Greatest Guitar Solo Every Year (1965-2024)

Here’s a list of every solo in the video along with the person who performed it and the band they’re from:

1965. Heart Full of Soul - Jeff Beck | The Yardbirds
1966. Taxman - Paul McCartney - The Beatles
1967. Little Wing - Jimi Hendrix | The Jimi Hendrix Experience
1968. All Along the Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix | The Jimi Hendrix Experience
1969. Something - George Harrison | The Beatles
1970. 25 or 6 to 4 - Terry Kath | Chicago
1971. Stairway to Heaven - Jimmy Page | Led Zeppelin
1972. Highway Star - Ritchie Blackmore | Deep Purple
1973. Free Bird - Allen Collins | Lynyrd Skynyrd
1974. Working Man - Alex Lifeson | Rush
1975. Bohemian Rhapsody - Brian May | Queen
1976. Achilles Last Stand - Jimmy Page | Led Zeppelin
1977. Dogs - David Gilmour | Pink Floyd
1978. Eruption - Eddie Van Halen | Van Halen
1979. Comfortably Numb - David Gilmour | Pink Floyd
1980. Mr. Crowley - Randy Rhoads | Ozzy Osbourne
1981. Limelight - Alex Lifeson | Rush
1982. Telegraph Road - Mark Knopfler | Dire Straits
1983. Texas Flood - Stevie Ray Vaughan | Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
1984. Hot for Teacher - Eddie Van Halen | Van Halen
1985. Brothers In Arms - Mark Knopfler | Dire Straits
1986. Master of Puppets - Kirk Hammett
1987. Sweet Child O’ Mine - Slash | Guns N’ Roses
1988. One - Kirk Hammett | Metallica
1989. 18 and Life - Dave Sabo | Skid Row
1990. Tornado of Souls - Marty Friedman | Megadeth
1991. November Rain - Slash | Guns N’ Roses
1992. Killing In the Name - Tom Morello | Rage Against the Machine
1993. Trapped In a Corner - Andy LaRocque | Death
1994. High Hopes - David Gilmour | Pink Floyd
1995. Just - Jonny Greenwood | Radiohead
1996. Floods - Dimebag Darrell | Pantera
1997. Paranoid Android - Jonny Greenwood | Radiohead
1998. Crystal Planet - Joe Satriani | Joe Satriani
1999. Scar Tissue - John Frusciante | Red Hot Chili Peppers
2000. Brave New World - Janick Gers | Iron Maiden
2001. The Modern Age - Nick Valensi | The Strokes
2002. Like a Stone - Tom Morello | Audioslave
2003. Ball and Biscuit - Jack White | The White Stripes
2004. While My Guitar Gently Weeps - Prince | Various Artists
2005. Octavarium - John Petrucci | Dream Theater
2006. Dani California - John Frusciante | Red Hot Chili Peppers
2007. Afterlife - Synyster Gates | Avenged Sevenfold
2008. I Got Mine - Dan Auerbach | The Black Keys
2009. The Great Flood - Joe Bonasamma | Joe Bonasamma
2010. Light Years Away - Joe Satriani | Joe Satriani
2011. The Hunter - Brent Hinds | Mastodon
2012. Bright Lights - Gary Clark Jr. | Gary Clark Jr.
2013. Fortress - Mark Tremonti | Alter Bridge
2014. The One that Kills the Least - Jim Root | Slipknot
2015. Reapers - Matt Bellamy | Muse
2016. Silvera - Joey Duplantier | Gorjira
2017. Edge of Darkness - Jacob Kiszka | Greta Van Fleet
2018. Redemption - Joe Bonamassa | Joe Bonamassa
2019. Take What You Want - Andrew Watt | Post Malone & Ozzy Osbourne
2020. Terminal Velocity - John Petrucci | John Petrucci
2021. The Weight of Dreams - Jacob Kiszka | Greta Van Fleet
2022. I Let My Guitar Do the Talking - Buddy Guy | Buddy Guy
2023. Flamethrower - Joey Walker | King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
2024. Idle Hands - Phil Demmel | Kerry King

[AverageRockEnjoyer]

My opinion:
1967: Purple Haze - Jimi Hendrix
1970: Layla - Eric Clapton
1976: Hotel California - Don Felder/Joe Walsh
1980: Crazy Train - Randy Rhoads
1982: Beat It - Eddie Van Halen

[matteociuchini]

While my guitar gently weeps deserved to be there

[jonesjennings]

I like how once the 2000s started, the guitar solos were no longer derived from popular songs but just obscure metal bands. Guitar solos just don’t exist anymore…

[Matty]

So glad to see Alex Lifeson in there a couple times. Such a tremendous guitarist who doesn't get the credit he deserves in my opinion.

[matthewbartlett]

Mad respect for including limelight. I don’t know if I would count eruption as a guitar solo and in its place would have put sultans of swing

[gsdfan]

I’m disappointed that Rory Gallagher didn’t make the list

[christopherbasham]

No Greatest Guitar Solo list is complete without Buckethead.

[qatayri]

you know it's a good video when there is Terry Kath

[Thin_Whlte_Duke]

I love Bohemian Rapsody solo, but my number 1 is Time, David Gilmour is the best

[henrybeetle]

Maggotbrain should definitely be on here

[כנאןעסאקלה]

Four are missing:
1. Time by pink floyd
2. Firth of fifth by genesis
3. Hotel california by the eagles
4. Beat it by michael jackson

[António-cyc]

WHILE MY GUITAR GENTLY WEEPS?
Hotel california?

[chrisc]

The most amazing thing about this entire video is the difference between 1966 and 1967. Hendrix changed music forever!

[NatureLover-cchf]

Ritchie Blackmore was way ahead of his time

[worse-than-gnomes]

1990 has to be Nuno Bettencourt “Get the Funk Out”. I’m not an Extreme fan but I recognise a cracking solo when I hear one!

[maxeddie]

Buddy guy still kickin in 2022 mans a legend

[TRUCKRIDER]

60 years of guitar shreding! Who said Rock is dead? Long Live Rock & Roll!

[guilhermemiguel]

1970: Child in Time - Ritchie Blackmore
1976: Hotel California - Joe Walsh and Don Felder

[kennet]

Thank you for including "Telegraph Road"!

1990 would be "Cliffs of Dover" by Eric Johnson for me.

[MCBIGlilRonDogs]

I really was NOT expecting to see Death make the list. Im really glad they did though, Trapped in a Corner is one of the best death metal songs