Top 10 Oldest Heavy Metal Guitarists Still Active Today
The oldest metal guitarists are living legends and examples of how far a musician can go in the genre. They were some of the most important figures in making metal what it is today and did so with a lot of consistency in the process. Furthermore, many of them are still going strong to this very day, still making new music and touring across the world, which is impressive and admirable.
This list goes in no particular order and is meant to celebrate the lives and careers of those who are still with us. Let’s not wait for a great musician’s passing to honor him or her when we can do it in life. If any musician is missing from this list, please forgive us, since it was probably an honest mistake. Without further ado, let’s begin.
1. Tony Iommi (born February 19, 1948)
The godfather of metal music. No list regarding the oldest metal guitarists can be complete without Tony Iommi. The Birmingham-born guitar player has been going strong since the late 60s, with a short stint on Jethro Tull and with his own band Earth, which would later on become Black Sabbath. As the saying goes, the rest is history.
Iommi has become known for inventing the playing style that would define metal, especially with the distortion. Furthermore, his songwriting abilities grew throughout the years, constantly reshaping the sound of Black Sabbath. And considering the several different singers and other musicians he had to work with, it is an impressive feat that he could come up with so many amazing records.
Iommi is a lot more than just “Paranoid“, “Iron Man“, or “Heaven and Hell“. He has written so many metal anthems that his entire career needs to be appreciated even more. And that’s saying a lot!
Glenn Tipton (born 25 October, 1947)
When discussing the oldest metal guitarists who are still alive, Glenn Tipton has to be mentioned. He has spearheaded Judas Priest‘s sound since the 70s, which has included a lot of changes throughout the years. In fact, it is thanks to Tipton and his former bandmate, K.K. Downing, and singer Rob Halford that Priest became the legendary entity that it is today.
Beyond his talents as a guitarist, the biggest example of consistency from Tipton has been the way he has adapted. Whether it’s bandmates leaving, the ever-changing musical landscape, or the band having to evolve musically, he has always been there for Judas Priest. He is the heart of the band and his legacy as one of the genre’s defining figures is more than assured.
Ritchie Blackmore (born 14 April, 1945)
There is a very good chance that Ritchie Blackmore wouldn’t be happy to be a part of a list regarding the oldest metal guitarists alive. Mainly because he doesn’t see himself as a metal guitarist. However, the Man in Black was instrumental in defining the genre and has been an eternal influence for a lot of people, which is something that needs to be valued.
When it comes to Blackmore, he is as important as he is infamous. His work with Deep Purple and Rainbow is legendary, establishing him as one of the greatest guitar players of all time. However, he has also become notorious for being quite demanding and mistreating his bandmates. His feud with Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan has become quite famous because of that.
He is still making music, especially when it comes to his folk music group, Blackmore’s Night. No matter what, he is still one of the genre’s most important and influential musicians.
Rudolf Schenker (born 31 August, 1948)
There are a lot of people who only know the Scorpions because of their 80s hits. However, one aspect that a lot of people don’t know is that the band has been around since the 60s. And that alone makes Rudolf Schenker one of the oldest metal guitarists alive.
Schenker formed the Scorpions in the late 60s and has been leading the band ever since, going through different lineups, changes in the music business, and evolving with the times. Moreover, his straightforward guitar playing would become the perfect complement for the amazing guitarists he would play next to, whether it’s Uli Jon Roth, Matthias Jabs, and his brother Michael.
To some degree, Rudolf Schenker is a bit underrated. He doesn’t get a lot of credit for keeping the Scorpions afloat through thick and thin. But his legacy with the German giants is timeless.
Wolf Hoffmann (born 10 December, 1959)
Much like Scorpions, a lot of people don’t know that Accept have been around since the late 60s, initially with the name Band X. And at the helm, there was guitarist Wolf Hoffmann, who definitely should rank among the oldest metal guitarists who are still going strong.
Hoffmann’s legacy in the genre doesn’t get a lot of recognition. Most of the German heavy and power metal scene would be shaped by what he accomplished in the early 80s with Accept. Songs like “Breaker” and “Fast as a Shark” were somewhat ahead of their time and is mostly due to Hoffmann‘s abilities as a guitarist and songwriting talents.
