The Best Guitar Solos Of All Time: Number 10

Happy Wednesday - time for the countdown of the best guitar solos of all time to continue. Rocking in at number 10 is Prince with "Purple Rain." A straight-up musical genius, Prince could just plain slay when it came to playing guitar. One of his finest moments is the solo during "Purple Rain" which starts around 4:30 or so in the video below.

When Prince would perform this track live, it often went on for about 20 minutes as he would extend the solo and really illustrate his guitar skills. A lot of people lump Prince in with pop music, but I think "Purple Rain" makes him a definite rock god. The song is from the blockbuster album and film of the same name, released in 1984.

Prince was taken from us way too soon. Perhaps fittingly, "Purple Rain" was the last song he ever performed live for an audience.

Prince's 2007 NFL Super Bowl halftime performance is regarded as iconic. He played through some really bad weather, including a downpour during "Purple Rain." Once again that solo is undeniable. The performance is still breathtaking to me, all these years later.

Comments

[crued]

I remember watching this live...and was slack-jawed the whole time. how those twins stayed up is beyond me! plus I saw the film in the theatre when it came out. killer

[London]

That performance in 2007 was something else.

[Him]

Prince was one of those artists that just sorta' moved as he wished, did as he did, and made fans across a huge spectrum. He was odd, but in that sorta' way that wasn't offensive or off-putting (fact is, Dave Chappelle made it seem funny). So talented. And so sad the details of his passing.

I got into him via Columbia House Music. So, of course, Purple Rain. But I came to love Controversy. And then I didn't really listen to much of him. But I thought there were some stellar tracks on Diamonds & Pearls: "Cream," "Thunder," "Gett Off."

As a guy who sticks pretty close to my metal favorites (though has mentioned my other musical enjoyments), Prince could always surprise and captivate.

"Wendy? Yes Lisa.
Is the water warm enough? Yes Lisa.
Shall we begin? Yes Lisa."

Refreshing start to the list, Allyson. Wonderful.

[Him]

. . . or, start to the list . . . for me! I need to read in reverse order. My bad. My apologies.