Number 10

Prince

When Prince passed away, people started sending around clips of him melting faces all over the place. In particular, his solo for While My Guitar Gently Weeps for George Harrison’s Memorial. You should watch the whole thing because it’s awesome, but if you just want the solo, CLICK HERE. It seemed that, after his passing, guitarists everywhere suddenly realized just how unbelievable Prince was at guitar. But, you want to know a secret..?

Prince was good at everything.

But, whether it’s become unusual to see a black guitar shredder in the modern day (well, modern for Gen-X, which means 1980-1996), Prince Rogers Nelson was often overlooked as a guitarist. Well, also he played piano, drums, bass, and about 15 different instruments at the same high level, so his guitar work was often overlooked. But I didn’t overlook it.

Just listen to the guitar-centric once-in-a-lifetime masterpiece that is Purple Rain. The album AND the song. It’s a tour de force, guitar wise. Not to mention he performed THE greatest Super Bowl Halftime Show of all time...in high heels...in the rain. All of his albums are that way. All of them.

Prince was once asked about his similarity to Jimi Hendrix. He said that the similarity is only skin deep…literally. They are both flamboyant black guitar players, but that’s it. He said he compares himself more to Santana in the way that he plays…more feel. More texture. And after having read that, I have to agree. Well, of course I do..Prince said it himself!

It’s just a shame that Prince, who, while alive, got accolades constantly about what a musical genius he was, never got the credit he deserved as a guitarist. Prince once joked that the secret to a great solo is giving the “stank face” as you did it, almost like it hurt to feel so much as you played. Prince, buddy ol pal, I don’t think it was the “stank face”. I think it was the Mozart level musicianship with the Randy Rhoads level technique.