Eddie Van Halen's "Eruption" Tops Readers' List of the 50 Greatest Guitar Solos (edited title)

Guitar World ^ | September 19, 2013

[ConservativeStatement]

Who says lightning doesn't strike twice?

For the second year in a row, Eddie Van Halen has topped a major summer-long poll at GuitarWorld.com.

In 2012, readers crowned him the Greatest Guitarist of All Time. This year, one of his many six-string masterpieces, "Eruption," a wildly innovative instrumental track from Van Halen's self-titled 1978 album, was voted the Greatest Guitar Solo of All Time.

[dfwgator]

The out solo on Telegraph Road is his best work, IMHO.

[mountn man]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV6SmY04WdE

[montag813]

Speed and technical acumen does not make one the “greatest” guitarist anymore than Jackson Pollack’s frenetic attack of paint would elevate him to “greatest artist”. I was a huge VH fan and saw them many times. But this selection is preposterous.

[WayneS]

Wow. I haven’t heard that name in a long time. I had a couple of his albums many years ago - lost them somewhere along the way.

The brother of Rudolph Schenker of the Scorpions, and a better guitarist in my opinion.

[deadrock]

You are correct. Just because the radio is dominated by cRap and pop, doesn't mean there isn't good rock n roll being done.

Try The Mars Volta - De-Loused in the Comatorium or Coheed and Combria - The Afterman: Ascension.

[WayneS]

I won’t argue with that. Telegraph Road is probably my favorite Dire Straits song.

[sheana]

Yep.

[COBOL2Java]

This is a never-to-be-resolved question but my vote is Clapton’s second lead on Crossroads from the “Wheels of Fire” LP. I’ve heard it thousands of times and it still stops me in my tracks.

I'm with you there, but being a bassist, I have to confess I always listened to my other speaker on that particular song. :-)

I even saved up my money and bought an EB-3.

[WayneS]

I’m disappointed that Hound Dog Taylor’s “Give Me Back My Wig” didn’t even make the top 64.

[ConservativeStatement]

I saw that a couple of weeks ago. :-)

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Duane Eddy.
Rebel Rouser.

[dfwgator]

Best song ever with two solos by two different guitarists.

Henley’s “Dirty Laundry”, Joe Walsh and Steve Lukather.

And Lukather’s out solo on The Tubes’ “Talk to Ya Later”, is better than anything he did with Toto.

[tacticalogic]

Top 50 guitar solos of all time, and they missed Mason William's Classical Gas?

Somehow, that's just not right.

[ConservativeStatement]

Was “Layla” played by one or two guitarists?

[dfwgator]

Was “Layla” played by one or two guitarists?

It was two. You know, I always thought that song was a bit overrated. It's ok, but it never really did much for me.

[God luvs America]

1000000000%...

no one compares with the mighty Led Zeppelin..the fact Page was able to work his solos into the songs versus having them as songs themselves show the majesty of the band...here’s a compilation....listen to them live and they are 10x as powerful....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcIn4dG6fBc

[dfwgator]

I see EJ’s “Cliffs of Dover” is on the list, but IMHO “Zap” is his best solo.

[Hotlanta Mike]

Joe Bonamassa - Sloe gin @ Royal Albert Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1_6yCHnSI4&list=TLecplhhFwxiONaYTzifMQOCGZM3wk6lwm

Joe Bonamassa - Happier Times LIVE at Royal Albert Hall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf1nnEpA5fk

[Hoodat]

I wasn't a big Asia fan, but I do like the Yes album Drama which also has Howe on guitar and Geoff Downes on keyboard.

[roofgoat]

not saying it’s the top 10, but top 50 Warren Demartini’s intro and solo in “Lay it Down” is pretty damn good.