ZZ Top was one of those all-American bad-boy type rock bands that wrote about women, booze, and rock and roll. Born in Houston, Texas, “The Reverend Billy F. Gibbons” is, of course, best known as both the lead guitarist and singer of the band ZZ Top. He started off in Moving Sidewalks and actually opened for the Jimi Hendrix Experience (as well as enjoying a brief friendship with the legend). Sure, sounds impressive – but this kid had a father who was a maestro.
His parents encouraged his musical side, taking him to see Elvis in concert, as well as B.B. King in the studio. With these experiences under his belt, he had the ideas and insider knowledge to form ZZ Top by the age of 20. “Tush,” “Legs,” and “Gimme All Your Lovin’” are some of the stand-out tracks. Guitar-wise, well, you can’t go past his steady guitar in “La Grange.”
Keith Richards
Keith Richards is perhaps one of the most recognizable guitarists in the world; he's the guitarist, secondary vocalist, and co-principal songwriter of The Rolling Stones. Rolling Stone magazine wrote of Richards as the creator of “rock’s greatest single body of riffs” on the guitar. This guitar legend was born in Kent, England, in 1943, and it seems music was in his blood: his maternal grandfather, Augustus Theodore “Gus” Dupree, actually toured Britain with a big jazz band – and it was Dupree who gave Richards his first guitar. In a funny childhood story, Dupree had a guitar on a shelf that Richards couldn’t reach and bet him that if he could reach it, he could have it. Over time, Richards devised methods to retrieve the guitar until finally got hold of it.
From that point on, Richards’s lessons began. But while his grandfather encouraged his musical discovery, his father was against his son’s musicality. We’ve heard this story before, right? Regardless, fast forward a few years, and Richards is one of the most extraordinary guitarists ever, creating his own unique style via tuning of his guitar. Similar to Van Halen, Richards’s music is imitated and copied, but just doesn’t sound the same when it isn’t his fingers plucking and strumming. Songs like “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction,” “Gimme Shelter,” and “Paint it Black” are all testaments to his work and craft.
Jeff Beck
Born in the 40s, this old rocker was one of the three notable guitarists to have played with The Yardbirds (the others include Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton). But Beck moved on from The Yardbirds to form The Jeff Beck Group, then Beck, Bogert & Appice. Beck has always had more of a focus on instrumental output, particularly on creating innovative sounds: he’s covered lots of bases, with genres from blues-rock and hard rock over to electronica.
Despite his huge talent and hit albums, Beck didn’t quite reach the sustained commercial success of many of his ex-bandmates and contemporaries. But in saying that, he’s definitely collaborated with lots of great musicians, including Rod Stewart, Mick Jagger, Tina Turner, Jon Bon Jovi, Stevie Wonder, Roger Waters, Brian May, ZZ Top, and the list goes on. When you’re next on Spotify or surfing Youtube, look up Jeff Beck’s hits: “A Day in the Life,” “I Ain’t Superstitious,” and “Heart Full of Soul. ” You’ll be in awe of this innovative soul’s way of mixing sounds and creating something unique. Sadly, in January 2023, Beck passed away.
Willie Nelson
With a stellar career, 86-year-old Willie Nelson is a singer, songwriter, musician, actor, producer, author, poet, and activist. Born in Texas in 1933, Nelson sure has come a long way from his cotton-picking and bible-selling days. Critical and commercial success was won for Nelson with his albums Shotgun Willie, Red Headed Stranger, and Stardust. A bit of a “country outlaw” due to his rebellion against the conventions of the Nashville sound; his music style is pretty unique.
Not to mention he’s been in over 30 films, co-authored several books, and been an adamant activist for the use of biofuels and the legalization of marijuana. One thing has stayed constant, however, over the past 60 years – his guitar, “Trigger,” pictured above! Sure, “Trigger” has had a few stints in guitar hospital over the years, but she’s stuck it out with Nelson.
The Edge
David Howell Evens, better known as The Edge, was born in Essex, England, on August 8, 1961. He’s also the lead guitarist for the legendary rock band U2. Like many great musicians and guitarists, Evens is self-taught. Many recognize the fact that this private journey with the guitar contributed greatly to his unique sound and style. Given the nickname “The Edge” from a young age, he’s definitely imparted a few pearls of wisdom since joining U2 in the late 1970s.
One of our favorites is his reflection on the classic hit “With or Without You”: “I don't like to be inefficient if I can get away with it. Like at the end of ‘With or Without You.’ My instinct was to go with something very simple... there's this power to it which I think is even more potent because it's held back". He definitely knows how to play his guitar.