely no way that anyone will ever be satisfied with lists that cover evertthing from Hendrix days to today.
121 - Bommer
i think you lot need to listen to... Cacophony ( Jason Becker & Freidman )
Racer X ( Paul Gilbert )
DragonForce ( Herman Li & Sam Totman )
Now they are proper guitarists
122 - Bommer
I don't believe you can put both the guitarists from metallica infront of becker and freidman
they are the best pair ever they feed off eachother so well it's not funny...i advise you lot to look for Cacophony... 80's speed metal
it rules
i have a video of him soloing one handed and with the other hand playing with a yoyo.. seriously it 0wnz
123 - Bommer
and i mean how can you have any numetal bands up on that list at all... just because little shits like it don't mean it's good.
i'd like to say you have seriously missed out one metal genre that has the best solos and the fastest riffs and thats Power Metal
check out Lost Horizon
and what about all the Neo-classical guitarists?
check out At Vance or Windham Hell.
you lot have over looked so much it's just blind arrogance.
124 - Bommer
sorry i correct myself.... you haven't even got Jason Becker or Marty Friedman
in the list at all
(refering to post 122)
125 - flipper_gv
i dont really know why Chuck Shuldiner
isnt in top 5. man just listen to story to tell or flesh and voice of the soul to see how his talents are godly. And Wtf?? I Just saw Steve Vai placed 56 and the guy from children of boddom 96 lol they should at least in top 10s why? cuz they rule! and yngwie malsmteen 17? he should be 3rd easy he made some great metal solos that even kirk Hammet cant play. And for the bastards that come up with names like BB King And Clapton u just suck they're great but way not metal musicians. Tommy Ionni should'nt be 1 maybe top 10 but not first. first should be the guy from dream theater. Anyway this list sucks and every one here will agree with me. And how could you make a list of top 100 best metal guitarist ever in 1 month, it should take at least 1 year to make on right listen to all metal guitarists. Its like passing over 30 years of the existance of thousands of guitarists. Just think about it. Now im gonna walk with my dog in the street to calm down LOL.
peace