Based on a blended criteria of technical ability, creativity, diversity, popularity, influence, innovation and my own bit of bias
Let the debate begin!1. Jimi Hendrix (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)
2. Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin)
3. Eddie Van Halen (Van Halen)
4. Brian May (Queen)
5. David Gilmour (Pink Floyd)
6. Eric Clapton (Cream / Derek and the Dominos)
7. Jeff Beck (The Yardbirds / The Jeff Beck Group)
8. Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
9. Stevie Ray Vaughan (Double Trouble)
10. Ritchie Blackmore (Deep Purple / Rainbow)
11. Chuck Berry
12. Carlos Santana (Santana)
13. Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne / Quiet Riot)
14. Slash (Guns N' Roses)
15. Pete Townshend (The Who)
16. Angus Young (AC/DC)
17. Duane Allman (The Allman Brothers Band)
18. BB King
19. Mark Knopfler (Dire Straits)
20. Alex Lifeson (Rush)
21. Kirk Hammett (Metallica)
22. Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
23. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
24. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
25. Yngwie Malmsteen
26. Joe Satriani
27. Steve Vai
28. Guthrie Govan (The Aristocrats)
29. Tosin Abasi (Animals as Leaders)
30. John Frusciante (Red Hot Chili Peppers)
31. The Edge (U2)
32. Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine / Audioslave)
33. Jerry Cantrell (Alice in Chains)
34. Kim Thayil (Soundgarden)
35. Kurt Cobain (Nirvana)
36. Mike McCready (Pearl Jam)
37. Lindsay Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac)
38. Johnny Marr (The Smiths)
39. Bernard Butler (Suede)
40. Graham Coxon (Blur)
41. Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead)
42. Noel Gallagher (Oasis)
43. Paul Weller (The Jam)
44. Mick Ronson (David Bowie & The Spiders from Mars)
45. Mick Jones (The Clash)
46. Steve Jones (Sex Pistols)
47. East Bay Ray (Dead Kennedys)
48. Greg Ginn (Black Flag)
49. Bob Mould (Hüsker Dü)
50. J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.)
51. Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones)
52. George Harrison (The Beatles)
53. John Lennon (The Beatles)
54. Neil Young
55. Rory Gallagher
56. Gary Moore (Thin Lizzy)
57. Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy)
58. Michael Schenker (UFO / Scorpions)
59. Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions)
60. Fast Eddie Clarke (Motörhead)
61. Mick Mars (Mötley Crüe)
62. Joe Perry (Aerosmith)
63. Ace Frehley (KISS)
64. Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
65. KK Downing (Judas Priest)
66. Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
67. Adrian Smith (Iron Maiden)
68. James Hetfield (Metallica)
69. Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)
70. Kerry King (Slayer)
71. Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
72. Scott Ian (Anthrax)
73. Andreas Kisser (Sepultura)
74. Dino Cazares (Fear Factory)
75. James "Munky" Shaffer (Korn)
76. Stephen Carpenter (Deftones)
77. Wes Borland (Limp Bizkit)
78. Daron Malakian (System of a Down)
79. Mick Thomson (Slipknot)
80. Synyster Gates (Avenged Sevenfold)
81. Matt Heafy (Trivium)
82. Herman Li (DragonForce)
83. Robert Fripp (King Crimson)
84. Steve Hackett (Genesis)
85. Frank Zappa
86. Peter Green (Fleetwood Mac)
87. Robin Trower
88. Paul Kossoff (Free)
89. James Dean Bradfield (Manic Street Preachers)
90. Leslie West (Mountain)
91. Steve Morse (Deep Purple / Dixie Dregs)
92. John McLaughlin (Mahavishnu Orchestra)
93. Allan Holdsworth
94. Buckethead
95. Paul Gilbert (Mr. Big / Racer X)
96. Nuno Bettencourt (Extreme)
97. Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society / Ozzy Osbourne)
98. Prince
99. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top)
100. Malcolm Young (AC/DC)