So did you vote for the next best thing? Van Halen?
Actually I did. I like all three but, being primarily a guitar player since 1979, I would argue that Eddie Van Halen catapulted guitar into a new era unlike the other two, Page and Slash.
Eddie brought a fabulous tone; pyrotechnics unlike anybody heard before with two handed tapping, hammer ons, pull offs; and fluid legato runs that would make Allen Holdsworth proud. And his rhythm comping is fabulous. His playing had an explosive spontaneity that was unmatched at the time. Nobody was playing the guitar like that until he came along. After Eddie, there really hasn't been anybody to turn everybody's heads around and styles to the same degree. I don't know one person who didn't hear him the late 70s and early '80 who wasn't in awe, like the style of music or not.
Page is phenominal particularly with composition and his solos were great blues-based expressions but nothing evolutionary.
Slash is not even in the same league as those two.
FYI, IMHO, the modern rock guitar had two great stepping stones: Hendrix and Van Halen. I love many players but those two guys redefined it for everybody else as far as I'm concerned.
And while I'm on a roll about to get flamed , for acoustic guitar the same turning point occured with Michael Hedges. I thought Leo Kottke had done it but Hedges was a genius on so many levels.
For bass, probably a toss up between anyone of the guys posting here.
