I just think if you are a professional musician you should be able to read music. I've heard that SRV couldnt but he was also ungodly talanted which the guys in trivium and slipknot are not. And does phil collins even play an instrument?

And about the magazines, they arent always wrong and are a great source for interviews and lessons and that stuff, but if its one of there writers expressing their opinion it will most likley be retarded. I'm definetly 100% metal head but I probably listen to almost as much Al Di Meola as I do Randy Rhoads :p