Link Wray RIP

[Darrell]

I read over at Steve Bodio's Querencia blog that Link Wray has died at age 83. Here's a link to him performing his signature song Rumble on Conan O'Brian's show--Wray was in his seventies at the time, and the song over fifty years old, and he rocks like a kid:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... 9mGNJ7WSEc

Rumble is supposedly the only instrumental banned from radio play. Here's Jimmy Page listening to the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLEUSn8y ... r_embedded

Here's a HQ version of Rumble, lots more at the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucTg6rZJ ... re=related

[Fivetoes]

I thought he died 8 or 10 years ago.

[Netpackrat]

Wikipedia says he died in 2005. I'm glad you posted anyway, since I'd never heard of him before.

[Darrell]

Hmmmm. I somehow got the impression from reading the Querencia post, linking to Neutrino Cannon, that he'd died recently. Querencia says he died at age 83, while the wiki article says he died at age 76.

http://stephenbodio.blogspot.com/2012/0 ... links.html

http://neutrino-cannon.livejournal.com/433675.html

Anyway! Link Wray is credited with pioneering the use of distortion, and with inventing the power chord. From the wiki:

Wray was noted for pioneering a new sound for electric guitars, as exemplified in his 1958 instrumental hit "Rumble", by Link Wray and his Ray Men, which pioneered an overdriven, distorted electric guitar sound. He also "invented the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarist,"[1] "and in doing so fathering," or making possible, "punk and heavy rock".[2] Rolling Stone placed Wray at number 67 of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.[3]