My Favorite Rock/Metal Guitarists
by Mewsdragonball | created - 16 Jun 2020 | updated - 12 Nov 2022 | Public
1. Eric Clapton
Soundtrack | Lethal Weapon 3
Eric Clapton was born in Ripley, Surrey, England, on March 30, 1945. His real father was a Canadian pilot but he didn't find that out until he was 53. When he was 2 his mother felt she was unable to look after him, so Eric then went to live with his grandparents. When he was 14 he took up the ...
The Yardbirds, Cream, Blind Faith, solo career, Derek & The Dominos
2. George Harrison
Actor | A Hard Day's Night
A master musician, a film producer and actor, best known as the lead guitarist and occasionally lead vocalist of The Beatles, George Harrison was born February 25, 1943, in Liverpool, Merseyside, England. He was also the youngest of four children, born to Harold Harrison and Louise Harrison.
Like ...
The Beatles, The Traveling Wilburys, solo career
3. Tom Morello
Soundtrack | Real Steel
Tom Morello was born on May 30, 1964 in New York city. He has become an influential guitarist due to his work with Rage Against The Machine in the 1990s. Tom got his Social Studies degree from Harvard and went to L.A to start a band. He briefly played guitarist for a band named Lock Up with fellow ...
Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave, Prophets of Rage, The Nightwatchman
4. Kirk Hammett
Soundtrack | Jungle Cruise
Hammett was born in San Francisco, California on November 18, 1962, to Teofila (Oyao) and Dennis L. Hammett, a merchant seaman. He learned guitar at age 15 and joined Metallica to replace Dave Mustaine in 1982. He has won several Grammys with Metallica and participated in their class action law ...
Metallica
5. Joe Perry
Soundtrack | Armageddon
As co-founding member, principal co-songwriter, electrifying lead guitarist and co-producer of Aerosmith--America's Greatest Rock & Roll Band--Joe has achieved permanent iconic stature in the pantheon of rock. He has helped to drive his band, over the course of three decades, to sales of more than ...
Aerosmith, The Joe Perry Project, Hollywood Vampires
6. Carlos Santana
Soundtrack | La Bamba
Carlos Santana is a Mexican guitarist, composer, singer and band-leader who helped to shape the concept of "world music" by his experiments with blending many styles of music from a multitude of ethnic sources.
He was born Carlos Augusto Alves Santana on July 20, 1947, in Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco,...
Santana
7. Neal Schon
Soundtrack | Independent Lens
Neal Schon was born in Midwest City, Oklahoma on February 27th, 1954 to Matthew and Barbara Schon. Neal dropped out of school when he was 15 to join Carlos Santana's rock group Santana. Four years later Carlos Santana and his band split up, so Neal and Gregg Rolie formed Journey. Journey released ...
Santana, Journey, Bad English
8. Tommy Shaw
Soundtrack | Armageddon
Tommy Shaw was born on September 11, 1953 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Armageddon (1998), Tommy Boy (1995) and Encino Man (1992). He has been married to Jeanne Mason since December 28, 2000. He was previously married to Pamela Donnelly and "Cuppy" Enders.
Styx, Damn Yankees, Shaw Blades
9. Ace Frehley
Actor | Detroit Rock City
Former lead guitarist for hard rock super group KISS, best known for his "space ace" character, on stage stagger, cackling laugh and smoking guitar effects. Frehley was born Paul Daniel Frehley on April 27th, 1951 in The Bronx, New York City and received his first electric guitar at age 14. A ...
KISS, Frehley's Comet, solo career
10. Billy Gibbons
Soundtrack | Battleship
Billy Gibbons was born on December 16, 1949 in Houston, Texas, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Battleship (2012), Armageddon (1998) and The Perfect Storm (2000). He has been married to Gilligan Gibbons since December 14, 2005.
ZZ Top, Moving Sidewalks, Billy Gibbons and the BFG's
11. Jeff Beck
Soundtrack | Pirate Radio
Jeff Beck was born in Surrey in 1944. He grew up in a suburban street in Carshalton. When he was about 10, he wanted to play the guitar. His mum, however, wanted him to play the piano because she didn't approve of the guitar. When he was in his late teens, he joined "The Tridents" on lead guitar. ...
