The guitarists Prince “always tried to play like”
There are many ways to describe Prince. Enigmatic, innovative and creatively elusive, he was an artist who continuously pushed the boundaries of music and immersed himself in the textures of instrumental experimentation. As such, his position as one of music’s all-time greatest guitarists is often overlooked.
You don’t need me to tell you the guitar solo is sacred territory in the landscape of modern rock. It’s a dedicated space for something in between unbridled chaos and performative narcissism. Despite that, we as fans wait with anticipation as the ushering in of a face-melting solo is a chance for us to lap up some otherworldly sense of musicianship.
It’s because Prince was such an immersive artist that when he did it, it was less of a ceremonial moment that stood alone. Ultimately, the entire song was packed with moments that could inspire a state of hypnotic awe and thus diminish the standalone power of a solo.
But he certainly knew how to let rip with the best of them. In fact, his guitar solo during a performance of George Harrison’s ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’ is often considered the greatest of all time. A lurking figure in the shadows for most of his performance alongside Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne, he steps out in the final 90 seconds to let rip on a belter of a solo, thrusting his hips, pulling faces and raising the guitar above his head with the sort of triumph one should for delivering a moment of genius.
It was the sort of performance that began a chain reaction of influence thereafter, with future rock stars staying up all night to mimic the skill and performative energy of Prince. And it’s because he’s always been a touchstone for influence across so many genres that it’s often tough to imagine him drawing influence from anything other than his own genius. But like the future greats he inspired, Prince was once a budding musician copying the framework set out by greats.
“You know the old KQ[RS] after midnight, that was the bomb station,” said Prince. “I’d stay up all night listening to it. That’s where I discovered Carlos Santana, Maria Muldaur, and Joni Mitchell. Was I influenced by that? Sure I was. Back then, I always tried to play like Carlos or Boz Scaggs.”
Scaggs and Santana were two artists whose work can be somewhat identifiable in Prince’s, despite his singularity. Santana’s long sustained notes were a clear influence on the ‘Purple Rain’ solo, will Scaggs’ ability to straddle several genres with groove as a through line is a concept Prince picked up and ran with. But in truth, it’s hard to imagine a world where Prince wouldn’t have figured out those skills off his own back, given the relentless and innovative genius he was.
