Famous Guitarists from England
List of famous guitarists born who were born in England, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Many of these guitar players from England are legends in the music world, each with their own innovative styles of play. If you play guitar, whether acoustic or electric, then these famous England guitar players should be people you look up to. These are some of the best guitarists that have ever picked up the instrument, and whether they play rock, blues, metal or folk, these men and women are considered legends.
The list you're viewing is made up of a variety of different items, including Paul McCartney and David Bowie.
This list answers the questions, "What guitar players are from England?" and "Who are famous England guitarists?"- Jeff Beck holds an esteemed position among the greatest guitarists in history. Born in Surrey, England, on June 24, 1944, Beck found his passion in music at a young age. He initially discovered his love for guitar after hearing Les Paul play, which spurred him to master the instrument. Beck's career took off in the mid-1960s when he joined The Yardbirds, a band known as a breeding ground for legendary guitarists. It was here that Beck developed his innovative style, combining raw emotion with technical mastery, and creating a sound that was entirely his own. His tenure with The Yardbirds, however, was short-lived, and by late 1966, Beck had embarked on a solo career. Over the years, he released several successful albums such as Truth, Blow by Blow, and Wired, each unique, displaying his versatility and pushing boundaries of rock and jazz fusion. Despite his reputation for being reclusive and unpredictable, Beck's impact on music is undeniable. His influence extends beyond his work as a solo artist; he has collaborated with a myriad of artists across various genres, from Rod Stewart to Morrisey. A multiple-time Grammy award winner, Beck's technical prowess and ceaseless innovation have cemented his legacy in the music industry. Above all, his dedication to music and relentless pursuit of perfection continue to inspire up-and-coming musicians around the globe.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- Jimmy Page stands out as one of the most influential guitarists in the annals of rock music. Born James Patrick Page on January 9, 1944, in Heston, England, his journey to stardom began at an early age when he picked up a guitar for the first time. He honed his skill and passion for the instrument, leading him to become a pivotal figurehead in British blues revival scenes of the mid-1960s. Before reaching international fame with Led Zeppelin, Page was a highly sought-after studio guitarist, contributing to numerous songs by various artists. His unique style, a fusion of blues and hard rock, set him apart from his contemporaries. In 1968, Page formed the legendary rock band, Led Zeppelin, alongside Robert Plant, John Paul Jones, and John Bonham. As the band's lead guitarist and principal songwriter, Page played an integral role in shaping their groundbreaking sound. The band's eponymous first album, released in 1969, showcased Page's innovative guitar techniques, including his use of droning strings and alternate tunings. Over the next decade, Led Zeppelin made a series of successful albums, with Page's distinctive playing style becoming synonymous with the band's heavy, yet melodic, sound. Despite Led Zeppelin's disbandment following the tragic death of drummer John Bonham in 1980, Page's music career continued to flourish. He embarked on various solo projects and collaborations with artists like The Yardbirds and The Firm. In recognition of his contributions to music, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice, once as a member of The Yardbirds in 1992 and again as a member of Led Zeppelin in 1995.
- Birthplace: Heston, Middlesex, England, UK
- Guitars Played: Danelectro Shorthorn, Gibson EDS-1275, Gibson Les Paul, Fender Telecaster
The Best Jimmy Page Guitar Solos Of All TimeSee all
- 1Stairway to Heaven168 Votes
- 2Heartbreaker102 Votes
- 3Since I've Been Loving You128 Votes
- John Lennon, born on October 9, 1940, in Liverpool, England, was a musical genius whose influence as a singer, songwriter, and peace activist continues to shape the world of music. He first gained popularity as a member of the legendary rock band, The Beatles. His unique vocals, innovative songwriting, and dynamic stage presence played a pivotal role in propelling the group to unprecedented heights of fame during the 1960s. In addition to his work with The Beatles, Lennon's solo career was marked by several iconic albums that showcased his profound lyricism and evocative melodies. Lennon's early life was characterized by hardship and loss. His parents separated when he was young, and he was raised by his aunt after his mother's untimely death. Despite these challenges, Lennon found solace in music, and it was during his time at the Liverpool College of Art that he formed his first band, The Quarrymen, which would later evolve into The Beatles. After The Beatles disbanded in 1970, Lennon embarked on a solo career, releasing critically acclaimed albums such as Imagine and Plastic Ono Band, which reflected his deep-seated concerns about social issues and his yearning for peace. Tragically, Lennon's life was cut short when he was murdered outside his New York City home on December 8, 1980. Despite his premature departure from the world, his legacy continues to resonate powerfully in contemporary music and culture. His timeless songs, known for their emotional depth and lyrical brilliance, are celebrated worldwide. John Lennon's life and career stand as a testament to the transformative power of music and the enduring appeal of his vision for a more peaceful world.