Flirtin' with Disaster

Molly Hatchet, 1979. Solo by Dave Hlubek, Duane Roland, Steve Holland.

Three guitarists trade fast, hard-edged leads that pushed southern rock toward heavy rock.

Flirtin' with Disaster is southern rock with the throttle wide open, and Molly Hatchet's three guitarists treat it as a relay race. Dave Hlubek, Duane Roland and Steve Holland pass the lead around over a hard, galloping riff, each break short, fast and full of stinging bends and quick pentatonic runs. The tones are thicker and more distorted than the Skynyrd records that inspired them, which pushes the song toward the heavy rock and early metal of the same era. The fun lies in hearing three distinct voices share one engine. Listen for the handoffs between players, and notice how the riff keeps returning between breaks, like a pit stop before the next guitarist pulls away.

Flirtin' with Disaster by Molly Hatchet is featured in our Southern Rock (#18) list. The solo is played by Dave Hlubek, Duane Roland, Steve Holland and the song was released in 1979.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Southern Rock Guitar Solos — #18

Sources