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Tony Iommi onstage with
Heaven & Hell in 2009. Iommi is considered one of the most influential heavy metal guitarists.
This is a list of
heavy metal guitarists from the 1960s to the 2010s.
Heavy metal guitar players use highly-
amplified
electric guitar playing
[1] that is rooted in the guitar playing styles developed in 1960s-era
blues rock and
psychedelic rock .
[2] Metal guitar playing uses a massive sound, characterized by highly amplified
distortion , extended
guitar solos and overall
loudness . The
electric guitar and the sonic power that it projects through amplification has historically been the key element in heavy metal.
[3]
Heavy metal bands often have two electric guitarists, with one guitarist playing
rhythm guitar and one guitarist playing
lead guitar . The rhythm guitar player is part of the
rhythm section of the band, along with the
bass guitarist and the
drummer . The lead guitarist plays guitar solos, instrumental melody lines and
melodic fill passages . In
power trios , which consist of a guitarist, bassist and drummer, with one or more members singing
lead vocals , the single guitarist will switch between rhythm guitar and lead guitar roles as needed.
Only add names here if the person has their own article - anything else will be removed.
A
"Dimebag" Darrell Abbott (1966–2004) was killed by a gunman during a concert.
B
Ritchie Blackmore in Norway, 1977
Matt Bachand (
Shadows Fall )
Rob Barrett (
Cannibal Corpse ,
Malevolent Creation )
Zoltan Bathory (
Five Finger Death Punch )
Michael Angelo Batio (
Holland ,
Nitro )
Reb Beach (
Winger ,
Whitesnake ,
Dokken )
Corey Beaulieu (
Trivium )
Jason Becker (
Cacophony ,
David Lee Roth )
Nuno Bettencourt (
Extreme )
Jack Black (
Tenacious D )
Ritchie Blackmore (
Deep Purple ,
Rainbow ,
Blackmore's Night )
Doug Blair (
W.A.S.P )
Eric Bloom (
Blue Öyster Cult )
Fallon Bowman (
Kittie )
Mick Box (
Uriah Heep )
Vidoja Božinović (
Rok Mašina ,
Riblja Čorba )
Vito Bratta (
White Lion )
Chris Broderick (
Jag Panzer ,
Megadeth )
Michael Bruce (
Alice Cooper )
Amalie Bruun (
Myrkur )
Buckethead (
Deli Creeps , Giant Robot,
Colonel Claypool's Bucket of Bernie Brains ,
Praxis ,
Guns N' Roses )
Jordan Buckley (
Every Time I Die )
Adam Buszko (
Hate )
Glen Buxton (
Alice Cooper )
C
Phil Campbell of Motörhead playing at
Wacken Open Air 2013 with a Framus guitar
Eric Carlson (
The Mentors )
Ernie C (
Body Count )
Phil Campbell (
Motörhead )
Vivian Campbell (
Dio ,
Def Leppard ,
Thin Lizzy )
Jerry Cantrell (
Alice in Chains )
Stephen Carpenter (
Deftones )
Nick Catanese (
Black Label Society )
Max Cavalera (
Sepultura ,
Soulfly ,
Cavalera Conspiracy )
Carlos Cavazo (
Quiet Riot ,
Ratt )
Dino Cazares (
Fear Factory ,
Divine Heresy ,
Asesino ,
Brujeria )
Manny Charlton (
Nazareth )
David T. Chastain (
Chastain )
"Metal" Mike Chlasciak (
Halford ,
PainmuseuM ,
Testament ,
Sebastian Bach ,
Jim Breuer )
Zal Cleminson (Nazareth)
Janne JB Christoffersson (
Grand Magus )
Mike Church (
Still Remains )
Mike Clark (
No Mercy ,
Suicidal Tendencies )
Steve Clark (
Def Leppard )
Eddie Clarke (
Motörhead )
Gilby Clarke (
Guns N' Roses ,
Supernova )
Andy Classen (
Holy Moses )
Phil Collen (
Def Leppard )
Rusty Cooley
Korey Cooper (
Skillet )
Randy Cooper (
Texas Hippie Coalition )
Nicole Couch (
Phantom Blue )
Robbin Crosby (
Ratt )
Doc Coyle (
God Forbid )
Andrew Craighan (
My Dying Bride )
John Christ (
Danzig )
D
K.K. Downing , a former member of
Judas Priest , shown here in 1980
Jean-François Dagenais (
Ex Deo ,
Kataklysm )
Robert Dahlqvist (
The Hellacopters ,
Thunder Express )
D-Roc (
Body Count )
Mahyar Dean (
Angband )
Chris DeGarmo (
Queensrÿche )
Phil Demmel (
Machine Head )
Isaac Delahaye (
Epica ,
God Dethroned )
Warren DeMartini (
Ratt )
Britt "Lightning" Denaro (Jaded,
Vixen )
C. C. DeVille (
Poison )
Matt DeVries (
Chimaira )
Buck Dharma (
Blue Öyster Cult )
Jonathan Donais (
Shadows Fall )
Dan Donegan (
Disturbed )
K.K. Downing (
Judas Priest )
Ol Drake (
Evile )
Jake Dreyer (
Iced Earth ,
Witherfall ,
Kobra and the Lotus ,
White Wizzard )
Oscar Dronjak (
HammerFall ,
Ceremonial Oath )
Dennis "Seregor" Droomers (
Carach Angren )
Glen Drover (
Megadeth )
Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (
Venom )
Joe Duplantier (
Gojira ,
Empalot ,
Cavalera Conspiracy )
Adam Dutkiewicz (
Killswitch Engage )
E
F
While the majority of metal guitarists are men, there are notable women metal guitarists, such as
Lita Ford , who played in
The Runaways and as a solo act under her own name.
