Stargazer
Rainbow, 1976, from Rising. Solo by Ritchie Blackmore.
'Stargazer' is one of Ritchie Blackmore's most ambitious recordings, built on a pounding, hypnotic groove and an orchestral backdrop. His solo leans on exotic, Middle Eastern-flavored scales, with fast runs and dramatic bends that suit the song's mythic lyrics about a wizard and his tower. Paired with Ronnie James Dio's powerful vocal and Cozy Powell's thunderous drums, the guitar adds grandeur and menace. The track became a blueprint for much of the power metal that followed. Listen for how Blackmore's lines twist through the scales, giving the solo a strange, otherworldly character that matches the song's sense of doomed ambition.
Stargazer by Rainbow is ranked #168 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Ritchie Blackmore and the song was released in 1976. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #9 (Planet Rock).
In our lists
- One and Only — #25
- The 25 Greatest Metal Guitar Solos — #24
- Hidden Gems — #1
- The Best Ritchie Blackmore Guitar Solos — #2
- The Best Rainbow Guitar Solos — #1
Sources
- Planet Rock: The 75 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #9
- DigitalDreamDoor: 200 Greatest Metal Guitar Solos — #10
- Planet Rock: The Top 40 Greatest Guitar Solos Ever — #21
Who played the guitar solo on Stargazer?
Ritchie Blackmore played the solo on Rainbow's Stargazer (1976).
What guitar was used on the Stargazer solo?
A fender stratocaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Stargazer rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#168 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.