TOP 10 GUITAR GODS

I am a metalhead at heart and a fan of hard rock and heavy metal guitar players! I've always loved watching music videos and concerts focusing on the flying fingers of some of my favorite guitar players both old and new! Everybody from Jimi Hendrix to "Dimebag" Darrell, I delight in all the shredders and soloists, the leads and the licks! I even used to play a little electric guitar myself but I knew my skills would never even come close to any professional guitar player (that's why I stick to using my fingers for writing!). So tune up your strings, crank the volume knob up to 11, here's CHERNOBOG'S BLOG: TOP 10 GUITAR GODS!!!

Randy Rhoads

#10 Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) Despite having been fired from Metallica in 1983, Dave Mustaine co-founded (with bassist David Ellefson) Megadeth, one of the leading heavy metal bands in the thrash metal movement of the 1980's. Throughout the years Megadeth has gone through many band members such as guitarists CHris Poland and Marty Friedman and even the departure of Ellefson in 2002 when the band disbanded but thankfully reunited in 2010.
Favorite Song: "Sweating Bullets"

#9 "Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (Pantera/Damageplan) - The Cowboy from Hell himself, Dimebag (originally known as "Diamond Darrell") was the lead guitar player for Texas born Hardcore Metal pioneers Pantera! After their breakup in 2000, he and his brother and former fellow Pantera founder, drummer Vinnie Paul started Damageplan in 2003. Unfortunately, his life came to a tragic end when a crazed fan shot and killed Darrell during a performance in Columbus, Ohio in 2004. Since then, Darrell's memory lives on and has even inspired a local charity event known as Ride for Dime! His unique and original style and magnetic personality made him a major influence on heavy metal music. Favorite Song: "Walk"

#8 Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society) - A.K.A. Jeffrey Phillip Wielandt, Zakk Wylde became Ozzy Osbourne's lead guitarist on the 1988 album "No Rest for the Wicked" which began a long musical collaboration with Ozzy for almost 20 years. Having started several side-projects including "Pride & Glory" (1994) and "Book of Shadows" (1996) he is also the founder of Black Label Society since 1999. Recently having departed from Ozzy's band and recovered from major health issues, Zakk is back on the attack with BLS and has never been better with his signature black and white, Bullseye pattern, Gibson Les Paul Custom, awesome!
Favorite Song: "Bleed For Me"

#7 Kirk Hammett (Metallica) - Originally the founder of the band Exodus, Kirk Hammett (a protege of Joe Satriani) was hired in 1983 by Metallica after former guitarist Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) was fired. Since then Kirk has been a major part of Metallica's sound as it has evolved and changed over the years. Even during the late 1990's when they cut their hair, went alternative and Kirk suddenly had a new fondness for the Wah pedal...and despite the lack of his signature solos on 2003's "St. Anger" album. Either way Kirk is still a top shredder on my list. I especially love his guitars decorated with old monster movie posters.
Favorite Song: "For Whom the Bell Tolls"

#6 Angus Young (AC/DC) - Known for his wild onstage antics and his English school boy uniform Angus Young has been a major force in hard rock as the co-founder (Along with brother Malcolm) and lead guitarist for the Australian hard rock band AC/DC! With his signature Gibson SG, Angus Young is a legend with his now familiar sound and memorable riffs!
Favorite Song: "Thunderstruck"

#5 Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen) - Eddie Van Halen along with brother and drummer Alex formed the hard rock band Van Halen in 1972 and ushered in a new style of guitar playing utilizing intense solos and high frequency feedback. Although the band has gone through many incarnations with several singers including David Lee Roth, Sammy Hagar, and Garry Cherone; Van Halen is complete again having reunited with Roth and included Eddie's son Wolfgang on bass! Favorite Song: "Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love"

#4 Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin) - A brilliant and ingenious guitar player, Jimmy Page was originally a member of The Yardbirds with Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck, who went along to found Led Zeppelin in 1968 with singer Robert Plant, bassist John Paul Jones and drummer John Bonham creating a musical phenomenon as one of the major influences of hard rock and heavy metal! Favorite Song: "Immigrant Song"

#3 Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath/Heaven & Hell) - Tony Iommi is considered to be one of the most important and influential guitarists and a pioneer of heavy metal music. His distinct dropped down tuning style created a completely new sound and changed hard rock and heavy metal for all time. His detuned sound actually developed by accident as he was working in a sheet metal factory when the tips of his fingers were cutoff in an accident. He then used rubber baby bottles and formed thimbles to protect his fingers, thus drop tuning the guitar strings in order to play. Having originally formed the band originally called "Earth", with their unique, darker sound they changed the name to Black Sabbath and with their new singer John "Ozzy" Osbourne created heavy metal history! Favorite Song: "Paranoid"

#2 Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot/Ozzy Osbourne) - A true musical genius and guitar virtuoso Randy Rhoads founded the band Quiet Riot in 1973 with bassist Kelliy Garni and went on to join singer Ozzy Osbourne during his comeback after having been fired by Black Sabbath in 1979. With his enormous talent he was able to bring Ozzy back from the brink with a new sound and made Heavy Metal history with two albums "The Blizzard of Oz" (1980) and "Diary of a Madman" (1981). Tragically his life ended in a plane crash in 1982 while on tour with Ozzy, he was only 26 years old. Having lost a friend and musical companion Ozzy's bands could never truly replace Randy even with such talented guitar players like Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde.
Favorite Song: "Mr. Crowley"

#1 Jimi Hendrix (Jimi Hendrix Experience) - The original gypsy/voodoo child Jimi Hendrix changed the world of the electric guitar forever. As one of the greatest guitar players of all time he began his musical career in England with his band The Jimi Hendrix Experience and would later achieve worldwide fame performing in the U.S. including the famous Monterrey Pop Festival in 1967 and of course Woodstock in 1969. His career and life soon came to an abrupt end in 1970 from a drug overdose. He was only 27 years old. Favorite Song: His legend and music will live on forever... "Voodoo Chile"
LINKS: Guitar World Magazine, VH1 Classics's That Metal Show