White Wedding

Billy Idol, 1982, from Billy Idol. Solo by Steve Stevens.

Stevens mixes rockabilly twang and glossy '80s effects into a solo that helped define Idol's sound.

White Wedding helped define Billy Idol's sound, and Steve Stevens' guitar is a big reason why. His solo mixes rockabilly twang with glossy '80s production, combining quick, bright phrases with dramatic bends and effects-laden flourishes. The rhythm guitar that drives the song is just as distinctive, with a sharp, punchy tone that locks into the beat. Stevens brought a showman's flair to new wave rock, blending retro influences with modern textures. Listen for the solo's sudden shifts between clean, twangy lines and heavier, more distorted passages, and for how he uses dynamics to give the short break a sense of drama that matches the song's dark, sneering mood.

White Wedding by Billy Idol is featured in our New Wave (#6) list. The solo is played by Steve Stevens and the song was released in 1982.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest New Wave Guitar Solos — #6
• The Best Steve Stevens Guitar Solos — #4
• The Best Billy Idol Guitar Solos — #2

Sources