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Guitar Gods
In 1966, graffiti started appearing across London proclaiming "Clapton is God." Electric guitarist Eric Clapton was a musical phenomenon who quickly drew a following for his artistry and the speed and intricacy of his playing. Over the next few years, many outstanding musicians were given the guitar god moniker, including Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, and Jimi Hendrix, among others.
Some of these guitarists became the center of cult-like obsession from fans who purchased recordings, memorabilia, guitars, and equipment to emulate them. These musicians shared a similar set of attributes: virtuosic playing, spectacular creativity, and a swaggering attitude on and offstage. They were also almost exclusively men; at the time, women tended to be limited to vocalist roles in rock music and overlooked as instrumentalists.
Certain guitars used by these performers have become famous among fans, earning nicknames such as Clapton's "Blackie," Hendrix's "Love Drops," and Page's "Number One."These and other remarkable instruments in this gallery represent the distinctive voices of some of rock's influential guitarists.
In subsequent generations, the idea of a guitar god has expanded to include musicians from different styles of playing, from punk to heavy metal. By the 1970s women were increasingly fronting bands, forming groups, and finding a platform for their own personas and masterful skills. |