Top 10 Solos - Alex Lifeson (Rush)

[@JonathanToole]

Alex Lifeson was one of the best if not the best guitar player of all time IMO. Brian May is great, and so are the rest, but the creativity and skill of Alex Lifeson are unmatched IMO.

[@netsherrera7193]

You are definitely not alone in that opinion. Yes. He. Is. The. Best. Guitar. Player. Ever. Will. Exist.

[@tomfabozzi5353]

Wow. Excellent. You are a seriously good player Sir! 👏👏👏👏

[@tomfabozzi5353]

Some of his 80s stuff was also incredible. I particularly love the solo on “Open Secrets”, and also “Afterimage”, “ Kid Gloves” and “Between the Wheels”

[@tomfabozzi5353]

Sorry, I now see you did “Kid Gloves”! 😂

[@jasongarber2346]

I like all your additions here. I have always really liked the solos for Big Money and Distant Early Warning as well.

[@gordonmuir6881]

Great playing mate. When I watch the shredders out there I often think 'I wish I could do that'. When I watch Alex I think 'I wish I'd written that'.

[@carmgitto]

Alex always made his solo unique. Notice that each solo is different every single time. He didn't borrow riffs from other songs. Truly a guitar god.

[@digitalchris6681]

Oh if only I could do this. Sadly all my solos are almost identical : E or A flat minor pentatonic. My fingers just refuse to go other places....

[@Kidgloves1984]

Yes! Alex is a great composer!

[@ricardocastillo5485]

Solos of course should be melodic by nature, that's the whole point, but Alex in particular among guitarists never lost that point over 40+ years.

[@eugenehavens]

Yes, I know pretty much every note even decades later, so in the .1% he played differently, it stands out. It's how melodic Alex's solos are.

[@FrancisSawyer]

Great points but it's much more than just being melodic. What Alex did arguably better than anyone is to literally express the mood and emotional essence of the song through his solos. Lifelong would take a song and use his soloing as a vehicle to extract the root emotional urgency of a song like extracting marrow from a bone. He's a genius and my #1 influence as a guitarist.

[@tuckerd]

We know why we are here. To see something truly special. Alex has inspired us for so many years. Amazing job. Wonderful playing and an amazing tribute .

[@sbkp]

That was a cool surprise seeing Kid Gloves in there. It's always been one of my favorite songs. EDIT: And yeah, of course La Villa Strangiato is #1. Absolutely 100%

[@KenL414]

Hard to think of a guitarist who wrote more great/beautiful solos than Lerxst did. He's definitely one of my favorites to ever do it. You played these perfectly, great stuff. Long live Rush!

[@carlosazevedo1914]

3:52 Working Man is wonderful!!

[@claudiodiegocagnin2994]

Great job!!!

[@bonetone8538]

Good stuff 👏🏼

[@vernonstamm1514]

Wow,👍 that was bad ass. All I can say is THANX!!!!

[@vincentblackpool8731]

ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!!! BRAVISSIMO!!! I've been listening to RUSH for close to 50 years now, and I know these solos note-for-note -- you are SPOT ON! I see that you speak fluent Canadian, where are you from in the Great White North, eh? (I'm from Otter Lake, Michigan, about an hour west of Sarnia.)

[@andyharman3022]

Not my first time listening to this video. La Villa Strangiato sent shivers down my spine. Again.

[@JDDaniel-k4v]

Yes, I'd play covers to the solo and is always fun to play.

[@dr.p3637]

Kelly Dean Allen - - you're the best damn guitar player on the Internet. I have never seen anything like I just watched. The tone, the feel, the technique, the heartbeat ...every single thing that you just showed us was so flawless and perfect. If you close your eyes, you would think you were listening to the man recording these in the studio. I absolutely love your choices of solos you are bang on with everything you do. On a personal level, I've been a guitar player for 50 years and Rush is my favorite band and I have always considered myself a good player, but watching you has inspired me to become better. I've always tried to emulate Alex but fall far from the mark --thank you for your artistry and professionalism.

[@MarkStephens-b5z]

God Damn you’re good man. You don’t miss a lick!

[@gjmarr1]

The difference for me between listening to Alex solo and most others is that the solo is lyrical and fits the song it is in. You want to listen to it and it isn't boring. La Villa is like a master class in how to develop a solo.

