In 2004, at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Prince delivered a performance of While My Guitar Gently Weeps that has since become legendary. Backed by an all-star lineup including Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, and Dhani Harrison, Prince unleashed a guitar solo that was not just musically breathtaking but also, according to a recent report, an act of deliberate revenge. This performance, now etched in rock history, was reportedly fueled by Prince’s omission from Rolling Stone’s list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Players Of All Time the previous year.
Prince 2021 Remastered Performance
Questlove, as featured in an upcoming Ezra Edelman documentary about Prince, expressed disbelief at Rolling Stone‘s exclusion of Prince from their top guitarists list. This slight, as detailed in The New York Times Magazine, became the backdrop for Prince’s explosive performance. Far from being just another collaboration, this rendition of While My Guitar Gently Weeps was loaded with intent. It was Prince’s moment to assert his guitar virtuosity on a grand stage, especially one associated with Rolling Stone founder Jann Wenner. The New York Times Magazine feature emphasizes this, stating, “Prince nursed these kinds of slights, and his commandeering of the stage – at an event associated with [founder] Jann Wenner and Rolling Stone – was, in part, an act of revenge.”
The solo itself is a masterclass in emotive guitar playing. Guitar Player magazine has lauded it as “one of the greatest guitar solos of all time,” and watching the footage, it’s easy to see why. Prince’s guitar weeps, screams, and soars with a passion that seems to channel his frustration and his genius in equal measure. The performance culminates in the iconic moment where Prince launches his guitar into the air, a mic-drop gesture that punctuated his musical statement.
Tom Petty, who shared the stage that night, recognized the historical weight of Prince’s solo in real-time. Reflecting in 2016 with The New York Times, Petty recounted, “You see me nodding at him, to say, ‘Go on, go on.’ He just burned it up. You could feel the electricity of ‘something really big’s going down here.’” Petty’s acknowledgment underscores the palpable energy and undeniable brilliance Prince brought to that performance.
Prince performing at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
The message, though perhaps subtle to the wider audience, was certainly received. Rolling Stone eventually revised and expanded their list to 250 guitarists, placing Prince at number 14. While this recognition came later, and the list itself faced criticism for omissions and questionable inclusions (like guitar duos instead of individual players), it does suggest that Prince’s Hall of Fame performance did not go unnoticed by the publication.
Despite the enduring impact of this performance and Prince’s overall legacy, an extensive nine-hour documentary about the artist may remain unseen. Prince’s estate is reportedly attempting to block its release, concerned about potential negative impacts on the reputation of Paisley Park, Prince’s sprawling multimedia complex. Adding another layer to Prince’s story, his Vox HDC-77 guitar, last played during his 3rdeyegirl era, is set for auction, offering fans a tangible piece of his musical history.
Prince’s While My Guitar Gently Weeps solo at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame remains a powerful testament to his artistry and his ability to turn perceived slights into unforgettable moments of musical brilliance. It’s a performance that continues to be watched, analyzed, and celebrated as a peak in guitar performance history, driven by a unique blend of virtuosity and, perhaps, a touch of sweet revenge.
