10 Most Underrated 80s Metal Guitarists Who Deserved Way More Credit

Everybody knows Eddie Van Halen, Randy Rhoads, Kirk Hammett and Dave Mustaine. But behind the biggest names of 1980s metal were guitarists who were every bit as talented, inventive and technically impressive—yet never received the same level of recognition. In this video, we're counting down 10 of the most underrated 80s metal guitarists who deserved way more credit. From Reb Beach of Winger and Japanese guitar legend Akira Takasaki of Loudness, to George Lynch of Dokken and Warren DeMartini of Ratt, these players brought incredible technique, songwriting and personality to the guitar. We'll also look at Dan Spitz of Anthrax, Andy LaRocque of King Diamond, Alex Skolnick of Testament, Chris Poland of Megadeth, Jeff Watson of Night Ranger, and Tony MacAlpine. Some were overshadowed by their bands' reputations. Others were pushed aside by bigger guitar heroes. And some simply never received the mainstream recognition their playing deserved. These are the guitarists whose talent was hiding in plain sight. Which guitarist on this list deserved the most recognition? Did we leave out an underrated 80s metal guitar hero? Let us know in the comments. And if you love classic rock, 80s metal, forgotten guitar heroes and the hidden stories behind the music, subscribe to Rock and Roll Classic for more deep dives into rock history. #80sMetal #MetalGuitar #GuitarHeroes #HeavyMetal #RockHistory #80sRock #MetalHistory #ClassicMetal #GuitarLegends #RockGuitar