When I was 15 (2005), I saw someone playing a Blink 182 song. I looked pretty easy, so I tried it and I've been playing ever since.

System of a Down in Calgary, Canada in 2006

Guitars:
ESP Eclipse II,
Fender Telecaster,
Schecter C-7 Custom,
Ibanez RG.

Amp & FX:
Engl Thunder 50 Head,
Engl STD 2x12 Cab,
Orange PPc 112 Cab,

Ibanez TS-9 Overdrive,
TC Electronic Flashback Delay,
EH Small Clone Chorus

Interface & Software:
Focusrite Saffire Pro 24 DSP, Logic Pro 9, Pro Tools 9

I grew up in the Nu Metal era. So it was Linkin Park, Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, Korn, P.O.D. and System of a Down for me. At about 16 I got into heavier stuff like Lamb of God, As I Lay Dying, Trivium and Children of Bodom. From there I explored just about everything from Black Metal to Jazz and Electronica. Now, I'd say my main influences are: Devin Townsend, Arjen Lucassen, Jari Maenpaa, Mikael Akerfeldt and Jeff Loomis

Fading Reign