Link Wray – R.I.P.

November 22nd, 2005

Link Wray passed away earlier this month at the age of 76. Probably best known for the instrumental hit, “Rumble”, his fuzzy guitar riffs were a great influence on the musicians who helped turn rock’n'roll into rock in the 60s and many others. Wray influenced musicians such as David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, John Lennon, Jerry Garcia, and Pete Townshend. Townshend credits Wray for inspiring him to take up the guitar while Neil Young has said that, if he could go back in time to see a concert, he’d see Wray and his Raymen. Link’s trademark guitar sound was accomplished by poking holes in his amp’s speakers. We take distorted guitar tones for granted today but, back in the late 1950s, Wray was pioneering the sound. His songs are energetic and simple – just plain good ol’ rock’n'roll.

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