The noble art of the guitar solo has faced some troubled times as of late, an oft-forgotten relic of the glory days of rock music. Though a few great solos are still out there to be found they generally slip through the cracks and end up passing by almost unnoticed. The great guitar solos on tracks such as "Freebird," "Stairway to Heaven" and "Comfortably Numb" rank amongst the finest music moments in history. However, even when solos ruled the Earth, there were plenty of under-appreciated gems that never got the recognition they deserved. Here's a quick mention to some of the best guitar solos, both old and new, that you probably haven't heard:
10. "Rock Bottom" by UFO (from 'Strangers in the Night')
An overlooked frontrunner of the new wave of British heavy metal, UFO went on to influence such bands as Iron Maiden and Motorhead. This version of one of their biggest hits features German rock royalty Michael Schenker (formerly of The Scorpions) providing and extended solo.
9. "Blackbird" by Alter Bridge (from 'Blackbird')
Formed from the remnants of Christian rock band Creed, Alter Bridge established frontman Myles Kennedy as one of the finest new singers around. As we can see hear on the band's signature song his talents also extend to the guitar as shows his skills alongside the band's lead guitarist Mark Tremonti.
8. "Dry County" by Bon Jovi (from 'Keep the Faith')
Though often looked down on as the epitome of 80s glam excess, Bon Jovi have a much bigger claim to glory than "Livin' on a Prayer". On "Dry County", a track about the effects of the declining oil industry, Richie Sambora created the single finest moment of the band's career. It seems that beneath the big hair there was a keen musical mind within.
7. "Drive Home" by Steven Wilson (from 'The Raven That Refused To Sing (And Other Stories)')
When progressive rock poster boy Steven Wilson called a day on his band Porcupine Tree to pursue a solo career many people questioned the decision, but after listening to this track everything is forgiven. Virtuoso Guthrie Govan provides the guitar work on this album of ghost stories and this stunning solo was improvised and recorded in one take.
6. "Weight of Love" by The Black Keys (from 'Turn Blue')
These garage rock gods are well known for their raucous riffage, but until 2014's "Turn Blue" solos weren't their forte. At this point the band went psychedelic and took influence from "The Dark Side of the Moon" era Pink Floyd. The album's dizzyingly magnificent opening track features one of the best solos of the 21st century and stands as their finest work.
5. "You Cannot Call For Love Like A Dog" by Holy Holy (from 'When The Storms Would Come')
The most recent track on this list. Australian band Holy Holy created their stunning debut album in 2015 and this song was it's crowning glory. Right from the opening riff tension within the track begins to build leading up to a blistering supernova of a solo. It's difficult to see how the band can top this on future releases but I look forward to finding out.
4. "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Prince et al. (from Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 2004 inductions)
The dearly departed Prince was known for a great many things, but few people truly appreciated his guitar talent. This unforgettable moment sees him play a suitably flamboyant solo for this classic Beatles track before seemingly flinging his instrument into the stratosphere. Only Prince can upstage such a host of music legends all playing together.
3. "Black Rose" by Thin Lizzy (from 'Black Rose')
Possibly the most Irish song ever written from the Emerald Isle's favourite sons, featuring tales of famous myths and legends and interpretations of classic folk songs. During his brief tenure with the band Gary Moore, one of the greatest guitarists to walk the Earth, produced this masterclass beck-and-call display with fellow guitarist Scott Gorham.
2. "Astronomy" by Blue Oyster Cult (from 'Some Enchanted Evening')
Though better known for singing about the Grim Reaper and Godzilla, the band could also produce some of the best guitar solos in history. If you take a break from deciphering the lyrics you'd find that Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is one of the most underrated guitarists in the business. As incredible as it is, it could still use more cowbell however.
1. "Maggot Brain" by Funkadelic (from 'Maggot Brain')
Though it may seem like an unlikely source, this is, in fact, the greatest guitar solo ever recorded. George Clinton, under the influence of LSD, told guitarist Eddie Hazel to play as though he had been told that his mother was dead, and later found out that it wasn't true. Recorded in a single take, this raw explosion of emotion is one of the finest moments in music history.
