Looking at You
MC5, 1970, from Back in the USA. Solo by Wayne Kramer, Fred "Sonic" Smith.
Kramer and Smith's frenzied twin-guitar attack on Back in the USA anticipates punk's high-energy approach.
Looking at You is a showcase for the MC5's twin-guitar attack, with Wayne Kramer and Fred 'Sonic' Smith trading and overlapping frenzied lines. Their playing is loud, fast and aggressive, full of wild bends and relentless energy. The guitars sound like they are pushing each other to go further, creating a sense of chaotic excitement. It anticipated punk's high-energy approach by several years. Listen for the moments where the two guitars clash and intertwine, creating a dense, noisy texture, and for how the solos build tension and release, driving the song forward with a raw, electric intensity that still sounds urgent decades later.
Looking at You by MC5 is ranked #246 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Wayne Kramer, Fred "Sonic" Smith and the song was released in 1970. It appears on 1 lists, placing as high as #32 (Classic Rock (Louder)).
In our lists
- One and Only — #46
- The 25 Greatest Punk Guitar Solos — #5
- Twin Guitars & Harmonies — #18
- The Best MC5 Guitar Solos — #2
Sources
Who played the guitar solo on Looking at You?
Wayne Kramer, Fred "Sonic" Smith played the solo on MC5's Looking at You (1970).
Where does Looking at You rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#246 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 1 of them.