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- George Harrison, widely recognized as the lead guitarist of the Beatles, was born on February 25, 1943, in Liverpool, England. From a young age, he showcased an affinity for music, particularly for guitars, which later propelled him to international stardom. Despite his humble beginnings, his talent and determination led him to become one of the most influential guitarists in the history of rock music. His work with the Beatles, from their formation in 1960 until their disbandment in 1970, brought forth a new era in music, with songs like "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," "Something," and "Here Comes the Sun" standing as timeless classics. Harrison's role in the Beatles, however, was not limited to his guitar playing. He also contributed significantly to the band's songwriting, often exploring themes of spirituality and introspection. His interest in Hinduism, Indian culture, and Eastern musical influences were evident in many of his compositions. This distinct flavor added another dimension to the Beatles' music, making it more diverse and eclectic. Post-Beatles, Harrison embarked on a successful solo career, releasing several acclaimed albums like All Things Must Pass and Living in the Material World. Beyond his musical accomplishments, Harrison was also known for his philanthropic efforts. In 1971, he organized the Concert for Bangladesh, a landmark event in the history of benefit concerts. His dedication to humanitarian causes continued throughout his life, leaving an indelible mark on the world. George Harrison passed away on November 29, 2001, but his legacy continues to inspire generations of musicians and fans alike.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
- Guitars Played: Rickenbacker 360/12, Fender Stratocaster
- David Bowie, born David Robert Jones, was an iconic figure in the world of music, renowned for his distinctive voice, eclectic musical style, and innovative approach to artistry. Born on January 8, 1947, in Brixton, London, England, Bowie's passion for music began at a young age. His early influences included Little Richard, Elvis Presley, and the jazz records played by his father. Known for his continuous reinvention, Bowie's career spanned over five decades, during which he released 27 studio albums. Bowie's breakthrough came in 1969 with his single Space Oddity, timed with the Apollo 11 moon landing. His versatility was showcased in his album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars that introduced the alter ego Ziggy Stardust, a character that personified alienation and glam rock. This was followed by a series of successful albums including Aladdin Sane, Diamond Dogs, and the soul-influenced Young Americans. In the late 1970s, Bowie moved towards electronic and ambient music with his Berlin Trilogy: Low, Heroes, and Lodger. Aside from music, Bowie also had a significant impact on fashion and theater. He was known for his androgynous looks and flamboyant stage outfits, influencing trends throughout his career. He also acted in films like The Man Who Fell to Earth and Labyrinth, proving his talent across multiple artistic mediums. Bowie passed away on January 10, 2016, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire musicians and artists worldwide. His innovative approach to music and his ability to constantly reinvent himself have solidified his place as one of the most influential figures in popular culture.
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
The Best David Bowie Albums of All TimeSee all- 1The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars1,546 Votes
- 2Low1,390 Votes
- 3Hunky Dory1,385 Votes
- Paul McCartney, born on June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England, is a revered figure in the world of music, known for his significant contribution to the legendary band, The Beatles. Before his rise to fame, McCartney's early life was marked by the loss of his mother, Mary, which deeply influenced his songwriting. He attended the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, where he met George Harrison. McCartney's musical journey began with his first guitar at the age of fourteen, and by sixteen, he had joined John Lennon's band, The Quarrymen, which later evolved into the iconic Beatles. McCartney's creative partnership with John Lennon during the Beatles era resulted in an incredible array of hits that dramatically shaped the landscape of popular music. Their collaborative genius produced timeless classics like "Hey Jude", "Let It Be", and "Yesterday". The Beatles' meteoric rise in the '60s sparked Beatlemania, a global phenomenon that made them one of the most influential bands in history. However, the Beatles disbanded in 1970, prompting McCartney to embark on a solo career. In his post-Beatles career, McCartney continued to make his mark in the music industry. He formed the band Wings with his wife Linda Eastman, which saw considerable success throughout the '70s with hits like "Band on the Run" and "Live and Let Die". McCartney's enduring legacy as a songwriter and performer has earned him numerous accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to music in 1997, firmly cementing his status as one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK
- Adrian Frederick "H" Smith (born 27 February 1957) is an English guitarist and member of Iron Maiden, for whom he writes songs and performs live backing vocals on some tracks. Smith grew up in London and became interested in rock music at 15. He soon formed a friendship with future Iron Maiden guitarist Dave Murray, who inspired him to take up the guitar. After leaving school at 16, he formed a band called Urchin, which he led until their demise in 1980. He joined Iron Maiden in November 1980, replacing Dennis Stratton. Following a short-lived solo project called ASAP, he left Iron Maiden in 1990 and formed a group called Psycho Motel. In 1997, Psycho Motel was put on hold and he joined the band of former Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson. Smith and Dickinson returned to Iron Maiden in 1999, after which the band gained new success. Smith has a current side project called Primal Rock Rebellion.
