“Brighton Rock” should have been final four. Brian May is a king amongst men on guitar. The live version is awe-inspiring. Especially considering the time it was recorded. Most people thought that there were multiple guitarists playing. True master. I miss my Digitech Echo-Plus.
Where’s Zappa on the list?
Hands down Lindsey Buckingham playing “I’m So Afraid” on their “The Dance” album. Awesome.
“ ‘Free Bird’ was actually one of the first songs we ever wrote,” says guitarist Gary Rossington. “Allen [Collins] had the chords for the pretty part in the beginning, two full years, but Ronnie [Van Zant] kept saying that because there were too many chords he couldn’t find a melody for it. We were just beginning to write and he thought that he had to change with every chord change.
“Then one day we were at rehearsal and Allen started playing those chords, and Ronnie said, ‘Those are pretty. Play them again.’ Allen played it again, and Ronnie said, ‘Okay, I got it.’ And he wrote the lyrics in three or four minutes—the whole damned thing! He came up with a lot of stuff that way, and he never wrote anything down. His motto was, ‘If you can’t remember it, it’s not worth remembering.’
Terry Kath “25 or 6 to 4” or “I’m a Man”. Don’t take my word for it ask Jimi Hendrix.
I am probably as big a VH fan as anyone on this board but I have to question this one. As a homer, I love to see my favorite guy get the accolades but there are others that are better. EVH has done better (see the intro to Mean Street).
It would be hard to dispute that Eruption is probably the most INFLUENTIAL solo, however. The effect that one minute and 42 second piece of playing had on the rock music world and an entire generation of players and bands at that time is mind blowing. It changed the game.
My faves...
David Gilmour “Time”
Steve Lukather “Rosanna”
Steely Dan “Kid Charlemagne” (Larry Carlton?)
“Eruption” is good, but I wouldn’t put it at number one, even though I’m a huge EVH fan and took up guitar because of him.
My personal favorite solo is the one in Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody”, which made #9 on this list. And I’d put the first solo in Pink Floyd’s “Dogs” as number two. Well, at least today I would. :)
It’ll never win an award but Clapton’s solo on the Michelob version of After Midnight is a little nugget of perfection:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwxPM_jpNA0
Eruption. Aptly named. I was a senior in HS when that came out. My buddy had a black Trans Am, installed a killer sound system. We’d take the t-tops out and drive around all night drinking with the stereo wide open. I attribute my partial hearing loss to that Album.
But, I’ve always been a Hendrix fan. I know it’s not for everybody but he re-invented the guitar as far as I’m concerned.
Voodoo Child!!! #1 for me!
Bill Clinton’s Eruption is in the news again with an ex...
Best guitar solo? Floyd Cramer “Last Date”!
Prince’s out solo on “Purple Rain” belongs there....I remember the first time I heard it, my jaw just dropped because I had no idea that guy could play guitar like that.