Top 100 Guitar Solos

Guitar World recently surveyed its readers in an effort to compile the Top 100 Guitar Solos of all time.

It's a good list but, like most lists, opens itself up for debate.

Here are the Top 10:

1. Stairway to Heaven - Jimmy Page

2. Eruption - Eddie Van Halen

3. Free Bird - Allen Collins and Gary Rossington

4. Comfortably Numb - David Gilmour

5. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix

6. November Rain - Slash

7. One - Kirk Hammett

8. Hotel California - Don Felder and Joe Walsh

9. Crazy Train - Randy Rhoads

10. Crossroads - Eric Clapton

Later choices are thankfully here, but should be much higher. These include:

16. Heartbreaker - Jimmy Page

19. Highway Star - Ritchie Blackmore

31. Stranglehold - Ted Nugent

60. Zoot Allures - Frank Zappa

71. Maggot Brain - Eddie Hazel

79. Mean Street - Eddie Van Halen

94. Working man - Alex Lifeson

... And these are completely missing:

Heartbreaker - Mark Farner

Can't You Hear Me Knocking - Keith Richards

She - Ace Frehley

Oh well. A list is a list. And a debate is healthy.

Comments

[Brad]

What? Nothing by Tony Iommi? He's one of the best ever.

[Liz]

Are we talking about only rock'n roll? Or are we talking about any kind of music?

[Dan]

Tony Iommi checks in at No. 56 with "War Pigs."
- Dan

[Dan]

Liz - it's the readership of Guitar World, so I assume this reflects mostly rock 'n roll.
- Dan

[Richard]

Thank you, Dan for recognizing The Rolling Stones' Keith Richards on this list. I realize that the Stones are not among your faves, but Keith's blues-inspired guitar has left us with some of the nastiest riffs around.

[Wefo]

Is "Can't You Hear Me Knocking" Keith or Mick Taylor?
Brink

[Liz]

Ok, what about Stevie Ray Vaughn? I know a lot of people don't like Santana but I have to say, he should be on the list too.

[Dan]

It is Mick Taylor, not Keith Richards, on lead guitar for "Can't You Hear Me Knocking." Thanks to Mike for the correction.

[Pontus]

Why isnt Eddie Van Halens solo from the song "Dreams" on the list?