🎸 Episode 179 – Fixing the Worst Guitar Solo in “Heat of the Moment” (feat. Matt Reviere & Jon “HW” Sullivan)
What happens when three guitar players agree that one of the most famous ’80s hits also has one of the worst guitar solos ever recorded? In Episode 179 of the Guitar Music Theory Podcast, I’m joined by my friends Matt Reviere and Jon “HW” Sullivan to take a closer look at Steve Howe’s solo in “Heat of the Moment” by Asia.
We break down what went wrong, talk about Steve Howe’s otherwise brilliant work with Yes, and then reveal our own replacement solos for the song.
🎸 What’s Wrong With the Original Solo?
Steve Howe is an incredible guitarist — no question. His work with Yes set the standard for progressive rock guitar playing. But when it came to “Heat of the Moment,” something didn’t quite fit.
The solo’s phrasing and tone feel disconnected from the song’s energy. The lines don’t resolve the way you’d expect, and the overall sound seems like a mismatch for the radio-ready polish of Asia’s 1982 hit. In the podcast, we break down what makes the solo feel awkward and why it stands out (for the wrong reasons) in an otherwise great tune.
🎶 Steve Howe’s Legacy With Yes
Before joining Asia, Steve Howe built a legendary career with Yes, contributing to classics like “Roundabout,” “Yours Is No Disgrace,” and “Long Distance Runaround.” His unique blend of classical phrasing, jazz harmony, and fingerstyle technique made him one of the most influential guitarists of the ’70s.
That’s part of what makes “Heat of the Moment” so puzzling — how could a player of that caliber miss the mark? We talk about how artistic context, production trends, and the demands of a new supergroup might have influenced the result.
🎧 Our Replacement Solos
- Desi: Heat of the Moment Solo – Desi
- Jon “HW”: Heat of the Moment Solo – HW
- Matt: Heat of the Moment Solo – Matt
🎵 Get the Backing Track: Asia – “Heat of the Moment” Guitar Backing Track (Karaoke-Version.com)
🎚️ Tone and Gear Used
To capture that classic ’80s flavor, we used profiles from the Inspired by the 80s Kemper Pack by Tone Junkie. If you’re a Kemper or Helix user, this pack nails that big, chorus-soaked arena sound from the era.
🎸 Learn More With Free Lessons and Resources
If you want to understand why certain solos work (and others don’t), take your guitar playing to the next level with my free custom video course.
👉 https://www.GuitarMusicTheory.com
And for a deeper dive into pentatonic patterns, expressive phrasing, and solo construction, check out my new book:
📘 Lead Guitar Unlocked: Master Expressive Soloing With the Pentatonic Scale
No Comments