The guitarists who shaped my sound and inspired my journey through metal
Judas Priest
The first time I ever witnessed K.K. Downing play was Thursday, 24th May 1979 at Newcastle City Hall. I can honestly say without reservation that this was the night that changed my life and set me firmly on my chosen path. Not only a great player but also the epitome of my vision of a heavy metal guitarist...
Thin Lizzy, Solo
Where do I start... I own and I love everything this incredible guitarist has ever done. My first memory of seeing Gary Moore play was on a TV show in the 70s called Sight and Sound in Concert, Rock Goes to College...
KISS
'Ace on lead guitar!' Whilst not the most technical in this list, I honestly think his solos were perfect for early KISS, my favourite era...
Mahogany Rush
'Dragonfly', 'The Answer', and the outstanding 'Electric Reflections of War', the list goes on and on. In my humble opinion, electric hard rock blues at its very best...
Ozzy Osbourne, Black Label Society
'A fucking Marshall, a fucking Les Paul and the pentatonic scale... you're good to go!' Wise words indeed from someone you wouldn't necessarily disagree with...
Van Halen
I remember buying the first Van Halen album as soon as it hit the UK, all on the strength of the reports of them on the Black Sabbath tour...
Motörhead
ROCK N F***ING ROLL!!! Another massive influence in regards to that loose, clanging heavy rhythm and those sleazy blues licks...
Double Trouble
The Texas Blues Man. A guitarist I have always been aware of but never really explored in depth until later in my guitar journey...
Slade
Dave 'Super Yob' Hill... SLADE were definitely my very first 'favourite' band as a kid growing up in the early 1970s...
T. Rex
The very first vinyl album I ever bought with my own allowance money was T. Rex, 'Ride a White Swan'...