Sure to strike a chord with guitarists and heavy metal fans, this authoritative and photo-filled volume surveys more than 80 of the genre's greatest axe-slingers from the 1970s to present. From metal pioneers like Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi, Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page, and Deep Purple's Ritchie Blackmore to today's hottest shredders, thrashers, and riffers, Ultimate Heavy Metal Guitars is your guide to the instruments and musicians that made metal. Author and guitar journalist Pete Prown presents his subjects by metal-defining eras and subgenres, including: early metal, hard rock and arena rock, prog rock, Euro metal, hair metal, shred, thrash, and more. Prown's knowledgeable discussions examine specific noteworthy guitars each player made famous, as well as effects pedals, amplifiers, and career overviews that include the players' first-person revelations and insights. Illustrated with photos of the guitarists in action, the book features an early chapter on influencers who set the stage for the genre (think Clapton, Hendrix, and Beck), plus sidebars so you don't miss out on any of metal's nooks and crannies, touching on grunge, math metal, nu metal, doom metal, and the genre's roots in blues and early rock.Guitarists profiled: Eric Clapton Jeff Beck Jimi Hendrix Pete Townshend Jimmy Page Tony Iommi Ritchie Blackmore Leslie West Martin Barre Mick Box Johnny Winter Joe Perry & Brad Whitford Brian May Robin Trower Don "Buck Dharma" Roeser Rick Derringer Ronnie Montrose Frank Marino Mick Ralphs Eddie Van Halen Ace Frehley Tom Scholz & Barry Goudreau Nancy Wilson Neal Schon Angus & Malcolm Young Pat Travers Michael Schenker Scott Gorham & Brian Robertson Glenn Tipton & K.K. Downing Rudolph Schenker, Uli Jon Roth & Matthias Jabs Dave Murray & Adrian Smith Randy Rhoads Kerry Livgren & Rich Williams Alex Lifeson Michael Wilton & Chris DeGarmo John Petrucci Phil Collen & Steve Clark Gary Moore Joan Jett Lita Ford Brad Gillis & Jeff Watson Mick Mars John Sykes Vernon Reid Yngwie Malmsteen Steve Vai Joe Satriani Vivian Campbell Jason Becker Paul Gilbert George Lynch Tony MacAlpine & Vinnie Moore James Hetfield & Kirk Hammett Dave Mustaine Kerry King & Jeff Hanneman Scott Ian Slash Zakk Wylde Dimebag Darrell Ty Tabor Jerry Cantrell Tom Morello Kim Thayil Mark Tremonti Alexi Laiho Herman Li Brent Hinds & Bill Kelliher Nita Strauss Nili Brosh