Keep Calm & Play Guitar

We live in interesting times. As is the case with many offices nationwide, Guitarist HQ is in lockdown and I’m writing to you from my living room. I’ve got one eye on this month’s ‘What’s Goin’ On’ section fearing that much of it will be cancelled, but, like all of us, I’m hoping that the current crisis will abate soon and we will all get back to normal. For now, though, it’s a very unfamiliar variation on ‘business as usual’.

But enough about viruses and self-isolation, let’s take a quick look at this month’s issue. There has been a rash of 50th anniversaries so far this year. The dawn of the 1970s was an unbelievably rich time for music (I know, I was there) and these landmarks keep coming thick and fast. One such event is marked by our cover story in this issue. It’s been 50 years since Peter Green left Fleetwood Mac and virtually disappeared from the music scene, leaving behind him an amazing legacy and a legion of blues guitar acolytes wondering what might have been if Peter’s musical trajectory had continued. But it was not to be. Then there was his ’59 Les Paul. Since that time, this particular instrument has taken on a mythology all its own, rivalling that of King Arthur’s Excalibur. What was the cause of its unique tone? Theories abound, but at last the truth seems to have emerged and those details are examined during the course of our feature. We also hear from the current owner of the guitar, Kirk Hammett, on what it was like to play at February’s tribute concert in London.

My own experience with Peter was when I was editor of our sister title Guitar Techniques when rumours of his return to music were circulating in the mid90s. I happened to phone a PR consultant when, by complete coincidence, Peter was in their office and they handed him the phone. Sometimes the dice just roll in your favour! Stay safe, enjoy the issue and we’ll see you next month.