The Nuno Bettencourt Solo Everyone is Talking About

I don’t think we can talk about Extreme without mentioning their criminality underrated 3rd album “III Sides To Every Story”. That thing is a masterpiece. It’s one of the best albums of the 90s and hardly anyone has heard it.

This might be the first time I've seen someone playing air guitar whilst holding an actual guitar 😅 Love it.

We 80s and 90s kids know that Nuno took the guitar to another level where EVH left off. I hope Rick will also do a video of another EVH inspired guitarist...Vito Bratta ❤️

Nuno is a guitar legend. He's also such a humble guy with a great attitude. Rick you got to get him on the channel.

Even his rhythm part for “Get The Funk Out” is sick af. “Flight of The Wounded Bumble Bee”? Just a monster talent.

He was this good in 1990. The fact he’s still at that level is exceptional in itself.

I can't begin to tell you just how happy it makes me feel to FINALLY see Nuno getting the credit he's been due, for so long now. Genius.

Nuno has been blowing minds for decades for those that have been listening. A generational virtuoso

They've always had the "song comes first" ethic. This album is gonna shake things up.

Nuno must have sold his soul to the devil. Seriously...the guy is a god-tier level guitarist, he can sing, he looks like a model, and at the age of 56, he looks like he's in his mid 30's. I've also got a suspicion that he's one of those guys that is always ripped without having to pickup a dumbbell. Just unreal talent.

I have loved Nuno since the first album. Great era for music.

Nuno Bettencourt is an absolute animal on the guitar and a vampire, dude does not age.

Nuno has been the "your favorite guitarist's favorite guitarist" guy for decades now. Maybe the best rock musician ever that non-musicians don't know about.

Oh man! I loved Extreme back then, I love them more now.......Just WOW.....Nuno is the best! Extreme is tight, what a great band!.

Every true shredder will have their own top 10 favourite guitarists and Nuno will always be there for his creativity and technical riffs.

Its odd that Rick didnt mention Nuno's first solo that got everyone going wtf which was on their first album; the song Play With Me which was featured in the Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure movie. That solo was insane.

That solo felt Eddie inspired, and I love it.

Sounds like Aliens communicating, outstanding, Nuno has always been insanely talented.

I like the way Rick still cannot resist playing air guitar even when he's holding an actual guitar! Love it.

Yeah, you nailed it. He's got the chops, but he's completely free of them. They're at the service of musicality, and everything he does has musical meaning, adds to the song. Nuno plays with time, amazing pitch control, always bringing the drama.

That solo is I N S A N E.

Man...I've been obsessed with the solo from Play With Me since I heard it. It's on another level.

After discovering his riff and solo for Extreme's "Peacemaker Die" as a kid in 1992 I was forever hooked on learning how to play the electric guitar. he deserves far more recognition...

Nuno has ALWAYS been overlooked from day 1.
That man has some unreal talent that most will never realise.
His N4 is my all-time dream guitar, even over George's Mr. Scary guitar.
One day, hands.... one day...

Rick!
Everyone is talking about Nuno's solo. Myself included. It's awesome. But I realized that nobody is talking about Gary's vocals. Gary Cherone is 61 years old and kills it. He's just incredible.

Brian May called Nuno's solo from "Get the Funk Out" is the best, most technically-incredible guitar solo ever.

Nuno's an insanely talented and dexterous player, not to mention a great song writer and arranger. Great to see he's back with Extreme and getting serious recognition for his stellar chops.

Its not just his crazy technical skill, but the melodies just made me a big fan. Sounds very 90s SNES japanese gaming stuff. Kinda like Pokemon. Simple effective melodies that take you on a ride.

He's finally being recognized as the guitar maestro that he is. His time to shine

All the guys in Extreme are incredible. I love those early albums so much

You should do a whole episode on the “Three Sides” record. That is a masterpiece!! So little known. That’s one of my favorite records of all time. The production and creativity that went to that record is incredible. Not for the average person. It’s really mostly musicians who appreciate how incredible that record is.

I loved your assessment on Nuno and his style !
Peacemaker Die was one of his best as well! But ..
Vito Bratta’s Living in the Edge solo is seriously missed !

