Players: Your Influences?

Having been on this site about a month now, I have found many a fellow guitar player on here. Other than the obvious (Dave Gilmour) I was wondering who your biggest influences are?

If you play an instrument (any, guitar, bass, drums, keys), I'd be interested in knowing ( as I'm sure many others would) who inspired you to make a joyful noise the first time?

I'll kick it off.

I play guitar so:

Early influences (1970 to 1974)

1) Terry Kath from Chicago: Listen to his early stuff on CTA... Poem 58 in particular...
2) Glen Buxton: Lead guitar for Alice Cooper, listen to the albums Billion Dollar Babies, Schools Out, and Welcome to my Nightmare.
3) Michael Alsup: Three Dog Night, check out "Liar".

Middle Years: (1974 to 1985)

1) David Gilmour....duuhhhhh
2) Mick Taylor; The Rolling Stones, Listen to "Can't you hear me Knockin".
3) Clapton: 451 Ocean Blvd is one of my Top 5 albums of all times.
4) Keith Richards: Stones.... just kicks ass.

Approaching and in my 30's: (1985 to 1995)

1) Adrian Belew: King Crimson and solo work...This guy is just amazing.
2) Stevie Ray Vaughan: I am a blues player by birthright (grew up in Chicago) need I say more.
3) George Harrison: Thanks to the Wilburrys I rediscovered an old favorite.

Up to current day: (1995 to now)

1) David Gilmour: His stuff just get's better with age.
2) John Hiatt: Mature yet just a can-o-fun.
3) Ry Coooder; I have never heard anyone play slide like Ry.



OK...so who trips your trigger?

Interesting pedigree, Fulg....

So you like "Little Village" I take it. I too am a fan of John Hyatt and Ry Cooder.

Anyway, my roots are not that sophisticated. My early attempts were Surf tunes (Apache, Pipeline, etc,) Ventures tunes (Walk, Dont Run, Surf Rider, etc.) and Chuck Berry stuff. Then I copied The Stones (Paint it, Black; The Last Time, Heart of Stone, Gimme Shelter, etc.) and did a few Beatles riffs. (I Feel Fine, etc) Otherwise, Clapton, Mark Knopfler, Big Dave (of course), The Edge, and SRV.

Oh, yeah, forgot to mention Freddie King, one of my "Alltimers."

Could we possibly be brothers?????

I love the Little Village CD, one of my faves. I love to play "Don't think about her" and "She Runs Hot".

Along those obscure lines, and tenuously connected ny Nick Lowe, do you have the Rockpile : Seconds of Pleasure Album?

Unfortunately, no.

I learned most of my licks listening to Jimi Hendrix. I learned a lot from Trey Anastasio from Phish, Billy Corgan from the Smashing Pumpkins, Jerry Garcia, Dave and even a little Syd.

Gilmour (of course), Hendrix, T. Bolin, B.O.C, Alvin Lee, Billy Gibbons, SRV, Page, John Lee Hooker, Johnny Cash, (just to name a few, off the top of my head) and just about everybody, really...in either a "yeah, I like that," kinda way, or "no, that stinks," kinda way...even learned a few licks from watching Junior Brown. One of my latest mentors (for the acoustic guitar) is a fellow I saw perform recently, named Chris Smither...does some impressive finger picking parts while playing the bass part with his thumb, hitting the upbeat (snare drum part) with his foot, and sings, keeping perfect timing throughout. A one man band, if you will. Excellent writer, as well. Some of my other influences you probably have never heard of, fore many of them are local talent, although one of them is now playing guitar for Deborah Coleman's blues band on Blind Pig records.

I'm not currently in a band, but when I was, not too long ago, whenever I played a impromptu-type lead, there were occations when I kinda went out on a limb, got lost, and had to try and find my way back. Almost always in those situations I would sustain or bend/sustain a note that seemed to fit (it is amusing some of the wierd s*#t one thinks about on stage) and wonder what would Gilmour do if he were in my shoes. Thanks Dave.

