Best Metal Guitarist

It seem to me that a LOT of people here haven't really listened to that much metal. If all you can come up with is Kirk Hammet, Zakk Wylde, etc, I don't see how you can have listened to too much metal.

Some of the best metal gutiarists I can think off:

Joe Stump (Joe Stump's Reign of Terror, Shooting Hemlock, etc)
Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force, Steeler, Alcatrazz)
Tony Macalpine (Ring of Fire)
George Bellas (Ring of Fire)
Luca Turilli (Rhapsody)
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
David T. Chastain (eh, he's chastain, what can i say)
Michael Angelo/Batio (Nitro, solo work)
Rusty Cooley (Revolution, Outworld)
Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big)
Jason Becker (Cacophony)
Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth)

And these are only a FEW.

As much as I like Vinnie Moore, I'm always slightly hesitant to classify him as a metal guitarist. He's only done a few things with metal bands.

Also, one that I can't believe I forgot:

Chris Impellitteri, this guy is the man, gets very little credit though

Eh, Impellitteri may be sloppy, but he doesn't play like anyon else I know (although some of his arpeggios remind me of Michael Angelo's). I think Rob Johnson or Impellitteri licks sound good even if they are a bit sloppy :P

And even if he is sloppy, he still beats the hell out of any popular metal bands in the US.

1. Zakk Wylde
2. Dimebag
3. James Hetfield
4. Kirk Hammett
5. Kerry King
6. Dan Donegan (Underrated)
7. Mick Thomson (Mick 7 from Slipknot)
8. Head
9. Munky
10. James Root (Jim 4 from Slipknot)

I don't care what you say about anyone on this list not being "technically great" guitar players. Their stuff sounds damn good and they all have decent recordings but are really great live performers.

Ok I just gotta chime in here....
First I can understand the first one, and MAYBE even the second one. I can even understand number 5, but DAMN dude, if you think the rest are actually worthy, RUN!, don't walk, to your nearest CD retailer and bone up on some REAL guitarists. Old Riff-o-matic Kirk Hampster doesn't deserve the list because his crap is more sterile than a damn hospital. Of course you know anyone that calls themselves "Head" and "Munky" can't do much more than chug out some low tuned 5th chords. And why do they play Low? BECAUSE it's harder to hear when you fuk up a note.... It's true, it's true. Come on, my can opener is more creative than they are. Also just what the hell is this adding a number after a name thing? I just don't understand....
Why the hell Jim 4, and not just "Jim"? Is he like the forth incarnation of himself, and if that is so, why not 4.0?
OK my worthy list would consist of, but not in any particular order:
1. Neil Zaza
2. Steve Vai (of course)
3. Nuno Bettencourt
4. Good ol' Satch
5. George Lynch
6. Tony McAlpine
7. Vinnie Moore (yes, I am old enough to remember his Pepsi Commercial)
8. Vernon Reid
9. Paul Gilbert
10. Marty Friedman
11. Jason Becker

agreed hairband. Slipknot, dude? UGH...

What's wrong with Zakk??? I only ofund about this guy two weeks ago and ****!!! I love this guy's aggressive sounding approach. His tone and pinch harmonics are just awesome. Suits my tastes perfectly.

1. Neil Zaza
2. Steve Vai (of course)
3. Nuno Bettencourt
4. Good ol' Satch
5. George Lynch
6. Tony McAlpine
7. Vinnie Moore (yes, I am old enough to remember his Pepsi Commercial)
8. Vernon Reid
9. Paul Gilbert
10. Marty Friedman
11. Jason Becker

Admittedly this list is a lot better than the other ones in this thread, but a couple things.

Neil Zaza, Steve Vai, Satriani? They're good guitarists, but they only briefly played metal at all.

Also, for fans of Tony Macalpine and Vinnie Moore, I have good news sort of. I HEARD that we might be getting their album pretty soon (they've been working on one together for a while).

I also think that Mattias Eklundh needs some kind of mention. His technical skills don't shine out amongst metal shredders like Rusty Cooley, Tony Macalpine, etc, but he is very original, especially for a metal band.

Well you just gotta realize my list comes from a time when that WAS metal guitar playing. Yeah it may be more poppish by todays standards but they STILL rock.