Ah but Mike in the case of JB the songs are instrumental pieces where the guitar is used for vocal like phrasings, much like no1 violin with an orchestra. I could listen to that stuff all day. Its different from the typical over indulgent van halen type stuff in that it is the crux of the composition.

Racehorse thats a real shame as May's solos on record are things of multilayered wonder. Short, sweet, melodicaly perfect and to the point. Was he the same when Freddy was around? With Freddy gone he is the main focal point of the original band so may be taking more of a lead role??? Dunno just an idea.

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No no and no

I thought May took the lead role of the band after Mercury's death.
I also thought of him to take on a Solo role after Queen just wasn't "Queen" after Freddy. But the guitar was "Melodicaly Perfect" in my opinion.
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"I just go where the guitar takes me" Angus Young

i think there are some reason why they don't it:

the guitarists can't play solos
solos are not wanted in the format radio and
the bands/musicians adapt the norms from record companies/radio

...

cheers

No, this was when Freddie was still alive. I agree with you about Brian's solos on record. But what lasts a minute and a half on the album version of "Brighton Rock" loses its impact around the 8-minute mark. Believe me, I love Brian's work, but there really can be too much of a good thing.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

I used to play in a 3 piece cover band and for a while our 1st song was Mustang Sally (I know, overplayed!). We'd play the solo go back into the verse/chorus and then the bass player/singer would always yell
"Let's hear some more guitar!" which always meant another solo. He did this 3 or 4 times on almost every song. Our 3 minute version of Mustang Sally always got turned into a 7 minute Grateful Dead version.
I like playing solos but when you throw 3 or 4 into a song it gets old fast! Even my friends would say the song is too long.
This was our opening number!!

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Oh, yeah. Those darn records companies and radio guys! If only they'd get out of the way and give the people those long, derivative blues solos they're truly hankering for.

Don't kid yourself, boys. Solos put people to sleep. Check out John Ohlinger's column in the most recent Premier Guitar for some insight from a guy who can solo for hours, but doesn't think it's such a hot idea.

Personally I like long solos quite a bit... Maybe it's just me.

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the way i look at solo's as a barely mere mortal guitarist is that they should be based around hooks and phrases, much like a good chorus. Those are the tools hendrix and co used on every solo as a basis but then go on to expand for live performance. Which is where they go into the longwinded widdley stuff. Slapchop is right aside from a few epic songs from 69-73 there are really no singles (remember them) that feature a 4 minute guitar solo. The simple fact is that the music buying public dont want to hear it. Guitarists may want to and i can think of a few cases in my youth where i wanted to do it. Only to be strategically maneuvered into another direction by bandmates or a half awake producer. Eruption for instance is a great solo no quibble there, did it sell as well as jump though. Ask yourself if its so great why didnt it get to number 1 on the national singles chart. Why did Jump do well as a single when half of us would agree from a guitarists point of view its tripe.

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No no and no

As always, to each his or her own. I am a big fan of the extended guitar solo. I like playing extended solos, and I like bands that feature extended guitar solos, especially live. What bores me is seeing these modern bands with right hand heavy guitarists playing the same 3:58 long version on stage as is on the album. Chunk-Chunka-Chunk...Chunk-Chunka-Chunk "And now for our next number..." Chunka-Chunka-Chunka-Chunk...

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

As opposed to "And now for our next number... 'Weedle weedle weedle weedle weedle dee, deedle wee deedle doo....Weedle weedle weedle weedle weedle dee, deedle wee deedle doo...."

There are only two kinds of music: good and bad. The problem with the extended solo isn't inherent: it's just that hardly anyone can play a good one.

I guess I've held my tongue on this one but I have to put my 2 pennies on here.

I'm not sure why so many of us are labeling guitar solos as self indulgent and a waste of time. If done properly a good guitar solo can really add to a song and make it better. I've listened to plenty of songs where a good guitar solo could have fit in but was only met with disappointment by the end. I don't think they are self indulgent or excessive if done properly.

Mainstream music just is not guitar oriented anymore with hip hop, etc dominating charts.

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I tried to think of something clever to put here but- OH! Something shiny!!!

I know I am a product of my age, but I grew up listening to those 60's and 70's bands with all that experimenting and improvisational noodling. Then, as now, there was plenty of "bad" and plenty of "good." As for me, I can tell you that I have been "Weedle deedle dee'd" to places I could never go with short farmatted songs, no matter how well played.

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“All music is folk music, I ain't never heard no horse sing a song.” Louis Armstrong

Solos, when tastefully done and when kept with the flow of the song can become and integral part of the whole piece. I can't imagine "Comfortably Numb" or "Another Brick in the Wall" by Pink Floyd without the solos.

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The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.

Gilmour, in my opinion, is in a class of his own when it comes to guitar solos. The best parts of "Shine On, You Crazy Diamond" come from his guitar. But his work doesn't feel like guitar solos to me. He's singing the song with his hands.

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I really like all them "Aster" guitars. You know, like the Stratoc, Telec and Jazzm.

You're right. "Singing the song with his hands." is exactly what I consider a good solo to be. A lot of guitarists think a solo is just an excuse to grab attention and go "look at me, lookie at what I can do".

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The time has gone, the song is over, thought I'd something more to say.