Search and Destroy
Iggy and the Stooges, 1973, from Raw Power. Solo by James Williamson.
Williamson's overdriven solo is a raw, bruising blueprint for punk guitar.
Search and Destroy opens Raw Power with a blast of energy, and James Williamson's guitar is a raw, bruising blueprint for punk. His solo is overdriven and aggressive, with sharp bends and relentless phrases that match Iggy Pop's snarling vocal. Williamson's style mixes hard rock power with a reckless, almost violent edge, influencing generations of punk and alternative guitarists. Listen for the jagged, distorted tone and the way the solo seems to slash through the song's driving rhythm, and for how Williamson's playing stays tightly locked to the band's attack even at its most chaotic, keeping the track focused and ferocious from start to finish.
Search and Destroy by Iggy and the Stooges is ranked #265 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by James Williamson and the song was released in 1973. It appears on 1 lists, placing as high as #46 (Classic Rock (Louder)).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Punk Guitar Solos — #3
- The Best Iggy and the Stooges Guitar Solos — #1
- The Best The Stooges Guitar Solos — #1
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Search and Destroy?
James Williamson played the solo on Iggy and the Stooges's Search and Destroy (1973).
Where does Search and Destroy rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#265 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 1 of them.