Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee, Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne)
C.C DeVille (Poison) (don't laugh... He's written Hit after Hit after Hit and has an ear for melodies)
Kirk Hammet/James Hetfield (Metallica)
Yngwie J. Malmsteen (Rising Force)
Ritchie Blacmore (Deep Purple)
Toni Iomie (Black Sabbath-again hit after hit)
Instrumentalists
Steve Vai
Joe Satriani
Eric Johnson
Yngwie J. Malmsteen (I also had to list hime here as well)
(I'd list more instrumentalists but these are the top with most radio airplay of their genre)
I guess when it all comes down to it who's the best songwriters etc. (Forget about media hype wich can brainwash people) everybody has different oppinions.
I started learning guitar because of Randy Rhoads..but Yngwie J. Malmsteen is my biggest influence.
