Hey Marty! Let me start by telling you something that you've heard a million times. You are one of the greatest guitarists of all time and a true inspiration to ANY musician, regardless of the instrument he or she plays. You are not afraid to experiment and to stand up for your love of music, which transcends any labels, limitations, and clichés. Pop, Enka, or metal - your skill and creativity is evident in all these styles. Now to my question: I noticed that hide (Hideto Matsumoto, R.I.P) of the legendary band X-Japan is not mentioned in the list of your favorite guitarists. What do you think of him or the band? Personally, I think that he was an amazing guitarist with incredible sense of melody and precision. Like you, in many ways, he was not afraid to experiment. Whether it was with early speed metal riffing or later alternative rock and pop ballads, he was always ready to incorporate new ideas and emotion. Every time I hear the "Endless Rain" guitar solo, with its dual guitar harmony and its emotional intensity, I have a tear in my eye. You once said in an interview that your goal as a guitarist is to match the human voice with your instrument. I believe he succeeded, in many of his songs. Please reply with your thoughts on this topic.

I`m a huge fan of X-Japan, and have the pleasure of jamming with Pata quite often. I believe X-Japan was great because of the sum of all parts put together. All the unique personalites in the band and of course Yoshiki`s unique guidance and musicality. You can get a good idea of Hide`s charisma by looking at any of his solo videos.