I could answer, but have alot to list and most are guitarists...so anyone have an opinion? Edward Van Halen is one of 'em.

Zach De La Rocha- Lyrics
Chris Cornell- Vocals
Tom Morello- Guitarist
Paul Oakenfold- Techno DJ

.

Yoshiki - X Japan (drums, keyboard/piano)

His musical composition is unmatched, IMO, and his drumming puts Neal Peart and Mike Portnoy to shame.



You've gotta be wild if you break your neck drumming, only to put on a neckbrace (see pic) and continue touring...

Melora Creager; cellist
Vanessa Mae; violinist
Akira Yamaoka; composer
Maria Callas, Amy Lee, Bob Cuccioli; vocalists

Sergei Rachmaninov- Pianist, Composer, made some of the greatest piano melodies of all time.(im a musician so that's why I appreciate that)
Piotr Ilich Tchaikovsky - Ditto.

Carlos Santana- Tha man if you're talking bout guitars.
Johnatan Davis- Lyric composer of one of the bands that changed rock in the 90's

Ruben - Leader of one of the greatest bands in LatinAmerican Rock, Cafe Tacvba, spanish speaking ppl may recall him.

Richard D James - Basically shaped the way electronica is made

Tom Jenkinson - pretty awesome bassist, at least for an IDM artist (I really don't know the standard for bass playing in other genres)
Here's a good sample

Damian Higgins - he's America's number 1 drum and bass DJ for a reason

Aaron Funk - I can usually listen to a song and tell what effects and distortion the music has been run through... not his stuff. That's an accomplishment, I reckon.

Richard -Rammstein -Guitarist.
OLiver-Rammstein-Bass
Flake-
oh...the whole Rammstein group!

Hendrix- Guitarist.

Maynard James Keenan - Vocals
Adam Jones - Guitarist
Danny Carrey - Drummer
Justin Chancellor - Bass
Thom Yorke - Vocals

Jonathan Davis - Vocal
TOny Iommi - Guitarist
Joey Jordison - Drummer
Jason Newstead - Bass
Billy Corgan - Vocals

Guitarist: Me.


Jk, I'm not that great at it.

I don't really think you can say there's a "best" musician, especially when it comes to guitar, drums, or bass, because there are so many different styles and techniques. For example, my siser's boyfriend is a guitarist, and he kicks my ass at acoustic fingerpicking, classical type stuff, but I'm a lot better than he is at improvising solos and metal riffs.

But, I'll list some guitarists I think are very talented:
Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
Kerry King/Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)
Jim Miner/Dan Palmer (Death by Stereo)
Jesper Stromblad/Bjorn Gelotte (In Flames)

Bassists:
Matt Freeman (Rancid)
Les Claypool (Primus)
Hunter (AFI)

Drummers:
Igor Cavalera (Sepultura)
Dave Lombardo/Paul Bostaph (Slayer)
Daniel Svensson (In Flames)

Eric Clapton is a great song writer and guitarist. I feel he has a lot of talent.

Also, Michael jackson. You gotta admit, as a performer and dancer and singer...wow! (im talking 80's jackson)

ShingoEX Wrote: You've gotta be wild if you break your neck drumming, only to put on a neckbrace (see pic) and continue touring...

That's the Japanese for ya...

Kirk Hammett - Guitar

Vocals - Dave Gahn (Depeche Mode)
Drums - Nicholas Barker (Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth)
General Programming - Richard James/Aphex Twin

Yo Yo Ma.

Rob Halford: Best vocalist ever.
George Harrison: Guitar
Joey Jordison: Drums
Lemmy Kilmister: Bass

I'm going to limit this to a top-ten list in the four categories I think matter most.

Guitarists:

Jeff Hanneman (Slayer)

Kerry King (Slayer)

Dimebag Darrell (Pantera/Damage Plan)

Zakk Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society)

Sean Martin (Hatebreed)

Alexi Laiho (Children of Bodom)

Jon Donais (Shadows Fall)

Tony Rombola (Godsmack)

Scott Ian (Anthrax)

C.J. Pierce (Drowning Pool)

Bassists:

Cliff Burton (Metallica)

Lemmy (Motorhead)

Robert Trujillo (Suicidal Tendencies/Ozzy Osbourne/Black Label Society/Metallica)

Tom Araya (Slayer)

Nikki Sixx (Motley Crue)

Geddy Lee (Rush)

Bob Zilla (Damage Plan)

Rex Brown (Pantera/Down)

Jennifer "Lady J" Arroyo (Kittie)

Gene Simmons (KISS)

Drummers:

Dave Lombardo (Slayer)

Sully Erna (Godsmack)

Vinnie Paul (Damage Plan/Pantera)

Joey Jordison (Slipknot)

Mike Bordin (Faith No More/Ozzy Osbourne/Black Sabbath)

John Tempesta (White Zombie/Rob Zombie)

Neil Peart (Rush)

Tommy Lee (Motley Crue)

John "Bonzo" Bonham (Led Zeppelin)

Craig Nunemacher (Black Label Society)

Vocalists:

Jamey Jasta (Hatebreed)

Dave Williams (Drowning Pool)

Tom Araya (Slayer)

Dave Mustaine (Megadeth)

Brian Fair (Shadows Fall)

Rob Halford (Judas Priest)

Howard Jones (Killswitch Engage)

Morgan Lander (Kittie)

Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy)

Corey Taylor (Slipknot/Stone Sour)

Bass - Les Claypool (Primus)

Vocals:
1.Burton C. Bell (Fear Factory)
2. Eddie Veder (Pearl Jam) (Yes even the songs where no one knows what he is saying)
3.James Labrie (Dream Theater)
4. Chuck Billy (Testament)
5. Phil Anselmo (Pantera...and only Pantera)

Guitar:
1. John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
2. Dimebag Darrell (Pantera/Damageplan)
3. Kirk Hammett (Metallica, BEFORE he got lazy)
4. Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory)
5. Zakk Wylde (Take your pick, he's a guitar god)

Bass:
1. John Myung (Dream Theater)
2. P-nut (311)
3. Rex (Pantera)
4. Christian Olde Wolbers (Fear Factory)
5. Tom Araya (Slayer)

Drums:
1. Dave Lambardo (Slayer)
2. Raymond Herrera (Fear Factory)
3. Vinnie Paul (Pantera/Damageplan)
4. Mike Portney (Dream Theater)
5. Chad Sexton (311)

Special Mentions:
-Jordan Rudess on keyboard (Dream Theater)
-Yoko Kanno (Anime composer for Escaflowne and Cowboy Bebop)
-Kenji Kawai (Composer of the Hellsing soundtrack amongst other Japanese movies)
-Richard Zander on keyboard (Evergrey)

GUITAR-
Lois Moreno
Yngwei Malmsteen
Joe Satriani
Steve Vai
Kirk Hammet
Eric Clapton
Jimi Hendrix

Guitarist: Randy Rhodes
Bassist:David Ellefson
Drummer: Tommy Lee
Vocals: Ronnie James Dio

The most skilled musician in my opinion is Trent Reznor. NIN's sound is just so unique, and it was his creativity that made it what it is.