Whole Lotta Rosie
AC/DC, 1977, from Let There Be Rock. Solo by Angus Young.
Angus Young's playing on 'Whole Lotta Rosie' is a whirlwind of energy. The main riff is tight and pounding, and his solo is a frantic burst of fast, bluesy runs, bends and trills that seem to barely hold together. It's pure rock and roll adrenaline, perfectly suited to the song's rowdy humor. The track became a concert favorite, often stretching into longer solos live. Listen for how Angus pushes the tempo in his solo, rushing ahead of the beat to create excitement, and how Malcolm's steady rhythm guitar keeps the song anchored, giving Angus the freedom to run wild without the song losing its drive.
Whole Lotta Rosie by AC/DC is ranked #127 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Angus Young and the song was released in 1977. It appears on 3 lists, placing as high as #18 (Gibson.com (via Georgia Straight)).
In our lists
- See Them Live — #45
- SGs & Telecasters — #18
- Hidden Gems — #15
- The Best Angus Young Guitar Solos — #4
- The Best AC/DC Guitar Solos — #4
Sources
- Gibson.com (via Georgia Straight): Gibson.com's Top 50 Guitar Solos of All Time — #18
- Planet Rock: The 75 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #30
- Planet Rock: The Top 40 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever — #39
Who played the guitar solo on Whole Lotta Rosie?
Angus Young played the solo on AC/DC's Whole Lotta Rosie (1977).
What guitar was used on the Whole Lotta Rosie solo?
A gibson sg, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Whole Lotta Rosie rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#127 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 3 of them.