Thrash metal icon Kerry King, renowned for his work with Slayer and his recent solo endeavors, has shared his top five favorite guitarists during a recent appearance on the Lipps Service podcast. While he refrained from ranking them in a specific order, he highlighted one as particularly underrated.
Ritchie Blackmore
King expressed deep admiration for Ritchie Blackmore, especially his work with Rainbow. In a previous interview, he praised the album Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll, stating, “He wrote some great stuff and doesn’t get the credit he deserves… The shit is just heavy.”
Tony Iommi
The Black Sabbath guitarist holds a special place in King’s heart. Recalling the honor of presenting Iommi with an award in 2006, King admitted feeling starstruck, describing Iommi as a pivotal influence in his musical journey.
Eddie Van Halen
King credited Eddie Van Halen as a primary inspiration for picking up the guitar. He emphasized, “You can’t even talk about guitar and not mention him,” underscoring Van Halen’s monumental impact on the instrument.
Glenn Tipton
Identifying Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest as his all-time favorite guitarist, King also labeled him the most overlooked. He noted, “If you look at the leads he was doing and when he was doing them, he kind of innovated a lot of that stuff,” highlighting Tipton’s pioneering contributions to metal guitar playing.
Zakk Wylde
Rounding out his list, King mentioned his close friend Zakk Wylde. In past discussions, King has expressed enthusiasm about the prospect of collaborating with Wylde, indicating a mutual respect between the two guitarists.
King’s selections reflect a deep appreciation for guitarists who have significantly influenced the evolution of rock and metal music.
