6. Yngwie Malmsteen
While the famed Swedish axe man played with early-‘80s metal bands Steeler and Alcatrazz, Malmsteen earned most of his acclaim as a solo artist. A true technician of the craft, Yngwie put out four solo records during the 1980s, showcasing his neoclassical style. Though Malmsteen never really enjoyed the mainstream success as some of his ‘80s metal contemporaries, within that community, he was highly regarded as one of the great guitarists of the genre. His playing is still influential and studied around the globe to this day.