50 Worst Guitar Solos

Written by Casper
Published August 11, 2004

At least this list had me laughing a few times. Some highlights:

  1. Magic Man by Heart (Soloist: Roger Fisher. Album: Dreamboat Annie. Year: 1976) — I shouldn't even have to explain this one. God, who on the planet hasn't been subjected to this grating instrumental break? As we all know, the heavy rockin' Wilson sisters influenced a legion of equally- feminine '80s copycats: Bon Jovi, Poison, Motley Crue, etc. ...
  2. Sucker In A 3-Piece by Van Halen (Soloist: Eddie Van Halen. Album: OU812. Year: 1988) — Sure, ol' Eddie has had his moments: he flaunts his nimble fingertips on early VH instrumentals like Cathedral and Eruption. Yet he's probably one of the worst group players in history. To anyone whose higher brain functions have developed beyond a sixth grade level, these aforementioned instrumentals must seem like empty, childish pleas for attention. Eddie is all about showy technique that elicits a lot of "Wow, dude's" from hyperactive, misguided suburban adolescents. But at least this kind of technically- obsessive masturbation was somewhat original for its time. On Sucker In A 3-Piece Eddie relies on hyperbolic whammy-bar hijinks without really "playing" much of anything. Unable to break out of the stylistic prison he locked himself in years before, he's seen here as just another aging rock virtuoso making stale rock- god gestures on yet another incredibly forgettable Van Halen album.
  3. Do You Feel Like We Do by Peter Frampton (Soloist: Peter Frampton. Album: Frampton Comes Alive. Year: 1976.) — I think this one's pretty obvious. Is it a guitar, a voice, or a combination of the two? Whatever it is, it just won't shut up. Didn't Babe Ruth use one of these devices for his famous farewell speech at Yankee Stadium? As far as failed experimental effects go, this voice- box gadget is the biggest loser of them all.
  4. Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd (Soloist: Gary Rossington, Ed King, Allen Collins. Album: Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd. Year: 1973.) — Unless you're Forrest Gump, this isn't much of a surprise. This impotent three- pronged hillbilly guitar attack is exhausting to say the least. "Well, damn, bitch! They fingers bled on that thar solo," Junior Samples says. Well, I slammed my fingers in a car door when I was seven. They bled. That wasn't too bright, and neither is the soloing on one of the most revered rock compositions in history. For a solo that's supposed to be akin to a spontaneous "backyard jam," it sounds forced and phlegmatic as hell. A couple of years before, Neil Young (Skynyrd's arch enemy) recorded the ideal blueprint for long- playing guitar sparring matches on Down By The River. The more you hear Free Bird the more evident it becomes how bereft of ideas these bloated, attitudinal hickoids really were.

Okay, I included the gratuitious Free Bird becuase I completely HATE that piece of garbage song. If I saw it walking across the street, I'd speed up.

Thanks to Shahin for the tip.

Keep reading for information and comments on this article, and add some feedback of your own!
Buy from Amazon.com
Frampton Comes Alive! Frampton Comes Alive!
Peter Frampton
Music,
OU812 OU812
Van Halen
Music,
Dreamboat Annie Dreamboat Annie
Heart
Music,
Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Music,

50 Worst Guitar Solos
Published: August 11, 2004
Type:
Section: Music
Filed Under: Music: Adult Alternative, Music: Alternative Rock, Music: Blues, Music: Classic Rock and Oldies, Music: Hard Rock, Music: Indie Rock, Music: Jam Band, Music: Jazz, Music: Latin, Music: News, Music: Pop, Music: Rock
Writer: Casper
Casper's BC Writer page
Casper's personal site
Spread the Word
Like this article?
Email this
Submit to del.icio.us Save to del.icio.us
RSS Feeds
All RSS Feeds (240+)
Comments on this article
BC articles by Casper
Music: Adult Alternative
Music: Alternative Rock
Music: Blues
Music: Classic Rock and Oldies
Music: Hard Rock
Music: Indie Rock
Music: Jam Band
Music: Jazz
Music: Latin
Music: News
Music: Pop
Music: Rock
All Music Articles
All BC articles
All BC Comments

Comments

#1 — August 11, 2004 @ 01:03AM — Mark Saleski [URL]

isn't the Magic Man solo the one where there are two intertwined leads that go in and out of "correct" harmony?

gees, i always kinda liked that.

#2 — August 11, 2004 @ 01:07AM — Mark Saleski [URL]

and good lord dude, i was about to go to bed...but you just HAD to go and post this, and now i've gotta wade through the pitchfork article (which is danged funny & entertaining)

#3 — August 11, 2004 @ 06:31AM — SFC SKI

Well, like most musical opinions, when he's right, he's right, when he's wrong, he's a jerk. I didn't agree with all of them, how did he miss the Cramps terrible "Save It" solo?

Still it made me laugh, thanks for the tip.

#4 — August 11, 2004 @ 11:30AM — JR

I'm not sure I agree with any of it. Mostly the writer comes off as more close-minded and intolerant than any of the musicians and fans he sterotypes.

Any excuse for a rant, I guess.

#5 — August 11, 2004 @ 12:02PM — Mark Saleski [URL]

seems like typical pitchfork media smug crap to me.

#6 — August 11, 2004 @ 14:01PM — Douglas Mays [URL]

hhhmmm...guitar solos. sometimes brilliant, sometimes a spooj that the band has to spend the rest of the song toweling up.

peaceloveguidance

#7 — August 11, 2004 @ 14:15PM — Eric Olsen

classic DM, I shall remember that!

#8 — August 11, 2004 @ 14:36PM — JR

hhhmmm...guitar solos. sometimes brilliant, sometimes a spooj that the band has to spend the rest of the song toweling up.

Sounds more like the song is over at that point. Wouldn't it be anti-climactic to continue?

#9 — August 11, 2004 @ 19:09PM — Douglas Mays [URL]

JR, one would hope so....

plg

#10 — October 4, 2004 @ 16:46PM — E Matthew Shelton [URL]

Man, this is getting my brain whirling on doing a "50 Worst Harmonica Solos" - certain "folk" artists immediately come to mind....

#11 — June 22, 2007 @ 19:58PM — sam

damn you!!!!!! eddie vanhalen is a frikin master he influenced a ton of guitarists in the 80s. And his solos are the work of a god! your just jealous u cant play them! or u obviosily listen to emo/alternative ****! now that is some piece of crap soloing in that type of music. Also how in the hell can u hate freebird especially the solo? it has been voted one of the greatest guitar solos in tons of different polls. i got one last thing to say too u BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

#12 — September 25, 2007 @ 16:14PM — IBIMW [URL]

YES!!! Freebird IS the worst solo in the universe!!

Want comments emailed to you? No spam, promise! Address:

Add your comment, speak your mind

(Or ping: http://blogcritics.org/mt/tb/18516)

Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read our comment policy.





Remember Name/URL?

Please preview your comment!

Fresh
Articles
Fresh
Comments