Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway To Heaven' Voted Best Guitar Solo Ever

GigWise ^ | 3-26-2006

[Cagey]

Led Zeppelin’s classic ‘Stairway to Heaven’ has been voted the best guitar solo of all time.

The rock behemoth fought off competition from Van Hallen’s ‘Eruption’ and Guns n Roses’ ‘Paradise City’ which were number two and three respectively.

The list was based on 2,000 votes in a poll conducted by Total Guitar magazine.

Magazine editor Stephen Lawson said: "Everyone loves to play air guitar when they hear the moment in a song where the guitarist rocks out."

The full Top 10 is as follows:

1. Led Zeppelin – ‘Stairway to Heaven’
2. Van Halen – ‘Eruption’
3. Guns N' Roses – ‘Paradise City’
4. The Eagles – ‘Hotel California‘
5. Metallica – ‘Enter Sandman’
6. Cream – ‘Crossroads’
7. Jimi Hendrix – ‘Voodoo Child’
8. Ozzy Osbourne – ‘Crazy Train’
9. Free – ‘All Right Now’
10. Queen – ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’

[wardaddy]

Yes...III is a gem.....Out on the Tiles....been there done that....

Plant has bedded some fine looking gals but he does have a Luca Brasi mug

cigarettes.

[Mr. Mojo]

Most of us went through a major Zep period -- mine was from Physical Graffiti ('75) to Presence ('77). Hardly listened to anything else during that time, it seems.

Lotta great Page solos to choose from, but I'd probably put "Since I've Been Loving You" (Zep 3) at the top.

[Mr. Mojo]

....and my ears are still ringing from their '77 show at the L.A. Forum. Painful volume. The song were even more drawn out than usual too, with "Dazed and Confused" and "No Quarter" clocking in at over a half hour each.

[rikkir]

I agree. I like the list of bands but off the top of my head I can think of better Guitar solos from other songs of these bands.

[pissant]

Billy Gibbons on Heard it on the X.

[rikkir]

"The man's guitar skills ain't natural, I tells ya. Must be the devil's work."

Yeah, like Neil Peart, drummer for Rush. I'll swear that guy's got a third hand. That's the only way he can make some of those combos.

[pax_et_bonum]

ping

[thoughtomator]

Have you heard this yet? Nice little collection.

Here's my quickie list:

Top Ten Zappa Guitar Solos That Kick The Crap Out Of Stairway to Heaven:
1. Watermelon in Easter Hay
2. The Ocean is the Ultimate Solution
3. Inca Roads
4. Transylvania Boogie
5. Outside Now
6. Sleep Dirt
7. The Illinois Enema Bandit
8. Zomby Woof
9. Black Napkins
10. RDNZL

[thoughtomator]

I started my Zappa period in 1996... still have yet to find anything even close.

[Mr. Mojo]

Zappa

Amazing (and underappreciated) guitarist, and the sharpest wit in the biz.

[Poser]

I'm Goin Home... Alvin Lee
Inside Lookin Out... Mark Farner
Roy's Blues... Roy Buchanan
Red House... Jimi
Cold Shot... SRV
In Memory of Elizabeth Reed... Duane Allman
Whipping Post... Duane Allman and Dicky Betts
Stone Cold Fever... Steve Marriot and Peter Frampton
Rock and Roll... Jimmy Page
Johnnie B Good... Chuck Berry
Midnight Rambler... Keith Richard
The Messiah Will Come Again... Roy Buchanan
Billy Gibbons belongs in here somewhere.

I've got lots more.

[Supernatural]

Ping!

[js1138]

One of the sad points of my life was finding at a garage sale a guy with about 50 different Zappa CDs -- most of which I'd never heard of -- and I was broke.

[Supernatural]

My vote for one of the top ten guitar solos goes to "The Supernatural" by Peter Green.

[Wheee The People]

Anything from "Spinal Tap?

[dfwgator]

Where is Dire Straits "Sultans of Swing."

'Telegraph Road' tops even that.

[nomorelurker]

Very good list, but maybe I read to quick no Carlos Santana?

[Supernatural]

I'm glad someone threw some Roy Buchanan in there.

Good work.

[dfwgator]

Billy Gibbons belongs in here somewhere.

"Just Got Paid." Best slide solo ever.

[Poser]