In a competition that started out with 32 of metal's finest axe-slingers and shredders, and featured well over a million votes, late Pantera legend 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott has emerged victorious in Loudwire's Greatest Metal Guitarist tournament.
Where 32 once stood, only four remain. Our competition to name the Greatest Metal Guitarist is starting to wind down, and we've got four of metal's most respected guitarists all gunning for the title.
Late Pantera guitarist 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott claims yet another victory in our Greatest Metal Guitarist competition over one of his best friends, Zakk Wylde. Dime has been an early favorite since the beginning, defeating Dillinger Escape Plan shredder Ben Weinman and Korn's Brian 'Head' Welch before moving on against Wylde. The crunch-master moves on to the Semifinals.
In what was by far the most voted-upon poll of our Greatest Metal Guitarist competition so far, Slayer's Jeff Hanneman was able to edge out Avenged Sevenfold's Synyster Gates. A malfunction in the poll on Aug. 3 caused a slight issue, but we were able to save all of your votes before starting a fresh poll later that day.
We're into the Quarterfinals of our Greatest Metal Guitarist competition. Having started with 32 of metal's most talented shredders, we're now down to only eight. Our polls once again received hundreds of thousands of votes and the will of the fans has placed eight guitarists into the Quarterfinals.
Kirk Hammett took on Yngwie Malmsteen in a close match in Round 2, but when the polls closed, Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett was the last man standing. Hammett also defeated former Exodus band mate Gary Holt in Round 1 of our Greatest Metal Guitarist feature, but Hammett will be facing his toughest opponent yet in our Quarterfinals...
Pantera's 'Dimebag' Darrell Abbott was paired with Korn's Brian 'Head' Welch in Round 2 after both guitarists scored victories in our competition's first round. During this pairing, however, even Head himself campaigned for a Dimebag victory, which was achieved by a huge margin...
Competing with the almighty Randy Rhoads is no picnic. It'll take a truly special guitarist to defeat the late, great Rhoads, for the Ozzy Osbourne / Quiet Riot shredder has already eliminated Iron Maiden's Adrian Smith and Between the Buried and Me's Paul Waggoner by substantial margins...