I'm not a guitar player (keys here) but your excitement and enthusiasm is so darn contagious. I love seeing how you dissect the parts like a musical surgeon. I know you talk about how your ear training is a big part of your skill set. It was remarkable to me that you can hear things that are beyond my present ability to comprehend. You are a joy to watch.

Extreme and Nuno and single handedly Gave a direct IV to a hardly surviving genre of music. We owe Extreme the world!

Saw Nuno as part of the "Generation Axe" concert with Zack Wylde, Yngwie and Tosin Abasi. Still up there in the top 3 best concerts I have been to.

I know I'm probably alone, but I prefer Nuno over Eddie. Eddie of course was a pioneer of the genre, but what Nuno did to build on that, is just unreal. He just does so many interesting things every time he picks up the guitar. Plus, as an added bonus, Nuno is such a humble, genuinely nice dude. And his solo stuff is also amazing. He plays all the instruments & sings on his solo albums. Just a mind-blowing talent.

After Eddie's passing we need this. Nuno is completely underrated in my opinion. We need a guy like him still. I hope to see Extreme when they come to Philly.

Fantastic look at a magical solo. What puts this in the same stratospheric realm of EVH is precisely what you pointed out: making a scary awesome solo, oozing with personality, that is a perfect puzzle piece for a SONG. A fading art, it seems. Bravo!

I heard first 'Banshee' which is also a new track and thought, man, he's killing it. This is great. And then I heard 'Rise' and the solo. Jawdropping! He's the man alright

Rick really makes you love the music even more. I mean, you heard the song, you heard the artist, but did you listen carefully? Every video is gold discovering.

What sets Nuno apart is not just his technical ability, it is his composition. Rick, you nailed it.

As noted it was a shame that Extreme was known as a ballad band. So few people understood the power and musicianship of them.

Just like Eddie, Nuno distinguishes himself because what he plays is MUSICAL, not just dazzling. Many have done the latter without the former. He's great.

The thing is, he's been doing this stuff for years but for some reason this is getting huge exposure. Nuno is awesome...one of my biggest influences

Simply put, God Blessed and gifted Nuno with the skills and ability to do EVERYTHING as a musician, producer, songwriter, engineer and master of all musical arrangements - like no one before him or after him !!! PERIOD.
Plus, it’s clear that Nuno’s personal character and humble demeanor coupled with the PERFECTION as a complete and unique guitarist, elevates Nuno Bettencourt on a entirely new & higher level / benchmark in today’s WORLD of music 🎼🎶🎵

Yeah, for sure an insanely good solo!

Nuno is the man. An exceptional guitar player.

I'm NOT a guitarist, but I NEVER heard Harmonic arpeggios before..WTF? THAT AMAZEBALLS!!

Extreme and Mr Big! Everybody knows them for their acoustic pop hits in the 90s but most people are clueless how incredibly talented both bands are!

Nuno's great. In this solo there's a bit of Van Halen meets Tosin Abasi.

If you've never heard them, check out Nuno's solos for "Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee" and/or "Midnight Express" ... flippin' amazing. Also, for just complete song awesomeness, "Cupid's Dead" ... if you can find it, also listen to the "horn mix" version of the song. Seeing that done live, with the horn group there too - once-in-a-lifetime moment!
I've been a fan of theirs since they were a bar band and originally named "The Dream" .... and have loved them ever since.
"He's the guy now."
He always has been .... just now people are finally catching on, giving him the attention he is due. And I'm so happy for him, and the whole band.

It's worth mentioning two things: 1. The solo reminds me a LOT of the work on their first big break *BEFORE* Extreme II... it was a song called "Play With Me" featured on the Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure soundtrack. You'll remember the solo because it hits in the mall montage of the movie where the gang is being chased by mall cops. 2. Nuno was married to the lead singer of Baby Animals, Suze DeMarchi, until 2013... I first heard of them when they opened for *drumroll* ... Van Halen in '92.

Nuno is just an extreme rarity in nature. There are things that can be achieved by practice to achive and then there things you just have to have naturally born with - like perfect pitch. You can practice your entire life and not do what Nuno can do naturally in his own style / phrasing. His fluid speed and timing is something to behold. His live playing is nothing short of incredible. He is pretty humble also.

