Top 50 Worst Guitar Solos of the Millennium

[flyweil2]

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/top/solos/

#28 "Machine Messiah" by Yes
Soloist: Steve Howe
Album: Drama
Year: 1980

[cinderella]

43. "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd
Soloist: David Gilmour
Album: The Wall
Year: 1979


Damn! That's one of my favorite guitar solos. Sheeeeesh!!! :crybby:

Wonder what's on his favorite list?

[brotherofmine]

39. "Dazed and Confused" by Led Zeppelin
Soloist: Jimmy Page
Album: Led Zeppelin
Year: 1969


Sacralige I love that solo.

[Scooty]

#39 'Dazed and Confused
Soloist: Jimmy Page
Album:Led Zeppelin
Year: 1968

#11 "Willie The Pimp
Soloist: Frank Zappa
Album: Hot Rats
Year: 1969


Hold me back....I swear to gawd this is bunk.....Im fightin' mad right now...

this guy is obviously a very frustrated shi*ty guitar player whose jealousy is satiated by putting down superior, intelligent guitar players....

Scoot

[gt76yesman]

I would have thought all of mine would have populated this field. :lol:

Same sh_t, different list. Funny how some songs can make the best and worst lists......

Glendo

[Timmo]

OK, this just shows that music writers are all talentless idiodic soulless douchebags.

42. "Cold Shot" by Stevie Ray Vaughan
Soloist: Stevie Ray Vaughan
Album: Live Alive
Year: 1986

Okay, GIT students, here's the song and solo transcribed: Got somethin' cold somethin', yank, yank, yank, moan, plod, plod, moan, yank, yank. Overrated City, pal. Vaughan solos rarely varied; he used the same accents, and always soloed for the same egregious length of time. If this is a blues guitarist playing with utmost muscle and conviction, then evidently no one's ever witnessed Albert Collins or Mike Bloomfield play blues guitar. Vaughan actually did flirt with brilliance on Bowie's Let's Dance-- he actually showed creativity and restraint. But then I guess he decided he was gonna become the next Jimi Hendrix. Known more for his tone than anything else, Stevie Ray is responsible for influencing legions of solo- happy Texas- style blues guitarists (Ian Moore, Jonny Lang, et. al.) who need a ----load of notes to get the job done. Funny thing is how old bluesmen like Jimmy Reed and John Lee Hooker were able to say so much more with much less technical prowess and mere handfuls of notes.

28. "Machine Messiah" by Yes
Soloist: Steve Howe
Album: Drama
Year: 1980

Yes, anyone? Please, please, no. This prog-rock abomination was probably shipped straight to the 99- cent discount bins. Even hardcore Yes fans balked at this one, I think. This most crass example of British science- rock sounds as brittle and uninviting as ever. Here, Howe displays his turgid classico- metal style over frigid, abrupt time signatures and chord changes made by a lot of fusty Brits too technically- accomplished for their own good. Of course, Howe's also responsible for that triad intro to "Roundabout"-- the one that every music- store guitarist feels compelled to add to their litany of over- recycled licks. This is rock guitar completely stripped of its sexuality. Can you imagine f*cking to this?

11. "Willie the Pimp" by Frank Zappa
Soloist: Frank Zappa
Album: Hot Rats
Year: 1969

Zappa's certainly come up with some tasty guitar excursions ("Transylvania Boogie," "My Guitar Wants to Kill Your Mama"). But on "Willie the Pimp," Captain Beefheart does his Howlin' Wolf thing for a couple of minutes before allowing Zappa to launch into a grueling 7+ minute blues yank- off. Conventional and repetitive, this kind of blatant disregard for economy would influence a lot of really bad extended soloing in the years to come.

TIM
Venice, CA

[brotherofmine]

3. "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl" by Ten Years After
Soloist: Alvin Lee
Album: Ssssh
Year: 1969
2. "Free Bird" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
Soloist: Gary Rossington, Ed King, Allen Collins
Album: Pronounced Leh-Nerd Skin-Nerd
Year: 1973

God these are also classics! I reckon this guy only knows 50 lead solos somone has already done the best so he repeats the same list, switches the order around and there is his list. I mean if you look in the top fifty lead solos are ther truly any awful ones there and if there were would we know the songs in the first place!

[Timmo]

I can't believe he would trash SRV, Steve Howe, Frank Zappa and Robert Fripp (I didn't post that one, because the one he picked IS kind of lame) but DOESN'T metion Neil Young's INTERMINABLE one-note guitar solo from "Down By The River."

Ah, well.

