inspiring guitarists {discuss}

Watched the Metallica DVD "Some kind of Monster" that documents the making of the album St Anger.

There is a moment in the video where metallica guitarist Kirk Hammet debates with the rest of the band that not putting in a guitar solo dates the record to this current period of musical history while putting in a guitar solo dates it to a previous musical point in history.

I discussed this with a friend last night and we raised the following dicsussion.

When we where growing up there was guitars / bands with guitars that you where a bit young to really know, but re-visited because they where that good.

Look at Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck Queen Brian may - totally different styles but all inspriing, and incidentally - not all fast fingers.

Then there was the bands that where "the ones" when we where growing up,

G'N'R - slash
Metallica - Kirk Hammet
Aerosmith (could also be rated as older) Joe Perry
Faith No More - Kim Thaieale (spelling - sorry)
Bon Jovi - Riche Sambora
Eddie Van Halen
Steve Vai
Extreme - Nuno

again - all these did killer guitar parts and some stunning solos, inspriing.

Now looking at the current music crop, I can't think of a guitarist that inspires me in the same way these guys did, there appear to be no killer solos, no killer licks

Noel Galagher appears to inspire on his style and fills but his actual guitar technique / playing is quite basic

Damien Rice inspires in how to really get a good sound out of an acoustic but its not really the same thing as having a guitarist who you think - wow that blew me away.

There also appears to be few guitar gods like Steve Vai (although I never really got in to him) appearing.

Whos around now thats inspriing ?

Zakk Wylde still shreds it with the best dude, Tom morrelo is still teching me how many different sounds you can get out of a guitar. The guys from lamb of god lay down some awe inspiring riff's aswell.

As for guitarists that have inspired me when I was getting into playing, Dimebag wins that hands down, the man had it all :(

James Hetfield from Metallica is one I rate, higher that Hammett infact, I prefer his playing and I model mine on his more than Kirk's.

Ergo, I prefer Rhythm playing, but can play lead if necessary.

I don't think theres a lack of new inspiring talent theese days, I expect it'll just take a few years before its really appreciated.

Lamb of God have awesome stuff as Knoxville said, as do Children of Bodom and Trivium, hopefully in a few years theese 3 will be an inspiration to people :)

I somehow thought dimebag would cut the rug for your knox.

I'd forgot about Zak - good call,

I'm sure there is talnet coming through - but I just don't see it at this moment.