The Three Best Guitar Solos in Hollywood Movies: These Moments are Cult Classics!
The Three Best Guitar Solos in Hollywood Movies: These Moments are Cult Classics! · Source: A. Cordes
We have selected three of the best guitar solos in Hollywood movies. Some of these iconic moments are deeply ingrained in pop culture. Which ones did we forget?
Originally published at Gearnews.de by Andreas Cortes, translation by Julian Schmauch.
Which guitar solos in Hollywood movies are the best?
Iconic scenes in cult classics
When a guitar solo in a Hollywood movie really stands out and grabs your attention, I find myself paying close attention to the fingerwork and the performance. I’m looking for authenticity, and I want to know if the actor and director really went the extra mile.
It’s difficult for an untrained actor to get the finger position and movements to match the solo in sync. In Hollywood, these things are essential. Before shooting a scene like this, the actors usually practice with a professional guitarist. These scenes were definitely not easy to get right, and depending on the musical talent of the actors, it took a lot of time.
There are plenty of examples where, through clever video editing, the actors are not shown on full screen with their instruments. You only see faceless shots. But there are also some examples where they tried to make everything better and more authentic.
I’d like to share with you some movies in which this worked particularly well and put a big grin on my face.
Back to the future – Johnny B Goode
Who hasn’t seen this classic? It’s a movie I like to watch once a year. Michael J. Fox’s performance of the Chuck Berry song “Johnny B Goode” has become a cult classic. Marty McFly travels back to 1955 in Doc Brown’s DeLorean and shows people what the future holds for music with this guitar solo.
At the prom night, he ends up replacing Marvin Berry’s guitarist. The whole performance is really authentic, and the solo is pretty much spot-on. It’s a bit of a wink among guitarists, of course. Here, he shows people a guitar solo that mankind had never heard before. Thinking about traveling back in time with the evolution of guitar playing in tow is fascinating. Many of us would have become instant superstars.
By the way, the guitar used in the scene is a 1958 Gibson ES-345. This model didn’t even exist in 1955, but most people probably wouldn’t have noticed. For me, it is still one of the three best guitar solos in Hollywood movies.
Crossroads mit Steve Vai
The guitar solo battle from the 1986 movie Crossroads is also a standout among the best guitar solos in Hollywood movies. Actor Ralph Maccio, who is also known for his role in the movie Karate Kid, has an epic guitar solo battle with none other than Steve Vai.
The actor had two hours of guitar lessons every day for weeks beforehand to get up to speed. You can see from the film how seriously the actor took his role. Once again, his performance is authentic, and he pays great attention to detail. For Steve Vai, who was the guitar virtuoso par excellence in the eighties, it all seemed more like spontaneous improvisational theatre, so it must have been a breeze for him.
School of Rock mit Jack Black als Musiklehrer
I think the 2003 movie School of Rock is such a great feel-good movie, and the final live performance is pretty impressive too. Jack Black plays an unemployed guitarist who rediscovers his passion for music as a substitute teacher and teaches the class how to rock.
At the end of the movie, Jack Black, as Angus Young, presents his own song together with his students and rocks the house. They really went to town on the details here. Everyone on stage plays their instrument amazingly well. You have to look very closely to spot any mistakes. This scene is also one of the most cult classic moments of the movie.
Tip of the guitar solo iceberg
Needless to say, this is just a small selection of the best guitar solos in Hollywood movies. I’m sure you can think of a few more off the top of your head. I think films like “Cash”, “Bohemian Rhapsody” or “The Dirt” are also worth a mention here.
And I’d include series like “Stranger Things”, with that epic Metallica solo, or “Daisy Jones & The Six” in this category. I’m sure I’ve forgotten a few examples, so I’d love to hear your favorite guitar solos in Hollywood movies or series. Please let us know us in the comments.
More on the best guitar solos in Hollywood movies
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