THE OPULENT GUITAR SCENE OF 1985

In 1985, the world of guitar playing became a grand banquet, where styles, techniques and sounds from every corner of music collided to create a tasty, revelatory moment in rock history

- BRAD TOLINSKI

AT THE HEIGHT of the Roman Empire, masses of exotic foods from thousands of miles away were brought to the tables of the elite, where livers of char-fish, brains of pheasants and peacocks, and even tongues of flamingos were served alongside rare vintages of wine. The sheer magnificence of these feasts was astonishing — even to modern historians.

That's exactly how it felt for guitarists in 1985. The breadth and magnitude of innovative guitar playing that year was nothing short of staggering; and the variety and originality of new ideas coming from the world of music were equally mind-bending.

Thrash metal was just emerging as a dominant force. Bands like Slayer (Hell Awaits), Exodus (Bonded by Blood) and Megadeth (Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good!) harnessed the guitar's potential for speed, precision and aggression. Their complex riffing, rapid-fire solos and relentless technical demands pushed heavy metal into new realms of virtuosity. At the same time, a new crop of fleet-fingered virtuosos was blazing trails — neo-classical pioneer Yngwie Malmsteen and jazz-fusion innovator Allan Holdsworth redefined what could be achieved on the fretboard.

The post-punk era and its aftermath reshaped guitar playing, reverberating through today's alternative music landscape. Bands like the Smiths (Meat Is Murder), R.E.M. (Fables of the Reconstruction), the Replacements (Tim), Hüsker Dü (New Day Rising, Flip Your Wig) and the Jesus and Mary Chain (Psychocandy) each brought distinct sonic flavors that challenged conventional rock guitar norms.