should i be a lead or rhythm guitarist?

Lead, then.

Lead is usually the solo, or soloist, in a band with 2 or more guitarists.

SRV and Eric Clapton were not lead guitarists in their main bands, they were "just" the guitarists.

All lead guitarists can play good rhythm, which is what they play for most of a song. Some rhythm players can do a solo, or a "lead". If it's a "power trio", you do both, all the time. SRV was a powerful "chord lead" player.

If you have two guitars, the thing can really get legs, and both allow some breathing room, without loosing drive.

In my case,in endless hours of practicing, and playing what I could with others, I always tried to learn from better players. Learned chords, open chords, barre chords, chord patterns, transposing on the fly. Power chords came before I knew what they were called, by learning Chuck Berry stuff. It got to where I could do it like breathing, fast, smooth, crunchy if needed, never "hey, look at me". A couple of years in, then I got a nod from the man to take a "ride", or a solo. I was so friggin' ready.

Where's the lead guitarist in this one?... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5S2vyUd6vF4 ...

If I played behind that sax player, I'd yell "Do it again!" at the end of that solo, while I smiled a bunch, next to the piano player... Or, near the end of the song, we go "Do that solo again, man!!!!" Pure joy....

Should you be a rhythm or lead guitarist? A good guitarist can be either. A guitarist is a guitarist. Lead vs rhythm guitar is the part you play on a particular song. At best, it's a job description for a position in a band.

Rhythm is an essential part of learning to play guitar. It would be a foolish mistake to aspire to playing lead guitar without first knowing how to play rhythm. So the short answer to your question is: both.