The Yardbirds, Jeff Beck Group, solo career
12. David Gilmour
Soundtrack | Pink Floyd: The Wall
David Jon Gilmour was born on 6th March, 1946, in Grantchester Meadows, Cambridge. As the lead guitarist of Pink Floyd, he is by many considered one of the most influential guitarists on the rock stage. Right up to "The Dark Side of The Moon", Dave wrote his own songs, but from then up to "The ...
Pink Floyd, solo career
13. Jimmy Page
Soundtrack | The Song Remains the Same
Jimmy Page was born on January 9, 1944 in Heston, Middlesex, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for The Song Remains the Same (1976), Godzilla (1998) and The Adam Project (2022). He was previously married to Jimena Gomez-Paratcha, Patricia Ecker and Charlotte Martin.
Led Zeppelin, The Firm, The Yardbirds
14. Brian May
Soundtrack | Flash Gordon
Brian May is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential, innovative, technically gifted and recognisable guitarists in the history of rock. He is also a prolific songwriter, responsible for writing or co-writing many international hits with Queen. He was educated at Hampton Grammar School ...
Queen, The Brian May Band
15. Prince
Soundtrack | Under the Cherry Moon
Prince Rogers Nelson was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Mattie Shaw, a jazz singer and social worker, and John L. Nelson, a lyricist and pianist. His father's stage name was "Prince Rogers". His parents were both from African-American families from Louisiana. They separated during his youth, ...
16. Edward Van Halen
Soundtrack | Twister
Edward Van Halen was a musician who along with his brother Alex Van Halen, and Michael Anthony and David Lee Roth, formed the band Van Halen in the early '70s, with Eddie on guitar, Alex on drums, Michael on bass and David on vocals. The band had different members over the years, but the core (...
Van Halen
17. Vivian Campbell
Soundtrack | Highlander II: The Quickening
Has been with the band since 1992 when the original guitarist, Steve Clark, died in early 1991. Has two daughters, Lily Rose and Una Marigold, with wife Jewels Has played guitar for the Rock 'n' Roll band 'White Snake' and other Rock 'n' Roll groups.
Dio, Def Leppard, Last in Line
18. Janick Gers
Soundtrack | Drugaí Marú II
Janick Gers was born on January 27, 1957 in Hartlepool, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Drugaí Marú II, Top of the Pops (1964) and Iron Maiden: Flight 666 (2009). He is married to Sandra. They have two children.
Iron Maiden
19. Ritchie Blackmore
Soundtrack | Point Break
Ritchie Blackmore was born on April 14, 1945 in Weston Super Mare, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Point Break (1991), Twister (1996) and Almost Famous (2000). He has been married to Candice Night since October 2008. They have one child. He was previously married to Amy Rothman, ...
Deep Purple, Rainbow
20. Adrian Smith
Soundtrack | Chemical Wedding
Adrian Smith was born on February 27, 1957 in England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Chemical Wedding (2008), Drugaí Marú II and Top of the Pops (1964). He has been married to Nathalie Dufresne since October 21, 1988. They have three children.
Iron Maiden
21. Dave Mustaine
Soundtrack | Last Action Hero
Dave Mustaine was born on September 13, 1961 in La Mesa, California, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Last Action Hero (1993), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997). He has been married to Pamela Anne Casselberry since March 3, 1991. They have two children.
Megadeth
22. Dave Murray
Soundtrack | Chemical Wedding
Dave Murray was born on December 23, 1956 in Edmunton, London, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Chemical Wedding (2008), Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Time Tour, Brasil (Bootleg) (2008) and Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back in Chile (2008). He has been married to Tamar Murray since ...
Iron Maiden
23. Glenn Tipton
Soundtrack | Godzilla vs. Kong
Glenn Tipton was born on October 25, 1947 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Godzilla vs. Kong (2021), Adventureland (2009) and Bride of Chucky (1998).
Judas Priest
24. John Petrucci
Producer | Dream Theater: Breaking the Fourth Wall
John Peter Petrucci was born on July 12, 1967 in Long Island, New York, USA. He is best known as guitarist, composer, lyricist and producer of the progressive metal band Dream Theater, which he founded in 1985 together with drummer Mike Portnoy and bassist John Myung while they attended the Berklee...
Dream Theater
25. Tony Iommi
Soundtrack | Iron Man
Tony Iommi was born on February 19, 1948 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Iron Man (2008), Suicide Squad (2016) and Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 (2000). He has been married to Maria Sjöholm since 1999.
