10 Greatest Rock Music Guitar Solos Of The 1980s
5. Purple Rain - Prince
Though not necessarily thought of a rock musician, Prince's work embodied so many strands from so many different genres, that it was basically impossible to describe the enigmatic star with a single term.
The '80s was when he really came into his own, peaking with what many consider to be his opus; 1984's Purple Rain. Every one of this album's eight entries is a gem, but the one most people are familiar with has to be the epic title track.
A dark and moody love ballad, the song Purple Rain quickly became one of the standout songs in Prince's entire back catalogue and is his most streamed on Spotify. One of the many things to love about it is its solo, which is as desperate and emotional as the rest of the lonely anthem.
Played by the man himself, the Purple Rain solo is full of screeching high notes that match the epic, swelling nature of the backing track. Though a little low in the mix for some, the solo is still some of the most evocative playing from any '80s guitarist, rock or otherwise.