News: where are all the new guitar heroes?

A big response to this post on the petrucci forum... care to feedback:
I was listening to some of the "Flex-able Leftovers" album by Steve Vai today and found myself wondering why he's my ultimate guitar hero. I determined that he would be so because his sound is so far out there that nobody can really replicate it, and that combining such a remarkable sound with impeccable technique has brought the combination that sees him take the cake for "most talented musician alive" in my book.

What surprised me the most about this was that upon listening to the Flex-able albums, his sound and playing ability was still unmistakably Vai!

Beginning with Images and Words, Petrucci's sound has remained top notch in every way as well. Just take the solo in "To Live Forever" from the old Live in Tokyo concert. His playing shows an incredible knowledge far beyond his years not only in technique but in the creation and improvisation of beautiful melodies. (I'll also say that when he quotes "Within you Without you" in the middle, I get outrageous chill bumps).

Fast forward 20 years...

How many new young guitarists are out there that people can honestly say are better or are going to be better than these two? (and your likes of Satch and Gilbert and whomsoever you want to name as a shredder from the previous generation of shred) Thinking reasonably, is there anything else that can be done technically with the guitar that has not been done before? Is anyone out there following in the footsteps of these guys and using a combination of beautiful melodies and musicianship combined with the incredible technical prowess that we have come to identify as "shred"? Can somebody show me another brilliant guitarist out there who can move my soul with his music while simultaneously melting the minds of everyone on the planet?

And can I mention on a side note that Petrucci's solo in the end of "To Live Forever" on the live in Tokyo vhs/dvd from the Images and Words tour is my personal favorite solo that he has ever done. If DT played something beautiful and ambient like that again I would be so happy. The Count of Tuscany is the closest they've come I think...


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  1. I think it all depends on what you can classify as a guitar hero is. If it's merely a technical aspect than guitar heroes are in short supply and fading since everything may have very well been done already, but if they exist based on other criteria like I think, then they're just as prevalent now as they've ever been albeit on a smaller scale because not EVERYONE likes the same guitarist anymore like people used to with Jimmy Page.

    In my opinion a guitar hero exists based not on technical skill but on how they connect with the fan, whether that's technically, emotionally, with their songwriting, phrasing or tone. They could even be just a great person in interview and become someone you may look up to.

    My guitar hero is Chris Cheney from the Living End who not only plays like a madman, but writes quality songs, isn't limited by one genre, has incredible live energy and has tone that I would love to one day have.

    If you've never heard of him, check this out!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPLY7hVziis

    -Pappy

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  2. Wow just check out that video, Chris Cheney is a pretty mean player!

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