What parts of them influenced your playing and in what way?
My biggest influences are:
Paul Gilbert - Picking
Joe Satriani - Legato Playing
Jason Becker - Sweeping, harmonies etc
Yngwie Malmsteen - Neoclassical
Steve Vai - Phrasing, Odd Time Signatures

MAB, Jason Becker, Malmsteen (for his personality more than anything else), Rob Marcello, Akira Takasaki, Glen Tipton / K.K. Downing, and Chris Impellitteri.

haha. Yngwie is pretty hilarious. Every heard the "unleash the f*ing* fury" story?

Yep! That's a classic! Great article in Guitar World on Yngwie a while back. I think he's calmed down now these days.

Yeah haha, thats right it was guitar world wasn't it. I haven't seen it in a while. Yeah me too, although he'll never lose his attitude. Maybe some of his chops though :/

Buckethead - Hybrid Picking/Improvisation
Paul Gilbert - Legato
John Petrucci - Fast picking (in solos)
Jason Becker - Sweeping
Travis Stever - Experimental playing/Songwriting

I think he'll die with his boots on. He's already been playing for 35+ years, and he's broken his hand twice! He's faster now than he's ever been, IMO. Plus he uses super light strings and plays with a very light touch, so I think that will help him avoid hand problems as he gets older.

I love to see older players like Uli Jon Roth, who are up there in age, but can still rip it up!

Haha that is cool! Does Malmsteen use 8's?