Worst guitar solos in popular songs

[Strat Jacket]

EVH, perhaps shockingly, was not paid to play the solo.

Ironic justice?

 

[Dostradamas]

I thought the radio version I have endured all these years was bad then I found this.


Gives me hope at least

 

[IowaTeleGuy]

EVH, perhaps shockingly, was not paid to play the solo.

Well they got exactly what they paid for.

 

[Tricone]

Agree 100%. I imagine the conversation went something like:

Producer: I need a solo
EVH: Ok can I hear the song?
Producer: No.
EVH: Ok can you tell me the time sig and key?
Producer: No.
EVH: Fine. I'll just tap and slide a ton of notes in my typical tuning (Eb)
Producer: Perfect. Here's some money.

EVH didn't get paid for the solo. MJ called him to request the solo. EVH just ran one off for it because he didn't think it was a big deal or would be known. Then the whole MJ phenomenon happened. EVH was embarrassed, didn't get paid, and the band were mad at him for playing on somebody else's record, especially the #1 record and song.

Edit: @brookdalebill posted about EVH not getting paid before my post. Please see post #60.

 

[Rick330man]

Steve Howe was excellent both in Yes and in Asia. I don't get the criticism of the solo in "Heat of the Moment". It works. There is space to fill in the break and he fills it...quite nicely, I might add. That Asia album with Sole Survivor, Without You, Heat of the Moment, etc. was pretty darn good.

Vernon Reid's solo in Cult of Personality is another top notch piece of work. I wouldn't change a note.

Neil Young has played many of the worst solos known to mankind. His voice isn't as bad as Dylan's Elmer Fudd thing, but it's pretty bad. But, hey, it's Neil Young. It's too late to give him voice or guitar lessons - especially after he's given us 5 decades of sporadically decent stuff.

I love the KinKs. Dave Davies' leads in the 60s left much to be desired. But his style matured. In the 70s, he leads were much more fluid and melodic. Think Juke Box Music or Celluloid Heroes. His work on the live versions of latter one in particular was a joy to listen to.

 

[WireLine]

It’s back a few years, but the solo on the original I’m Your Venus is played in a major, while song is a minor. The clash between C and C# notes grates my last nerve.

That said…the player has more airplay than I ever will, so …

 

[John Stephen]

I've always thought the outtro guitar solo in "Somebody To Love" by the Jefferson Airplane was pretty lame. The guy seemed to know one or two licks, and that was his solo. However, I can't really say it's the "worst". Just lame, to me.

 

[bottlenecker]

Living Colour - Cult Of Personality.

Probably one of Corey Glover's best vocal performances, however.

That's funny. That solo 100% sold me on Vernon the first time I heard it. It's my favorite metal solo and it wasn't even in a metal song. I used it as a reference point all through high school when I played metal. I played fast to sound frantic, not frilly.

 

[bottlenecker]

I always thought his solos were terrible. Still an absolute banger

Someone told me they modulated to E for every solo, but I never bothered to check. Livewire is cool I'll leave the rest.

 

[Bourbon Burst]

Mr. Howe is truly an inspirational player.
I spent most of the summer of my freshman year in high school “dropping the needle” on Mood For A Day, and Roundabout.
True, I am not a huge Yes fan.
The vocals, and clang-ey/busy bass did not appeal to me, nor did the kinda obtuse lyrics.
I would never impugn any of the member’s skills, though.
My primary “gripe” with Steve as an electric player is his clanky Gibson through a Twin tone.
Like with Kaukonen, I get a strong sense that electric guitar is almost a secondary instrument to the acoustic guitar.
Neither one sound fluid or fluent on electric guitar, IMO.
It’s just my (worthless?) opinion, those guys are wildly successful artists.

I bought a Twin Reverb just because of Steve Howe. I like that he doesn't sound like everyone else. If you listen to Yessongs he is overdrive his Twins or Dual Showman. He also plays jazzy licks in songs like Perpetual Change, the intro to Close to the Edge and the outro to Siberian Khatru.

Howe, Gilmour (up to The Wall) and Trower are my fave guitar players. You can recognize their playing pretty much instantly by their tone and playing.

 

[Harry Styron]

Not exactly the solo you would expect from either of these guys at 0:45.

I’ve played that solo many times in many different songs. It’s universal.

 

[Dismalhead]

You guys saying EVH and Neil Schon need to go back and listen to all of the clips posted. Some of this is absolutely horrific. I'm gonna have PTSD. I think the Janis Joplin songs are winning - if you could call it that.

I love the Asia album, never noticed how bad the lead on Heat of the Moment was until here though. Good call.

Cover of the Rolling Stone lead was hopefully a joke. Hopefully.

 

[goonie]

Oh dear I kinda like the solo in Beat It.

I heard We're Not Gonna Take It on the radio a while ago and boy does the solo suck. Basically the melody with a whammy dive at the end of every line.

 

[donrichfan]

I don't like the outro solo to this one. I think a lot of folks do, though.

Can’t stand Journey or a journey solo. Makes my skin krawl. Ack.

 

[loopfinding]

John Frusciante in the Chili Peppers’ “Dani California.” It just rips off the opening few notes of “Purple Haze,” and then does it a few more times, then progresses into noodling. I love Frusciante, by the way, but that one song is terrible.

at least he's playing at baseline competence on that one. the solo on californication sounds like a teenage beginner at guitar center.

 

[West44th]

What do I win?

 

[Lucius Paisley]

Oh dear I kinda like the solo in Beat It.

I heard We're Not Gonna Take It on the radio a while ago and boy does the solo suck. Basically the melody with a whammy dive at the end of every line.

This is why you don't let the singer write the music.

 

[Lucius Paisley]

.

What do I win?

The Missing The Point Completely Award.

 

[John Stephen]

at least he's playing at baseline competence on that one. the solo on californication sounds like a teenage beginner at guitar center.

Wow -- I'm with you, @loopfinding. I don't believe a solo has to be super fast, or slick, or virtuosic. I'm fine with modest solos. But that was...well, it sounded like a solo that I would play. 'nuff said...

 

[edvard]

But it’s a good note.

See also: Vampire Blues

Agreed. I have half a mind to give ol' Neil a pass on this one, because it's, well, Neil. Vampire Blues included.