I never said I could only play metallica. Solos are easy, I repeat. I can pick up any guitar, and play a badass solo whenever I want, However I cannot for the like of me play Chords. Perhaps your different Bones, Or im different I dont know. But solo's are in theory and practice easier, they dont require so much chordial coordination.
(also, learned patterns dont represent skill, they represent simple computer like mathematical comprehension, creativity and the ability to create your own music is what makes a musician)
well if you knew basic music theory, you would know that those fancy solos are based around chords and scales. You can't just pick random notes and have it sound good (especially when you have a rhythm part; half step clashes don't sound good).
You say you have to be able to solo to be musical? listen to Yellow Submarine. No solos. All simple root chords.
But learning to improv over a chord progression is a good thing to do. But to do that, (again) you must know your chords.
