Which Guitarist Influenced You?

[ido1957]

Ok I've read through the thread that had the poll where Clapton, VH, Angus and Page were listed. A lot of other guitarists seem to have influenced us guitar players.

This thread is for you to tell us which guitarist is your main influence:
- blew you away when you first saw/heard them.
- made you want that red Silvertone guitar in the Sears catalog
- you've learned more of their licks than anybody else's
- worn out more than one copy of their album listening to them
- song you remember influenced you the most (first/hottest)

Photos are most welcome - action shots encouraged!!!!!!

 

[darrvid]

Clapton was the guitarist that first made me take notice of the instrument, and how it could be used to change emotions, something more than the rock radio hits I was listening to at the time.

John Frusciante was the guitarist that most influenced the way I actually play the guitar. He combines creative simple and emotional hooks that just blow me away.

 

[ermghoti]

Well, there was this kid in high school, he had a crappy electric, and he could play songs I recognized from the radio.

As far as famous players, I didn't even like music until I heard AC/DC, so Angus it is.

 

[sk8bobby10]

I know everyones gonna hate me, but tom delongue, but hes what turned me on to alot of different kinds of music, even though all his guitar stuff is easy and mostly power chords...

 

[Cyrokk]

Led Zeppelin's "Black Dog" was the catalyst. I started buying all of their records afterwards. It wasn't just Jimmy that hooked me, but their talent and sound as a whole.

Despite the fact that "Song Remains the Same" did not show the band at their finest, watching Jimmy Page made me decide to pick up the guitar and be a part of heavy rock music.

After that came Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Metallica, followed by Alice in Chains.

 

[andycerrone]

Mike Einziger from Incubus (I think i spelled his name wrong.. whoops) made me pick up a guitar and tested me to try playing other things other than powerchords, and also introduced what you can do with guitar effects. He opened up what the guitar was able to do, and opened me up to a whole other side of playing.

 

[gbdweller]

When I first started playing back in '80 it was Phil Keaggy. Then it was Hendrix and Knopfler, then EVH, then Ty Tabor. Now I find I pull little bits and pieces from just about everything I cover or listen to.

 

[c7sus]

First it was Pete Townshend, then Jerry Garcia. Now it's Phil Lesh, Tony Rice, Peter Rowan, George Harrison, Clapton, Krieger, Joe Walsh, Gilmour, all the classic rock guys. I dig Bruce Hornsby and Art Pepper, Stevie Wonder. I guess after enough listening I'd probably be won-over by anybody that can wail on whatever axe they swing. Anybody that can modulate the groove and keep it going keeps my attention.

 

[soundchaser59]

Terry Kath.
Jimi Hendrix.
Rick Derringer.
Skunk Baxter.
George Benson.
Chet Atkins.
John McLaughlin.
Steve Gaines.
Stevie Ray Vaughn.
Terry Kath.

 

[jpw23]

Gilmore, Knoffler, Nugent

 

[random.hero]

john frusciante...

a little hendrix, but i think hes a little overrated

 

[punkin]

Charo and Prince...in that order If it weren't for Charo's coochie coochie, I would have put Prince up first

 

[sweetpeee]

Hi all,

Jimmy Page without a doubt. Back then I was learning Physical Graffiti off a turn table, trying to slow it down...VERY difficult way to learn, not only because it was scratchy, but because you could only slow it down a little bit. I remember listening to Plant doing The Rover, then I'd be preforming it on stage singing the syllables, because I had NO CLUE what he was saying As far as sitting down and trying to figure out how to play songs on guitar, Zep was by far my biggest influence...Beatles, Yes, Randy Rhoads, Django, Yngwie...all had some input as well.

 

[akaMrC]

What got me into music (rock at least) was my sister's Mott the Hoople records. Then some other Brit bands, Slade and T.Rex. What made me want to play guitar was Kiss. I can't help it, but I was obsessed with them and loved to listen to Ace's solos. Then Van Halen definitely put me solidly into wanting to play guitar. So I guess I would have to say that Ace Frehley and Eddie Van Halen influenced me then. Now, I don't know, but I still listen to Ian Hunter (MTH), and others such as Led Zep, the Stones, Allman Bros., Skynyrd, etc, etc.

 

[SMC Productions]

Ok I've read through the thread that had the poll where Clapton, VH, Angus and Page were listed. A lot of other guitarists seem to have influenced us guitar players.

Photos are most welcome - action shots encouraged!!!!!!

Do these pics give you a 'hint'?

 

[punkin]

Anyone here like Tony Iommi?

 

[Anfontan]

Jimmy Page and Steve Morse both blew me away when I was starting out. They both played what seemed like impossible stuff...Morse's still is to me for sure.
I think I was drawn to the electric guitar when I saw a green electric on the bandstand at a wedding reception when I was maybe 6 years old. I bet it was a cheap Teisco or something like that but it totally amazed me to see a REAL ELECTRIC GUITAR in front of me! I didn't stand a chance, I had to get one someday~
Im sure I wore out a few records, but it was true dedication to the guitar to have to learn a song from the old 8 tracks, no fast forward or rewind-if you didn't get it quickly, you had to wait till the song came around again...God those 8 tracks sucked LOL!

 

[guitarmonkus]

Adam Jones did it for me. That dude is unreal.

 

[pdadda]

Wes Montgomery

 

[Henry Mars]

In my case it was Wes Montgomery followed very closely by Charlie Byrd, Tal Farlow, and Pat Martino in no particular order. I saw Wes in the '60s in Philly and he blew me away ... that dosen't take away from the other guys mentioned here. They all influenced me in different ways.