Ok Danny C. - your point is well taken; I'm sure if I heard EVH now, after having grown up, the many parts of my amygdala (e.g. evocative emotions of youth) would not light up as they were trained when this guy was 'it' for young guitar players.

I'm convinced that many people like certain artists and songs not for the inherent musicality of them, but for the memories they evoke, at a time they were more 'easily influenced' by pop culture and peers as much as the melody,harmony,lyrics, rhythm combinations.

So all that said - who were some of your early favorite artists, guitar or otherwise ?