Originally Posted by interviewer02

My mind drifted off at work tonight and I started thinking about all of my favorite musicians. Guys like Schuldiner, Hetfield, Akerfeldt, Suicemez(sp), Maynard & Carrey, Thordenal & Haake, Rienert, Hoglan, and the list goes on an on.

Anyways my point is that almost all of my favorite musicians aren't virtuosos, and many virtuoso musicians that I've tried to get into aren't very fun for me to listen to past the point of me saying "wow, I can't believe he actually played that"

Can being a virtuoso actually in some ways hinder your ability to write well because of the shift of focus from writing a pleasing song to showing off your ability at your instrument? I think its debatable, I know there are virtuosos out there who write amazing stuff, and others who I wouldn't like at all, but what do you guys think?

What virtuoso musicians out there do you guys like/dislike, and why?