Some people stick on rock music to get through a Monday. Some people need a riff to survive leg day. And then there’s Alex Honnold, casually free-soloing one of the tallest buildings on the planet while imaginary guitars scream in his skull.
Yes. Really.
No ropes. No safety net. No “oops” button. Just hands, feet, gravity… and rock music.
This isn’t a metaphor. This is real life. Equal parts inspiring and completely “what the hell did I just read?” Free soloing a skyscraper — as you do.
Climbing Taipei 101: Not Your Average Monday
Honnold didn’t just climb any building — he tackled Taipei 101, a 508-metre glass-and-steel monster that dominates the skyline like it’s daring you to even look at it.
Most of us get vertigo standing on a chair to change a lightbulb. Honnold looked at Taipei 101 and thought:
“Yeah, I’ll climb that. No ropes. Should be sound.”
Palms sweating yet? Now imagine the soundtrack: rock music blasting in his head. Not silence. Not monk-level breathing exercises. Rock. Bloody. Music.
The Mind-Blowing Part: Music at 508 Metres
Free solo climbing is simple to describe but terrifying in reality:
- One slip = game over
- Zero margin for error
- Absolute, terrifying focus
And yet, in Honnold’s head, riffs were chugging, drums pounding, mental mosh pits in full swing.
Most people can’t walk in a straight line while listening to heavy music. Honnold’s up there like:
“Nice tempo… right hand crimp… weight transfer… tidy.”
That’s not bravery. That’s otherworldly calm
Why Music Actually Makes Sense
Elite athletes often use music to:
- Regulate breathing
- Control heart rate
- Maintain rhythm
- Block out fear and intrusive thoughts
For Honnold, rock music isn’t a distraction — it’s mental structure. A steady internal beat keeping panic locked away while logic calls the shots.
Still… there’s a difference between running a marathon with a playlist and climbing a 508-metre skyscraper with nothing but vibes and finger strength. One is relatable. The other is Alex Honnold.
Rock ’n’ Roll or Rock ’n’ Nope?
Rock music has always been about risk, rebellion, and laughing in the face of fear. Stage dives, pyrotechnics, duct-taped bands held together by adrenaline… chaos is the culture.
Honnold just took that ethos vertically.
This isn’t showboating. This isn’t ego. This is someone so tuned into their craft that music and mortal danger coexist seamlessly.
Either:
- Peak human focus
- Proof he’s built from different atoms
- Possibly both
The Verdict
Alex Honnold is:
- Ridiculously talented
- Calm to a frightening degree
- Definitely not someone you dare on a night out
Rock music soundtracking a free solo climb up Taipei 101 is:
- Absolutely mad
- Weirdly poetic
- Rock ’n’ roll as hell
We love loud guitars. We love pushing limits. But we’ll enjoy our riffs with both feet firmly on the ground.
Still… fair play, Honnold. That’s one hell of a climb — and one hell of a soundtrack.
Rock music. No ropes. 508 metres up. Some people wake up and choose chaos.