15 Greatest Classic Rock Guitar Solos
1. Free Bird - Lynyrd Skynyrd
The final song from Lynyrd Skynyrd's debut album, "Free Bird" is a touching ode to freedom that has become one of the band's signature track, played at every live show the band performs.
Every member of the band brings their best material to this track, which is very apparent after even just one listen. Originally conceived as a way of giving vocalist Ronnie Van Zant a rest during the band's constant live performances, the song has grown to become not only one of Lynyrd Skynyrd's greatest hits, but a staple of rock in general.
The full version, which runs at roughly 10 minutes of length, has more than half of its runtime dedicated to a high-energy guitar solo that dials the energy of the song up to 11, as guitarist Allen Collins delivers an unforgettable onslaught of notes and adrenaline. The original version of the song ends with a fade-out near the end of the solo, but the Extended Music Version featured on the band's greatest hits album brings the solo to an interesting and climactic conclusion. 48 years later, the song is still iconic, and has been covered by countless artists, featured in countless movies, and is always requested by at least one person in the front row of a concert, regardless of the genre of the show.