Still I'm unconvinced of the whole solo thing... Bands who solo too much burned out the trend (I'm talking about the mainstream), The "anti-playing" trend burned it self out... both were SWEEEET at their peak, but there is only so much you can take before it starts to sounds repeatative...
Anyway, that's my humble oppinion.. (anyway, what about the other more intresting syle of playing in the 80's, yeah, I'm talking about "blondie", "Talking heads" and the slightly depressing yet fasinating "Joy Division"?... New wave?... I love that.. that a prime example of an era with geat song writing combined with great melodies, but even then there was the crap... By the way what ever happened to the "specials"?)