So... have we switched from 'guitar heroes' to 'any famous people at all?'
Because if someone's referred to as a 'guitar hero,' they must be good. Period. Not that 'guitar hero' isn't a stupid phrase that never should've been popularized, or anything, but still. Saying you can solo better than Neil Young is like saying you can beat Alton Brown at football. Yeah, the man's a professional, but that's not his thing at all.
I simply trying to separate Hammet, Mustaine, Clapton, Gilmour, Hendrix, Slash, etc. Guys that are known for playing great. Not just guys that play the guitar. {censored}, Eddie Vedder plays the guitar. I would think most would know what I was trying to get at.
But, yes, it seems people are just picking some popular player. I hate the term Hero as well, but I could not think of any other term that would get the type of guitarist I meant.