Venus
Television, 1977, from Marquee Moon. Solo by Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd.
Tom Verlaine and Richard Lloyd's interlocking guitars give 'Venus' its shimmering, dreamlike quality. Their parts are clean and precise, weaving melodic lines around each other rather than competing for space. The solo is brief but lyrical, built on bright, chiming phrases that fit the song's romantic, slightly surreal mood. It's a fine example of how the band redefined guitar interplay in the punk era, blending art-rock ambition with simplicity. Listen for how the two guitars create a rich, layered texture, with each part adding a different color, and how the solo emerges naturally from that interplay before melting back into it.
Venus by Television is ranked #198 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd and the song was released in 1977. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #33 (NME).
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Indie Rock Guitar Solos — #10
- The 25 Greatest Punk Guitar Solos — #8
- The Best Television Guitar Solos — #8
Sources
- NME: 50 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — #33
- Guitar Tricks: 200 Best Guitar Solos of All Time — #200
Who played the guitar solo on Venus?
Tom Verlaine & Richard Lloyd played the solo on Television's Venus (1977).
What guitar was used on the Venus solo?
A fender jazzmaster, according to widely reported accounts.
Where does Venus rank among the greatest guitar solos?
#198 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 79 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.