I have got that used to playing just the chords to my self If I just jump to an acoustic solo it will sound wrong. The trouble is lead guitarists are normally whizz kids with the guitars in their prefered style - so playing some luther perkings leads probably wouldnt get them going enough unless i find an experianced lead guitraist who does not tie firworks to his balls and light them when he bursts into solo. To appreciate the whole song truly as a band that emitts the sound required - the trouble i had with previous bands is that they all thought after palying a few power chords in time and the drums sounding ok that we would just get it if we kept trying - no way - if none of you "love" what your doing its always going to come out half assed, i love rock/metal but know in my heart i can never join a band where it just feels right playing this stuff i have treid numerous times (as a rhythem guitarist only) but it always fails. The cloesest i got was playing metallica - but all the other guys pussied out - it took em 2 months to be able to play blinks "GO" 90% perfect and they were all talented so I decided to stick with what i love and do best. Oldies. As for playing in front of people - i have kinda been lucky and weened my self into it - it started playing for one or two people who "understood the music" then it moves on to a drunken bunch of people saying "give us a tune!" so you do. Man I played in front of about 40 old people just to get some experiance at my mums work. That freeze up in my mind has gone i just whip it out and play and sing! Apart from this pub gig i just did - man i was nervous as hell - They loved ring of fire even as much to sing the chours along with me and just as i ended the song i kept playing the C chord just faintly keeping it alive and said "One more time , 1 , 2 ,3 4 "i fellll intooooo a burning ring of fire!!" Been miced up was a diffrent experiance alltogether I really had to project my voice and step it up a notch. EDIT: I also still had a G string missing on my guitar and the rest of the strings are about a year old! lol