Quote Originally Posted by MasterCylinder
Petrucci - Rudess - Portnoy ?
I wasn't talking about musicianship only. There's leadership, and there's influencial.

Rudess isn't leading yet, but he's a fine musician.

Portnoy more than Petrucci, as he lends his expertise to a number of projects and a number of musicians that look to him for his talent and leadership.

I considered Wilson on my short list, but decided he was too fringe at this point, in the overall prog world, so I left him off. But he certainly qualifies more than Rudess right now, and has been extrememly influencial in the less mainstream prog world. His sound is all over a number of other bands that he's worked with, who look to his vision and production leadership, and bands he hasn't worked with, including Anathema.

So I'm willing to add Wilson and Portnoy.