I've read though all these posts and its mind boggling to me that hardly NOONE even mentioned RANDY RHOADS! I mean hello! there was a post about best songwrtiers. well how about this guy?? never saw him in that post! how about most inspirational?? hello again he was a big influence on a ton of guitarests.. i wonder if any of you knew he was zakk wyldes influence.. and honestly. we all know he coudl play circles around zakk. zakk isn't that great... i'll agree with the kirk hammet and jimi hendrix posts. they were great.. but there is no way you can leave out randy rhoads. no way at all.. this man is perhaps one of the greatest guitar players to step foot on this planet and his dedication was amazing. taking lessons everywhere he went. constantly tryign to improve his playing.. that my friends is what you call a TRUE guitar player