Marty Friedman doesn't like muted notes in solos. Excellent guitarist. That solo from Nuno could be described as the antithesis of that at the end of it but he makes it work so well!

My friend Steve Borisenko was Nuno’s guitar tech for years. He told me stories where he would break a string in concert and finish the solo and song as if nothing happened, one time he showed up to practice late (not neglect) was handed a guitar for the song they were doing, realized it was alternate tuned, then instantly transposed the song to make it work. He said he was a very down to Earth generous guy.

One of the best solos ever.

Rick Beato is amazing. His ears and what he can hear and understand. I bet he could count the wing flaps of a bumble bee.

You've got to break down Synyster Gate's new solo in Nobody. I think it's the best solo I've heard from this decade.

I think Extreme's Play With Me from the mall chase scene in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure was their intro to the World. An amazing first album.

Gary’s gone STP. Love it! WHAT A SOLO! ❤

As a Portuguese metalhead, Nuno has always made me feel a bit of pride in having such a talented musician from Portuguese origin. Greetings from the UK. 🇵🇹🇬🇧

Dude your reactions to nuno playing solos is so wholesome and pure. I love it

I had the vinyl single 'Play With Me' around 1989. On the B-side there was this track that started with a crying baby and then just ripped into this unbelievable shred, I use to just play that bit over and over loud as f*ck.

Not a big fan of the new song as a whole but i do respect Nuno a lot and his guitar work is without a doubt incredible.

Rick, I'd just like to say that what I like about your videos is that it's like listening to a teacher, cause you explain details, and as I don't play, it's very interesting (I wish I had learnt to play when I was younger). Oh and we can really feel your passion when you talk about music.

Not forgetting the amazing work on III sides to every story, such an amazing album.

Why is no one mentioning “Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee”? He’s been playing like this in his solo career for years. He’s always been exceptional and amazing. Effortlessly.

Nuno's flight of the wounded bumble bee live is crazy. It is on another level along with his rhythm chording mixed in. I always liked EVH and his style but Nuno has like a jazz phrasing aspect. He wears his guitar slung low and can just rip on it.

I'm happy Rick gave some attention to the great Nuno in this case. I will say that Nuno has been a badass for over 30 years though. He has solos that shred this one in melody and technique going back a long way!

I realized that I got lost in this video and that I was into it more than I thought when it cut away for some ad and I blurted out, "Noooooo!!!" hahaha! I miss rock like this. Talent. So much freaking talent.

In my opinion, Nuno writes the best Solos that are technically amazing and still have a great melody and groove to them. I personally think that nothing beats his Solos on Population 1. I mean, if you listen to the Solo of Spacemen or Stiff, just wow. Doesn't get better than that.

The fact that it’s a lead guitar, a bass and drums and that is it for the musical instruments part of the band makes it even more amazing.

I always felt that Extreme's 'Three Sides To Every Story' was a vastly underrated album.

It’s a great song! Would fit nicely on the III Sides album. Nods to songs like Cupids Dead and Stop the World - looking forward to the whole album!

He's ALWAYS been "The Guy" every since the first Extreme record. He's continued where Eddie & Randy left off. His playing style is so unconventional and he has continued to raise the bar outside the realm of mainstream music. Phenomenal is the best and only way to describe him and his prowess on the guitar.

Cant wait for the whole album to come out!

Wow. Serious respect is due, for this one! I love the section where he plays at half time against the rhythm section - so, so cool! That guy is a serious bad-ass. I hope he gets the props that should have been coming his way for many years!

Please try and get Nuno in an interview. I would love to hear his story. How he got started, how he views the guitar neck, technique, Washburn guitars, etc. Nuno, a true jaw dropping solo.

Nuno and Richie Kotzen are two guitarists still just killing it in this day and age!

Nuno is so underrated!!

If you haven't ever heard his solo on play with me, then wow mind melting

Nuno is one of the best to ever do it. This solo has a lot of elements from "He man woman hater" intro.