Good question, by the way.
(Oops, forgot about Clapton, J.J. Cale, & Zappa...and, wow, can't believe I forgot about Dylan, The Beatles, Tony Joe White, Sleepy LaBeef, Carl Perkins... )

Thanks Birck: Impressive list BTW.

I think at one time or another we have all played beyond our ability and had to "find our way back". Lord knows I have (still do).

I think it was Yngwe (sic) Malmsteen who said "you can never play a wrong note in a solo so long as you play an appropriate note after it." In a convoluted way that makes sense, if you hit an "unintentional" note just shift scales to compensate (from pentatonic to blues scale, major to diminished, etc) Just use the old "Uhh yeah, I meant to do that, right" routine.

It's worked for me......

kind of like when you're walking and you trip for no apparent reason, then start jogging so you don't look like an idiot.

true. With Yngwie, who the hell could tell anyway, since he's usually playing 200 notes-per-second.
Yeah, if you just keep playing after a screw-up, like it was meant to be like that, nobody notices anyway.

And yes, Brick, that Junior Brown is sum'p'n else. The boy can play.

200 notes per second? So he's slowed down with age, huh?

Must agree with what you, Stratman, And Wing'd Icarus are saying. The worst thing one can do after making a mistake (or a mistake by one of your band members) is acknowleging it. Just keep playing...just like it was supposed to be that way. Have actually seen some players repeat the mistake a second time on purpose to promote this concept of 'yeah, I meant to do that." And, let's face it, even the best musicians are going to make mistakes occationally--it is how one handles that kind of situation when it arises that gives the appearance of professionalism, I believe. For instance, I used to play with a bass player who has the best "game face" around here...(unlike a sports "game face" where one appears grim throughout the contest, a musicians "game face" is a easy going smile) he could butcher a riff (and he did often enough), the drummer could get hopelessly lost (ditto), the building could be on fire, or things otherwise falling apart, but he'd just keep on smiling, just like that's the way it was rehearsed. Sometimes, after I had made a mistake, I'd look over at him, and he'd be smiling/ laughing...I think he thought that it was amusing, because my "game face" wasn't as good as his.


Also, playing beyond one's ability, imo, is a good way to accelerate the learning process, as most of us learn from our mistakes.

I've only been playing guitar for about 2 years, I'm a rookie to most of you guys. I have been heavily influenced by the great Eric Clapton, hey who hasn't? Dave Gilmour has had a big impact on me in the past few months. Also Angus Young has had a major impact on my more heavy rock side. Though I almost hate to admit this, Tom Delonge of Blink 182 was the guitarist that influenced me enough to pick up the guitar over 2 years ago. All of the influences have played a major roll in my guitar playing, and I have matured so much as a guitar player from my Delonge days to my present Clapton/Gilmour/Young days.

(signs the cross)Blink 182, I'm going to go hide now.

Influences?

George Harrison (influences me through songwriting and tasteful leads)
John Lennon (one hell of a songwriter, and also a great rhythm player)
Syd Barrett (yeah, he's the guy who made me buy a Telecaster, so I could try and match his sound in Interstellar Ovedrive; also influenced me a lot through his percussive guitar playing)
David Gilmour (awesome, awesome lead player)
Jonny Greenwood (from Radiohead)
Robin Trower

And the guy who has influenced me the most (when it comes to lead playing) is Mick Ronson, who played with David Bowie in the early '70s. My lead style is so much like his, it's embarassing - all LONG bends and enough vibrato to make you puke.
Wait, that sounds like Gilmour...
Anyway, Ronson is my 'guilty pleasure' influence. But I sound so much like him that it's too obvious to deny.

Paul McCartney (i put him first because i think he's the best), John Lennon , George Harrison , Jimmy Page , Roger Waters, David Gilmour , Eric Clapton , Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt , Jeff Lynne(ELO) , Cat Stevens , Grand Funk Railroad, Ian Anderson (Jethro Tull) The Who , Edgar Winter , Paul Stanely , KISS , AC/DC , Creedence Clear Water Revival,


mainly just great bands , and the "back bones" of bands (roger waters, paul mccartney george harrison ,..........jeff lyne Ian Anderson)