Making news today is that Jimmy Page's solo in Stairway was voted best of all-time, even though Page said it wasn't his best. And that's just considering the studio version. His live versions from '73 and '75 were even better (and longer). I've listened to most of them. My personal favorite is the one from Vancouver '73. After that, I'd put Earl's Court 5/18/75, Seattle '75 (2nd show), Indianapolis '75 and LA '75 (1st night).

Comfortably Numb by Gilmore came in second. Hendrix was 5th with "Along the Watchtower". Skinard was 3rd or 4th with Free Bird, but I'm not a big fan. I'd put Clapton's solo in "White Room" before that.

I can name 100 guitar solos that are better but I don't feel like it.

How about the last two minutes of "Why Does Love Got To Be So Sad?"

You could name them, but still wouldn't be right.

There's none better than Page's live versions of Stairway. None compares to their lyrical and dramatic quality. Improvisational virtuosity of the highest order.

Way too sloppy of a guitarist live.

He had a good feel and emotion for the music and the guitar but he wasn't really that good at playing it.

There's been tons of guitarists since then who blow him away.

Gay has struck the nail on the head. Page while great is one of those "legends" that can never be taken down a notch even though many may be better. There are several such "legends" and they were usually crowned as such by baby boomers.

If I neveer hear Stairway again I would feel no loss. Over rated and over played.
Beter solo? Hmmm
Prince, Let's go Crazy or When Doves Cry.
Edge Sunday Bloody Sunday.
Bob Mould See a Little Light
Eddie Van Halen, Bad.

Gay has struck the nail on the head. Page while great is one of those "legends" that can never be taken down a notch even though many may be better. There are several such "legends" and they were usually crowned as such by baby boomers.

Bob Mould See a Little Light

Edge Sunday Bloody Sunday.

Good song.

Meh solo...

Making news today is that Jimmy Page's solo in Stairway was voted best of all-time, even though Page said it wasn't his best. And that's just considering the studio version. His live versions from '73 and '75 were even better (and longer). I've listened to most of them. My personal favorite is the one from Vancouver '73. After that, I'd put Earl's Court 5/18/75, Seattle '75 (2nd show), Indianapolis '75 and LA '75 (1st night).

Comfortably Numb by Gilmore came in second. Hendrix was 5th with "Along the Watchtower". Skinard was 3rd or 4th with Free Bird, but I'm not a big fan. I'd put Clapton's solo in "White Room" before that.

If I never hear Stairway again I would feel no loss. Over rated and over played.

Kirk Hammet's on "One" has to be on the list.

It's pretty crazy to talk about the "best" guitar solo. There are so many great ones out there.

It's pretty crazy to talk about the "best" guitar solo. There are so many great ones out there. I guess if you put a gun to my head I'd go with Keith on the Ya-Ya's version of "Sympathy".

My boy, Bill can play the gee-tar like a motherfuckin' riot. Years ago some beer brand held a contest at Metro called "Chicago's Hottest Guitarist" or some shit like that. Bill signed up for this thing. I think there was some prize money and maybe free beer. Every goof in there was aping Yngwie J. Malmsteen, Motherfucker or Eddie V. You can't find many guitarists from my generation who aren't constantly playing with both hands on the neck. Well, Bill went in there and played with no effects, no distortion, just his shitty Tele copy through the amp. At first people didn't know what to make of it. It was like they had never heard what an actual guitar sounds like or something. But he won the crowd over. He didn't win the contest though. That went to some metalhead who was probably from Schaumburg.

Being punk rockers at heart, soloing is antithetical to the ethic. It was generally considered naked rock star posturing usually without actually serving the song. If we were gonna take one we were looking for economy. When we soundchecked this song at before opening for Buddy Guy at Legends, Buddy sent one of his flunkies down to kill half the house PA on us. Bill scared the shit out of old Buddy. The solo starts about 50 seconds in: https://soundcloud.com/joe-orr-road-rod ... p-the-wild

Yngwie jesus what a tard that guy is. Now granted he is amazing at guitar and music in general. He knows more than I ever will but all it translates with him is pure ego. Not the cool swagger type ego just the intolerable type. You play nothing that I would ever willingly listen to.

Mayor problem with guitar gods. Too many notes. Eruption is complete shit, although Eddie wrote lots of memorable hooks. Blah blah blah

Chus nailed it though no way to make a list like this. What does it matter. My guy is better than your guy so I'm better?? Pretty school yard

I am generally down with the democratic nature of the "punk ethic." But I'm troubled by the fact that it's code for "no talent, no work ethic." There's an underlying assumption that one could play like Page and chose not to. Couldn't be further from the truth. They couldn't have dreamt a more distant dream.