Eddie Hazel (1950–1992) was an American guitarist and one of the founders of Parliament-Funkadelic. Many consider him a key figure in shaping funk and rock guitar.
His most famous moment came with the 10-minute solo on Maggot Brain (1971). Before recording, George Clinton told him, “Play like your mother just died.” Hazel’s raw and emotional style became the heart of Funkadelic’s sound.
Despite facing personal and legal struggles, Hazel left behind timeless music. His solo album Games, Dames and Guitar Thangs (1977) remains a cult classic.
In 1997, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honored him as part of Parliament-Funkadelic. Today, guitarists across genres continue to draw inspiration from his groundbreaking work.