Black Sabbath, solo career
26. Slash
Soundtrack | Barbie
Saul Hudson, mainly known as Slash, was born on July 23, 1965, and was raised in Stoke-on-Trent. Both his parents worked in the entertainment business, his mother being a clothing designer (she did some of David Bowie's costumes) and his father being an art director for a record company. When Slash...
Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver, Slash's Snakepit, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
27. Adam Jones
Special_effects | Jurassic Park
Adam Jones was born on January 15, 1965 in Libertyville, Illinois, USA. He is a composer and director, known for Jurassic Park (1993), Escape from L.A. (1996) and Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991).
TOOL
28. Billy Howerdel
Soundtrack | Resident Evil: Afterlife
Billy Howerdel was born on May 18, 1970 in West Milford, New Jersey, USA. He is a composer and writer, known for Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010), The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009) and Underworld (2003).
A Perfect Circle
29. Mark Tremonti
Soundtrack | The Skulls
Mark Thomas Tremonti was born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 18, 1974. He started playing the guitar at 11. Marks first guitar was an imitation Les Paul that cost only $25. When Mark was 16 his family moved to Florida where he began attending Lake Highland Preparatory school. It was at this time ...
Creed, Alter Bridge, Tremonti
30. Kurt Cobain
Soundtrack | The Batman
Kurt Cobain was born on February 20 1967, in Aberdeen, Washington. Kurt and his family lived in Hoquiam for the first few months of his life then later moved back to Aberdeen, where he had a happy childhood until his parents divorced. The divorce left Kurt's outlook on the world forever scarred. He...
Nirvana
31. Kim Thayil
Soundtrack | Say Anything...
Kim Thayil was born on September 4, 1960 in Renton, Washington, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Say Anything (1989), The Basketball Diaries (1995) and Pump Up the Volume (1990).
Soundgarden
32. Stone Gossard
Soundtrack | Out of the Furnace
Stone was born in Seattle to lawyer parents. He has two sisters, Shelly and Star. He went to a really preppie artsy school with former bandmate Steve Turner (Green River) of Mudhoney. One of the founders of the "Seattle Music Scene", Stone started in a band called The Ducky Boys and later became ...
Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog, Green River, Mother Love Bone
33. Mike McCready
Soundtrack | Out of the Furnace
Mike McCready was born on April 5, 1966 in Pensacola, Florida, USA. He is a composer and actor, known for Out of the Furnace (2013), 50/50 (2011) and Almost Famous (2000). He has been married to Ashley since 2005. They have one child.
Pearl Jam, Mad Season, Temple of the Dog
34. Billie Joe Armstrong
Soundtrack | The Simpsons Movie
Billie Joe Armstrong was born in Piedmont, California, a small town surrounded by the city of Oakland, and was raised in Rodeo, California, the youngest of six children of Ollie (Jackson) and Andrew "Andy" Marsicano Armstrong. His father worked as a jazz musician and truck driver for Safeway Inc. ...
Green Day
35. Mick Jones
Soundtrack | Grosse Pointe Blank
Mick Jones was born on June 26, 1955 in Clapham, London, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Die Another Day (2002) and 500 Days of Summer (2009).
The Clash, Big Audio Dynamite
36. Johnny Ramone
Soundtrack | Spider-Man: Homecoming
Johnny Ramone was born John William Cummings in Queens, New York. He went to be the guitar player for the Ramones, alongside Jeffrey Hyman and Douglas Colvin (later Joey Ramone and Dee Dee Ramone). They also hired Thomas Erdelyi (later Tommy Ramone) as drummer. Tommy disbanded in 1978 and asked ...
Ramones
37. Marty Friedman
Soundtrack | Mortal Kombat: Annihilation
Marty Friedman was born on December 8, 1962 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Mortal Kombat: Annihilation (1997), Universal Soldier: The Return (1999) and Kamen Rider Movie War Mega Max: Kamen Rider vs. Kamen Rider Fourze & OOO (2011).
Megadeth
38. Angus Young
Soundtrack | School of Rock
Angus Young was born on March 31, 1955 in Glasgow, Scotland. At school, Angus was an unenthusiastic student. His only real academic interest was art which allowed him some freedom of expression. He gave up school at 15 and went to work for a soft porn magazine called Ribald as a printer. But his ...
