I've just returned from the mighty Rammstein at Montreal's Bell Centre, and I have to declare it the greatest rock show I've ever seen.

But why has it dethroned Pink Floyd's Pulse tour (my previous No 1)? It wasn't for the tremendously ferocious music, the none-more-OTT pyrotechnics - as the slogan has it, "Other bands play, Rammstein burns!" or the great performances from all concerned. It was for the atmosphere, which was simply incredible throughout. Montreal is clearly a hotbed for fans of German industrial, as 14,000 of them went absolutely mental from beginning, when our heroes smashed their way through a wall to enter the stage, to end, when singer Till stood wearing angel's wings that sent columns of fire up to the rafters.

As somebody whose musical tastes are away from the mainstream - and the musical scene here in Canada is is VERY mainstream - it was simply a joy to discover that I am not alone. There are other people who like my kind of music. Yes!

As I'm sure other Massive members can testify, liking a certain group can be a lonely experience. No media coverage, no airplay, lots of blank looks when you talk about your love of whoever. So it's wonderful to go to a gig and be among thousands of like minds. Never mind the cost of merchandise, or the travel to the arena, or the queues, or all the other hindrances. It's all worth it when everybody - and I mean EVERYBODY - around you sings along to that song you've privately loved for years.

For those who haven't experienced Rammstein fans and their idols in all their pomp, here's a taste: .

There. Just wanted to get that off my chest. Thank you.

Listening to Comfortably Numb the other day, I was interrupted by my beloved exclaiming that she couldn't see the point of guitar solos.

Normally, I tend to let her dismissal of Pink Floyd ("too much noise and a load of lights" was her description of one show) wash over me. But this comment set me wondering: what is the point of a solo? Do they add something indefinable to a song, or is it just a bit of showing off? I think it's somewhere in between - to me someone like Steve Vai is just a skilful poser in search of a good tune, whereas Dave Gilmour or Mark Knopfler create real mood and emotion with just a few notes.

Q once described Neil Young's Arc as "howling feedback madness". Has there even been a better, more evocative description of a rock show full of guitar solos?

I recently caught half a Van Morrison gig on BBC4 and have to say, not speaking as a fan, that I was baffled as to how the man remains popular.

His performance was appalling. The end of one song degenerated into mumbling so inaudible that it was practically silent, and the clearly bemused band were obviously wondering how long to keep strumming for before the great man called a halt.

And after Van thanked some of his musicians (but not all, for some reason), the final number closed with him stumbling off stage bent over like a old woman with heavy shopping, leaving the band - who were on top form throughout, with a professionalism that put him to shame - to play on without the star of the show until they finished.

So, with a sense of genuine interest, I ask: what is the fuss all about? Did I just catch Mr Grumpy Trousers on a night when he decided to impersonate a bad pub singer? He obviously has something, given the number of fans he has in this parish, but what is it? I ask because my better half was thinking of buying an album of his or two, and we want to know which CDs among his impressively large collection are worth checking out. If any...