There's No Stopping The Rain - Rolling Stone: Guitar Solos No.1

Prince – “Purple Rain” (1984)

Publication: Rolling Stone  

Date: May 2026

Country: United States

Prince crowned No. 1 on Rolling Stone’s 100 Greatest Guitar Solos

 of All Time, Prince’s “Purple Rain” solo defines the emotional apex of his career. The article recounts the song’s mythic origins — conceived at First Avenue, Minneapolis, on August 3 1983, during its first live performance.

"Prince’s solo, captured that night and immortalised on the album, is described as “a moving cry of the soul rather than a musical spotlight.”

"The feature highlights how Prince’s phrasing and string‑pinching technique created notes that “ascended heavenward,” expressing more about the meaning of Purple Rain than its lyrics ever could. It’s a moment of transcendence — the fusion of technical mastery and spiritual release — that secured Prince’s place at the summit of guitar artistry."

“While My Guitar Gently Weeps” (Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Ceremony)

Ranked No. 15, Prince’s now‑legendary guitar solo from the 2004 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony remains one of the most electrifying live moments in modern music history. The performance — a star‑studded tribute to George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” — saw Prince emerge unannounced from the shadows, unleashing three minutes of unrestrained virtuosity that stunned Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and the audience alike.

 Rolling Stone’s commentary describes the solo as “emotionally charged from the first note, erupting into a blaze of acrobatic shredding, rapid‑fire legato runs, and electric showmanship.” Even at his flashiest, Prince’s phrasing stayed rooted in Harrison’s melody — a gesture of respect from one all‑timer to another. The piece notes that the performance’s viral afterlife was partly fuelled by Prince’s earlier omission from the magazine’s 100 Greatest Guitarists list, a snub corrected in later editions.

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