Joe Bonamassa: guitar solos that changed my life

The blues' man of the moment on the guitar playing that helped push him along the road to where he is today

Jimmy Page – Whole Lotta Love (Led Zeppelin)

“I could’ve chosen so many of Jimmy’s solos – Stairway To Heaven, I Can’t Quit You Baby, Heartbreaker – but if I have to go for one it’s Whole Lotta Love. It’s old-school, which is what I prefer. With Jimmy it’s all about the construction of the solos and the way they pay off. He’s such an inspired and inspiring player, and this one’s the quintessential air-guitar track.”

BB King – The Thrill Is Gone (BB King)

“This is as perfect a blues guitar solo as you’ll get. It’s simple, you know? It’s so effective for his version of that Roy Hawkins song. To me a great guitar solo is one when you trade the vocal for the guitar and it stays the same thing. That’s something I strive for, and that’s what BB did here.”

Paul Kossoff – Be My Friend (Free)

“This is probably one of Paul Kossoff’s most emotional solos. It’s so pop, and the sound is just this howling Les Paul sound. I’ve never quite been able to get that howling sound myself. This is a Marshall amp, a Fender Super Reverb and a fifty-nine Les Paul. When you listen to the sound, the way it was recorded and the sheer inspiration behind his notes, you just think, yet again, what an underrated player he is.”

Roy Buchanan – Roy’s Bluz (Roy Buchanan)

“Roy’s super-underrated; a lot of those Telecaster guys were. He recorded Live Stock in New York, and this is one of his very best solos. It’s how it comes out of nowhere – it’s this dark, depressing blues, and all of a sudden the solo comes at you like a dagger. It’s this explosive Telecaster freak-out for about four minutes – four minutes that encapsulate everything you love about Roy Buchanan’s playing.”

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