TIM
Venice, CA

I'M STILL STEAMED ABOUT WHAT HE WROTE ABOUT SRV! I'm used to attacks on Steve and Yes and prog in general, but STEVIE RAY???

[souldreamer]

Hmm, yea this guy doesnt really have a clue. I can't believe how many good solos are trashed on this list. I suppose he'd rather hear some crappy punk guitar solo or something.

[Rick N Backer]

Tosser.

[cinderella]

25. "Hold On Loosely" by .38 Special
Soloist: Donnie Van Zant
Album: Wild Eyed Southern Boys
Year: 1981

21. "Tush" by ZZ Top
Soloist: Billy Gibbons
Album: Fandango
Year: 1975

And the knife plunges deeper....

[JaneEyre]

Anyone who trashes SRV obviously needs a swift kick to the head. Wanker.

[pixiedave]

although many of these are on my top guitarr solo list, i <putting on asbestos suit> i have to basically agree with his comments about srv. I mean i loved watching the man play, and was driving away from alpine valley after seeing him and clapton, when the news about the chopper crrash came on. But a decade down the line, it does all sound the same.

[JaneEyre]

although many of these are on my top guitarr solo list, i <putting on asbestos suit> i have to basically agree with his comments about srv. I mean i loved watching the man play, and was driving away from alpine valley after seeing him and clapton, when the news about the chopper crrash came on. But a decade down the line, it does all sound the same.
Maybe you need an ear replacement? :thinking:

[PO]

Can you imagine f*cking to this?

Well, I'll get back to you.

[JaneEyre]

Well, I'll get back to you.
Responding to your own posts? Maybe you need a finger replacement.

[stevepenn]

Okay, wow, I missed the sign that took us on a 90-degree turn off the topic highway.

Meanwhile, back at da thred, I say:

You just cain't dis SRV on the lead front. That's, well, crazy. He may not be the most inventive, but he does smoke. But the bigger point is that the guy who put this list together is, clearly, an idiot.

steve

[JaneEyre]

You just cain't dis SRV on the lead front. That's, well, crazy. He may not be the most inventive, but he does smoke. But the bigger point is that the guy who put this list together is, clearly, an idiot.

steve

Agreed on all points. Plus, to borrow a term from the idiot above, SRV's music is excellent for f*****g. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

[soulsearcher]

this guy must be kidding!

let it rain is #1?
do you feel like i do by frampton? a classic!

this person is an idiot.

[1yesfan]

Someone here said that SRV a decade later, it all sounds the same. man cant hat be said by ANYONE non yes fan about the Yes sound SRV was agreat, I am saf that I did not get into him till he had passed.

[pixiedave]

Someone here said that SRV a decade later, it all sounds the same. man cant hat be said by ANYONE non yes fan about the Yes sound SRV was agreat, I am saf that I did not get into him till he had passed.
The difference is a saw stv over 10 times. I was at the last concert in wisconson the day he died. I was a huge fan. now it all sounds the same barroom texas blues sound, and my ears are fine. Perhaps someone needs a defense mechanism overhall, I state my opinion, and get told i need new ears. I rate srv with the likes of warren haynes, trey anastasio, even tr good, but vastly overated. Sorry I wont join the ranks of rip srv you were the best. wasn't true then, not true now. But he was great live, and I saw him a bunch.

[cinderella]

Plus, to borrow a term from the idiot above, SRV's music is excellent for f*****g. But, hey, that's just my opinion.

Guess I'm gonna have to dig up my SRV stuff!! I love doing research! ;)

[gathernear]

The guy that wrote that is an idiot, just trying to honk us all off. And he succeeded.
A$$h&#@!!

[1yesfan]

I didn't say he is the best, but not the worst. We do not have SRV, not for a long time so much of his stuff will sound the same. No years upon years of growth and change to see him having gone thru.

[GoD57]

I can't believe that he couldn't find a Hendrix solo he didn't like.

Bill

[JaneEyre]

Musicians emulate their idols, no?

[Jacaranda]

I see more and more of these worsts lists now; this one seems like the writer is trying really hard to be funny while basically saying "I think these are crap. You don't agree? I don't care". It's very easy to go through the things you hate and mock them with bad humor. Listing 50 guitar solos that are really good, and having good points to back them up? That would make for a more interesting piece.

[Dr Yes]

"this guy is obviously a very frustrated shi*ty guitar player whose jealousy is satiated by putting down superior, intelligent guitar players...."

I have to agree with this. I think it speaks volumes that so many references are made to technical ability/too many notes, and that the list is pretty much devoid of punk sh!t.

