“I can shred a solo… but I bore myself”: Why Steven Wilson decided to “reinvent the classic rock solo” – but not play it himself
Steven Wilson recruited another guitarist to “reinvent the classic rock solo” on his forthcoming album, and there’s a couple of reasons why he decided not to do it himself.
Wilson’s album, The Overview, is due for release on 14 March, and is described as a 42-minute record comprised of two epic tracks – Objects Outlive Us and the titular The Overview – each of which are split into distinct named sections that play out continuously.
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Objects Outlive Us concludes with a mighty solo played by guitarist Randy McStine, and when talking to McStine about his ideas for the piece, Wilson had some rather plain instructions – stay away from the typical classic rock solo.
Speaking to Prog for its new print issue, he says, “What I said to him was, ‘We need to reinvent the classic rock solo. What I don’t want is Comfortably Numb, but what I want is something that’s similarly heroic and epic. I want you to find a new way to speak in that vocabulary,’” he says.
So, why didn’t Wilson wan’t to play such an epic solo himself?: “Honestly? I don’t think I’m good enough,” he admits. “I can shred a solo OK, but I bore myself. What’s beautiful about a soloist coming along is that they’ll give you something unexpected and make you rethink where the music is going to go. And that was what Randy did.”
Interestingly, classic guitar solos aren’t the only thing Wilson wishes guitarists would reinvent and get creative with. Back in 2023 during an appearance on That Pedal Show, Wilson also criticised guitarists who don’t change their tone: “I’m constantly disappointed by extraordinary guitar players that have got no concept of how to change their sound, change their tone,” he said, noting that “they play with the same tone the whole time because it’s that tone that enables them to play a million notes… As a sound, it’s boring”.
He continued: “It’s a very broad statement, this. A lot of the modern generation of guitar players forget that 50 percent of being a guitar player is working with tone, with pedals and let’s not be purist about this – these days with plugins.”
Steven Wilson will go on tour this May. The Overview is available to pre-order, and will officially land on 14 March.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
