THE 10 FASTEST SHRED GUITARISTS (with courtesy of Guitar One Magazine ~ NOT my list or choice)

No 1 . MICHAEL ANGELO BATIO

Michael invented the Dean Double-Guitar and was the first person in the world to successfully play it. AWESOME!! Michael started playing piano and composing at age 5, started playing guitar at age 10. Michael has performed over 1100 shows in 31 different countries since 1993. He tours the world performing guitar workshops, also records, tours and plays with various bands and solo. He also invented and successfully played the very first 'quad' guitar. However, the instrument was stolen during a Nitro show in El Paso, Texas, and only two of the four parts required for its assembly have ever been recovered. However, Dean Guitars recently finished production on a new quad guitar for Michael.
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No 2. CHRIS IMPELLITTERI

Chris Impellitteri is one of the most unique, intense, and dynamic guitarists in heavy rock today. His influences range from Al Di Meola to Uli John Roth to Edward Van Halen. Chris has been releasing some of the best progressive, neo-classical guitar work around since the mid-'80's, inspiring countless musicians.

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voted No 3. YNGWIE J. MALMSTEEN

When he was young, Yngwie didn't want much to do with music. Music was soft, a thing for wimps, and Yngwie was into all things destructive. An unruly child, Yngwie took delight in anything that went against the grain. But, one night while watching television, 7-year-old Yngwie saw guitar maestro Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar. Jimi's death had spurred the birth of a new guitar hero: Yngwie J. Malmsteen. He cites Jimi Hendrix, Uli Jon Roth, Brian May, Steve Hackett and Ritchie Blackmore as his influences.
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No 4. PAUL GILBERT

Guitarist Paul Gilbert has sold over three million records in the United States stemming from his brilliant work with Racer X, Mr. Big and as a solo artist. Long known as one of the top shredders in the business, Gilbert sometimes returns to his blues rock roots as on his Raw Blues Power album
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No 5. THE LATE SHAWN LANE

Lane began his musical interests very young, studying piano and cello from the age of four. He took up the guitar at eight, and it remained his principal instrument from then on. He quickly became a legend in Memphis' music scene as the feisty young kid, began his professional playing and recording career when he was 12. The teen wonder shocked and amazed audiences at stadium shows across the USA. Before becoming a world renown guitarist. Tragically Shawn died of a lung disease Sept 26th 2003 at the age of 40.
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No 6. JOE STUMP

Joe Stump is one of the leading guitarists of the shred genre. Having released numerous solo albums and four with his band project Reign Of Terror, Stump has a reputation of for combining guitar virtuosity with strong hooks and killer riffs. Joe is also Berklee School Of Music's head authority on shred guitar. His main influeneces in his career are Ritchie Blackmore, Jimi Hendrix, Gary Moore, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker, Uli- Jon Roth, David Chastain, classical music too - Bach, Paganini, Vivaldi, Mendelson etc.
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No 7. RUSTY COOLEY

Rusty’s early influences included: Rhoads, Malmsteen, Becker, Gilbert, Holdsworth, Paganini, Bach, Vai, Gambale, Moore, MacAlpine, Taffolla, Friedman. He was also influenced by many styles including: Jazz, Classical, Funk, Blues and even Country. There where times when Rusty was pulled in so many different directions by music, he didn’t know if he wanted to be a Classical Conductor or a Jazz guitarist. “Remember play from your heart and never be swayed by the current trends.” Rusty Cooley
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No 8. BUCKETHEAD

Buckethead is one of the most bizarre and enigmatic figures in American underground. Real name Brian Carroll says he was raised by hens in a henhouse!. He got the idea of a bucket and mask one day when he was eating fried chicken. He stands about 7 Feet tall with his bucket on. He has robotic movements. Not much is known about Buckethead, but one things for sure, this greased lightin' is finger lickin' fast. Well the Colonel hasn't caught him yet! His bands include: Deli Creeps, Cornbugs, Praxis, Cobra Strike, Buckethead (Solo), Primus (Ozzfest 1999), Guns N' Roses.
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No 9. JOHN PETRUCCI

John Petrucci grew up on Long Island, Kings Park He started playing guitar at the age of 12 (After a brief fling at age 8 when he noticed his sister got to stay up late for her organ lessons. His little plan didn’t work out being that his guitar lesson was after school, and soon lost interest.) He quickly realized his influences and was determined to reach their level of ability. Some early influences include Yngwie Malmsteen, Randy Rhoads, Iron Maiden, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Yes, Rush etc. As the rise of thrash & metal hit John expanded his influences to include bands like Metallica & Queensryche.
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No 10. THE GREAT KAT

