Mark Tremonti.
The man plays music the way it was meant to be played... from the heart. He's like the great blues musicians who put so much soul into their music, but he can also shred his ass off... I've seen it. He's the guy that bridges the gap between the greats of yesterday and today. He's changed the way I look at the guitar, completely, because he plays like no one else can. He should definetely be above 50 on that list, at least.
By the way, I forget who it was, but a few pages back someone was complaining about jack white not sounding like his influences. I'd just like to say... why should he? Just because they influenced him to pick up a guitar and learn to play, doesn't mean he should sound like them. Mark Tremonti has said that his all time favorite guitarist/greatest influence is SRV. You don't hear it in his tone or style or any of that. But if you look deeper, you realize he plays with the same amount of emotion. Maybe that's the sort of thing Jack White does, and you just haven't realized it? By the way, I'm not trying to say "you're ignorant, don't post...." etc., I'm just trying to point out that there are many ways to be influenced... I'll shut up now.
No, I won't. Kurt Cobain's name should be about as attached to that list as his head is to the rest of his body. Sorry for those of you who like him, but he really couldn't play guitar that well. Oh wait, do I hear that SAME progression ALL OVER again? how unique.
