The real guitar heroes - page 2

06-09-2008 08:15

Grohl told the audience: "Welcome to the greatest day of my entire f**king life."

Pink Floyd's David Gilmour has also enjoyed revived success in recent years.

The 62-year-old's performance with the psychedelic rock outfit at 2005's charity gig Live 8 was watched by fans around the world on giant screens. He went on to release the UK number one solo album 'On An Island' in 2006.

Earlier that year, the musician disappointed millions by giving rise to fears it may soon be time for some of our favourite string thrashers to start turning their amplifiers down by confirming he was getting too old to play with Pink Floyd again.

He said: "I think enough is enough. I'm 60-years-old. I don't have the will to work as much anymore. Pink Floyd was an important part in my life, I have had a wonderful time, but it's over. For me it's much less complicated to work alone."

Perhaps the most rock'n'roll axeman of them all, Keith wasn't going to let a little thing like brain surgery, caused by him falling out of a coconut tree in 2006, force him to walk away from The Rolling Stones. His relaxed blues-style, along with singer Sir Mick Jagger's distinct vocals, defines the band's sound. The riffs to songs such as 'Honky Tonk Woman', 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' and 'Start Me Up' still have the ability to make the hairs stand on the back of the neck.

Richards - who is also nearly ready to collect his bus pass at the ripe age of 64 - still lives as fast as he can play. He caused controversy last year by claiming he snorted his dead father's ashes.

He said: "I opened his box up and out comes a bit of dad on the dining room table. I'm going, 'I can't use a brush and dustpan for this.'"

Not exactly a spring chicken either, 61-year-old Brian May proved a good guitarist can still carry a band (following singer Freddy Mercury's untimely death) when he announced he would be reforming Queen with former Free/Bad Company vocalist Paul Rodgers in 2004.

The curly-haired solo extraordinaire wowed audiences at recent gigs - including a headline slot at Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday celebration in Hyde Park earlier this year - and releases new album 'The Cosmos Rocks' on October 28.

May is so dedicated to his art he plays the same custom made guitar - the Red Special, which he designed with his father - to this day.

He said: "The tremolo is interesting in that the arm's made from an old bicycle saddle bag carrier, the knob at the end's off a knitting needle and the springs are valve springs from an old motorbike."

Some have never really stepped out of the limelight for too long, such as Clapton (who finished a semi-world tour last month), Carlos Santana, 61, and former Dire Strates frontman Mark Knopfler (getting on at 59).

Even Beck - who suffers from tinnitus, a constant ringing in the ears caused by turning sound equipment 'up to 11' - has kept on rocking, and knew he would from an early age.

He said: "I was interested in the electric guitar even before I knew the difference between electric and acoustic. The electric guitar seemed to be a totally fascinating plank of wood with knobs and switches on it. I just had to have one."

But without doubt the musician recognised by his peers as the greatest guitarist of all-time is the late Jimi Hendrix.

Although he tragically died aged just 27 in 1970 after choking on his own vomit following a drink and drugs binge, his incredible musical legacy lives on in terms of his playing ability many believe he has never been surpassed.

He burst onto the UK music scene in London in 1966, and is one the main pioneers of the use of guitar feedback and use of distortion - both staples of modern rock music. Through his incredible virtuoso live performances - which involved him setting fire to his instrument and playing the guitar with his teeth - he quickly developed a superstar following, including Clapton, Jeff Beck, late Rolling Stones guitarist Brian Jones, The Who's Pete Townshend and The Beatles.

Tracks such 'Purple Haze', 'Voodoo Child (Slight Return)' and 'All Along The Watchtower' all showcase his trademark sound, achieved by using a Wah-wah effects pedal, and frantic soloing skills.

His career-defining moment came when he headlined the Woodstock music festival on August 18, 1969, and delivered his unforgettable interpretation of the US national anthem 'Star Spangled Banner'. His performance - a protest against the Vietnam War, Hendrix used various sonic effects to represent machine gun fire and bombs - became a symbol of the late 60s protest movement and Hendrix incorporated the song into his set up until his death.

His influence and interest in him remains constant. Only this week the first guitar Hendrix set alight on stage - at London's Finsbury Park Astoria in 1967 - sold for a staggering £282,000 at auction.

The Fender Stratocaster was purchased by US guitar enthusiast Daniel Boucher.

So when the real guitar heroes, those who are still with us, finally do step off the tour bus and on a coach trip for pensioners, where will the guitar world be left?

Granted, there are some exemplary guitarists with a fair few years ahead of them - most notably Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, 44, U2's The Edge, 47, (or David Evans to his mum), and the iconic Slash, 43 - but looking at today's music charts, simple catchy riffs and basic solos dominate, suggesting the current crop of musicians can't handle a free-wailing musician's guitar gently balling its eyes out.

Take a look at any compiled 'list' of the top 100 guitarists of all time and you will find few, if any, musicians who began their careers in this century. Perhaps it's not fair to say young guitarists don't rank very highly in music experts' opinions, seeing as these canons are usually reserved for veterans of the industry. But years from now, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will surely have to initiate someone and it's depressing to think the likes of Andrew White of the Kaiser Chiefs or Razorlight's Bjorn Agren ("Who?", you might ask) might be the best of a bad bunch. And there is no disrespect intended, it's just their performances hardly reflect the unmatched creative imagination of the late Jimi Hendrix or the sheer goose bump inducing talent of BB King.

The guitar is appreciated for both its womanly shape and tendency to extend a male player's manhood, and as such is certainly not something to use sparingly. It would be like owning a Ferrari and only using it to go down the shops every now and again.

Perhaps lead singers have finally taken the necessary measures to ensure the full glare of the spotlight is firmly fixed on them. And tragically, it is through the lenses of the paparazzi rather than recognition for their dulcet tones.

With more and more bands throwing out solid guitar music in favour of electronic drum beats, you may well find your own open palm clamped across your mouth after catching yourself saying, "What is this dreadful noise?" in the style of your grandfather next time you're in a record shop.

Sadly, there will come a time in the not too distant future when Page, Clapton, Beck, Richards, Gilmour, May, Berry, Knopfler and Slash have no choice but to trade power chord crunching for 'Countdown' conundrums.

But at least there will always be 'Guitar Hero III'.

By Joshua Saxon.