John Petrucci competing for Loudwire's Greatest Metal Guitarist.

[Mister Gold]

Also, Kirk Hammett is one hell of an overrated guitarrist. Don't take me wrong, I love Metallica, but Kirk's not as half as good as people think he is.

I thought it was pretty common knowledge that Hammett isn't all that great. And I love Metallica, too.

Nope, typically, universally speaking, all I ever tend to hear is how amazing he was and how lucky Metallica was to get him when they did, because he's so amazing.

Funny, I never hear that around my friends, and I have several that are Metallica nuts. Might depend on where you live or something, I guess.

But yeah, JP definitely needs to win this round.

[TheGreatPretender]

Funny, I never hear that around my friends, and I have several that are Metallica nuts. Might depend on where you live or something, I guess.

But yeah, JP definitely needs to win this round.

Well, not from friends, but more from actual publishers. You know, narrators of documentaries, articles about Metallica, all sing the highest of praises about KH, and they're supposed to be impartial reporters. Now I wonder about that.
And of course, Metallica's always like, "We found this super amazing guitarist to play for us!"

[johncal]

We need to keep our vote count up.

[TheGreatPretender]

I think bumping the link every once in a while will help too. Easier access.

https://loudwire.com/kirk-hammett-vs-john-petrucci-greatest-metal-guitarist-quarterfinals/

[BlobVanDam]

Also, Kirk Hammett is one hell of an overrated guitarrist. Don't take me wrong, I love Metallica, but Kirk's not as half as good as people think he is.

These days he gets recognition only by association with such a hugely popular metal band.
His solos on the first 5 albums were good, and even Load/Reload had some decent solos too, but even at his best he's never been on par with the shredders of the era, and his solos these days are awful. He has no sense of timing or style at all.

What I find funny is that many fans overlook the fact that he's not even the best guitarist in Metallica. 

So true!
It says a lot that many "best guitarist" lists stick Hammett and Hetfield together in one spot, because Hammett isn't a very good lead player, and isn't great at rhythm guitar or songwriting, and Hetfield is the riff king, plays many great melodic leads, but isn't a shredder. Hetfield deserves the majority of the credit for Metallica's success.
For that reason, they make a good heavy metal two guitar team.

[Meatrose]

Keep it up guys. 

[serrano]

Well Metallica's guitar team isn't that good, you get sure excellent rhythm guitar play by Hetfield but subpar shredding from KH. If you take KH out of the equation you still get excellent rhythm and you would gain tasteful leads, ok no shredding, but it wasn't good anyway.

I wouldn't say a duo is good, if you can take one out and it only gets better.

[The Stray Seed]

I think bumping the link every once in a while will help too. Easier access.

https://loudwire.com/kirk-hammett-vs-john-petrucci-greatest-metal-guitarist-quarterfinals/

Thank you!!

[Meatrose]

I always configure my browser to go to the poll each time I open it. Serves as a constant reminder to vote and when I do I also vote from my phone. I managed to vote more than 100 times for I&W in the final round (vs MoP). 

[thosava]

I always configure my browser to go to the poll each time I open it. Serves as a constant reminder to vote and when I do I also vote from my phone. I managed to vote more than 100 times for I&W in the final round (vs MoP). 

thanks for the great idea! I'm doing the same 

[Chino]

Can the few of us on these forums really have that big of an impact? I have such a hard time believing we were responsible for I&W winning. There must be other clusters of DT fans lurking throughout the anals of the internet.

[TheGreatPretender]

Can the few of us on these forums really have that big of an impact? I have such a hard time believing we were responsible for I&W winning. There must be other clusters of DT fans lurking throughout the anals of the internet.

The word is annals, LOL!

But while that is true, we should still vote.

[thosava]

I would throw in here: vote for Adam Jones too! That one is really close right now.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Voted for Jones.

[jingle.boy]

I would throw in here: vote for Adam Jones too! That one is really close right now.

Thanks for pointing that out.  Voted Rhoads.

[BlobVanDam]

I would throw in here: vote for Adam Jones too! That one is really close right now.

Thanks for pointing that out.  Voted Rhoads.

Ditto.

[Shadow2222]

Can the few of us on these forums really have that big of an impact? I have such a hard time believing we were responsible for I&W winning. There must be other clusters of DT fans lurking throughout the anals of the internet.

Oh my. That made my morning. Thank you. 

[tiagodon]

This whole contest is a joke!

Syn Gates beating Steve Vai???
Hanneman beating Satriani???
Kirk Hammett beating Malmsteen???

[jingle.boy]

This whole contest is a joke!

Your point being  ? ?? ?

[tiagodon]

My point is: respect/popularity is beating technique/ability!

[Chino]

This whole contest is a joke!

Syn Gates beating Steve Vai???
Hanneman beating Satriani???
Kirk Hammett beating Malmsteen???

John Petrucci > Everything

No joke.