Oh well. He's entitled to his opinion. My opinion is that he's a wanker!

D.

[Doktor Rokster]

Pseudo elitist drivel from a never was/never could be! Why would you want to ---- to Machine Messiah anyway?

[Mr. Holland]

Eh....why the heg are we responding to such idiotic dribble anyway?!

[Gabriel]

Eh....why the heg are we responding to such idiotic dribble anyway?!

I was going to say something about this but I think Mr. Holland summed it up best! :-)

Utter cr*p!

[Max Webster]

12. "Song of the Wind" by Santana
Soloist: Carlos Santana
Album: Caravanserai
Year: 1972

Shook my head dismissively at several choices made by this list maker but for me this was his most bizarre pick. A long and beautiful melodic solo - one of Santana's finest moments.

Oh well. I have yet to come across a list that even remotely comes close to reflecting my own personal tastes in music.

[Dr Yes]

Eh....why the heg are we responding to such idiotic dribble anyway?!

It's learned behaviour folowing years of similar reportage of Yes (and in this instance other rock bands we like).

[GaryC]

Machine Messiah solo 28th worst ? What a pile of horse poo that poll is.

[Soundchaser148]

#39 'Dazed and Confused
Soloist: Jimmy Page
Album:Led Zeppelin
Year: 1968

#11 "Willie The Pimp
Soloist: Frank Zappa
Album: Hot Rats
Year: 1969


Hold me back....I swear to gawd this is bunk.....Im fightin' mad right now...

this guy is obviously a very frustrated shi*ty guitar player whose jealousy is satiated by putting down superior, intelligent guitar players....

Scoot

Too right,Scoot! I can hardly believe some of the guitarists listed. I've only just recently listened to Machine Messiah for the first time and I think Steve's work on it is mermersing (nothing new there, then!). Anyone who places any work by Steve as some of the worst guitar playing around needs his brain examined if you ask me. After all, to quote Jon, Steve is 'the maestro!' Another one that has me puzzled is Dave Gilmour and Comfortably Numb. That is an awesome solo if I ever heard one. I have been privileged to see Dave play this four times live with Floyd and each time was a very special experience for me. Both Steve and Dave are at the top of the tree in my estimation where true guitar greats are concerned in the rock idiom.

Mark

[stevepenn]

SRV's music is excellent for f*****g. But, hey, that's just my opinion.


Ya know, when I REALLY think about it, there's not much music not good for the horizontal bop. Although I do suspect things might cool down real fast if some beer swilling polka nut broke into the duck dance outside the window. Oh, I just grossed MYSELF out. LOL.

[JaneEyre]

Ya know, when I REALLY think about it, there's not much music not good for the horizontal bop. Although I do suspect things might cool down real fast if some beer swilling polka nut broke into the duck dance outside the window. Oh, I just grossed MYSELF out. LOL.

Hey! You just described my wedding night!

[stevepenn]

Hey! You just described my wedding night!


Gawd, I am soooo sorry. But you're better now, right?!!!

[yarstruly]

And how many top solos has the author of this piece recorded? Anyone ever heard of him? His opinion is worth more than mine or anyone else's because...?

[stevepenn]

No yars, it's rock critic syndrome. I have never understood this disease. Take an idiot who long ago said something that some other idiot valued and suddenly, armed with this false sense of importance, the same person who "professes" to love music discovers, much to his moronic chagrin, that he can't actually DO anything. I mean anything, musically. Or, apparently write without resorting to such urbane descriptions as "Sh*t sandwich."

Now, give him a computer and a byline and "voila," we have the equivalent of a disgruntled postal employee with a publication and computer supplanting the rooftop and automatic weapon.

If only we could have intervened earlier and spared the community this tragedy. Now, we are simply left with one choice: take out the somebeatch and put him out of our misery.

Pat Metheny, fer crissakes? He TAUGHT at Berklee.

It's enough to make me buy a big brown coat, grab a forty and hit the street mumbling, "asshole."

Oy.

[prem895]

What a pantload this clown is

[cinderella]

What a pantload this clown is

Sorry, I just find that extremely funny!!!!! http://www.digikitten.com/playhousev2/files/Cinderella/lmaosmiley.gif

And I agree!!

[Gabriel]

this guy is obviously a very frustrated shi*ty guitar player whose jealousy is satiated by putting down superior, intelligent guitar players....

Let me buy you a pint down the pub mate; only TOO true!!

[JaneEyre]

Let me buy you a pint down the pub mate; only TOO true!!
Did someone say "pub?" Because I wouldn't mind a pint. Or four.

