As others have stated, 5 artists doesn't begin to cover my musical upbringing. I simply listened to way too much music starting with my earliest childhood memories.
If I have to pick 5, the only way I can do that is by period. I guess I have had phases of where I was at/am at musically, at least somewhat predominantly.
1) Roy Clark - My first guitar hero. That dude could flat out shred. Don't believe me? Look him up. As a 12 year old I began teaching myself guitar with Roy Clark, Duane Eddy and Ventures 8 tracks. ( a real bitch, you only got one shot at it, then had to wait like 10 minutes for that track to come around again!) Used to try to play along live to Hee-Haw episodes on TV.
2) Van Halen - My hot 19 year old next door neighbor told me EVH was the best guitar player in the world after I asserted that Roy Clark was. I had never heard of this Van Halen guy. That chick taught me some things.:shock This must have been around '79-80. Got me into rock. (She also gave me a Queen album and AC/DC on vinyl - so all of that changed me from oldies and country into a rock and metal kid) Bonus: Her name was Candy. True story. Can't make that shit up.
3) Neal Schon -Stone in Love and Who's Cryin Now are still 2 of my all time favorite solos. Might be the player I am most patterned after as far as my own style and sound go.
4) Sunset Strip. Not a player, or a band, but THE SOUND. Dio, Ratt, Crue, all of it. Not just Hollyweird either, but the whole 80's hair thing. Night Ranger, Ozzy, Tesla, Skid Row. and holy crap... Paul Gilbert. 80's metal and Arena Rock is the guitar house I live in.
5) Joe Satriani. Hands down, by far my all time favorite artist... ever. The one who REALLY made me want to play the guitar. The first time I heard Surfing With the Alien sometime in 1988 my mind was blown, and I ate the red pill right then and there (Matrix reference... but you got that)
6) Yep.... 6! I'm a rebel. Deal with me. My list has to give mention to John Petrucci. Dream Theater is just tremendous to me. I can only list JP as an influence on my playing because his old video "Rock Discipline" did wonders for my alternate picking. He and Paul Gilbert set the bar high, and gave me a decade of hand cramps (hence my name). In reality, I can't play anywhere close to either of them, and I don't play their music. It's just still over my head. I can't dunk either, even though I watch the NBA. Oh well.
Now, will someone start a new thread theorizing that about 50 artists really shape your core? That one would be more fun for me to write about. (Because this list has to include players like Page, Hendrix and Gilmore who are also huge for me... )
