Fleetwood Mac’s axeman, Lindsey Buckingham, brought his banjo-strumming vibes into the rock world. In his own words, “you do what you can to get the sound you want.” He was doing precisely that, simultaneously making the band the iconic band of the late 60s and 70s. Buckingham’s first attempt at guitar was on a Mickey Mouse guitar, strumming along to his brother’s records. By 13, he was deep into folk music, influenced by the Kingston Trio.
In 1966, Buckingham found himself in a psychedelic rock band named The Fritz Rabyne Memorial Band as a singer and bassist. With a few modifications and the addition of Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac was born, and so was a legend.
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.
Buddy Guy
George “Buddy” Guy, born in Louisiana in 1936, is an American blues guitarist and singer. A true advocate of Chicago blues, his influence on many musicians and guitarists is undeniable. Artists who have cited him as an influence include the likes of Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and the late Jeff Beck – and all of those artists went on to be a part of a group we know as “the greatest guitarists of all time.”
For the young George, it wasn’t long before he was kicked out of his home – this was owing to the fact that all he did was make a lot of noise! This reputation seemed to precede him, with many record executives early on saying his style was “just a bunch of noise.” But over time, his style became more refined, and his bluesy music became all the rage! If you’re curious, definitely have a listen to “Stone Crazy” and “First Time I Met the Blues.”
Thurston Moore
Sonic Youth, the noisy alternative band of rockers, had Thurston Moore to thank for their distinct sound. Ranking at number 34 in Rolling Stone's 2004 edition of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, Moore's style pioneered the indie rock sound of a range of noisy mixups of sounds. The guitarist was initially in the band Even Worse, honing his punk skills. On leaving the band, Moore ventured into some experimental guitar.
In 1980 he met Kim Gordon at a gig he was playing. Anne Demarinis and Dave Keay soon followed, and after some deliberation over names, the initial members became Sonic Youth. Moore also has a lot of credits outside his band and has even composed for a few movies, such as Heavy (1995), Bully (2001), and Manic (2001).
Steve Jones
This self-taught guitarist was born in London to his single mom, who was a hairdresser. Jones had a pretty rough childhood and has admitted that he was functionally illiterate until his 40s. That didn't matter in the world of punk music as Jones, one of the Rolling Stones's Top 100 Guitarists taught himself guitar a few months before joining the supergroup punk band, The Sex Pistols.
Known for those abrasive, typically British punk chords that matched up perfectly with the rough vocal stylings of Jonny Rotten, Jones leaves a legacy of incredible riffs, particularly on the record 1977's Never Mind the Bollocks. The guitarist then created the band The Professionals with his former bandmate Paul Cook before moving on to collaborate with greats like Iggy Pop and Bob Dylan. In between that, Jones.