Which 80s finger slinger wrote the most unique solos?

Matt300ZXT

Matt300ZXT

Well-known member
In your opinion, of all the 80s metal/hair guys, who wrote the most unique sounding solos or licks within solos?

I've been jamming on a lot of Dio stuff lately, and even though he's not the fastest or flashiest, my money's on Vivian Campbell. He seems to write these passages that I've just never seen guys write or play that way. I'm currently learning his Hungry For Heaven solo and it's just full of little Vivian'isms that set him apart from all the other guys of the era.

Also, an honorable mention: Brooke St. James. I've really only looked at 1 solo of his, but some of the licks in it are pretty different from what a lot of his contemporaries were doing.
 
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demondestroyer said:
George Lynch is definitely one of em!
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I'll second George, his stuff was lyrical, lots of melody yet chaotic all at the same. I've often thought "The Hunter" is arguably the most perfect solo he ever played because it featured everything he does best, melody, tone, technique, his crazy wide vibrato and a flashes of speed..
 
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Matt300ZXT said:
So far, we've got George Lynch, Jake E Lee, Slash, and Vivian Campbell. Quite a collection of guys that did it totally different than everyone else.
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Well really those guys were part of the first wave of newbies from the early 80's that were unique for the most part and not simply EVH clones. I mean you could hear some of their influences from guys from the 50's, 60's and 70's and they were giving their own unique take.

Other guys from that era are Rhoads and Sykes etc...

Further you had guys that were actually part of the 70's that were growing as well with like Gary Moore and Neal Schon he album by album you could hear them advancing their playing.

IMO it was the most significant advancement in guitar, certainly for me the most fun time because everyone had their own voice. And though I'm not necessarily a fan you have to give Yngwie credit as well. As the 80's rolled on, sure there were a few who came out but most were just watered down versions of that first wave.
 
Man, there were a ton of monster players in the 80s! More than I could ever even name. Some of the people I am thinking of started before the 80s so that is hard to say.

On a note that is not super related but very slightly: I randomly get guitar licks from Queensryche's 'Operation: Mindcrime' in my head at the most random times. Not the craziest guitar work or anything, but a really fun album with some cool guitar stuff going on in general.
 
GuitarGuy08 said:
Man, there were a ton of monster players in the 80s! More than I could ever even name. Some of the people I am thinking of started before the 80s so that is hard to say.

On a note that is not super related but very slightly: I randomly get guitar licks from Queensryche's 'Operation: Mindcrime' in my head at the most random times. Not the craziest guitar work or anything, but a really fun album with some cool guitar stuff going on in general.
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that's funny you mentioned that, because I was jamming along to some Queensryche today and trying to find a good tab for the Eyes Of A Stranger solo. That's one of the coolest solos to come out of that decade.
 
dcburn mk.ii said:
Luke would be another.

Feel like a dick not mentioning Sykes, especially after he just passed…
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He did have some unique bits about him. The way he played double notes when playing a lick is kind of his signature thing in my mind, also how much he loved the flying up the fretboard playing kind of the same pattern and just going way up there on a single string, or two string run.
 
PurityS.L.G said:
CC DeVille
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I always laugh when guys mention poison, white lion, winger and some others… back in my high school days they were considered posers and chick bands…lol… watched a dude get his ass whooped in the bathroom because he wrote in the school paper white lion was better than AC/DC… ohhh the silly stuff back then compared to now…
 
Matt300ZXT said:
I knew when I was typing this thread up that SOMEONE was gonna mention Andy. I was just counting down the time until someone did :cool:
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Was obsessed by him for a long time. Learned all the solos from "The Eye" years ago... I really loved the old King Diamond Abigail Live. Then he played on Death's "Individual Thought Patterns" :rock:
 
GuitarGuy08 said:
Man, there were a ton of monster players in the 80s! More than I could ever even name. Some of the people I am thinking of started before the 80s so that is hard to say.

On a note that is not super related but very slightly: I randomly get guitar licks from Queensryche's 'Operation: Mindcrime' in my head at the most random times. Not the craziest guitar work or anything, but a really fun album with some cool guitar stuff going on in general.
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On those first few albums when I’ve really didn’t know too much about how to play, I really thought Michael Wilton was the “good guitarist” but as I got older and learned those tunes it was Chris Degarmo who had all the sexy melodies and hooks. I think he was the key to the band because after he left they never sounded the same.
 
GuitarGuy08 said:
Man, there were a ton of monster players in the 80s! More than I could ever even name. Some of the people I am thinking of started before the 80s so that is hard to say.

On a note that is not super related but very slightly: I randomly get guitar licks from Queensryche's 'Operation: Mindcrime' in my head at the most random times. Not the craziest guitar work or anything, but a really fun album with some cool guitar stuff going on in general.
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Amazing tone. I was too young to really be into 80's music but that playing is just badass and a killer tone for the vibe of the production. Operation Mindcrime is an amazing album to just isolate yourself, maybe puff something, get some good headphones and go on a journey.
 
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