mike f

There are many of Prince’s song I’d love to hear his bass isolated. If I had to pick one though it’d be Alphabet St.

See also The Name of the Game, on which Mr Gunnarsson also did the string arrangements (it says here).

I like it 👍

Sure ‘nuff.

Ah right. Missed that one. Bugger. “Circumstances” was a highlight. John French did a fine job on vocals.

Best? Possibly..., Billy Joel at the MEN Arena Manchester 2007. Gifted front row tickets on getting in. Only member of the 12000 audience to sing into Billy’s mic, on the last line of “It’s Still Rock n Roll to Me”. Large portion of the crowd goes nuts in my direction. Yes!

Magic Band at Shepherds Bush Empire? If it’s the same one I was there and yes, it was fantastic

A 1978 Musicman Stingray, sunburst with a maple board. Purchased for £695 (in about 1990). I’d wanted one from the day I started playing and wanted to love it but just couldn’t get on with the neck. Ended up trading it for the 74 Jazz bass which I’ve still got.

Yup, that’ll do. I’ve even been known to wear a white vest on stage too. Winner.

Tele through a JCM800 with a nice selection of pedals. Loud.

Silly buggers

Slash Ringo Liberace What a band that’d be!

Led Zep IV

And who can forget Vim Fuego?

I used to know the Macc Lads’ guitarist, Phil Macavity. Nice chap.

***Further pedantry*** Full name is Don Glen Vliet.

So many good songs by Led Zep. I’ll add The Wanton Song and Boogie With Stu. Maybe not obscure but played less. Bloody good all the same.

Funkadelic - One Nation Under a Groove. Hi @Sarah5string

It’s..., Paul McCartney. Gets coat. Phones for taxi. Leaves country.

The whole concept of greatest guitarist is a bit daft really, it’s a bit like saying who the greatest painter is. Prince is a great guitarist. Is he one of the greats? Dunno. My favourites; Hendrix, Prince, Zappa, Angus and Malcolm, The Edge, John Frusciante, Graham Coxon, Tim Smith, Jimmy Page, Billy Gibbons, Nile Rodgers, Zoot Horn Rollo, Tony Iommi, Guthrie Govan, Annie Clark....

In terms of the shear number of people around the world listening to a guitar, or guitar solo and going “Yes!” (in their respective language) whilst making their fingers go widdlely widdlely, and thusly considering that guitarist to be the greatest...., Angus!

Watching, and listening intently to, Joni Mitchell -Shadows and Light. Good Lord, I'd forgotten how good this was.

Jane's Addiction at the Brixton Academy in 2003. It was bloody awful. THE only gig I've ever walked out of and I can remember security telling me that I wouldn't be able to re-enter once Id stepped out the door, to which I replied, "I really don't want to". I'd seem them before in 1991 on the Ritual de lo Habitual tour, at the Manchester Academy with Primus in support. The whole night had been amazing and I was really looking forward to seeing them again. 2003 and the energy, danger and excitement which was so evident 12 years earlier had gone from the both their sound and performance. Even the crowd was dull, dutifully singing along to all their songs. I was glad to get out of there. Also Chili Peppers at the O2 in 2011. A tired performance with no Frusciante. Kiedis hid behind the drums for a good portion of the gig. Flea's whackiness grated. And Josh. Absolutely fantastic in 1990, 1992, 1996 (with Dave Navarro) and 1999 when I'd seen them but this was a real clunker. Also Prince in 1990 on the Nude Tour at the NEC. I kind of blamed it on the NEC at the time but really it was at the start of the period I stopped listening to him so much. I was gutted on the coach home. I'd seen him before, twice in 1988, and I saw him twice since, in 2002 in Hammersmith and 2007 at the O2 and consider all four of those concerts as all-time favourites, but like the Peppers one above, this one was very poor.

Madness - Embarrassment “Thought she had a head on her shoulder, ’cause I’m feeling twice as older”