[Elite]

Yeah, though I suspect Dimebag is going to win this whole thing, like always happens.

[jingle.boy]

My point is: respect/popularity is beating technique/ability!

And?? ??  Not trying to be a dick, but of course polls like this end up that way.  As I posted a few pages back, I don't care.  If (for us DT fans), this garners more exposure for JP and the band, great.  That's my only goal.  If this creates even one more JP/DT fan, mission accomplished.

This is hardly a scientific poll that establishes the "best" metal guitarist in history.  If you think that the fans/voters, or loudwire themselves are trying to determine that, you came to the wrong poll.

[Dark Castle]

I would throw in here: vote for Adam Jones too! That one is really close right now.

Thanks for pointing that out.  Voted Rhoads.

Ditto.

How anyone could Not pick Rhoads frightens me, these guys know what's up.

[tiagodon]

My point is: respect/popularity is beating technique/ability!

And?? ??  Not trying to be a dick, but of course polls like this end up that way.  As I posted a few pages back, I don't care.  If (for us DT fans), this garners more exposure for JP and the band, great.  That's my only goal.  If this creates even one more JP/DT fan, mission accomplished.

This is hardly a scientific poll that establishes the "best" metal guitarist in history.  If you think that the fans/voters, or loudwire themselves are trying to determine that, you came to the wrong poll.

So they should change the name of the contest. It is not about the greatest guitarist, and it will never be. It is about the most respected guitarist. That's how they should have called it!

[BlobVanDam]

My point is: respect/popularity is beating technique/ability!

And?? ??  Not trying to be a dick, but of course polls like this end up that way.  As I posted a few pages back, I don't care.  If (for us DT fans), this garners more exposure for JP and the band, great.  That's my only goal.  If this creates even one more JP/DT fan, mission accomplished.

This is hardly a scientific poll that establishes the "best" metal guitarist in history.  If you think that the fans/voters, or loudwire themselves are trying to determine that, you came to the wrong poll.

So they should change the name of the contest. It is not about the greatest guitarist, and it will never be. It is about the most respected guitarist. That's how they should have called it!

They should call it "favourite guitarist". I think that would be the most apt description of how people vote in these contests.
But then again, that probably wouldn't create the same level of interest that the site wants to get people voting.

[slycordinator]

My point is: respect/popularity is beating technique/ability!

It doesn't even need to get to that, because Vai and Satriani aren't metal and as such should automatically lose. I mean, unless you include Vai and Satch's short stints in Whitesnake and Deep Purple respectively as making them metal guitarists, I don't see him belonging on the list. Maybe a passing nod to Vai for bringing in the 7-string craze for metal guys, but that certainly doesn't make him metal.

And I'd argue that Malmsteen is a little bit metal but more an influence than anything and that being mostly limited to the neoclassical guys.

But I know you aren't the only one who disagrees with me here. 

[jingle.boy]

I guess everyone's definition of 'metal' differs to one extent or another.

[TheGreatPretender]

It doesn't even need to get to that, because Vai and Satriani aren't metal and as such should automatically lose. I mean, unless you include Vai and Satch's short stints in Whitesnake and Deep Purple respectively as making them metal guitarists, I don't see him belonging on the list. Maybe a passing nod to Vai for bringing in the 7-string craze for metal guys, but that certainly doesn't make him metal.

And I'd argue that Malmsteen is a little bit metal but more an influence than anything and that being mostly limited to the neoclassical guys.

But I know you aren't the only one who disagrees with me here. 

If I had to put a label on Malmsteen's music, it would be Power Metal. I'd definitely call him Metal.

But hey, if the previous "Metal Band" poll on Loudwire included bands like AC/DC, which I don't consider Metal, then obviously their definition of Metal is a lot more loose.

[Meatrose]

Okay, I know that all of you are shitting bricks due to the new single being released and everything but John really needs us to step up now. The next round has started and he's up against Dimebag from Pantera in one of the two semifinals. Dimebag's got 70% of the votes now so we need to work our magic, Images and Words vs Master of Puppets-style. Remember, you can vote once every hour and you can squeeze in a second vote using your phone. Set your browsers to always go to the following link at start-up. It serves as a constant reminder to vote, vote, vote.

Here's the link to the semifinal.

[Shadow Ninja 2.0]

Voted JP.

[JediKnight1969]

Go, Petrucci! https://loudwire.com/dimebag-darrell-abbott-vs-john-petrucci-greatest-metal-guitarist-semifinals/?trackback=twitter_top

[Podaar]

I voted for JP of course. I'm a huge fan of his work. but...

It is difficult. I mean, come on, Dimebag is  ! 

[Joshin U]

Come on, DTF, getcho asses to this poll.

[Meatrose]

I voted for JP of course. I'm a huge fan of his work. but...

It is difficult. I mean, come on, Dimebag is  ! 

Even so, John is Jesus and he'd like you to vote.