List of 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 (Pantera, Damageplan, Rebel Meets Rebel)
- Willie Adler (Lamb of God)
- Lord Ahriman (Dark Funeral)
- Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)
- Mike Albert (Megadeth)
- Jimmy Allen (Against All Will)
- Paul Allender (Cradle of Filth)
- Lee Altus (Exodus)
- Christopher Amott (Arch Enemy)
- Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass, Spiritual Beggars)
- Nicke Andersson - (The Hellacopters)
- Ole Petter Andreassen (Thulsa Doom, The Cumshots)
- Phil Anselmo (Arson Anthem)
- Faraz Anwar (Dusk)
- Rob Arnold (Chimaira)
- Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel)
- Antti Kokko (Kalmah)
- Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
B
- 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)
- Vidoja Božinović (Rok Mašina, Riblja Čorba)
- Vito Bratta (White Lion)
- Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer, Megadeth)
- Michael Bruce (Alice Cooper
- 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
- 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)
- David T. Chastain (Chastain)
- 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)
- Robbin Crosby (Ratt)
- Doc Coyle (God Forbid)
- Andrew Craighan (My Dying Bride)
- John Christ (Danzig)
D
- 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)
- Michael Denner (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond)
- Isaac Delahaye (Epica, God Dethroned)
- Warren DeMartini (Ratt)
- C. C. DeVille (Poison)
- Matt DeVries (Chimaira)
- Buck Dharma (Blue Öyster Cult)
- Jonathan Donais (Shadows Fall)
- Dan Donegan (Disturbed)
- K.K. Downing (Judas Priest)
- Matt Drake (Evile)
- Ol Drake (Evile)
- Oscar Dronjak (HammerFall, Ceremonial Oath)
- Glen Drover (Megadeth)
- Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (Venom)
- Joe Duplantier (Gojira, Cavalera Conspiracy)
- Adam Dutkiewicz (Killswitch Engage)
E
- Evan K (solo artist, Cypecore)
- Mattias "IA" Eklundh (Freak Kitchen, Jonas Hellborg)
- Dani Evans (Alestorm)
- Grant Estes (Suicidal Tendencies, Hostage, AgainST)
F
- Richie Faulkner (Judas Priest)
- John 5 (Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie)
- Henrik Flyman (Evil Masquerade, Moahni Moahna, Lacrimosa)
- Robb Flynn (Machine Head)
- Lita Ford
- Herman Frank (Accept, Victory)
- Ace Frehley (KISS)
- Jay Jay French (Twisted Sister)
- Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth)
- Simon Füllemann (Cataract)
G
- Gus G. (Dream Evil, Firewind, Nightrage, Ozzy Osbourne)
- Tracy G (Dio)
- Anthony Gallo (Suicidal Tendencies, Los Cycos, Nick Menza)
- Galder (Dimmu Borgir, Old Man's Child)
- Enrik Garcia (Dark Moor)
- 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)
H
- 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
- Scott Ian (Anthrax, Damnocracy)
- Chris Impellitteri (Impellitteri)
- Infernus (Gorgoroth, Borknagar)
- Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
- Anders Iwers (Ceremonial Oath)
J
- Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
- Heri Joensen (Týr)
- Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation)
- Adam Jones (Tool)
- Håvard Jørgensen (Ulver, Satyricon)
- Janick Gers (Iron Maiden)
K
- Ben Kasica (Skillet)
- The Great Kat
- Pepper Keenan (Down, Corrosion of Conformity)
- Bill Kelliher (Mastodon, Lethargy, Today Is the Day)
- Mark Kendall (Great White)
- Jeff Kendrick (DevilDriver)
- Wacław Kiełtyka (Decapitated, Vader)
- Kerry King (Slayer, Megadeth)
- Andreas Kisser (Sepultura)
- Richie Kotzen (Mr. Big, Poison, The Winery Dogs)
- Richard Z. Kruspe (Rammstein, Emigrate)
- Gábor Kukovecz (Pokolgép)
- Alexander Kuoppala (Children of Bodom)
- Kaiser Kuo (Tang Dynasty)
L
- Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
- Morgan Lander (Kittie)
- Paul Landers (Rammstein)
- Allen Lanier (Blue Öyster Cult)
- Andy LaRoque (King Diamond, Death)
- Roope Latvala (Children of Bodom, Sinergy)
- Blackie Lawless (W.A.S.P., Sister)
- Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne, Badlands, Ratt, Rough Cutt)
- Frédéric Leclercq (DragonForce)
- Helmuth Lehner (Belphegor)
- Herman Li (DragonForce)
- Alex Lifeson (Rush)
- Peter Lindgren (Opeth)
- Petri Lindroos (Ensiferum, Norther)
- Sead Lipovača (Divlje Jagode)
- Wojtek Lisicki (Lost Horizon)
- Michael Locher (Samael)
- Pete Loeffler (Chevelle)