G
Gus G. (
Dream Evil ,
Firewind ,
Nightrage ,
Ozzy Osbourne )
Tracy G (
Dio )
Galder (
Dimmu Borgir ,
Old Man's Child )
Rory Gallagher (
Taste )
Mel Galley (
Whitesnake )
Anthony Gallo (
Suicidal Tendencies ,
Los Cycos ,
Nick Menza )
Enrik Garcia (
Dark Moor )
Janet Gardner (
Vixen )
Suzi Gardner (
L7 )
Kyle Gass (
Tenacious D )
Synyster Gates (
Avenged Sevenfold )
Bjorn Gelotte (
In Flames )
Rocky George (
Suicidal Tendencies )
Janick Gers (
Iron Maiden )
Walter Giardino (
Rata Blanca ,
V8 (band) )
Paul Gilbert (
Racer X ,
Mr. Big )
Brad Gillis (
Night Ranger ,
Ozzy Osbourne )
Hamish Glencross (
My Dying Bride )
Craig Goldy (
Dio ,
Giuffria )
Pier Gonella (
Mastercastle ,
Necrodeath )
Scott Gorham (
Thin Lizzy )
Roland Grapow (
Masterplan ,
Helloween )
Karl Groom (
Threshold )
Tracii Guns (
Guns N' Roses ,
L.A. Guns ,
Brides of Destruction ,
Contraband )
H
Jimi Hendrix performing on the Dutch television show
Hoepla in 1967
Kirk Hammett of
Metallica playing in Mexico in 2010
Sammy Hagar (
Montrose , Solo Artist,
Van Halen )
Shannon Hamm (
Death ,
Control Denied )
Kirk Hammett (
Metallica ,
Exodus )
Greg Handevidt (
Megadeth )
Michael Hankel (
Holy Moses )
Jeff Hanneman (
Slayer )
Kai Hansen (
Helloween ,
Iron Savior ,
Gamma Ray )
Mitch Harris (
Napalm Death ,
Goatlord ,
Defecation )
Dan Hawkins (
The Darkness ,
Stone Gods )
Justin Hawkins (
The Darkness ,
Hot Leg )
Matt Heafy (
Trivium )
Helmuth (
Belphegor )
Jimi Hendrix
James Hetfield (
Metallica )
Kenny Hickey (
Type O Negative )
hide (
X Japan )
Scotti Hill (
Skid Row )
Brent Hinds (
Mastodon )
Nick Hipa (
As I Lay Dying )
Hizaki (
Versailles )
Terrance Hobbs (
Suffocation )
Wolf Hoffmann (
Accept )
Chris Holmes (
W.A.S.P. )
Gary Holt (
Exodus )
Jason Hook (
Five Finger Death Punch )
Petr Hošek (
Root )
Dann Huff (
White Heart ,
Giant )
Scott Hull (
Pig Destroyer ,
Agoraphobic Nosebleed ,
Anal Cunt )
I
J
K
Kerry King playing with
Slayer
L
Alex Lifeson in concert with
Rush
M
Dave Murray , the guitarist for
Iron Maiden , playing in
San José in February 2008
Tony MacAlpine (
Planet X ,
Steve Vai )
Logan Mader (
Machine Head ,
Soulfly )
Jari Mäenpää (
Wintersun ,
Ensiferum )
Daron Malakian (
System of a Down ,
Scars On Broadway )
Yngwie Malmsteen (
Rising Force ,
Steeler ,
Alcatrazz )
Doug Marks (
Hawk, Metal Method )
Mick Mars (
Mötley Crüe )
Mauser (
Vader )
Jim Martin (
Faith No More ,
Voodoocult )
Lisa Marx (
Kittie )
Sergey Mavrin (
Aria )
Brian May (
Queen )
Tara McLeod (Kittie)
Michelle Meldrum (
Phantom Blue ,
Meldrum )
Chaq Mol (
Dark Funeral )
Micky Moody (
Whitesnake )
Gary Moore (
Thin Lizzy )
Vinnie Moore (
UFO ,
Alice Cooper )
Mark Morton (
Lamb of God )
Tom Morello (
Rage Against the Machine ,
Audioslave )
James Murphy (
Cancer ,
Death ,
Disincarnate ,
