mine would probably have to be Michael Romeo. this guy is supremely talented and skilled. i saw him live and he just blew everybody away. he's never mentioned by anyone, which i now think is criminal.
also my list would have to include:
Kai Hansen
Marty Friedman
Jennifer Batten
Joe Stump
The Guy from Manowar, i can't remember his name
Luca Turilli
Uli Jon Roth
To improve technique and of course trying to keep all as clean as possible. I know my own limits and speed limits and so on I never play anything I'm not capable of. That wouldn't make any sense. After three years of playing I tried to play everything as fast as possible and that sounded, I would say, like shit, and I didn't realize that if I'd play bit slower things than I was capable of playing then everything would sound much better.
--Aleksi Laiho - Advice to Play By
--Aleksi Laiho - Advice to Play By