[capnkrk]

[QUOTE=muscla_1]I can't believe he would trash SRV, Steve Howe, Frank Zappa and Robert Fripp (I didn't post that one, because the one he picked IS kind of lame) but DOESN'T metion Neil Young's INTERMINABLE one-note guitar solo from "Down By The River."

Wasn't that actually Cinnamon Girl? When I saw this thread that song immediately popped to mind.

[JaneEyre]

IMO, the guitar solo in "Down by the River" is w-a-a-y too long. "Cinnamon Girl" is much shorter.

[weebl]

Load o' b****cks.

[brotherofmine]

Load o' b****cks.
How about staTing an opinion rather than just profanity? How did you come to your conclusion?

[weebl]

Sorry. Should have posted the rest.

It is just a matter of opinion, and that i could not name any of the solos as 'the worst'.
Maybe it's not that what songs he's listed, but maybe it's what he's said about them.

I think this is more of a list of solos the writer dislikes, as opposed to "the worst solos of the millennium". He seems to try to 'offend' (couldn't think of a better word) the band/soloist rather than structure an argument to why the solo qualifies for the worst solo ever.

I am tired.

[Faceintheplace]

IMO, the only really bad guitar solo Steve Howe ever did was in Asia's "Heat of the Moment." To me it screams "I'm just here to make money so I can make solo albums and raise a family and I really wish I was still in Yes!"

His solos in "Machine Messiah" are awesomeness and heaviness personified.

[cinderella]

IMO, the only really bad guitar solo Steve Howe ever did was in Asia's "Heat of the Moment." To me it screams "I'm just here to make money so I can make solo albums and raise a family and I really wish I was still in Yes!"

I loved him in Asia, and I loved Heat Of The Moment.

[Scooty]

Let me buy you a pint down the pub mate; only TOO true!!


You Got it!!

[weebl]

[QUOTE=Faceintheplace]IMO, the only really bad guitar solo Steve Howe ever did was in Asia's "Heat of the Moment."QUOTE]

I was thinking that, but I wouldn't class it as bad - just nothing compared to his YES solos - the style of his playing in the two bands is a lot different.

[Jonah]

give him a computer and a byline and "voila,"

I read this as 'give him a computer and a byline and viola'.
I was thinking what harm can anyone do with a viola?

[playeriivis]

I read this as 'give him a computer and a byline and viola'.
I was thinking what harm can anyone do with a viola?
That is somehow very profound...

I think that the guy who wrote this 50 worst list just likes to amaze us all by his vast musical vocabulary which includes such mindblowingly big words such as "pentatonic" and "pentatonic."

[stevepenn]

okay, okay, I didn't edit before I split for my meeting. But viola it is.

LOL.

[tardistraveler]

Maybe it's a typo - he really meant the 50 BEST Guitar Solos . . . ;)

[Timmo]

[QUOTE=muscla_1]I can't believe he would trash SRV, Steve Howe, Frank Zappa and Robert Fripp (I didn't post that one, because the one he picked IS kind of lame) but DOESN'T metion Neil Young's INTERMINABLE one-note guitar solo from "Down By The River."

Wasn't that actually Cinnamon Girl? When I saw this thread that song immediately popped to mind.Nope, I meant "Down By The River."

TIM
Venice, CA

[JaneEyre]

"Down by the River" is twice as long as it needs to be. (Sorry rolfer.)

[Timmo]

"Down by the River" is twice as long as it needs to be. (Sorry rolfer.)5x.

TIM
Venice, CA

PS: And I LOVE the rest of the song!

[capnkrk]

Clearly this guy is writing this stuff to piss people off, which he soundly accomplished by reading some of these posts. This list is so ridiculous and over the top there's not a chance he's serious. He may not be a musical genius but he's a comedic one, I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. "Another s**t sandwich from 1978." High comedy folks!!!

[buckleyfancy]

I agree with the above post - this guy can't be serious and is writing to get a reaction. I mean hell, Lou Reed is only on the list once!

[buckleyfancy]

We know that this list is a bunch of horses**t, but if we were to seriously discuss bad guitar solos for a minute - I once brought up the solo from the Kinks "You Really Got Me" at a band practice and said - what a s**t solo. I was told that this was one of the greatest solos in rock history! I guess its a matter of perspective. (of course, the person who thought this solo rocked was a former member of the Dead Milkmen, which might explain things).

[capnkrk]

I think the only one he got right was Joan Jett. Didn't this guy spin any Ramones records? Oh yeah, there aren't any solos.