“Guitarists That Changed The Face Of Music”
Dr. Rox Remember When?
Article #123: May 2021
By: RL Schwinden aka MrZerr0
When I was a kid growing up on the Westside of Sioux City, I loved music and though my Dad (Bill Jr.) was a drummer, I was drawn to the guitar on songs like Beatles: “Day Tripper” with George Harrison and Monkees “Last Train To Clarksville” with Gerry McGee on Lead Guitar and Osmonds “Hold Her Tight” with Wayne Osmond on Lead Guitar. In 1971 my Uncle Jeff gave me my 1st guitar an Egmund acoustic, it was hard enough to play that thing, much less to play Leads on it, so I resided myself to playing Rhythm Guitar. Though I always wanted to play Lead Guitar, like my Uncle Jeff’s acquaintance Tommy Bolin from 27th and Clark who had just left Sioux City and put out the 1st Zephyr Album in 1969.
In 1973 my Dad bought me a WB Records 4 LP set that had artists like Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin etc. it was then I really discovered the power of the Lead Guitar, and I really began to research the artists I had admired so much. In about 1982 I read an interview with Tony Iommi, who had mentioned he was talking to Pete Willis, from Def Leppard, and Willis had this to say “When it comes to learning how to imitate your guitar idols, the best way to do this is to find out Who, they were influenced by, obtain some records by those influenced your hero and start there, you will have a better understanding of that guitarist’s style. Take my band’s (Def Leppard) guitarists, myself and (Steve) Clark, he studied music, so he knows the theory and rules, I studied my heroes influences, so I (Willis) don’t” This set me on a journey of researching who influenced the guitarist I admired, which eventually lead to me compiling this list, and eventually creating this 2 part radio show for WDGY.
“PsychoGello Show Episode #192” 9 May 2021 on Radi0 WDGY
Chuck Berry: “Roll Over Beethoven” May 1956 (#42)
Charles Edward Anderson Berry: 18 Oct 1926 St. Louis, MO. – 8 Mar 2017
25 Albums and 54 Singles
In my opinion the Originator, all things “Rock” Guitar extend from Chuck Berry, though Chuck took lessons from Ira Harris, it was Berry that put out the Rock N Roll Records, with the 2 string “E-B” & “B-G” bends, the foundation of the Rock Lead Solo.
Jimi Hendrix: “Voodoo Chile (slight return) Oct 1968
Johnny Allen Hendrix : 27 Nov 1942 Seattle, WA. – 18 Nov 1970
5 Albums and 11 Singles
So Chuck Berry invented the Rock N Roll guitar style, Hendrix took the guitar to a whole new level, with his usage of the “Wah Wah Pedal” and the “Tremolo Bar” and “Fuzz Face” distortion pedal. Using all of these to create a whole new sound by rethinking the way the guitar was played.
One of Jimi’s main influences was Eddie Cochran.
Jimmy Page: “Four Sticks” Nov 1971
James Patrick Page: 9 Jan 1944 Middlesex, ENG.
Yardbirds: 1 Album and 4 Singles, Led Zeppelin:13 Albums and 12 Singles, The Firm: 2 Albums, Solo: 10 Albums and 1 Single.
While Page started out as a “Session Player” he went on to join the Yardbirds, eventually replacing Jeff Beck, though not nearly as innovative as Hendrix, he did bring forth a new kind of music with Led Zeppelin, no doubt the most popular band of all time.
One of Jimmy’s main influences was Hank Marvin.
Tommy Bolin: “Wild Dogs” Nov 1975
Thomas Richard Michael Bolin: 1 Aug 1951: Sioux City, IA. 4 Dec 1976
Zephyr: 3 Albums and 2 Singles, Billy Cobham: 1 Album, James Gang: 2 Albums and 3 Singles Alphonse Mouzon: 1 Album, Moxy: 1 Album, Deep Purple: 2 Albums and 2 Singles, Solo: 2 Albums and 3 Singles
Unfortunately, Tommy is not a household name and is often confused with Marc Bolan of “T-Rex”. Bolin’s contribution to the guitar world was that he was a Jazz Guitar Player, playing “Rock Music” using a totally different approach, as well as the Master of the “Echoplex”.
One of Tommy’s main influences was Wes Montgomery.
Edward Van Halen: “Atomic Punk” Feb 1978
Edvard Lodevijk Van Halen: 26 Jan 1955: Amsterdam, Holland – 6 Oct 2020
14 Albums and 58 Singles
Undoubtedly the last true innovator of the electric guitar, Edward is the 3rd of what I like to call “The Big 3”, he really was the 1st one since Hendrix to take the guitar in a totally different direction, with his usage of “Finger Tapping” and the “Phaser” and “Flanger” pedals.
One of Eddie’s main influences was Allan Holdsworth.
