Ziggy Played Guitar: The Axeman Cometh

David Bowie's archetypal, inflated rock star monster Ziggy Stardust indeed played guitar. If a frontman is the glamorous position in a rock band, then the guitarist isn't that far behind, and they often tend to be the creative driving force of the group. Of course, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana and Jimi Hendrix had the best of both worlds, fronting their groups and being the lead guitarist. Bad girl guitarist Courtney Love does the same and has the Kurt Cobain legacy to handle as well.

Rock guitarists are normally intelligent, though another lead guitarist and vocalist, Pink Floyd's Syd Barrett, once appeared to be stoned on the Pat Boone Show, and sat in silence with a glazed expression on his face, as the clean-cut crooner asked him some questions. Rock 'n' roll music had moved on a bit since Pat had been in his prime. Brain reduced to mush by hallucinogenic drugs, Syd left the Floyd as they were making it big in the late 1960s. Fleetwood Mac's sensitive master of the electric blues, Peter Green, also had mental health problems, as the responsibility of fame ate him up. Green decided to give all his money away.

Rolling Stone Brian Jones was a gifted guitarist, whose self destruction led him to an early death and made him a member of the 27 Club, along with Cobain and Hendrix. Fellow bandmate and guitarist Keith Richards had a stronger constitution and just might be indestructible.

Guitarists have massive egos, so it would have been interesting to have been a fly on the wall in the dressing room of British blues revivalist group the Yardbirds. The band had three of rock's greatest guitarists in their line-up in the '60s - Eric Clapton, and then, at the same time, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page.

Rock Star Caricatures

It's often the case that guitarists are the band members who take the rock 'n' roll lifestyle only too literally. Some become caricatures of rock stars, notably the Stones Keith Richards, who has perfected the wasted look, and Slash of Guns N' Roses, who combines several facets of rock etiquette - showy hair, flamboyant hat, earrings, and, to finish things off, neatly balancing a cigarette on his bottom lip.

Rock guitarists are sensitive but also volatile. The Who's Pete Townshend would often take out his frustration on anything around, living or inanimate. Kinks guitarist Dave Davies had an infamous fight on stage with drummer Mick Avory. Even pro-peace Beatle John Lennon used his fists occasionally.

Lurid tales about Sex Pistol axeman Steve Jones abound, including the story about his adding a little personal something to a sandwich for Pistols bassist Glen Matlock. The innocent Matlock thought it was mayo.

Good Boy Guitarists

The bickering of Spinal Tap's pretentious guitarist Nigel Tufnel and permanently angry axe companion David St. Hubbins parodies rock group tensions only too accurately. But there are some rock guitarists who seem good boys, but it's probably all just relative. U2's the Edge and Queen's Brian May seem quiet, reflective types, but I doubt if they're in bed by 9pm, curling up to read a Jane Austen novel.

Thoughtful bands like Coldplay and Radiohead would indicate that the days of the wild rock guitarist are over, but Green Day's ridiculously gifted guitarist/singer-songwriter Billie Joe Armstrong shows that the flame of rock guitarist rebellion is still burning in some quarters. At least you can have an intelligent conversation with a guitarist. Drummers, on the other hand...

Sources

earcandymag.com: Rock 'N Roll Case Study: Syd Barrett

Fleetwood Mac.org: Peter Green

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