Rooster

Alice In Chains, 1992, from Dirt. Solo by Jerry Cantrell.

Cantrell's wah solo sits inside a song about his father's Vietnam service, restrained and heavy at the same time.

Rooster is Jerry Cantrell's song about his father's service in Vietnam, and his wah solo is both restrained and heavy. He uses the wah to shape long, bluesy phrases, letting notes cry and moan rather than rushing through fast runs, which suits the song's slow, grinding groove. The solo never breaks the mood; it deepens it, adding tension and weight to the story the lyric tells. It is a clear example of Cantrell's gift for melody and atmosphere, and of how he always puts the song ahead of display. Listen for how he opens the wah slowly on held notes, so they seem to swell and speak, giving the break a vocal, almost mournful quality.

Rooster by Alice In Chains is featured in our Grunge (#13) list. The solo is played by Jerry Cantrell and the song was released in 1992.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Grunge Guitar Solos — #13
• Wah & Talk Box Solos — #22
• The Best Jerry Cantrell Guitar Solos — #2
• The Best Alice In Chains Guitar Solos — #3

Sources