More than 20 million people have watched what many call the greatest guitar solo ever played on live TV. That is what happens when Prince steps on stage with Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Steve Winwood, and Dhani Harrison at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. The first half of the song is reverent and steady, then Prince takes over and completely changes the temperature of the room.
What makes the moment so powerful is the shift in energy. Petty and Lynne sing the opening verses softly almost like a prayer. Then Prince steps forward and everything brightens. His solo is fierce bending notes and pulling every ounce of sound from his guitar. The control and chaos makes the performance feel like a celebration of George Harrison’s spirit.
Prince, Tom Petty, Steve Winwood, Jeff Lynne, more – “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” | 2004 Induction
Fans still talk about this night as if it was yesterday. One viewer said it was “the greatest live guitar moment of all time”. Another called it “Prince showing the world who really runs this stage”. The stunned smiles from the band as Prince tosses his guitar into the air are part of why this performance lives rent-free in so many minds.
That fearless energy carries over into another moment from the same year, but this time in a smaller, more intimate setting. Prince heads to Webster Hall and strips things down. He starts “Cream” sitting on a stool with just an acoustic guitar and a grin. The room is smaller, the vibe is lighter, and yet it feels just as commanding.
Prince – “Cream” (Live at Webster Hall, 2004)
During “Cream,” he teases the crowd, laughs mid-song, and coaxes them to sing along. At one point he stands up, adding more fire to the room, and by the time he finishes, everyone is cheering. It is playful and confident, showing a side of Prince that is less warrior, more trickster, but just as magnetic.
Prince had a way of making every stage feel like his own universe. Whether he was melting faces with a guitar solo or turning a hit song into a sing-along, he always left people changed. Follow Prince on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. There are still so many performances to revisit each one a reminder of how rare he truly was.