Guitarist and songwriter Link Wray, a tent post for the heavy metal, instrumental surf, punk rock and rockabilly musical genres was born on May 2nd 1929. We would have 93 years old.
Wray put the “POWER” in the power chord and introduced heavy distortion, something that rock music has not been able to do without since. The single Rumble, was one of the first songs actually banned in some US markets for fear that the playing of the song would promote teenage violence…well isn’t that the point! All kidding aside, if you have any doubt of the influence of Link Wray outside of Quintin Tarantino movies, take a look at the documentary film It Might Get Loud. You can see the pride Jimmy Page has at pulling out his 45rpm vinyl and dropping the needle on Rumble to explain how Wray controlled distortion. Link Wray's power chords illicit some sincere air guitar moves from Jimmy. Amazing to see the greatness of Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page reduced to the most basic fandom by the riff…a must see clip. https://youtu.be/LnyY3rJoaZ4
Rockabilly Hard Today!
