what ever happened to the guitar solo? todays rock music doesnt seem to have any good soloists?

Answer 1

Guitar solos became unfashionable at around the time of grunge. These days bands at the more pop end of rock don't seem to bother with solos. Radio these days only seems to be bothered about the singing in songs and quite often certain stations (mentioing no names) will have the DJ talk all over the intro right up until the vocals come in and then probably come back in and finish the track during the instrumental break or solo in the middle. Also there is a disturbing trend these days of DJ's finishing 'Hotel California' just as the guitar solo starts at the end. That lead break is one of the greatest ever solos, but it's hardly ever aired on the radio. Not good if you fancy throwing some shapes with your air guitar...

Answer 2

Capitalism has dictated that it has no place in commercial music. Too much time without lyrics means people get bored, plus it increases the length of a song unnecessarily. And the radios don't like that. Also increases Mp3 size. Don't like that either.

Forget any artistic value it may have had, in fact forget that music is actually art at all and think of it as more a vehicle for people's weak personalities, banal lives and indifferent opinions.

Don't believe me? Why have we just been "given" a cross between Chris Martin and James Blunt in the form of James Morrison? Are they taking the piss? Is this seriously what people want? Well it is if you want an artist who will appeal to multiple markets - female market, male market, ethnic markets? They're all ticked when it comes James Motherf*cking Morrison.

Yeah, so capitalism is to blame for the loss of the solo. And indeed the death of art in general.

Answer 3

Rock or Pop? Rock still has great soloists. Slash has been the most identifiable icon for years now and does wonders in Velvet Revolver.

Of course, I'm the greatest soloist you'll never hear off. Me and a million others!

=) =) =)

Answer 4

No kidding. Record companies have put looks and fashion before musicality. I feel bad for today's kids, because they are missing seeing what excellence in musicianship really is. The record companies have convinced them that cats like, van halen, hendrix, jimmy page, clapton, satch, vai, eric johnson, etc are just a bunch of old farts and should be ignored. Very sad.

I have a feeling however that in the next 5 years or so we will see the re-birth of virtuosity in music once again. The kids have got to be getting bored with the power chunk rhythmic only music. I like that too, but I like to have some screaming guitars on top of it also. There just needs to be "that" player who is influentual enough to spark the interest in great music again.

Answer 5

Music has become so camoercialised that solos don't sell. The emphasis on how a band performs live seems to have faded over the years. true musicians are rare nowadays, lots of the music is computer churned crap that just sounds pretty when played at home. but give me the great bands playing again, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Deep Purple, Led Zep, Rush, Lynrd Skynrd, Pink Floyd,Cream, etc to name a few, great bands that have been pushed out through sheer commercialisation

Answer 6

The music of today in general SUCKS...

Remember that to make music you need musicians, people who are very talented at their chosen instrument or vocals. That is missing from the equation of today's music. Most of the people you hear on the radio now days aren't even close to being called "musicians"

Now days, whats passing for "talent" are bands that the music companies can wad up and throw away. Bands that are created by formulas. Not bands of talented individuals but bands that are easy for the masses to listen to. This means you have watered down "musicians" and that's using the term lightly and believe it or not, your standards have been watered down too which is why you are scratching your head wondering whats going on. You want more, you want better but instead you are stuck with simple minded arrangements and easy 4x4 time. Think about it, just about any modern rock song on the radio can be learned by novice musicians in no time. It seems the high school garage band is having its hey day and the real, studied musicians aren't seeing the light of day. How many times have you heard a song and said "Shoot, I can sing that."...But now I give you an AC/DC song and say "OK, try to sing this." you can't and neither can the dork on the radio thinking he's hot stuff. Same with the guitarists, give them a nice tasty Yes arrangement to play through and they'll just sit there fumbling around like a noob...Because they are. Every one wants to sound "like" every one else. No one on the radio makes music for personal joy, not caring if the public likes or not. They make music that sounds like the last successful "thing" what ever that may be. How many clones of other bands are out there? No one dares stand out with a new fresh sound. Sure there are groups out there that do stand out but they don't get air play and therefore have a smaller fan base...and less recording deals. Its seems the music industry doesn't want to loose control to any band. Whats the last huge band to come out? I mean REALLY huge???? I'm not talking about those bands that need 10 other bands to be able to sell out a stadium...One band. Guns and Roses, Nirvana? It's been a long time since we've had a super-band and think about the decline that has ensued ever since.

