Criteria (within metal): Influence, impact, popularity, technical skill, innovation/originality, not being in Creed:

1. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath, solo)
2. Yngwie Malmsteen (Steeler, Alcatrazz, solo)
3. Randy Rhoads (Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne)
4. Ritchie Blackmore (Rainbow)
5. Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth, solo)
6. Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson)
7. Michael Schenker (Scorpions, UFO, solo)
8. Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
9. Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
10. Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions, solo)
11. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
12. Chuck Schuldiner (Death, Control Denied)
13. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera, Damageplan)
14. John Petrucci (Dream Theater, Liquid Tension Experiment)
15. KK Downing (Judas Priest)
16. James Hetfield (Metallica)
17. Jason Becker (Cacophony, solo)
18. Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
19. Paul Gilbert (Racer X)
20. Alex Skolnick (Testament, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
21. Bill Steer (Carcass)
22. George Lynch (Dokken)
23. Andy Larocque (King Diamond, Death)
24. Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
25. Kai Hansen (Helloween, Gamma Ray)
26. Wolf Hoffman (Accept)
27. Michael Romeo (Symphony X)
28. Vivian Campbell (Dio)
29. Kerry King (Slayer)
30. Michael Amott (Carcass, Arch Enemy)
31. Tom Morello (Rage Against the Machine)
32. Matthias Jabs (Scorpions)
33. Tony MacAlpine (Planet X, solo)
34. Criss Oliva (Savatage)
35. James Murphy (Testament, Death, Cancer)
36. Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)
37. Trey Azagthoth (Morbid Angel)
38. Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)
39. Chris Impelliterri
40. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
41. Scott Ian (Anthrax, SOD)
42. Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah, solo)
43. Eddie Clarke (Motorhead)
44. Jeff Waters (Annihilator)
45. Michael Angelo Batio
46. Kurdt Vanderhoof (Metal Church)
47. Jake E. Lee (Ozzy Osbourne)
48. Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius)
49. Mikael Akerfeldt (Opeth)
50. Kiko Loureiro (Angra)
51. Ross Friedman (Manowar)
52. Chris DeGarmo (Queensryche)
53. Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)
54. Jesper Stromblad (In Flames)
55. Chris Poland (Megadeth)
56. Michael Denner (Mercyful Fate)
57. Al Pitrelli (Megadeth, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
58. Ron Jarzombek (Spastic Ink, Watchtower, Blotted Science)
59. Bobby Gustafson (Overkill)
60. Gary Holt (Exodus)
61. Mille Petrozza (Kreator)
62. Mantas (Venom)
63. Kelly Shaefer (Atheist)
64. Roy Z (Bruce Dickinson)
65. Brian Tatler (Diamond Head)
66. Paul Masvidal (Cynic, Death)
67. Muhammed Suicmez (Necrophagist)
68. Eric Peterson (Testament, Dragonlord)
69. Janick Gers (Iron Maiden, Bruce Dickinson)
70. Andres Bjorler (At the Gates, The Haunted)
71. Jon Schaefer (Iced Earth, Demons & Wizards)
72. Tom Warrior (Celtic Frost)
73. Rudolf Schenker (Scorpions)
74. Adam Jones (Tool)
75. Jim Matheos (Fates Warning)
76. Andre Olbrich (Blind Guardian)
77. Rafael Bittencourt (Angra)
78. Luca Turilli (Rhapsody, solo)
79. Chris Broderick (Jag Panzer, Megadeth)
80. Randall Shawver (Iced Earth)
81. Warren DeMartini (Ratt)
82. Quorthon (Bathory)
83. John Sykes (Tygers of Pan Tang)
84. Karl Logan (Manowar)
85. Herman Li (DragonForce, Demoniac)
86. Dan Spitz (Anthrax)
87. Euronymous (Mayhem)
88. Pat O'Brien (Cannibal Corpse)
89. Gus G (Firewind, Dream Evil, Ozzy Osbourne)
90. Joey Tafolla (Jag Panzer)
91. Jari Maenpaa (Ensiferum, Wintersun)
92. Thomas Youngblood (Kamelot)
93. Ihsahn (Emperor)
94. Niklas Sundin (Dark Tranquillity)
95. Jani Liimatainen (Sonata Arctica)
96. Paul Waggoner (Between the Buried and Me)
97. Karl Sanders (Nile)
98. Mastodon Guy #1 (Mastodon)
99. Mastodon Guy #2 (Mastodon)
100. ???

Fuck yeah, Heafy Metal.

You'll probably have to add the Korn guy.

I don't see why.

Not so happy with the Maiden guys making the top ten... and we should probably bring a ladder for Petrucci, Becker and/or Gilbert, but generally speaking the list is pretty fine. The top five must be like this for ever.

Cool, let's leave it at that.

It isn't all about skill, you realize.

EDIT: To sid

Korn isn't all about skill either, you know! Even though they..

But in seriousness, not a whole lot of innovative, creative or original guitarplaying going on in Korn. I could also second that both Dave Murray and Adrian Smith that high is a bit of a stretch. Discussions earlier about this came to the conclusion that Smith was the greater guitarist due to his affiliation to Dickinson's solo band, that he's technically more proficient and probably something about his songwriting (the riffs he's made that is) being more important. But... all in all, I can't honestly say I feel there's not a whole lot separating the two, and it's the two as a team that are great (Iron Maiden with only Smith probably wouldn't have been as great). It's not like Smith reinvented himself in Dickinson's solo band (from what I've heard) and Maiden stuck to the same style while Smith and Dickinson weren't in the band. So I thought, why not combine the two? There's most likely a bunch of reasons not to, though, so I'd like to hear them.

I'd say the same thing goes for the Priest axemen.

Smith at 8, Murray at 9, Tipton at 10? Move Jon Roth and Schenker up?

I think the Maiden guys should be top 10. I don't think they're too high at all.

What's so great about them? I love Maiden too, but we all know the working man is Steve Harris. And the solos couldn't be more basics.

what?? their sound is what defines Heavy Metal best. The killer riffs, the solos (doesn't matter how not technical they are), Steve Harris has nothing to do with that. They deserve such a high ranking for genre defining Heavy Metal as we know it, there was a before and after Iron Maiden.

So you are mentally retarded.

Yes, he has. When you read the words "Steve Harris" in "Writer", means he was the one who created the riff. And those words appear in almost every track, generally is the only name. Maybe you see some collaboration by Adrian. That's true. I'm not saying this guys must be at the last spot. Just saying some other guys do better things.
And if it doesn't matter how not technical the solos are, the criteria kinda falls down. All guys would be at the same level. So I don't know, I really can't find the love for them. But never fuckin' mind, I know you won't listen, Nesquik is not the kind of guy who can argue in a diplomatic way. Just leave the list this way. It's fine enough.

I don't think you understand how the rankings work here.

I don't think you understand how a guitar must be played. So OK, I leave you with your list.