This guy is IMO the best guitarist of my generation:

[bombtek]

Was definitely recognized as a GREAT guitarist....but again IMO is SO much better than any of the big names that got more accolades. NOBODY that I've ever heard has ever played with as much feel, finesse and ease all while shredding at very fast speeds with fantastic note articulation.

Nuno Bettencourt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioBy875IEwM

[dannyr]

Nuno is a great guitar player!

[Axewielder]

And what's even more amazing is he has the distinction of being in the very exclusive category of 80's shredders featured on the Time Life Best of Soft Rock Collection - The Best Soft Rock Hits From The '70s and '80s! You late night TV infomercial-watching insomniacs out there know what I'm talking about. CD 10 - track 13.

http://timelife.com/products/the-best-of-soft-rock

[tomanyjacksons]

Nuno rocks. What was it, everybody said he was able to do all of the awesome lead work because he had so much time in the studio? So he started playing all of his leads back to back when it was time for "Nuno Bettencourt on guitar....." That impressed the hell out of me. I thought our generation had a lot of great guitar payers. Nuno and Reb are 2 of my favorites.

[Bert]

I love his palm muting technique.

[bombtek]

His rhythm playing impresses me just as much as his leads. A lot of other players incorporate fills in their rhythm playing as well but none I can think of do it with the style and taste that Nuno does.

[jdr94]

yeah as much as i disliked extreme his skills are undeniable. just as tomanyjacksons mentioned, are the skills of reb. while were in that time era dave the snake is a great player

[Radiohead]

Great player. Live in Boston is a great watch for anyone.

[FloydRose4Prez]

Yeah, I'm a fan...

[veemagic]

Nuno is definitely one of the most overlooked "best" to come out of that era for sure. Reb is another. When I think about a category like that, Vito always comes to mind. For me he has all the same things you find in Nuno.

[BLOOD SPLATTER]

GREAT player....not the most approachable dude!!

[Dog Boy]

I always wondered why he wasn't ever on the G3 tours. Killer player.

[daisp]

One of the very best for sure...tasty player

[shramiac]

Genius player and writer......I still for some reason find Extreme one of those bands that "you have to be in the mood for" to listen to???

[jgcable]

I don't think that either Nuno or Reb were overlooked. They were on the cover of just about every metal magazine back in the 80's. They have numerous instructional video's and endorsements and they have hit songs and albums and they are still both relevant after all these years. Nuno is in Rihanna's band.
Both great players with completely different techniques. Great writers. Really great.
Regarding being the best guitarist in your generation... that's subjective but they are certainly up there with guys like Steve Vai, George Lynch, Warren Demartini, EVH, Jake E Lee, Randy Rhoads, Mick Mars, Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen etc... There were so many great players at that time its hard to list them all.

Nowadays guys like Guthrie Govan are blazing new trails. He is so amazing and so versatile it almost doesn't seem fair.