Motorcycle Emptiness
Manic Street Preachers, 1992, from Generation Terrorists. Solo by James Dean Bradfield.
James Dean Bradfield's guitar playing on 'Motorcycle Emptiness' is lush and melodic, with a sound that nods to classic rock while fitting the song's melancholy mood. His solo is lyrical and carefully shaped, built on soaring phrases and expressive bends that echo the vocal melody. The chiming, interlocking guitar parts give the song a rich texture, and the solo feels like its emotional high point. It remains one of the band's most loved tracks and a showcase for Bradfield's gift for melody. Listen for how his lines rise and fall with the song's dynamics, adding weight to the lyrics' sense of disillusionment and longing.
Motorcycle Emptiness by Manic Street Preachers is ranked #183 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by James Dean Bradfield and the song was released in 1992. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #18 (Guitarist / MusicRadar).
In our lists
- The Modern Canon: Best Since 1990 — #49
- The 25 Greatest Britpop Guitar Solos — #4
- The Best Manic Street Preachers Guitar Solos — #1
Sources
- Guitarist / MusicRadar: The 20 Greatest Guitar Solos Of All Time — #18
- Magazyn Gitarzysta: 100 solówek wszech czasów [100 solos of all time] — #87
Who played the guitar solo on Motorcycle Emptiness?
James Dean Bradfield played the solo on Manic Street Preachers's Motorcycle Emptiness (1992).
What guitar was used on the Motorcycle Emptiness solo?
A gibson les paul, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Motorcycle Emptiness rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#183 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.