[throwaway1004]

>I don't think I can name a single one known to play solid state amps.

Dimebag Darrell and Buckethead are two names who come to mind, favouring the even response of solid state over the more-dynamic valve amps. If we include pre-amplification such as guitar pedals, solid state is everywhere - a DS1 or a Rat gives that even response for big gnarly cold distortions. Then there's the Boss HM pedal which spawned a whole genre of it's own when players used it as a pre-amp for that unique "chainsaw" sound.

So, you're right that most players opt for valves at the amplification stage, but solid state is all over guitar music.