I listen to somebody like Shawn Lane, and unfortunately he is no longer with us, but I hear him playing and I am like, 'That is just absolutely ridiculous.'
Steve Vai had a unique style of playing. Steve Vai didn't sound like anyone else: Steve Vai sounded like Steve Vai.
[My favourite song is] "All Along the Watchtower." The Jimi Hendrix cover.
I remember where I was when I heard Yngwie Malmsteen for the first time. It was such an epiphany for me, and it really shaped the way I play today. I think I heard him in '83, if I'm not mistaken - I was 13 years old - and it really was amazing for me.
I decided early on that I wanted to be Michael Bloomfield, Jeff Beck and Eric Clapton - not George Harrison.
I think people like Steve Vai are so boring.
I probably owe as much to Jeff Beck as I do to Son House with connections to the blues.
It's hard to say this about a guy like Eddie Van Halen, one of the greatest guitar players who ever lived, but he's really limited to a style and they're locked into it.
When I was 15, I became an avid fan of Andres Segovia. He brought so much respectability to the guitar.
Ray Gomez is truly an unsung hero in American music.
I wanted to be the greatest woman guitarist alive. I had fantasies about being a female Jimi Hendrix.
'This Is My Rifle' is a kind of tribute to Al Di Meola.
Every once in awhile I'll call up Eddie (Van Halen) and ask, Found that fourth chord yet?
... you watch Jimi Hendrix literally reinvent the instrument. He was playing from somewhere else. He was really a kind of hybrid, and I can't even begin to imagine where he came from
Mention Hubert Sumlin, as well, because Hubert's a great man, and again, you know, I don't play the guitar very good, but when I'm playing this kind of music, I always have him in my mind. I wish I could play like Hubert.
It's always funny to me when people use the phrase 'Best guitar player in the world'. There are too many variables such as technique, uniqueness, emotional investment in the notes, etc. But If I had to pick one, it would be Tommy Emmanuel. Watching him perform can be a study in artistic and virtuosic human achievement.
Lenny Breau is one of the true geniuses of the guitar. I suppose he is a musician's musician. His knowledge of the instrument and the music is so vast, and I think that's what knocks people out about him. But he's such a tasty player too. I think if Chopin had played guitar, he would have sounded like Lenny Breau.
Prince is the ultimate performer. Prince is that dude that's going to get on stage by himself, if he need to, but hold you in the palm of his hand. Like, you can't take your eyes off the man when he's on stage, and he could just be sitting there playing his guitar.
Larry Carlton is an incredibly versatile guitarist who has been a major force for guitar for many years. He is easily recognizable - all you have to do is hear him once and from that point on you'll be a fan, just like me. It gives me great pleasure to extend congratulations to Larry on his 2011 George Benson Lifetime Achievement Award. Congratulations !
Neil Young is the prime example, the grand goal, if you will. He's still shredding, and he never lost his credibility.
Jeff Beck is one of my heroes and has been since I first picked up a guitar.
I've always been a Jeff Beck fan. Who isn't? He is in a league of his own.
Kenny Burrell is the grand master of jazz guitar.
Even though James Burton was my idol, I didn't think I could carry his shoes back then.
I only wish Chet Atkins could be here for this joyous occasion.
