Brian May Reveals the 3 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time

Brian May has delivered some of rock’s most legendary guitar work—his playing on “Bohemian Rhapsody” alone secures his place among the greatest guitarists of all time. But another defining trait of the Queen guitarist is his willingness to celebrate the talents of others. May has never hesitated to praise the players who inspire him, proving that musical brilliance and generosity can go hand in hand. Below are three guitar solos he has singled out for special admiration.

“Since You’ve Been Gone” – Rainbow

Ritchie Blackmore may be most famous for his Deep Purple era—especially for creating one of rock’s most recognizable riffs, “Smoke on the Water”—but May has also highlighted Blackmore’s work with his later band, Rainbow.

In 1979, Rainbow released “Since You’ve Been Gone,” a track that perfectly melded catchy pop sensibilities with rock power, foreshadowing the radio-friendly rock that would come to define much of the 1980s. While the chorus is undeniably infectious, May has always been drawn to Blackmore’s unforgettable guitar solo.

“It’s uncompromising and it has the perfect element of pop, which is you can sing it and it’s in your head all day,” May once said. “But Ritchie’s in it and Ritchie is powering the whole thing. The under solo is just brilliant.”

“Hi Ho Silver Lining” – Jeff Beck

Jeff Beck frequently tops lists of the greatest guitarists in history—and Brian May is one of the many who hold him in that regard. May has often described Beck as a near-flawless player whose guitar “voice” he tries to emulate.

“The ‘Hi Ho Silver Lining’ solo from Jeff Beck to me he is a sort of unattainable perfection,” May said. “He’s in a class of his own… So I was inspired by things like that and I wanted my guitar to have that voice. I wanted it to have the smooth tones of a singer, but also the ‘consonants,’ sort of the definition which gives you the words when you’re singing.”

“Key to Love” – John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers

Eric Clapton’s long career has included several major bands, but his time with John Mayall & the Bluesbreakers in the mid-1960s remains one of his formative periods. Even early on, Clapton’s blues technique was already fully developing, as captured in tracks like “Key to Love.” For May, this recording shows Clapton at his most fiercely expressive.

“It’s the hottest, burning, high-passion piece I’ve ever heard in my life – still to this day,” May said. “I just love it. It totally rips, and I’ll never get over that. That’s one of my great inspirations.”