Guitarist who got you interested in becoming one.

[redking]

Edward Van Halen - mind you, 40 years after discovering him, I still can't play anything like him - but what a life long inspiration he has been!

 

[Midnight Blues]

It was May of '71. I had just purchased Humble Pie's "Humble Pie Performance Rockin' The Fillmore" and was completely enamored (understatement) with Peter Frampton's playing and the pictures of him with that GORGEOUS Les Paul Custom that are all over the album cover. From that point on, I wanted to play guitar and I wanted a Les Paul Custom like his. I spent hours listening to that record, gawking at the pictures of him with that Les Paul and trying to figure out what he was playing. I'm still doing all of the above today.

Honorable mention goes to Mark Farner and Jimmy Page.

 

[Peter M]

What got me to play was the very concept itself: rock guitar.

Many players inspired me, but EVH was the deity I paid the most homage to. Still do.

 

[bungle]

 

[Leee]

Knofler(spelling? Dire Straight)

You got Knopfler fairly close, but you completely blew it on Dire Straits.

 

[Leee]

It was May of '71. I had just purchased Humble Pie's "Humble Pie Performance Rockin' The Fillmore"

You are a little older than me, and it took 10 years for me to discover Steve Marriott and their live version of “I Don’t Need No Doctor.”

I felt so smart, telling people, “Listen to those harmonies. You hear Peter Frampton? That’s Peter Frampton, dude! He was kicking ass way before his live album!”

I’m really not even into long extended improvisational jams, but that song is still a favorite of mine.

 

[Rds]

for me it was ted nugent, then jimmy page. was ruined after hearing those guys. i had to have a guitar.

 

[Midnight Blues]

You are a little older than me, and it took 10 years for me to discover Steve Marriott and their live version of “I Don’t Need No Doctor.”

I felt so smart, telling people, “Listen to those harmonies. You hear Peter Frampton? That’s Peter Frampton, dude! He was kicking ass way before his live album!”

I’m really not even into long extended improvisational jams, but that song is still a favorite of mine.

He absolutely was! "I Don't Need No Doctor" is a GREAT song and Steve Marriott was one of the GREAT singers (not a bad guitarist or harmonica player either!).

Typing of extended improvisational jams, how 'bout "I Walk On Gilded Splinters"! It's one of my all-time favorites and it's even longer, as is "I Don't Need No Doctor", on the "Humble Pie Performance Rockin' The Fillmore The Complete Recordings" album that Frampton and Jerry Shirley released several years ago. I love it!

 

[EasyAce]

I'd whacked around with a guitar until going to summer camp in 1969 and the camp took us to a concert opened by this man, whom I'd never heard or seen until that evening . . .

After that performance, I couldn't wait to get home and start teaching myself to play seriously.

 

[K Dub]

The 3 Yardbirds: Clapton, Page, and Beck.

 

[Neffco]

Spike Cassidy, DRI. My brother gave me a guitar when I broke my leg at 13. He was a horrible musician. Excellent Marine though. I say that because he joined the service shortly after that transaction.

 

[guidothepimmp]

I was 11 when I sat in on the practise of friend of the family's band. They were 19 at the time and were playing Ministry esque rock. My mind was blown. Inhad to try this. At the same time my cousin introduced to me to all sorts of rock, Ugly Kid Joe, Extreme etc.. Nuno Bettencourt and Hendrix were my heroes.

It was Kurt Cobain and his simple riffage that made me believe I could pickup a guitar and play though. Up until Nirvana.. it just sounded too difficult.

 

[Juan Tumani]

The guitar player who inspires people to "Become One".

 

[lancpudn]

Definitely The Beatles & Scott Gorham from Thin Lizzy.

 

[Deftone]

EVH
Jimi Hendrix
Ted Nugent
Vivan Campbell
George Lynch

 

[Sgrady41]

Jimmy Page, I was hooked.

 

[Juan Tumani]

I don't think there was any particular player that made me want to start playing guitar but after I was hooked there were a number of players who made me want to get better (want isn't the same as accomplish).

All the usual suspects.

Hendrix,
Page,
Gilmour,
And later,
Morello

 

[Leee]

I realized today that I shoulda mentioned Mick Jones of Foreigner.

When “Head Games” came out, I had 3 Foreigner albums of songs that made me want to do this.

But without the synthesizers.

Some of their songs were definitely more pop than rock, but Jones could tear it up when he wanted to.

As the years go by, I more fully appreciate the arrangements as well.
Same goes for the first Tom Petty albums, and Mike Campbell on guitar.

 

[Thunder Dump]

 

[Leee]

Steve Clark doesn’t get cited that often.
Great talent.

Another one gone too soon.