Here's to You, Eddie Hazel (Another Myth Put to Rest)

Apparently, a British radio station has compiled a list of the "Greatest Guitar Solos of All-Time." The British love their lists like this, even moreso than the Americans (who are also big fans of lists). Their number one? "Comfortably Numb" by Pink Floyd, and their top-ten are full of the usual suspects in such categorizations - "Stairway to Heaven," "Sweet Child O'Mine" (god knows why), "Eruption," and "Freebird," among others.

It's time to put all this bullshit to rest, once and for all.

The greatest guitar solo of all time is Eddie Hazel on Funkadelic's "Maggot Brain." Period. End of story.

And for all you future publications and people interested in lists, the presumption that great guitar solos can only be from white-man-rock both refuses the great guitar tradition present in the blues (don't go giving me this "Stevie Ray Vaughan was a great blues guitarist!!!" bullshit; and if you bring up Clapton, I'll rip your throat out), funk, jazz, and in countries that are neither the U.S. or England. It reflects both your ignorance to explore music beyond famous white guys, as well as demonstrating your complete unfamiliarity with anything outside of the traditional "rock canon" (which is probably racist and definitely archaic).

And make damn sure Eddie Hazel is number one. It's the Truth.