The bottom line is, music is NOT about talent anymore...Its all about IMAGE! How you look, how you dance, how you dress. Heck some of the best musicians are pretty dam unattractive, Dio comes to mind but he's got one of the best voices in rock ever. Look at Ann Wilson from heart. Imagine if she was just trying to break on the scene now that she is over weight...You would never have even heard of her let alone Heart. And she's one of the best female rock vocalists of all time!

Now days, if you learn 3 chords on a guitar and have "the look" you'll make it...Talent need not apply.

Just thank the rock gods that you have thousands upon thousands of great recordings to choose from. If you want great fresh music...Look back in time, chances are you'll find stuff that was way ahead of its time that will blow you away. I still discover old obscure bands that just shatter my world with their talent.

Stop buying today's music...Once they see the trends of people moving back to the older quality stuff maybe the music industry will get wise. If not? F* them, there is enough old quality work to last a life time.

Don't settle for crappy music, only listen to the best!

Answer 7

Okay there are two many good answers allready posted, especially the two essay answers that have been posted, good comments kids and spot on.
Having just come back from Reading at the Weekend MUSE where bloody fantastic, Matt Bellamy cranked out at least 4 Solo's one going on for an epic 8 minutes.

Quality - they are turning into one of our best live bands that you can possibly see, and whats best they are ENGLISH !!!!!!!

Answer 8

i think of in the present day's rock song casts back the laziness of this modern-day era. each and every thing comprises instantaneous gratification and materialism. Musicians in the present day lack perfect education, like I suggested they are lazy, they think of after a 300 and sixty 5 days of persevering with practice that they are waiting for the great leagues. And in truth, they might using fact the bar is so ******* low. Did you notice that maximum bands from previous eras have been of a mature age on the time of their formation. in the present day bands are forming as babies, that would desire to describe the shortcoming of eloquence of their lyrics! interior the eighty's Disney stars weren't in extreme rotation on the pop charts! in addition to, this era has replace into familiar with abbreviating their words, and making use of slang communicate somewhat than perfect English that's additionally contemplated in todays rock song. I share the comparable ideals as you. And it infuriates me to be certain how lots admire those imbeciles get for generating such dispensable ****!

Answer 9

I HAVE TO AGREE WITH JOE B.ROB ZOMBIE, AND MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, GODSMACK QUALIFY AS ROCK, BUT THEY HAVE NO REAL SOLOS.SOME OF THE 80'S HEAVY METAL BANDS ARE COMING OUT WITH NEW STUFF, AND THEY ARE REVIVING THE GUITAR SOLO.UNLESS I AM MISTAKEN, JOE SATRIANI HASN'T COME OUT WITH ANYTHING NEW FOR A WHILE.HE WAS REALLY THE ONLY GUITAR SOLOIST OF THE 90'S.TODAY'S MUSIC IS SIMILAR TO THE DISCO OF THE 80'S, IT IS MORE FOR DANCING.I GET SICK OF PEOPLE (MOSTLY TEENS) SAYING ROCK IS DEAD.I GOT NEWS FOR THEM, IT IS ALIVE AND WELL.ROB HALFORD AND JUDAS PRIEST SAY IT BEST, 'IF YOU THINK IT'S OVER, BETTER THINK AGAIN, THERE'LL BE NO COMPRIMISE"OZZY SANG IN THE EARLY 80'S "YOU CAN'T KILL ROCK N ROLL" AND YOU BETTER BELIEVE IT.THE GUITAR SOLO WILL RETURN, AND HEAVY METAL IS BRINGING IT.

Answer 10

I know what you exactly what you mean mate, its just styles of music are changing but you will find some great guitar play on the chili peppers new album track 13 disc 2 is just guitar rock heaven......................JUST READ JOE B`S ANSWER BELOW hes spot on.....respect.