# Your Top 5 "Metal" Guitarists of All Time! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 13, 2013, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897 "2013-06-13T14:13:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897/61 "2013-12-17T21:01:33Z")
None of those guys (except Van Halen) even self-identified as metal. ---
**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897/62 "2013-12-17T22:17:14Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > None of those guys (except Van Halen) even self-identified as metal. So? ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897/63 "2013-12-17T23:16:05Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Would have to go with folks like Beck, Page, EVH, Malcolm Young, Townshend, Keith Richards… Stretching the definition of “metal guitarist” with that list. All great guitarists, but EVH is closest to metal. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897/64 "2013-12-17T23:23:59Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Stretching the definition of “metal guitarist” with that list. > > All great guitarists, but EVH is closest to metal. Oh yeah - I hear you; but that is why, upthread, I had been seeking to understand the definition used by the OP. ---
**Author:** ![scabpicker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scabpicker/32/8268_2.png) [@scabpicker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scabpicker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897/65 "2013-12-17T23:35:43Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > None of those guys (except Van Halen) even self-identified as metal. Lots of people delude themselves. They’re the foundations of metal whether they like it or not. ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897/66 "2013-12-17T23:38:25Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Oh yeah - I hear you; but that is why, upthread, I had been seeking to understand the definition used by the OP. Fair enough. I didn’t read the whole thread. Didn’t realize this is kinda old. Agree with your names though. All great guitarists. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897/67 "2013-12-17T23:44:16Z")
> [@Cubsfan](#): > > Fair enough. I didn’t read the whole thread. Didn’t realize this is kinda old. > > Agree with your names though. All great guitarists. All good - and yes, I was surprised when this thread bubbled up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/your-top-5-metal-guitarists-of-all-time/660897.md?page=3)