although i don't listen to much mainstream or secular bands now a days, these musicians inspired me to originally start getting into music and are probably my all time favs at what they do.

drummers: i'd have to Agree with jhop22 that neil peart of rush, is the man. a phenomenal lyricist as well as the master at his craft as a percussionist. although i'd have to throw in t.d. benton of "white collar sideshow" as 2nd place.

guitarists: i'd have to Agree with lunaroseangel here as well, dave mustaine is excellent. not only in his lyrics, and vocals, but OBVIOUSLY for his Rad speed metal leads! i also would have to list scott ian of anthrax because he's just an overall fun guy to watch play guitar. he makes playing guitar even more appealing by how much fun he has playing it.

Bassists: i'd have to go with Les Claypool of (so many bands that i won't list them ALL) primus. and yet another member of rush, geddy lee, as a close 2nd.

vocalists: there are really to many to choose from, but if i had to limit it to one i would have to pick rob halford of judas priest.

but if i were to pick one sound artist who overall impressed me with their talent i think i'd have to choose trent reznor.

(moved post to favorite christian music artists)

having been an owner of RPG Makers 1 + 2 for playstation 1 + 2 i have attempted to put together several Christ Glorifying games.
although i must admit that when i first began such endeavors i found them to be filled with far to much proselytyzing for them to be taken as either serious, or enjoyable, let alone life applicable.
over time however i got accustomed to the software, and what points i really wanted to try to make, and eventually got a hold of a principle that Christ Himself used.
God most often Teaches us the Truth through story or narative.
it's not about going at people Preaching AT them about what's wrong or right.

is it wrong to put some overt lessons or blunt statements in the work?
absolutely not, but not at sake of sacrificing the story being told.
everyone can tell when something sounds corny or canned, and when someone is just trying to convince someone to see something from their point of view.
for some it may take several times to pick up on it, and others might see through it the first time.
it's not supposed to be about how sneaky or eloquent you speak, but rather about being Honest and Sharing what you Know to be the Truth from God, in a manner that is applicable to where people are at, and can relate to.

taking this into consideration, RPG's would be the ideal arena in which Christ Glorifying gaming should be placed.
i would have to Agree that most "christian" games that i have played are mainly just a bunch of bible verses or over proselytyzing efforts which continually repeat the same lessons over and over rather than introduce or discuss any other topics.
how many "christian" games for instance, has everyone here played where the whole game revolved around Ephesians 6?
or how many games claimed to be about Moses, or Noah, or another Patriarch only to have the game turn out to have absolutely nothing to do with them or the things they went through or did?

that all being said, probably the best Christ Glorifying game that i've ever played was a home made game by a fellow owner of RPG Maker for playstation.

the games he made were titled "Tsebaoth: the nurith wars".
(for those interested in more info in regards to this series, here is the game designers' website http://www.brandonmdennis.com/games.html )

it basically was an allegorical story surrounding King Davids' Great men. (do you guys remember them? the ones who slayed the giants and were renowned for many great feats?)
it also dealt with the power of the Words we speak, and putting Faith in what God says we can do if we only Believe and Trust in Him.

it was violent, although not gory.
although i don't personally understand this whole issue about non-violence, it seems more like people feel it's to taboo rather than something scripturally based.

i would have to at the same time wonder, how can a Disciple of Christ become a soldier then and go and fight in wars if he is not meant to view, read, or have anything at all to do with violence?
that just doesn't make sense.

someone else mentioned earlier about how hiding from the violence and darkness of the world we live in is like trying to pretend it's not real.
is it not just as harmful, if not more so, to go around teaching people this is the case?

just because a person is a Disciple of Christ does not mean they don't/won't ever experience and live in the darkness all around them in this world.
depending on how sheltered a persons life is will probably determine such opinions i suppose.

as for the whole "christian" music topic (although i Hope this doesn't come across as spam since it isn't on topic with the actual original thread) i would have to Agree that it has always been about the Message that is Preached in the lyrics that make music sinful or Obedient to Christ.
unless of course it is an instrumental piece where the whole purpose and goal of said musician(s) was to make it for an evil cause.

i attend a fellowship each week, and when there are special events going on that i am aware of to serve in some manner.
sometimes i attend a Bible study/home group as well.

i am currently reading "nightmare along pennsylvania avenue" by perry stone.
the most recent book i finished reading was "the bride collector" by ted dekker.
the next book i plan on reading is "angel time" by anne rice.