Randy Rhodes: “Over The Mountain” Nov 1981
Randall William Rhodes: 6 Dec 1956: Santa Monica, Ca. -19 Mar 1982
Quiet Riot: 3 Albums and 3 Singles, Blizzard Of Ozz: 3 Albums.
Not nearly as original as Edward Van Halen, Rhodes, much like Bolin, did take a unique approach to his playing. Randy a “Classically” trained guitarist applied those techniques in playing Rock Guitar.
One of Randy’s main influences was Andreas Segovia.
The Edge (U2): “Bullet The Blue Sky” Mar 1987
David Howell Evans: 8 Aug 1961: Dublin, IRE.
21 Albums and 71 Singles.
Edge, though not as flashy as some others on this list, was added because of his innovation with usage of the “Delay” pedal and slide guitar technique. I will also state I chose Edge for this list almost 2 decades before the 2008 film “It Might Get Loud”.
One of Edge’s main influences was Rory Gallagher.
“PsychoGello Show Episode #194” 23 May 2021 on radio WDGY
Les Paul: “How High The Moon” Mar 1951
Lester William Polsfuss: 9 Jun 1915: Waukesha, WI. – 12 Aug 2009
12 Albums and 54 Singles.
Les built a prototype of the 1st “Electric Guitar” dubbed “The Log” and pioneered “Multi Track Recording” while generally a “Country” or “Big Band” guitarist, he does have the most famous “Rock Guitar” named after him “Les Paul”.
Eric Clapton: “Badge” Feb 1969
Eric Patrick Clapton: 30 Mar 1945: Surrey, ENG.
Yardbirds: 2 Albums and 3 Singles Cream: 6 Albums Derek & Dominos:1 Album, , Blind Faith: 2 Albums, Plastic Ono Band: 1 Album, Delaney & Bonnie: 1 Album, Solo:30 Albums and 55 Singles, as well as 60 other Guest Appearances.
Originally a “Blues” guitarist Clapton took his style in a new direction with the Yardbirds and then Cream creating the extend jam solo.
One of Eric’s main influences was Robert Johnson.
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath): “Fairies Wear Boots” Sep 1970
Anthony Frank Iommi: 19 Feb 1948: Birmingham, ENG.
Black Sabbath; 27 Albums and 34 Singles: Solo: 3 Albums.
Iommi is added to this list for his innovations such as: tuning down a step and a half to “C#” creating the 1st set of “Light Gauge Strings” .008 to .032, and more importantly creating his own prosthetic finger tips, all of this lead to the creation of ”Heavy Metal” though the phrase was coined by Mars Bonfire of “Sparrow” in 1968.
One of Tony’s main influences was Django Reinhardt.
Ace Frehley: “Let Me Go Rock And Roll” Oct 1974
Paul Daniel Frehley: 27 Apr 1951 Bronx, NY
KISS:15 Albums, Solo: 13 Albums and 17 Singles.
I have added Ace, not just because he is one of my favorites, but more so that he combined, Page, Clapton & Hendrix to create a style that launched 1000s of other guitarists.
Brian May: “Now I’m Here” Nov 1974
Brian Harold May: 19 July 1947: London, ENG.
Queen: 22 Albums and 55 Singles, Solo: 4 Albums.
Much like Edge, I added May, because of his innovations, Brian and his father built his own guitar the “Red Special” and he uses an English Sixpence as a guitar pick, to create his unique sound.
One of Brian’s main influences was Jimi Hendrix.
Jeff Beck: “Freeway Jam” July 1975
Geoffrey Arnold Beck: 24 June 1944: Surrey, ENG.
Yardbirds: 5 Albums and 10 Singles, Solo: 20 Albums and 18 Singles.
While Beck replaced Clapton in the Yardbirds, Jeff came into his own later taking a cue from “Cobham’s Spectrum” Album and taking the Instrumental guitar in a whole new direction.
One of Jeff’s main influences was Chet Atkins.
Gary Moore: “Back On The Streets” Sep 1978
Robert William Gary Moore: 4 Apr 1952: Belfast, N. Ire. – 6 Feb 2001
Thin Lizzy: 1 Album, Solo: 27 Albums and 55 Singles.
I felt I had to add Gary as in the age of “Speed and Flash” Moore continued to crank out the blues. Truthfully I prefer Gary’s voice to his playing, I still feel he is one of the greats.
One of Gary’s main influences was John Mayall.
You can catch me on St. Paul Radi0 WDGY 7am Sunday’s for the last 4 years. You can hear the past 90 Episodes of the “PsychoGello Show” and the “Cover Up Show” at www.MrZeroS.Com -Podacst. You can hear MrZeros “Evolation Show” and “Hits And History Show” at www.MixCloud.Com.
Alright people, tune in next time …. I am MrZerr0 and my favorite color is Purple.
Mr. Zer0’s Inc.
*Est. 2009
1744 Lexington Ave. N.
Roseville, MN. 55113
- 489. 0207
www.MrZeroS.Com
“Nerd Is The Word”
Leave a Reply