[@JamesMoore-un3cu]

That was truly STUNNING playing, very much down to the note, which is hard to do with Lifeson. He is a master, copied by nearly no one. BRAVO! As others have said, he is a very soulful player, which I never really considered, or gave him credit for in my mind. But he really is a standout in guitar circles.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Cheers mate, appreciate that very much!

[@JDDaniel-k4v]

Alex lifeson's playing is 'cosmic.' plays good lead and rhythm.

[@JDDaniel-k4v]

He and the rest of the band of Rush are hard rockers

[@CAP21]

That Limelight solo never gets old. Awesome job Kelly😎

[@eugenehavens]

What a video. Awesome playing. Great choices. Included Analog Kid!

[@michaelchilvers]

Bravo! Outstanding!

[@frankydog7656]

DAMN!!! You're good dude!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks man!

[@Joe-mz6dc]

Great playing bud. And this is a guy who's been playing guitar for almost half a century and seen Rush more than two dozen times. 😃

[@JeromeDukes]

That made my day thx. Favorite band of all time and Alex is up there among my favorite guitarist of all time.

[@robertartese808]

Great ! Nice job! Fantastic ear and super playing!

[@MkVIIIMaus]

As the tears stream down my cheeks this shall be remembered as the best tribute to Alex Lifeson's artistic skill and the beauty of RUSH. Much praise my man your skill is epic! Thank you. (Drummer) the professor would have loved this.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Appreciate that mate, thanks!

[@benjaminduff4970]

Thank you for doing this video and the top 10 Alex Lifeson riffs. Alex is the greatest. I enjoyed your videos SO MUCH. You really nailed everything. I was really deeply moved to watch you play. Alex is my favourite player above all. I love Django, Jimmy Bryant, Eddie, Steve Morse, and loads of others, but Alex has it all. Great riffs, fantastic tone, surprises all over the place, imagination, daring, and tones to die for. Long live Alex and Rush. Thanks again.

[@winstonlane708]

🎸 🐐

[@marcogrossi4600]

CBF shirt. Thank you for liking my country. That alone is worth a like!

[@Yyz1971]

Great list! I love the Analog Kid solo especially. I've been working on La Villa for a bit, but I would really like to be able to nail that acoustic intro!

[@rennoger]

I have to add a second, this guy is phenomenal he has to be a professional of some kind of in the studio because this is just too amazingly good My bow down to you my friend

[@SamCarpenter-jy8jl]

Killing it, man ! [Drummer] So great to see this tribute to one of the all time best. Thanks for the homage to our heroes. R.I.P. professor. ♥ ♥ ♥

[@skatepark1ful]

WOWOWEEEEEWOW!!!! U absolutely JAM!!! I can listen to yor solos continuously !! cheers and thanxxx for the vid!!! I'ma RUSH fan since 1983!!

[@DanGarrett23]

Amazing and super impressive! Nice job brother!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks Dan!

[@spicykimchi1]

Wow, you sound amazing! As far as my favorite Rush solos, one of my favorites is also possibly the easiest to play - "No one at the Bridge." I remember buying _Caress of Steel_ back in 1995 or so, but I couldn't get in to it, so I gave it away or sold it to a CD store. Then in the summer of '99, my friends and I went to see the classic Iron Maiden lineup in Chicago. On the way there, my friends popped in that obscure Rush CD, but I wasn't paying much attention to it. When "No one at the Bridge" came on, I didn't recognize the song. I was drawn in by the clean arpeggio melody in the song, and the solo didn't fail to impress. Even though the 'Maiden concert was great, I had the haunting melody line to "No one at the Bridge" stuck in my head during the entire concert. A couple of days later, I went out and bought the CD again.

[@andyharman3022]

No One At The Bridge is my favorite song from COS. Such a haunting melody, and the lyrics are so meaningful.

[@c3vette47]

I'm enjoying this, Alex Lifeson kick your on. Don't stop.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks man, gotta move on soon however, haha. Still a couple of vids in the bag that I have to upload from Lifeson, but a new project is in the works and I have to start concentrating on that.

