Creating a list of the top heavy metal guitarists is a difficult task and while this list may irritate some, there is no doubt as to the influence of each of them. Depending on the genre of heavy metal you are into, these guitarists each contributed in different ways, whether it is classical, death, glam, blues or any type of metal.
I cringe a bit at putting up a list of the best heavy metal guitarists when the pool to choose from is so vast. The problem comes because of the huge number of styles and sub-genres involved. Your choices depend on your style and who you listen to, whether it be glam, doom, progressive, classic or any other type heavy metal group. So, for the short list of the best heavy metal guitarists, here goes...
Tony Iommi - Black Sabbath
Introduced at a concert as "the man who invented the heavy metal riff", Iommi is a legend and original member of Black Sabbath. He plays keyboards and flute as well as guitar and has been associated with other groups including Jethro Tull, Heaven & Hell, Mythology and Necromandus.
Jimmy Page - Led Zeppelin
Page began his career as a studio session guitarist before he founded Led Zeppelin in 1968. He has been described as "one of the all-time most influential, important, and versatile guitarists and songwriters in rock history". His inspiration to begin playing guitar was the song "Baby Let's Play House" by Elvis Presley.
Kirk Hammett - Metallica
Also dubbed one of the best heavy metal guitarists by Rolling Stone magazine, Kirk Hammett is both musician and songwriter. Hammett is known for always having his picking hand taped up, due to constantly palm muting and fast picking, when on tour.
Eddie Van Halen - Van Halen
Eddie Van Halen is known for his innovative tapping, rapid guitar playing and high frequency feedback. Along with the guitar, he is a keyboardist, songwriter and producer. He once claimed that he had learned all of Eric Clapton's guitar solos "note for note" by the time he was 14 years old. Along with Eric Clapton, Van Halen says his main influence was Jimmy Page "who was more the way I am, in a reckless abandon kind of way."
Randy Rhoads - Ozzy Osbourne
After Rhoads originated the group Quiet Riot at the age of 16, he paired up with Ozzy in 1979 to form Ozzy Osbourne. After a successful career with Ozzy, he mentioned to the group in the 1980s that he wanted to leave the group for several years so he could study classical guitar at UCLA. After Rhoads death in 1982, Ozzy stated that had he lived, he did not think that Rhoads would have stayed with the band.
Angus Young - AC/DC
Young is best known for his wild and energetic performances and is definetely one of the best heavy metal guitarists of all time. He was 18 when he and his brother formed AC/DC. Young tried out several stage costumes including a gorilla suit, Zorro and Spider-man before he settled on his school boy look. Young has been an influence on such groups as Guns N' Roses, Slayer, Metallica and Def Leppard.
While far from being a complete list of the best heavy metal guitarists, there is no doubt that these artists have had a huge impact on the heavy metal industry.
What is Heavy Metal Music?
Heavy Metal Music developed in the late 1960s from rock music and in the last 40 years has emerged not only into its own genre, but a complete culture, as well. It has broken off into dozens of sub-genres and has gained worldwide popularity with its unique style.
Christian Heavy Metal – The Rise of White Metal
Christian heavy metal is a type of heavy metal that describes, not a genre or sub-set of classic heavy metal, but a mix of all types of metal that contain Christian lyrics and themes. It came into existence in the late 1970’s, gained massive popularity during the 1980’s, went underground in the 1990’s and has finally been revived in the 2000’s.
Exploring the Diverse World of Heavy Metal Subgenres
Heavy metal, a genre that has evolved and branched out into numerous subgenres, offers a rich tapestry of musical styles. Each subgenre is distinguished by unique characteristics such as tempo, vocal delivery, instrumentation, lyrical content, and the intricacies of drumming and guitar work. From the progenitors of the genre to the latest innovations, heavy metal continues to captivate audiences with its intensity and diversity.
