Been playing for 6-7 years. Owned several amps (Marshall Valvestate stacks, and now i'm in to modeling amps such as the Line 6 Spider 212, and recently i've only been using the Line 6 Pro Pod Floorboard piped in to a monitor), and only one guitar over the years; a 1980s ebony Epiphone Explorer. I'm dying, and have always been dying to grab a new guitar.... Thinking of the Epiphone Black Beauty (heard it plays and sounds like a dream, on top of looking amazing), but not sure yet. I find the necks on Jackson guitars to be the smoothest. Always dreamed of owning a Les Paul.
I was self taught (still don't know how to read music, just learn by tabs), and progressed by starting on your simple Nirvana songs. I progressed in to Metallica, Guns and Roses, etc. For the past few years i've been very much in to Stevie Ray Vaughn, IMO the best guitarist of all time.
Haven't been in any bands yet, but i'd love to get the ball rolling in that department somehow.