Most Inspiring Musicians
A list of musicians who have inspired me in the way I approach and play music. Be it playing guitar, drums, creating electronic samples or even writing lyrics these musicians have shaped the way I look at music. Some of these musicians need no introduction, some of them you probably won't have heard of. |
1 | B.B King
One of, if not the most important influence on every other rock or blues guitarist including my own playing style. |
2 | Louis Armstrong
Needs no introduction to jazz fans, but his influence reaches wider than just jazz. Anyone can appreciate the man's music. |
3 | Bernard Hermann
Not a direct influence on my music, but more of an inspiration with his musical scores for motion pictures. His score for the Hitchcock movie Vertigo is probably the most memorable. |
4 | Johnny Cash
The man in black is a strong influence on the way I look at lyrics and guitar playing |
5 | Tony Iommi
One of rock and metal's godfathers who has influenced my approach to tuning and guitar playing. |
6 | Jimmy Page
One of rock and metal's godfathers needs no introduction. |
7 | David Gilmour
One of rock and metal's uncles, and progressive rock godfathers has influenced my guitar playing immensely. |
8 | Mark Knopfler
Probably the single most influential figure in my guitar playing and songwriting. A legend. |
9 | Robert Fripp
Another musician who's unique style has left me dumbfounded since first hearing King Crimson. An enigmatic genius |
10 | George Harrison
Not as direct an influence as say Mark Knopfler, his guitar playing and songwriting is a more subtle influence. And the fact that his band rewrote the book on popular music. |
11 | Neil Finn
A legend amongst men in pop rock music, and a national icon in New Zealand. Along with his brother Tim, Crowded House songs have been part of me since childhood. |
12 | John Barry
The man behind James Bond music is one of the great movie songwriters ever. His theme for "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" is my fav movie theme ever. |
13 | Jimmy Barnes
A national icon in Australia, Jimmy Barnes is one Aussie who every Kiwi loves. How can you not love a man who sings with a gravel voice of hard nights on the bourbon and winny blues. A working class musician for the working class man. |
14 | Prince
A real musical chameleon, Prince has influenced my guitar playing with tracks like The Cross, When Doves Cry and Purple Rain. Not just an influence on R&B music either |
15 | Martin Gore
The mastermind behind Depeche Mode, his influence is more subtle but I appreciate his songwriting skills and guitar playing. |
16 | Robert Smith
More of an influence with his guitar playing and songwriting than his weird make-up and hairstyles. |
17 | Koji Kondo
The greatest video game musician of all time, his work on the Zelda series has had a profound influence on me. |
18 | Mike Patton
Music's greatest chameleon, his lyrical content and delivery has inspired me on many occasions to write music. |
19 | Josh Homme
A huge influence on the way I approach guitar tuning and guitar playing, his work with Kyuss is legendary and has made me re-think how I play the guitar. |
20 | Steven Wilson
Porcupine Tree's main man is a polarising figure, and I sometimes want to hate him but I can't deny his influence on me. The man is a real musician in the truest sense of the word. |
21 | Devin Townsend
Another polarising figure, you cannot deny Devin Townsend's ability to write emotional music even if it's sometimes pretentious. He is also a beast of a guitarist and quite under-rated as a guitarist. |
22 | Rene Rutten
The Gathering's chief songwriter is one of the most under-rated guitarists out there. His unique use of the theremein and his progressive style has inspired me many times. |
23 | James Iha
Former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist has influenced my fingerpicking and guitar solo's. Quite under-rated too. |
24 | J Mascis
Dinosaur Jr guitarist and vocalist who pretty much influenced every post 1990 rock guitarist. |
25 | Liam Howlett
Prodigy's mastermind who was making electronic music long before anyone had heard of Traktor or Ableton and before virtual dj's. |
26 | Josh Davis
AKA DJ Shadow. Same as above, his unique use of samples to create music broke new ground for electronic music. |
27 | Devin Abrams
NB: No this is not the "wrong" Devin. Devin Abrams is the musical brains behind New Zealand's finest band Shapeshifter, Devin Abrams is a true musician, pioneering the use of "live" instruments for an electronic band. He can also play the sax like a boss. Listen to the song "One" for proof. |
28 | Danny Williamson
AKA LTJ Bukem. The pioneer of liquid drum n bass and electronic music who has had a big influence on my approach to electronic music. |
29 | Ben Sharp
AKA Cloudkicker. The one-man musical genius behind Cloudkicker has changed the way I look at music in today's digital age. His blue-collar, self-sufficient attitude to music is quite rare in a world of false musicians |
30 | Tosin Abasi
AKA Animals as Leaders, this man shouldn't need introducing by now. His guitaring has opened my eyes to a new style of guitaring, and a new breed of musician. The self-titled Animals as Leaders has been on repeat for 6 months and in time will become a future classic. Tempting Time indeed. |
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