Pick Only One #2 - Favourite Guitarist

So with that out of the way, welcome to the second edition of "Pick Only One". 

If last weeks topic, favourite band, wasn't a tricky one, let's see how well people do with this. A subject near and dear to me, favourite guitarist.

The rules are simple (as if the name of the thread doesn't give it away). No runners up. No second best. No honorable mentions. No join firsts. No "I couldn't decide between...". This is a thread series where we seperate the boys from the men (and the girls from the women). Where you have to suck it up, grow a pair, and pick only one answer. (Ladies, do whatever the female equivalent is of "growing a pair"...)

The Duke of Metal, Rich Ward.

Whilst not actually a prog musician, Rich Ward is my favourite guitarist and officially my hetero-sexual man-crush. Known as the guitarist and main song-writer of rap-metal band Stuck Mojo and hard rockers Fozzy, Ward has never been known as a virtuoso guitarist. He never gets any form of acknowledgment. But what he lacks in "shred" credentials, he more than makes up for as a songwriter and as a performer. His playing is tight, his tone is unmatched, and his onstage antics make him a live force to be reckoned with.

I've met him twice before Fozzy gigs, and he is a super cool, super humble human being. He gave me his plectrum after the first gig, which is incredibly awesome. 

Although Dream Theater are my favourite band, I know full-well I will never be as good as John Petrucci (to date, I can play about six DT songs on guitar), so I get a lot of my guitar influence from Rich Ward. Focusing more on the groove and the feel of the song, I feel a lot more confident about my playing when I'm not trying to match up to other shredders who cram a billion notes into a 20-second guitar solo. 

For my choice: Steve Howe. Of course.

 

Agreed. There will never be another like him.

So pick one anyway! 

Man, you really believe in enforcing the rules, don't you?