[@ctbadger]

Freakin’ awesome playing. Honorable mentions: The Weapon, Between the Wheels, Emotion Detector, The Garden

[@AnthonyMichaelAMguitar]

and the Pass

[@simoncrowther9415]

Good choices. Two of my favourite of Alex's being Between the wheels and Emotion detector.

[@CharlieHansen-tk5sb]

Closer to the heart makes you feel like a pirate sailing the seas.

[@rennoger]

This is one of the best players ever heard playing Rush This guy spot on well done You have a gift man .. thanks for sharing it

[@davidhuyge8299]

Love everyone of these solos…Great job covering them ! Life long RUSH fan.

[@scottmiller1729]

Wow! That is some serious guitar work. Enjoyed the post. Thanks!

[@jeffcunningham6469]

Wow … just wow! Fan since the first tour. Your covers are amazing! Thank you!

[@richardmoser6051]

Well done, great work by you, thank you. Great choices, Rush fan and guitarist for 42 years, thanks.

[@Analogkid299]

This is sooo f’ing cool Kelly!! Someone who obviously loves RUSH, as I do and shows us how to play them!! Spot f’ing on too!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🔥🔥🔥🤘🏼

[@Kidgloves1984]

I absolutely love Alex Lifeson guitar playing..he plays great, sounds great, beautiful and soulful..Rush is my favorite band and Alex is so freaking underrated..great playing!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks mate!

[@iselinbradley4033]

That was so much fun and excellent job man!! The time was glorious!

[@jeez297]

Speechless, again. Thank you for the comp

[@martythom2618]

You make me want to turn my guitar into a coffee table. Nice work 👍

[@josephromano7303]

Your videos just cement the fact that Alex is the G.O.A.T. !!!!!

[@loveguitars]

Awesome!! Love your playing!🔥🎸

[@beornthebear.8220]

Excellent playing!

[@ushojedi]

Amazing! My top 10 1. The Weapon 2. Big Money 3. Dreamline 4. The Garden 5. La Villa Strangiato 6. Distant Early Warning 7. Camera Eye 8. Digital Man 9. The Necromancer 10. The Trees

[@AnthonyMichaelAMguitar]

Rush rules, you rule, I love every solo he did, but I am glad you put Kid Gloves in there I thought I was the only one to think that solo was awesome. I bet the Pass solo was number 11

[@andyharman3022]

Alex has such an ability at composition that no two of his solos sound alike. It must have been tough to pick only 10. One I thought was going to be there was Xanadu. I definitely agree that La Villa Strangiato is #1. It's the best-composed guitar solo in rock music.

[@Doronomo]

Sounds Amazing!

[@detonator2112]

Analog Kid, Turn The Page, Marathon are my favs. Also Red Tide. Criminally underrated song.

[@rennoger]

Dude I can even wait till the end I had to tell you how phenomenally awesome you were I don't care if it to 5 years and 100 takes that was fucking great it's awesome that you picked rush cuz they are the best man

[@winstonlane708]

I positive the 🎸🐐 is well pleased.

[@DanielRush-s5v]

French rush fan since their beginning, bravo for your fantastic solos! One of my favorites is The necromancer's solo on caress of steel, an oh so underrated and magical track and album that didn't get the success it deserved...

[@arieswar4770]

Awesome you did the pick slide on La Villa. One l love is the solo on the song Anarchy.

[@dstallings61]

Very awesome playing and great choices! La Villa Strangiato is my number 1 as well!

[@kirtthomason4620]

great stuff, KDA...have you watched the 'Shredding with Shifty' where Al breaks down the Limelight solo? All very insightful and inspiring. I think you're neck and neck [no pun meant] with Freddy's Frets Limelight cover. 👍👍👍

[@philcraddock3388]

Simply stunning and made my day 🤘🤘🤘

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks Phil!

[@rennoger]

Third, after watching more you are the best I've ever heard my friend show your face be proud😊

[@eventhorizon2218]

Subscribed! You are amazing! And thank you for giving a tribute to these three musical magicians. I miss them so much, they were the soundtrack of my life. Just my opinion, "The Garden", that was one of Alex's most underrated solo's. The end of their journey, and so deep. 11 Maybe?😁 Cheers my friend.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Appreciate that mate, thanks!