Testament )
Dave Murray (
Iron Maiden )
Dave Mustaine (
Megadeth ,
Metallica )
Dave Meniketti (
Y&T )
N
O
P
R
S
Michael Schenker in 1983
Dave "the Snake" Sabo (
Skid Row )
Scott LePage (
Polyphia )
David St. Hubbins (
Spinal Tap )
Mark St. John (
KISS )
Richie Sambora (
Bon Jovi )
Karl Sanders (
Nile )
Ralph Santolla (
Deicide )
Yağmur Sarıgül (
maNga )
Joe Satriani
Henri Sattler (
God Dethroned )
Dirk Sauer (
Edguy )
Jon Schaffer (
Iced Earth ,
Demons & Wizards )
Michael Schenker (
Scorpions ,
McAuley Schenker Group ,
Michael Schenker Group ,
UFO ,
Contraband )
Rudolf Schenker (
Scorpions )
Chuck Schuldiner (
Death ,
Control Denied ,
Voodoocult )
Troy Seele (
Iced Earth )
Seth (
Behemoth )
Phil Sgrosso (
As I Lay Dying )
Marcus Siepen (
Blind Guardian )
Silenoz (
Dimmu Borgir )
Joseph Simmons (
Morning Again )
Terji Skibenæs (
Týr )
Alex Skolnick (
Testament )
Skwisgaar Skwigelf (
Dethklok )
Slash (
Guns N' Roses ,
Slash's Snakepit ,
Velvet Revolver )
Adrian Smith (
Iron Maiden )
Steve Smyth (
Testament ,
Dragonlord ,
Nevermore )
Henri Sorvali (
Moonsorrow ,
Finntroll )
Donita Sparks (
L7 )
Dan Spitz (
Anthrax )
Mike Spreitzer (
DevilDriver )
Paul Stanley (
KISS )
Jack Starr (
Virgin Steele )
Bill Steer (
Carcass )
Jani Stefanovic (
Solution .45 , The Weakening,
Miseration ,
The Few Against Many )
Troy Stetina
Gina Stile (Poison Dollys, Envy,
Vixen )
Izzy Stradlin (
Guns N' Roses )
Dennis Stratton (
Iron Maiden )
Nita Strauss (
The Iron Maidens ,
Alice Cooper ,
Femme Fatale )
Nikki Stringfield (The Iron Maidens, Femme Fatale)
Joel Stroetzel (
Killswitch Engage )
Jesper Strömblad (
In Flames ,
Sinergy )
Sugizo (
X Japan )
Muhammed Suiçmez (
Necrophagist )
Niklas Sundin (
Dark Tranquility )
Andy Susemihl (
U.D.O. ,
Sinner ,
Bangalore Choir )
Steve Swanson (
Six Feet Under ,
Massacre )
John Sykes (
Whitesnake ,
Thin Lizzy ,
Tygers of Pan Tang )
Syu (
Galneryus )
T
Glenn Tipton is the guitarist for
Judas Priest . This photo is from 1984.
V
Eddie Van Halen was a
shred guitar innovator whose virtuostic
guitar solo on the song "
Eruption " had a major impact on metal guitar. This picture is from 1977.
Steve Vai (
Devin Townsend ,
Whitesnake ,
Alcatrazz ,
David Lee Roth ,
Frank Zappa )
Adrian Vandenberg (
Vandenberg ,
Whitesnake ,
Manic Eden )
Eddie Van Halen (
Van Halen )
Zacky Vengeance (
Avenged Sevenfold )
Morten Veland (
Sirenia )
Tommy Victor (
Prong ,
Danzig ,
Ministry )
Varg Vikernes (
Burzum )
Vinnie Vincent (
KISS ,
Vinnie Vincent Invasion )
Fernando von Arb (
Krokus )
Emppu Vuorinen (
Nightwish ,
Altaria )
W
Y
Angus Young from the Australian band
AC/DC
Z
See also
References
^ Weinstein (2000), pp. 14, 118.
^ Fast (2005), pp. 89–91; Weinstein (2000), pp. 7, 8, 23, 36, 103, 104.
^ Weinstein (2000), p. 23