I was in high school when extreme had their first hit. Nuno has always had his own sound. A lot of guitarists can shred or know music theory, but very few you can tell just by a few notes. Eddie, Nuno, SRV, John Lee Hooker, Hendrix, Tim Henson are standouts for me. I only need to hear a handful of notes and I know who it is.

I can't believe we are talking about a guitar solo like we used to do back 30 years ago. It feels so good after years and years of... nothing.

As a child of Portuguese Azorean immigrants from the island next to where Nuno was born, seeing someone from my culture and my parents geographic region rise to become an international guitar. God, was a huge inspiration to me as a kid learning to play guitar, when Extreme broke through. In fact, they were my first concert ever when they opened for ZZ Top on the Recycler tour on the Pornograffitti album cycle. I hope Rick gets to interview Nuno one day because I could see both of them with their extreme love for music go on for hours and no way would I want an edited version of that interview! I’d want the full on music geek out!

Rick, you just got a huge plug from "Nuno" himself on the AXS TV. Congrats, sir, on being hailed by the Guitar legend himself!!

I had an opportunity to teach a song writing class for two semesters at a small mom & pop's Uni recently in Hawai'i, which forced me to look more closely at the craft of song writing. One of the basic elements of what makes a song work, is contrast. Like a photo that has good amounts of strong lights and darks helping to make everything within the composition clear. This happens not only musically, but also lyrically. Great lyrics have contrasting elements. @RickBeato when you pointed out the staccato notes prior to the solo coming in, I saw that was the contrast that really helped catapult the tremolo picking into the stratosphere. Likewise now that I think about it, the solo starts on the upper half of the guitar, and the mind blowing ending, contrasts the first half by primarily staying on the lower half of the guitar (at least string wise). Just great orchestration and arranging! Mahalo for all you do!

Still remember them in July 1988, my buddies band was opening up from them at the Living Room in Providence RI. They were a know local band in in the Boston, New England market. But you knew they were something special as soon as they stated playing even way back then.

Love Rebel solo even more.. he's d man.

Some of the sickest playing I've heard in some time. The seasoning on This album is epic. Drops June 9th.

What sets Nuno apart for me is his live playing. Everyone sounds great on tape but so many of them can't replicate it live. I've seen Nuno probably a dozen times and he always plays clean, his tone is perfect and he attacks everything every time. Can't wait to see him play this in person.

We did get the funk out and my guitarist learned it kick for lick. He's 45 years old playing since 5. It's amazing to see him do that solo

The solo entry with the phaser sounds like a great tribute to eddie .

It's so great and refreshing to hear a solo in a song let alone by a virtuoso like Nuno. Today "metal" (and i say the word metal with bid huge quotes) has nothing but glorified rhythm guitarists pretending to be lead guitarists and to hear that is so great. I hope this sollo will start to be an inspiration to other guitarists that will help bring back the solo which died when grunge music hit the scene. I always had mad respect for Nuno back in the day and loved Extreme's music.

I always thought that “Play Wih Me” off the Bill and Ted soundtrack was the best instrumental; it introduced me to Extreme, that Beethoven riff and the lyrics really impressed me.

Thank you for talking about this one. I can't believe you didn't even mention their 3rd album III Sides To Every Story. The entire CD is filled with this level guitar work and it's easily in my top 10 favorite albums of all time, and I'm a SAX PLAYER! Warheads, Cupid's Dead, Rest in Peace, Our Father... I could just list the entire CD. All such great creativity and execution. I can't wait until the rest of this CD with Rise comes out in June. Already pre-ordered.

Nuno was born and lived in my city of Praia da Vitoria in a small archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic called the Azores until he moved to the United States. He usually comes here every summer. We are all very proud of what a "out of this world" guitarist he became. And also we have the same name, how cool is that!😉
For me the best guitar player ever. Abraço Nuno🎸🎸
PS - I'm a fan of your channel @Rick Beato, and it was fantastic to see you talk about Nuno Bettencourt. Thank you!

Nuno has been so underrated all this time!!

Unbelievable! its probably took him 30 odd years to practice it 😍 very nice

III Sides (1992) is still one of my favorite album. Haven't aged one bit !
Nuno was so underrated, because he came after Eddie, and before grunded.
I really hope 2023 will be his year !!!