Friday, August 14, 2009

Magic Wood (Les Paul: 1915-2009)





Would the instantly recognisable ringing guitar intro to GnR's Sweet Child O' Mine sound the same if Slash had not used a Les Paul Gibson? And let's face it, many of us dreamed of posing with one even if we couldn't strum a single riff to save our bacon. It is an icon of cool.

Les Paul passed on yesterday at the grand old age of 94 after succumbing to complications arising from pneumonia. From recording techniques to iconic instruments, Les Paul has given music lovers everywhere countless hours of enjoyment.

Thank you sir & may yer memory live on forever.

For a more detailed obituary, please go to: http://www.malaysiainsider.com/index.php/showbiz/35144-original-guitar-hero-les-paul-dies


ps: Just in case anyone is confused, Les Paul is pictured at the top next to the Beatle. The other two pix highlight why his guitars are part of rock iconography.

pps: yer all invited to share yer fave Les Paul anecdote or rave about yer fave piece of music featuring his guitars.

7 comments:

Anba said...

First time i saw a Les Paul guitar...
inner sleeve of Show No Mercy...
Jeff Hannemann..holding a Les Paul and an upturned Cross...
Scary stuff for a teenager i tell u...
RIP Unkel Paul..thnx for creating an iconic guitar...
and MerryWeekend everyone..the season is abt to start...good luck

anfield devotee said...

Anba: Fer me it was on Led Zep's Song Remains The Same when double neck was brought out fer Stairway & of course when Slash slung it low fer THAT song.

Everton. Boleh makan ke?

Me thinks we're off to a bad start against yer hated neighbours.

Kerp (Ph.D) said...

have you guys watched Juno? ok, kinda corny movie but still, the title character had only good things to say about Les Paul. the script-writer would go for Gibson Les Paul over Fender any day.

p/s- likewise Bala, Goodison has always been a tricky ground for us. i'd be happy with a draw.

Tinesh said...

For me it's definitely possibly one of the greatest guitar pieces ever written, Stairway to Heaven. Double neck in all it's glory and of course, the ever iconic Flying V (which incidentally Hetfield thought his Flying V was, but it was a Jap version.)

Achilles said...

AD: For me, it is definitely Sweet Child O' Mine.... what can i say-lah... die hard GNR fan.

how come "Guitar God Premo" hasn't left any comments? hehehehehe.

Unknown said...

Legend he is but I've always been more of an ESP snd BC Rich kinda dude lol

anfield devotee said...

KerP : yes, me has seen Juno. Kinda cool the script writer had the teenager as the classic fan into Iggy & The Stooges et al while the older dude was a Nirvana / Seattle follower.

tinesh: Concur. The fact that Jimmy Page was completely off his tits on H didnt seem to hinder his playing ability.

achilles: Yup. Nothing a low-slung Les Paul fer that added cool factor.

premo: hee hee . . . so says Mr Dare-to-be-different . . .