Furthermore, the 2010s saw the band making a massive comeback with American vocalist Mark Tornillo. Hoffmann continues to be the sole constant during all of these different eras of the band, offering a fascinating mixture of metal and some of his classical influences. Definitely a one-off when it comes to metal guitarists.
Mick Mars (born May 4, 1951)
A lot of people don’t know that Mick Mars was already in his thirties when he started to thrive with Motley Crue in the 80s. That alone makes him one of the most peculiar examples of the oldest metal guitarists on this list. Be that as it may, there is no denying that his success speaks for himself.
One of the main songwriters of the band, he has been a key element regarding the Crue‘s success and their sound would be vastly different without him. Even underrated productions, such as the 1994 self-titled album with singer John Corabi, wouldn’t be the same without Mars, which is why he needs to be appreciated a lot more.
K.K. Downing (born 27 October, 1951)
The other half of Judas Priest‘s legendary guitar rapid fire (pun intended) couldn’t be missing from this list. K.K. Downing is one of the oldest metal guitarists who are still alive and his strong riff work was a major aspect of the band’s notorious success. His contributions, coupled with Tipton’s own input, made them one of the genre’s defining duos, often regarded as downright the best to ever grace metal.
It is hard to quantify how much Downing has brought to the table. Perhaps the biggest example of his genius is the fact that Judas Priest changed its sound time and time again, with the guitarist still delivering masterful performances. An ability to adapt is something that is always important and Downing had that in spades. One of the genre’s ultimate guitar heroes.
Uli Jon Roth (born 18 December, 1954)
Not only one of the oldest metal guitarists still alive, but also one of the most influential and underrated at the same time. Uli Jon Roth is mostly known for his contributions with the Scorpions in the 70s, adding a degree of scope and artistic expression that the band perhaps didn’t have before and after. His intricate and expressive guitar playing also made him one of the godfathers of neoclassical metal, if you are interested in that.
But Uli Jon Roth is even more than that. His band Electric Sun released a couple of records in the 80s that deserve a lot more attention. Furthermore, he has been making solo albums to this very day, constantly challenging himself and experimenting with different music styles. He is one of the genre’s most gifted guitarists and a very unique figure as well.
Alex Lifeson (born August 27, 1953)
Arguably, the most interesting figure among the oldest metal guitarists, mainly because of his impact on the genre. Alex Lifeson is often credited, alongside his band Rush, as the godfather of progressive metal and it makes a lot of sense. This group managed to unite proto-metal influences with prog rock, thus leading to the legendary 70s streak of albums from the Canadian legends.
As far as Lifeson goes, he has evolved and adapted throughout the years with Rush. When the band was at its most progressive, he delivered some of the most intricate and ambitious guitar parts of the 70s. And later on, when the band simplified their sound in the 80s and 90s, he managed to shine as well. Sure, it was a lot more subtle and tasteful in terms of execution, but it still proved how gifted he is as a guitarist.
Much like his band, Lifeson never fully gets the recognition he deserves. We’re so happy that he managed to have the career that he had and how he is still going strong to this very day.
Michael Schenker (born 10 January, 1955)
Now that we have talked about Rudolf Schenker, it’s time to give the spotlight to his brother, Michael. The two siblings played dual guitars during the first two albums of the Scorpions when Michael was offered the chance to join British band UFO after playing a show together in Germany. This would begin a long association with that group, to the point that the 70s Schenker era of UFO is widely regarded as the band’s absolute peak.
After a brief stint with the Scorpions where he recorded “Lovedrive“, Michael Schenker started to move with his own solo band, crafting some truly amazing records. 1982’s “Assault Attack” is a timeless classic of 80s metal, which deserves a lot of attention. And the legendary guitarist has continued to deliver great music with multiple projects, to the point that he recently delivered a new album this year, “Don’t Sell Your Soul“.
Moreover, Schenker‘s swift and technical abilities as a guitarist are legendary. He is quite admired by his fellow colleagues and rightfully so. One of the oldest metal guitarists and also one of the most influential.
