I say Laiho since he shows sooooo much energy while playing and is very enthusiastic when he's playing guitar

hm ...
Daniel and Vincent Cavanagh - they create such beautiful tunes ...
Steve von Till and Scott Kelly - these guys have a brutal sound and know how to arrange songs.
Clifford Mayer - he's playing in so many bands, isis, red sparowes, windmills by the ocean (...) and his style is always completely different, but always killer.

I only have a couple.

Herman Li: He has some of the craziest riffs. He has a lot of talent to be able to play as quick as he does.It's quite amazing to actually watch him.
Mikael Akerfeldt: May not be as quick as Herman Li, but I find he has the most creative guitar riffs I have ever heard. It takes good talent and a great mind to be able to come up with creative stuff like that.

I just remembered possibly my favorite that I didn't mention earlier:
Andy Laroque (I think that's how you spell it) of King Diamond's band.

Me...when I play Guitar Hero

Written by Guest on 10.04.2008 at 19:16

Me...when I play Guitar Hero

Surely You must rock dude!

Michael Weikath from Helloween, he is the most talented one, he create some classics in metal history.

I don't think they are considered heroes, but the two guitarists for Angra, Kiko and Rafael, take a listen to some of their songs and listen to how they play together. In my opinion it sounds godly sometimes, they are both amazing guitarists and influenced me with my musicianship.

What defines the term 'Guitar Hero'? Some people here just seem to be naming people based on writing skill or wether or not they like the band.

A true guitar hero, in my opinion, is someone who stands out while on stage. He has to be someone who outshines the front man or is a front man in his own right. The kind of guy that plays blistering solos, wanks his guitar and throws in too many pinch harmonics then could ever be needed.

There are few in any real metal genres that fit that bill, Petrucci and Laiho stand out in my mind.

Randy Rhoads. Nuff 'said.

Alex Lifeson of Rush is awsome. I've also always really liked Esa Holopainen of Amorphis, he just has somme of the most awsome, groovy solos.

Michael Weikath,Sascha Gerstner, Timo Tolkki, Jani Liimatainen, Dave Murray, Adrian Smith, Jancik Gers

To this day, I haven't heard anyone better than Marty Friedman.
Other heroes are Uli Jon Roth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Glenn Tipton/K.K. Downing, Dave Murray etc.

My guitar heroes are Michael Romeo,John Petrucci,Chuck Schuldiner,Alexi Laiho

Alexi Laiho too. His style is quite unique IMO. But since I can't play, I might be wrong.
Also his guitar is amazing.

Dave Mustaine. And Marty Friedman, of course.

Jon Schaffer-Iced Earth.Unbelievable riffs...

Chuck Schuldiner

Ol Drake

Brent Hinds and Bill Kelliher

KK Downing and Glen Tipton

Jason Becker and Marty Friedman

Mike Scaccia

Tony Iommi

Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King

Adrian Smith, Dave Murray and Janick Gers

Kenny Hickey

Olavi Mikkonen and Johan Soderberg

Karl Sanders and Dallas Toller Wade

James Hetfield in terms of rhythm and riffing work. Paul Gilbert in terms of lead work.

among the others already said I add alex skolnick by testament, criss oliva (RIP) by savatage and eddie van halen

Tipton and Downing impress me a lot because they have a tendency to improvise a lot and just play with the melodies on stage.
But if you want some guitarists that implement a lot of classical elements into their music, thus making it more technically challenging, and impress people with their ability to shred like rabid motherfuckers I guess I could name Alexi Laiho, John Petrucci, Michael Romeo, Steve Vai...

George Lynch (Dokken)
All the guitarists in Iron maiden
Mick Mars (Motley Crue)
Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

i'd probably go with adam d. from killswitch engage. he's ridiculous! ps- check out these videos i found of him shredding... theres also an interview and some other stuff i think. it's at www.guitarmessenger.com

adios

Written by Gordon Freeman on 09.05.2008 at 22:17

What defines the term 'Guitar Hero'? Some people here just seem to be naming people based on writing skill or wether or not they like the band.

A true guitar hero, in my opinion, is someone who stands out while on stage. He has to be someone who outshines the front man or is a front man in his own right. The kind of guy that plays blistering solos, wanks his guitar and throws in too many pinch harmonics then could ever be needed.

There are few in any real metal genres that fit that bill, Petrucci and Laiho stand out in my mind.

I agree with your point, but those guys are having other criteria...
I meant the guitar heroes category rooted Hendrix and so on...
All those guitar players are great, but a guitar hero must be the main figure of the work and must be more than a good musician or a clever music composer. A Guitar Hero is a landscape of virtuosity, creativity at all levels (techniques, theory, interpretation...) and transpassing the limits of the instrument, otherwise, most Metal Guitar player would be Guitar Heroes...!!
No ladies and Gentlemen!! Take Van Halen as a criterion and scan the scene again!! Thank you

WELL!! I'll pick up this new list being conforming with the idea of guitar hero

KIKO LOREIRO
DAVE MURRAY
MICHAEL ROMEO
ALEX SKOLNICK
JASON BECKER
CHUCK SCHULDINER (an exception -a kind of tribute-)
MARTY FRIEDMAN
MUHAMMED SUIçMEZ

Notice: All of those Guitar Heroes have solo Project (except Suiçmez and Schuldiner)

I'd say Alexi Laiho (COB), Kirk Hammett (Metallica), Mikael (Opeth). And maybe Gus G. (Firewind).. he may not be a hero now, but I believe he will be soon.

I have a few that i really like...
Lanvall (Edenbridge)
Chuck Shuldiner (Death)
Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
Jon Schaffer (Iced Earth)
Christofer Johnsson (Therion)

Written by Guest on 30.08.2008 at 18:46

Jeff Loomis. It saddens me to not see his name mentioned. You monsters...

Hell yeah!! that Loomis was missed in here...!

Trey Azagthoth is the one.. Also Jeff Loomis and Chuck worth a lot. R.I.P. Chuck..

Check out the Finnish album. Guitar Heroes.
http://www.guitarheroes.fi/gh/index.php?catid=1&blogid=1