quote:

Originally posted by mark f:
Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music was an awesome guitar player. I love his work, especially on Country Life ("The Thrill of It All", "All I Want is You", "Prairie Rose", etc.), but Stranded's "Amazona" might contain his most intensely original guitar solo, something which Jonny Greenwood might have been taking to heart before he recorded "Paranoid Android".

Yo're probably right, Mark, and let's not forget the solo that bridges the "noisy" and "quiet" parts of "Mother of Pearl"

George Harrison on "Wah Wah".
His slide playing improved with age. Too bad most of it can be found in his later mediocre LPs.

Eddie Van Halen- eruption

Zappa - Peaches En Regalia

This is a very tough question. I can't nail it to one specific solo.

I like it when a solo does the unexpected. Frank Zappa used to talk about solos which are really 'stinkin'.

My favourites are -

1. Mr Bungle - 'Egg' (guitar by Trey Spruance)
Trey Spruance launches a horrific burst of feedback and high-pitched disonance over some of most unwell chords I've ever heard. It's not technical, but it's spot on for the song. Melodic brutality of the highest order. So horrid it sends shivers down my spine.

2. Fudge Tunnel 'Sunshine of your love' (guitar by Alex Newport)
A rare case of a cover version being better than the original - and this is CREAM! Alex Newport's solo is a literal wall of noise. Heavily effected with massive delay and distortion, it sounds like Alex Newport was violently raping his guitar. Fudge Tunnel emphasise the sheer weight of Clapton's classic riff and murder it under a barrage of concrete dropped from 3,000 feet. Great fun.

3.Ozric Tentacles 'Ayurvedic' (guitar by Ed Wynne)
Ed Wynne doesn't let up throughout the whole track. It sounds like he was completely emersed in the music. He improvises through jazz noodling, asian melodies, space-rock and reggae flawlessly. His complete control of sound is inspiring and original. His use of effects is incredible. A VERY underrated guitarist.

4. Steve Reich/Pat Metheny - 'Electric Counterpoint' (guitar by Pat Metheny)
Steve Reich's minimalist composition is masterfully implemented by Mr Metheny on 13 guitars. Not a guitar solo in the traditional sense, but all the more impressive for it. Sonic bliss. The Orb subsequently sampled Electric counterpoint on ambient anthem 'Little fluffy clouds'. If you haven't heard Electric Counterpoint, find it.

5. Kirk Hammett 'guitar solo' (Live - End of Welcome Home/Sanitarium)
I'll get into trouble for this one! You can find this solo on a rare vinyl EP from Metallica's '6 and a half year anniversary boxset'. OK - so Hammett isn't the most wonderful guitarist in the world, but his wah-effected trem-dives are wonderful - SERIOUSLY! His guitar wails in pain and crashes like a nuclear explosion.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Duncan Black,

I'm very partial to Stephen Malkmus guitarwork on 'One Percent of One'...one of the few 5-minute + guitar solos I can listen to without getting bored once.