The Great Kat was born Katherine Thomas in Swindon, England (on a U.S. Air Force Base Military Hospital), moved to USA aged 3. After touring the world as a violinist, she realised that Classical music was dead, so she began updating Classical Music with Speed Metal and transcribed intricate violin solos to the guitar. The Great Kat is the only musician taking note-for-note authentic Classical Music scores (from Vivaldi, Beethoven, Bach, Wagner, Liszt, and Rossini) and re-orchestrating the entire scores with Shred Guitar virtuosity and mixing it with Speed Metal band and Classical orchestra.
(from:http://philbrodieband.com)

Jason Becker

Listen to Jaso Becker now :

Jason Becker, (born July 22, 1969) is an American neo-classical metal guitarist and composer. At the age of 16, he became part of the Mike Varney-produced duo Cacophony with his friend Marty Friedman. They released Speed Metal Symphony in 1987 and Go Off! in 1988.
At the age of 20, he joined David Lee Roth's band. While recording the A Little Ain't Enough album and preparing for the subsequent tour, Becker began to feel what he called a "lazy limp" on his left leg. He was soon diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease) and given three years to live. He could barely finish the recording, using low-gauge (thin) guitar strings and other techniques, which would make it easier to play with his weakening hands. Although he managed to finish the album he did not join the supporting tour due to his inability to perform on stage. He eventually lost the ability to speak and now communicates with his eyes via a system developed by his father. Although his ALS gradually robbed him of his ability to play guitar, to walk, and eventually even to speak, he still remains mentally sharp and, with the aid of a computer, continues composing. In the back of the Perspective CD case, Becker states "I have Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. It has crippled my body and speech, but not my mind." Now in his 30s, his medical condition has remained stable since 1997.

Zakk Wylde

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Zakk Wylde (born Jeffrey Phillip Wiedlandt on January 14, 1967 in Bayonne, New Jersey) is an American musician, who is best known for his roles as a guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne and founder of Black Label Society. He was lead guitarist and vocalist in Pride & Glory, who released one self-titled album in 1994 before disbanding. As a solo artist he released Book of Shadows in 1996.

Wylde started playing the guitar at the age of 15 and worked at Silverton Music in Silverton, New Jersey. He grew up in Jackson, New Jersey, and went to Jackson Memorial High School there, where he graduated in 1985. Wylde has stated that he would practice playing the guitar as much as 12 hours per day and often would play the guitar almost non-stop between coming home from school and leaving for school the next morning, then sleeping through the school day. Growing up, Wylde played locally with his first band, "Stone Henge", then later with local Jersey band "Zyris". He was taught by neo classical guitarist Sean Roche. Years later, the then unknown 19 year-old Wylde landed the coveted role as lead guitarist and co-writer for Ozzy Osbourne. He sent Ozzy a demo tape in 1987 and was hired to replace Jake E. Lee. Jake E. Lee had replaced the deceased Randy Rhoads, an idol of Wylde's.

Randy Rhoads

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Randall William Rhoads was born on December 6, 1956. Randy started taking guitar lessons around the age of 6 or 7 at a music school in North Hollywood called Musonia, which was owned by his mother. His first guitar was a Gibson (acoustic) that belonged to Delores Rhoads father. Randy began teaching guitar in his mothers school during the day and playing with Quiet Riot at night. Originally called "Little Women", Quiet Riot got their "new" name from one of Kevins friends from the band Status Quo.

In the latter part of 1979, at the request of a friend (Dana Strum), Randy went to audition for a band being put together by former Black Sabbath lead singer, Ozzy Osbourne. As the story goes: Ozzy had auditioned just about every guitarist in Los Angeles and was about to go home to England, the hopes of a new band washed away. Randy Rhoads guitar playing, however, could not be silenced as "Tribute" was released in 1987. "Tribute", recorded live, much of it in Cleveland, OH on May 11, 1981 and Randys solo in Montreal in July of 1981, continued to earn him recognition as a guitar virtuoso.Ozzy Osbourne's first two solo albums featuring Randy Rhoads have sold over 6 million copies combined.

Dimebag Darrell

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Dimebag Darrell (born Darrell Lance Abbott on August 20, 1966, Arlington, Texas – died on December 8, 2004, Columbus, Ohio), also known as Diamond Darrell until mid 1992, was an American lead guitarist. Best known as a founding member of the heavy metal bands Pantera and Damageplan, he was also active in country music, notably the project Rebel Meets Rebel. Remembered for his amiable nature and rapport with fans, critic Greg Prato describes Abbott as "one of the most influential stylists in modern metal." Abbott was shot dead while performing with Damageplan on December 8, 2004.