[@billwarkentin3630]

Really enjoyed the 30-day series, Kelly!! Maybe one in the future with J. Page/Zep? ;)

[@JoeAmaral427]

After listening to this - just had to subscribe! Great work!

[@Just_An0ther_N00b]

Enjoyed every second here. Big fan of Rush. Awesome played.....took you a lot of effort to learn all those solo's spot on i guess. Nice to see you hold the pick the same way i do. Not many people do that.

[@hassefx5078]

Great choices and great rendition of all the solos! I also hold La Villa Strangiato as the top solo, but followed by two solos from their most progessive period when I became a die hard fan. One is the end solo of Xanadu that further elevates the epic mode of the song to a level unheard of, before or after. The other being the short but violently energetic solo in Book II, between the Apollo and Dionysus sections where he literary tears the guitar apart! Still returns to these three again and again...

[@thejonathandoan]

NICE! All killer solos and you played them perfectly!! Two solos I would add are Bravado from Roll the Bones and Chemistry from Signals. Both aren't speedy or technical, but are so musical and incredible, and really compliment the music.

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks mate!

[@nicolasodriozola3751]

O would also add marathon

[@thiagomcdo]

La Villa Strangiato has the most beautiful solo Alex Lifeson ever made. Thanks for the video, awesome job! (although I have missed By-Tor and The Snow Dog) 😅

[@stevetippett206]

Wow well done! Might I add Turn the Page, Cut to the Chase, Neurotica and Digital Man?

[@maximilianodelrio]

Absolutely fantastic playing and picks brother!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

Thanks mate!

[@iandrain.7277]

Amazing stuff your absolutely spot on 👌

[@iandrain.7277]

Are from UK

[@TheMadra12000]

One word. Respect.

[@noahstrodtman6121]

this is a true Rush fans list, thank you brother

[@NCSparkyone]

Holy shit man, awesome! 🤘😎

[@sidcleyneris8045]

Nice!!! What a tribute to Alex!!

[@canireech]

This is so good.

[@robrodarme1730]

BRAVO MAN! WELL DONE!!

[@deanfurr7941]

I really enjoyed the solos! Seriously, just close your eyes and I felt I was at the concert

[@cmonster67]

Very impressive and I love that you chose La Villa as #1, YYZ tends to beat it in so many categories but La Villa is a masterpiece through and through. I find it interesting that all of the songs came from the first two eras of Rush, BTS (Before Tom Sawyer) and ATS ([immediately] After Tom Sawyer). No complaints, just that it's interesting to see.

[@cmonster67]

Oh, and I forgot. How about considering something actually challenging? Alex's Worst 10 Guitar Solos...

[@marabr4796]

Just remarkable playing!

[@ryankartheiser855]

Great job on the playing!

[@moonsofjupiter]

Great vid and playing. Chemistry and Open Secrets(+that outtro riff!) make my Lerxst solos top 10 but it’s hard to pick only 10.

[@MalachiGuy]

So glad Bastille Day got some love, the chords at the start are my favorite part of the solo.

[@antonio.montenegro]

Liked the Brazilian jersey ⚽️

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

My wife is from Rio de Janiero.

[@terrencedeagle4429]

Superb playing

[@jomarasco7212]

If Alex Were Watching This He Would Be Surprised 👍👍👍

[@sherryhenrichsen2925]

Damn! BRAVO! ❤

[@saromarcarian4709]

Finally someone giving Analog Kid its due respect!

[@KellyDeanAllenGuitar]

@@saromarcarian4709 thanks mate!

[@dbrown6451]

You are spoiling us, sir

[@jamesbrothers4222]

ALEX LIFESON THE APPRIGO MASTER

[@matthew4694]

The what now?

[@pasqualz]

@@matthew4694arpeggio

[@lucasvieira8885]

Awesome dude i missed The Garden, Digital man , Between The weels and Cut to the chase

[@markmajewski191]

fantastoc job wonderfull songs too.

[@Jonno2summit]

11:44 is it. Xanadu is #2.

[@dougvolinski5824]

This is so great, thank you

[@albertomaury]

Wow!! Very well!! 🤘✌

[@geddylee501]

Wonderful 😊

[@JoeyRagu]

Bravo!!! Bravissimo !!!🔥🔥🔥