For me it was something of a negative thing - I won't particularly elaborate - but I went through a great deal of depression about two and a half years ago. I had played guitar ages ago but I hadn't liked it and subsequently forgot everything. So I started again from scratch, this time working it all out on my own and teaching myself technique, style, etc. The ability to be able to escape my life when it got too awful, and to go somewhere else when I was playing, was wonderful. I know this sounds corny but when I'm playing I can forget everything that's bad. Which is why 95% of everything I play is my own music. To be able to express my emotions through music is a great thing. So there we have it - not to emulate any established guitarist, but to escape from pain and capture my feelings in songs.