Tattooed Love Boys
Pretenders, 1980, from Pretenders. Solo by James Honeyman-Scott.
Choppy, bright, and gone in a blink.
James Honeyman-Scott's playing on 'Tattooed Love Boys' is choppy, bright and full of attitude. His lead lines dart in and out of the song's tricky rhythms, and his solo is a short, sharp burst of energy that's gone almost as soon as it begins. The tone is clean yet cutting, blending punk urgency with pop precision. It's a vivid example of his knack for melodic hooks within a tight, energetic arrangement. Listen for how his quick, staccato phrases lock with the rhythm section, adding sparkle and drive, and how the solo's brevity makes it feel even more exciting before the vocal barrels back in.
Tattooed Love Boys by Pretenders is ranked #187 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by James Honeyman-Scott and the song was released in 1980. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #59 (Rolling Stone).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest New Wave Guitar Solos — #4
- The 25 Greatest Punk Guitar Solos — #7
- Short & Perfect — #21
- Rolling Stone vs. Everyone — #20
- The Best The Pretenders Guitar Solos — #5
Sources
- Rolling Stone: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #59
- Classic Rock (Louder): The 100 greatest guitar solos in rock — #76
Who played the guitar solo on Tattooed Love Boys?
James Honeyman-Scott played the solo on Pretenders's Tattooed Love Boys (1980).
What guitar was used on the Tattooed Love Boys solo?
A gibson les paul, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Tattooed Love Boys rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#187 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.