AC/DC
39. Keith Richards
Soundtrack | Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Keith Richards is an internationally recognized iconic figure in contemporary culture and popular music as a singer, guitar player, songwriter, film actor, and public figure. He was voted 10th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone Magazine, and was elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of ...
The Rolling Stones, solo career, X-Pensive Winos
40. Yngwie Malmsteen
Actor | Yngwie Malmsteen: I'll See the Light Tonight
Yngwie Malmsteen was born on June 30, 1963 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. He is an actor and composer, known for Yngwie Malmsteen: I'll See the Light Tonight (1985), Yngwie Malmsteen: You Don't Remember, I'll Never Forget (1986) and Yngwie Malmsteen: Heaven Tonight (1988). He is married to ...
Steeler, Alcatrazz, Yngwie Malmsteen's Rising Force
41. Duane Allman
Self | Untitled Allman Brothers/Nick Cassavetes Project
Duane Allman was born in Nashville, Tennessee in November 1946. On Christmas Day in 1960, Duane was given a motorcycle as a gift while his younger brother, Gregg Allman, got a guitar. A few months later, Duane wrecked his motorcycle in an accident, but traded in the spare parts for a guitar of his ...
The Allman Brothers Band, Derek and the Dominos
42. Steve Jones
Soundtrack | The A-Team
Stephen Philip Jones, was born on September 3rd, 1955 in West London. His real father, an amateur boxer, named Don Jarvis left Steve and his mother when he was just two years old. Sometime later his Step-father arrived on the scene, for a time, Steve lived in a house with his parents and ...
Sex Pistols, The Professionals
43. Jerry Cantrell
Actor | Jerry Maguire
Jerry Cantrell is an American musician best known as the founder, lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist and main songwriter for the Seattle Rock band Alice in Chains since 1987. The band was part of the Grunge movement and is known for the unique vocal harmonies between Cantrell and Layne Staley, and ...
Alice in Chains
44. John Frusciante
Soundtrack | Stealth
John Anthony Frusciante was born on March 5, 1970, in New York. He became interested in rock music at an early age. After his parents divorced, John and his mother moved to California when he was seven. When he was nine, his stepfather offered him his first acoustic guitar.
John taught himself how ...
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Trickfinger, solo career
45. Omar Rodriguez-Lopez
Composer | Amalia
Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is known for Amalia (2018), Los Chidos (2012) and El Divino Influjo de los Secretos (2013).
Antemasque, At the Drive-In, The Mars Volta, solo career
46. Alex Lifeson
Soundtrack | The Double
Alex Lifeson is best known as the broadly-skilled guitarist for the rock group Rush, which also features drummer Neil Peart and bassist Geddy Lee. Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records ...
Rush
47. Greg Ginn
Soundtrack | Repo Man
Greg Ginn was born on June 8, 1954 in Tucson, Arizona, USA. He is an actor and composer, known for Repo Man (1984), Boss Level (2020) and The Pelican Brief (1993).
Black Flag, Minutemen
48. Jimi Hendrix
Soundtrack | Woodstock
Widely regarded as the greatest and most influential guitarist in rock history, Jimi Hendrix was born on November 27, 1942 in Seattle, Washington, to African-American parents Lucille (Jeter) and James Allen Hendrix. His mother named him John Allen Hendrix and raised him alone while his father, Al ...
The Jimi Hendrix Experience, solo career
49. Andy Summers
Soundtrack | Copycat
Andy Summers was born on December 31, 1942 in Poulton-le-Fylde, Lancashire, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Copycat (1995), The Medallion (2003) and Down and Out in Beverly Hills (1986). He is married to Kate Summers. They have three children. He was previously married to Robin ...
The Police
50. Gary Rossington
Soundtrack | Crimson Tide
Gary Rossington was born on December 4, 1951 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. He was an actor, known for Crimson Tide (1995), Con Air (1997) and Forrest Gump (1994). He was married to Dale Krantz-Rossington and Martha Claire Millen. He died on March 5, 2023 in the USA.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington Collins Band, The Rossington Band
51. Jeff Lynne
Soundtrack | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Jeff Lynne was born on December 30, 1947 in Birmingham, England, UK. He is an actor and composer, known for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Super 8 (2011) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017). He has been married to Camelia Lynne since September 19, 2017. He was previously married to ...
The Move, Electric Light Orchestra, The Traveling Wilburys, solo career
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