JAKE E. LEE -  Ozzy Osbourne band, Badlands.  Jake is a totally amazing guitarist.  Why I don't really consider him to be an influence, I'm not exactly sure.  I think this is a case where his actual style isn't something that I try to emulate, or incorporate into my own stlye.  It's more that I totaly love his playing in Ozzy's band.  The "Bark At The Moon" album was great, and "The Ultimate Sin" album is beyond greatness in the history of heavy metal.  Surprisingly, I never really got into his stuff in Badlands.

GEORGE LYNCH - Dokken.  While George does get alot of recognition for his amazing playing, he and the rest of Dokken got more attention for their pop-metal look.  It's a shame that some morons overlooked his immense guitar talent.  Fuck what he looked like, listen to the old Dokken tunes.  Total crunch, screamin' leads.  This boy knows how to play!!

JIM MATHEOS - Fates Warning.  Jim is a guy, who plays the most complex and intricate stuff, in one of the most complex and intricate bands in Progressive metal.  I don't think there is a thing he can't play.  He may be the most complete guitarist ever.  I love the fact that a guy this great chooses to play heavy metal.  Too many asshole people think rock/metal is "beneath" them, so they play jazz or some shit.  Jim has a solo album out, which I haven't gotten.  It's said to have a classical feel to it, which I would love, but I have a feeling it's more "new age-y".  That's something I'm definitely not into.  I do respect Jim's other musical interests, but I'm extremely happy to see metal as his main stlyle.
When I saw him live, I couldn't believe it.  Here he is playing some amazingly complex piece of music, and he's looking the ceiling and walls of the club, kinda like he was checkin' out the building while he just happen to be playing the guitar.  Amazing!

BRIAN MAY - Queen.  Truly a legend in the guitar world.  Really could be in the Hall Of Fame section.  He was another guy ahead of his time.  His leads seem to be more imaginative and creative than the "typical" solos.  Plus, I think he was one of the first guys to have really fantastic tones, and different ones too.  Any homophobe that doesn't like Brian, or Queen, just because Freddy Mercury was gay, is an asshole!

CRISS OLIVA - Savatage.  Criss was a metal guitar master in every sense of the word.  So much power and emotion in his playing, and amazing ability.  The opening riff to "Hall Of The Mountain King" is one of the most classic guitar riffs in metal history.  Sadly, he was killed in a car accident in the early 90s.  He is truly missed in the metal world.

JOE SATRIANI -  A true guitar genius.  He is possibly one of the most knowledgable and innovative guitarists ever.  In fact, I'll say he definitely is!  He is the guy who taught guys like Vai and Hammett, so you know he has to be good.  I love his hard rock/metal compositions, but he does have a Jazzy side to him too, and I'm about as far from a Jazz fan as a human can be.

HANK SHERMAN - Mercyful Fate.  To describe why I love Hank as a lead player, see Michael Denner, above.  Beyond his leads, Hank is one of the best metal songwriters that has ever existed.  He has written some of the heaviest stuff you'll ever hear, but consistently remains melodic.  I know, I keep using that M word.  What can I say, I LOVE the heavy/melody combination!!!!!

ALEX SKOLNIK - Testament, Savatage.  Alex was one of the most innovative and "fresh" guitarists a few years ago.  His stuff in Testament is pure genius.  Very melodic, and extremely technical.  I don't think there is anything he couldn't play.  Sadly, he's more into other types of music now, feeling that his playing was being limited in a metal band.  I don't like hearing things like that, but he's so great, I respect his decision.  I've exchanged emails with him in the past, and he is really cool.

 SLASH - Guns 'N' Roses.  In reality, Slash, and most of the other "pop" or "glam" metal guitarists were a little too blues based for my liking, but Slash is just so damn cool, I can't help dig him.  At the time when GNR was huge, I couldn't stand the band, because it was "trendy" to like them.  But looking back now, more objectively, they did have some really cool tunes.  I dig the "street" vibe to their songs.  Other than being too bluesy, Slash's playing was good and really fit the music.  It's become really clear now, that he was the cool one in GNR, and Asl Rose was the dick.  I'd like to see Slash putting out more music now, because I think it would be in the old GNR style.

TY TABOR - King's X.  There are a few King's X songs that are cool, but some of them are a little too happy and/or vocally oriented for me.  The absolute best thing about their music, is Ty's guitar playing.  Always melodic, always totally fitting in with the rest of the song.  One listen to some of his lead work, and I say damn that's some good guitarin'!

STEVE VAI - Vai is another guy who I'd say is one of the best guitarists in the history of music.  Not only for his amazing ability, and total mastery and knowledge of the instrument, but
for his creativeness.  He has come of with some of the most unique guitar work I've ever heard.  His playing style is very unique too.  Some people think he has too much showmanship, but I say if you can play like that, you can present yourself any way you want to.  His only downfall to me, like Vai, is that he leans towards the Jazzy side.  I can't stand Jazz, or the elitest attitude that Jazz players have.  One other thing.  Steve seems to be too much into the whole "spiritual" aspect, which I don't really buy into, especially with guitar playing.  However, one thing that will keep Steve an eternal favorite of mine, (aside from his great performance in the movie Crossraods) is that my bud Ric Gallagher and I saw him at Duquesne (where I went to college), when he talked to several hundred fans.  He didn't play anything, unfortunately, but rather a sort of Q & A type thing, which was really interesting.  You wouldn'tbelive how modest he was, especially for being a guitar genius.

NEW!  ROY Z - Tribe Of Gypsies, Bruce Dickinson band.  Roy is the brilliant guitarist/songwriter/producer that has played on several albums with Bruce Dickinson.  He is truly one of the most musically talented guys you'll ever hear.  I haven't had a chance to hear any of his TOG work yet, but his stuff with Bruce is fantastic, and he was amazing live.  He also happens to think that me and my good buddy Chris Lange are the 2 coolest dudes in Pittsburgh.  Remind me to tell you that story someday.