- Karl Logan (Manowar)
- Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
- Jens Ludwig (Edguy)
- Steve Lukather (Toto)
- Ahrue Luster (Machine Head)
- George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob)
M
- 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)
- Chaq Mol (Dark Funeral)
- Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
- Vinnie Moore (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
- Dávid Nagy (Pokolgép)
- Nergal (Behemoth)
- Jon Nelson (Suicidal Tendencies, Nasty Habits)
- Kristian Niemann (Therion, Demonoid)
- Pontus Norgren (HammerFall, The Poodles)
- John Norum (Europe, Dokken)
O
- Pat O'Brien (Cannibal Corpse, Slayer)
- Anders Odden (Cadaver)
- Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister)
- André Olbrich (Blind Guardian)
- Criss Oliva (Savatage)
- Orianthi (Michael Jackson, Alice Cooper)
- Buzz Osborne (The Melvins, Fantômas, Venomous Concept)
- Jack Owen (Deicide, Cannibal Corpse)
P
- Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
- Marek Pająk (Vader)
- Pata (X Japan)
- Axel Rudi Pell (Steeler, Axel Rudi Pell)
- Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
- Mille Petrozza (Kreator)
- John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment)
- Matt Pike (High on Fire, Sleep)
- Al Pitrelli (Alice Cooper, Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Megadeth)
- Lex Plotnikoff (Black Obelisk)
- Chris Poland (Megadeth)
- Samuli "Skrymer" Ponsimaa (Finntroll)
- Gian Pyres (Cradle of Filth, Gorerotted)
R
- Vernon Reid (Living Colour)
- Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
- Mike Riggs (Rob Zombie)
- Marc Rizzo (Cavalera Conspiracy, Soulfly)
- Kane Roberts (Alice Cooper)
- Brian Robertson (Thin Lizzy, Motörhead)
- Omar Rodríguez-López (At the Drive-In, De Facto, Sparta, The Mars Volta)
- Antonio Romano (Hermética)
- Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
- James Root (Slipknot)
- Ulrich Roth (Scorpions)
S
- Dave "the Snake" Sabo (Skid Row)
- 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)
- Rudolph Schenker (Scorpions)
- Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied, Voodoocult)
- Troy Seele (Iced Earth)
- Seth (Behemoth)
- Phil Sgrosso (As I Lay Dying)
- Hank Shermann (Mercyful Fate, Force of Evil)
- Marcus Siepen (Blind Guardian)
- Silenoz (Dimmu Borgir)
- 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)
- 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
- Izzy Stradlin (Guns N' Roses)
- Dennis Stratton (Iron Maiden)
- Joel Stroetzel (Killswitch Engage)
- Jesper Stromblad (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
- Ty Tabor (King's X)
- Akira Takasaki (Loudness)
- Set Teitan (Watain, Arckanum, Dissection)
- Teru (Versailles)
- Ron Thal (Guns N' Roses)
- Tommy Thayer (Kiss)
- Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
- Mick Thomson (Slipknot)
- Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)
- Olaf Thörsen (Vision Divine, Labyrinth)
- Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
- Markus Toivonen (Ensiferum)
- Bernie Torme (Gillan, Dee Snider, Ozzy Osbourne, Atomic Rooster)
- Tormentor (Gorgoroth, Orcustus)
- Sam Totman (DragonForce)
- Devin Townsend (Strapping Young Lad, Devin Townsend Band)
- Nigel Tufnel (Spinal Tap)
- Luca Turilli (Rhapsody of Fire)
V
- 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)
- Emppu Vuorinen (Nightwish, Altaria)
W
- Paul Waggoner (Prayer For Cleansing, Between the Buried and Me)
- Rich Ward (Stuck Mojo, Fozzy)
- Toki Wartooth (Dethklok)
- Jeff Waters (Annihilator)
- Benjamin Weinman (The Dillinger Escape Plan)
- Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus, Hidden Hand, Spirit Caravan, Place of Skulls, The Obsessed)
- Robert Westerholt (Within Temptation)
- Jordan Whelan (Still Remains)
- Brad Whitford (Aerosmith)
- Hank Williams III
- Michael Wilton (Queensrÿche)
- Kirk Windstein (Down)
- Piotr Wiwczarek (Vader)
- Michael Wulf (Sodom, Kreator)
- Würzel - (Motörhead)
- Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne, Pride & Glory)
Y
- Liu Yijun (Tang Dynasty)
- Sami Yli-Sirniö (Kreator)
- Angus Young (AC/DC)
- Jeff Young (Megadeth)
- Malcolm Young (AC/DC)
- Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot)
See also
- This list of songs or music-related items is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.