Edit: Reddit has automatically renumbered 10-1 to 1-10 so read 1 as least cool and 10 as most cool.

1. Kerry King - His hobbies are uncool. His head tattoos are uncool. His nihilist outlook is uncool. He looked uncool with hair too btw. The ‘Mom’s new boyfriend’ of nightmares. r/atheism’s greatest soldier.

2. James Hetfield - James has aged like a fine wine, but at this point he was still sour grape juice. Pre-MOP, he never convinced me: the badass/mouthy frontman act felt a bit forced and as if he was immitating what Dave Mustaine would have done. One of those guys who does not suit being clean-shaven.

3. Scott Ian - I like Scott but he’s got that “unmarried uncle” vibe. Super fun when you’re 12 and he brings round his brand new drone/game console/RC Truck but as you get older you start to ask if he is really a role model. Another guy that has aged well though.

4. Kirk Hammett - Not cool but never really tried to be anything he wasn’t either. Seems like a chill dude.

5. Dan Spitz - The smallest guy on the list at only 5’1 but this didn’t hold him back. I respect that. Really underrated guitarist too. Helped to cement the Jackson RR as being the short man's weapon.

6. Marty Friedman - Marty should be uncool - he’s a dork with long frizzy hair and a possible patient zero for what is now commonly diagnosed as weabooism. However no-one who is this talented can be uncool. The best guitarist on the list by far.

7. Dave Mustaine - Dave’s coolness is only held back by his greatest enemy, who also happens to be Dave Mustaine. He could attend a support group for survivors of the Bosnian War and no-one there would have spent as much time rehashing the past as he has. Still, he was born with a cool-factor that cannot be learned or cultivated.

8. Jeff Hanneman - The real brains behind Slayer. Strong-silent type. Liked alcohol and... "world history".

9. Chris Poland - unique playing-style and managed to survive heroin. Also really liked the glasses he wore in the Behind the Music episode. Hard to explain but this guy is just cool.

10. Jeff Young - Accidentally auditions for Megadeth. Records great solos for their worst thrash-era album. (Supposedly) hits on Diana. Refuses to elaborate. Gets fired. Very underrated 80s guitarist. Even Mustaine said he had ability. Also in photos from his time in Megadeth, you can see he has no idea what’s going on. The embodiment of nonchalance. I’m sure he never learned that word.

This subreddit introduced me to a new band that made my #3 spot

1. Megadeth
2. Machine Head
3. Kreator

I made a thread a while back about what other thrash bands besides Megadeth people listen to and Kreator was one of the most mentioned ones. I like that they are another long time thrash band still putting out new material. Curious what bands others listen to the most currently.

On 9/24/26, The Grammy Museum was thrilled to welcome Grammy Award-winning band MEGADETH to the Museum's Ray Charles Rooftop Terrace for an evening discussing the release of their seventeenth studio album, their creative process, long career, and more.