OT: Who Was Your Biggest Inspiration To Play Guitar?

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gibson5413

gibson5413

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There are so many of us on this forum that have differing opinions on playing and tone that it got me thinking who started it all for you. Who had the biggest influence on you to pick up a guitar?


For me it was the following 2 individuals:

1. Alex Lifeson- In 1979, my older brother got a copy of 2112 on vinyl. That album just hit me between the eyes and I loved Lifeson's playing on that album. Very cool rock album with a full-on concept. Started me down the road of progressive music as well that has stayed with me ever since.

2. Eddie Van Halen- Later that year I got a copy of VH1 and that was that. I had to play!

Funny thing, Eddie is probably at the absolute other end of what inspires me now. He has completely dropped off the map in the past 12 years for me.
 
Ace Frehley, when I got Kiss Alive II (my first album) in third grade.

From there it was alot of the 80's guys: EVH, Lynch, Dimartini, Rhoads, J.E.Lee, etc...
 
Tony fucking IOMMI!!! and believe it or not JJ French. i got we sold our soul in first grade along with stay hungry. the following year i got, Condition Critical, Dirty Deeds, Number Of The Beast, and Kiss Double Platinum. gotta love parents who just buy you what you ask for when you are 7-8yrs old (music wise) without thinking you were going to go to grow up a criminal. then again, we're talkin like 1983-ish i believe :lol:
 
-Ace Frehley
-Alex Lifeson

After that, it was EVH, Page, Shon etc....
 
Ritchie Blackmore...my first big kick was Rainbow, although I still can't play hardly any of his stuff :-(
 
I bought my first guitar because of Dave Mustaine/Marty Friedman - lots of Rust in Peace!
Once I bought it, I went nuts over a lot of guys - Eddie, Jerry Cantrell, old Metallica, Slash, Alex Lifeson.
 
Iommi, Blackmore but as a young lad it was Sabbath and Deep Purple to me back then. I then learned the contrasts between that and Kiss, Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd. I was hooked at a VERY early age but I will never forget Sabbath and Deep Purple. I love the riff baby and could care less about a solo from a young players perspective. I have since changed but still prefer the riffage over anything else deep down.
 
When I was 10 years old I got motley crue shout at the devil and when I heard it I loved that album and wanted to pick up a guitar.

Around the same time I also got into ratt and dematini was one of my heros. And a few years later around 86 I heard lynch and he became my favorite guitarist and still is. I metallica mop was also something that inspired me to play. Kirk was very high on my list back then but now days I don't care for him.
 
Guitar wasn't my first instrument, and I picked it up only when I could no longer be a drummer.

Drumming influences - AIC, STP, Sound Garden, Pantera, Van Halen, Motley Crue
Guitaring influences - AIC / Jerry Cantrell, Tool, Black Sabbath
 
My friend gave me a mix tape of old Metallica shit when I didn't even like musica and that's when it started for me. The first track was battery and it kicked my ass! So, Hetfield and Hammet were a big influence.
 
I saw Paul Simon and some singer named Art way back in 67 at Princeton University. That same year I picked up my first real guitar a 1927 O18K Martin. Did acoustic for a real long time and finally got an electric in 82 a 59 Byrdland and matching amp. Phil Keaggy was my early electric influence.
 
Wow - there are so many!!

It started for me with Def Leppard - Pete Willis and Steve Clark - the High 'n Dry album still kicks ass.
Then I moved into Iron Maiden - Adrian Smith and Dave Murray - Number of the Beast and Piece of Mind.
Then Jake E Lee, Vivian Campbell, and Michael Schenker.
The most influential would have been James Hetfield - Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets was like the voice of god to me!! Fucking Awesome.
 
Steve Lukather. I used to jam along to my parents Toto records back when I was a kid, before i knew what a guitar was...
 
Steven Tyler and David Lee Roth. Yeah, I know, they don't play guitar, but I wanted to do what they do until I realized my singing voice would cause certain pain to others and on occasion, death.
 
My Brother. He was older and in a band in highschool while I was in 6th grade. He had a guitar, so I would fiddle with it. By that time I was playing Viola in orchestra too, so all the stringed instruments were engaging. :)
 
70's Ace Frehley, Ted Nugent, Perry & Whitford got me started playing. Kiss Alive, Double Live Gonzo & Live Bootleg ruled my turntable

80's All about Rhoads & Van Halen

90's Bettencourt

Today Bonamassa & E Johnson
 
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