- Birthplace: London Borough of Hackney, England, London
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- David Gilmour, a renowned figure in the music industry, is best known for his instrumental role as a vocalist and guitarist for the legendary rock band Pink Floyd. Born on March 6, 1946, in Cambridge, England, Gilmour's interest in music was sparked at a young age. He attended the Cambridgeshire College of Arts and Technology, where he honed his musical talent. His journey took a pivotal turn in 1967 when he joined Pink Floyd, replacing former frontman Syd Barrett. Gilmour's impact on Pink Floyd was transformative. His distinct guitar style and soulful voice played a significant role in shaping the band's unique sound. During his tenure with Pink Floyd, the band released numerous chart-topping albums, including "The Dark Side of the Moon," "Wish You Were Here," and "The Wall." These records, among others, established Pink Floyd as one of the most influential bands in the rock genre. Gilmour's contributions were integral to this success, earning him international acclaim and numerous awards, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996. Despite his success with Pink Floyd, Gilmour's artistic endeavors extended beyond the band. He embarked on a solo career, releasing his self-titled debut album in 1978. His solo discography showcases his versatility as a musician, ranging from hard rock to more introspective acoustic pieces. Additionally, Gilmour has collaborated with various artists throughout his career, further demonstrating his dynamic range. Despite the ups and downs of his career, David Gilmour remains a timeless icon in the music industry, revered for his exceptional musical talent and enduring influence on rock music.
- Birthplace: Grantchester, England
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- Pete Townshend is a multi-faceted artist, best recognized for his role as the lead guitarist and principal songwriter of the rock band The Who. Born on May 19, 1945, in Chiswick, West London, he grew up in a musical family which profoundly influenced his early passion for music. His career took flight in the mid-1960s when The Who emerged as one of the defining bands of that era. Known for his windmill-style guitar strumming, Townshend's innovative techniques and creative compositions have left an indelible mark on the world of rock music. Townshend's contribution to music extends beyond his work with The Who. He has released several solo albums, demonstrating his versatility as an artist. Albums like Empty Glass and White City: A Novel showcase his ability to weave compelling narratives through music. His talents are not confined to performing and composing; Townshend has also penned essays and other written works, including his autobiography Who I Am. Despite facing personal challenges and public controversies, Townshend's legacy remains intact. His dedication to his craft earned him numerous accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with The Who in 1990. In 2008, he was honored with the Kennedy Center Honors for his influence on American culture. Pete Townshend's life and career serve as a testament to his profound impact on rock music, proving him to be a true icon of the genre.
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- Mike Oldfield, a name that echoes through the corridors of music history, has been a pivotal figure in the evolution of progressive rock and new-age music. Born on May 15, 1953, in Reading, England, his musical journey began early, mastering the guitar at a tender age and later traversing through numerous instruments including piano, mandolin, and drums. He was a part of several bands like "The Sallyangie" and "Barefoot", however, his true potential materialized when he embarked on his solo career. Oldfield's inimitable style of blending conventional rock with elements of classical and folk music became his signature. His debut, Tubular Bells, which came out in 1973, was a path-breaking masterpiece that shattered the boundaries of traditional music composition, featuring over 20 different instruments played singlehandedly by him. It also distinguished itself as the inaugural release of Richard Branson's Virgin Records. The album's title track gained further notoriety when it was used in the infamous horror film, The Exorcist. In a career spanning five decades, Oldfield has released more than 25 studio albums, each one an exploration into the depths of his sonic imagination. From the sequels to Tubular Bells to the Celtic influences in Voyager, and the ambient textures of Music of the Spheres, his discography speaks volumes about his versatility and innovation. He has cemented his place in music history not just as a multi-instrumentalist and composer, but as a musical visionary who transcended genres and redefined the landscape of progressive and new-age music.
- Birthplace: Reading, England, UK
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- When people think of U2's guitarist, David Howell Evans, known by all as The Edge, they likely think of his great, reverb-heavy guitar work first. The second thing they remember is that he's the dude that always has a hat on. First it was a sombrero but then he moved on to a close-knit ski hat (Many fans would say that the fu-manchu mustache and cowboy hat he sported during the late 1990s never happened). He's taken pictures with presidents of various countries while wearing the cap and photos of him sans hatwear are about as rare as legitimate Bigfoot sightings.
- Birthplace: Barking, Essex, England, UK
- Guitars Played: Gibson SG, Gretsch G6122 Country Gentleman, Rickenbacker 360/12, Fender Stratocaster, Gibson Explorer
- John James Sykes (29 July 1959 – January 2025) was an English guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter who has played with Streetfighter, Tygers of Pan Tang, John Sloman's Badlands, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, and Blue Murder. Sykes shared composing duties for all songs on Whitesnake's 1987 self-titled album with David Coverdale. Sykes is also released several solo albums.
- Birthplace: Reading, England
- Brian May, best known as the lead guitarist of the legendary rock band Queen, is a distinguished musician, songwriter, and astrophysicist. Born on July 19, 1947, in Hampton, England, May's passion for music began at an early age. He built his first guitar, famously known as the Red Special, with his father at just 16 years old. This homemade instrument would later become iconic, producing the distinctive sound that millions of Queen fans worldwide have come to love. May's musical journey took a significant turn when he co-founded Queen in 1970 with vocalist Freddie Mercury and drummer Roger Taylor. The band went on to achieve global success, with May contributing as both a guitarist and a prolific songwriter. His composition of timeless hits such as "We Will Rock You" and "The Show Must Go On" are iconic in the landscape of rock music. Beyond his music career, May's intellectual curiosity led him to delve into the world of astrophysics, earning a Ph.D. from Imperial College London in 2007. Despite his stellar achievements in music and science, May remains humble and dedicated to humanitarian causes. He is a devoted animal rights activist, co-founding the Save Me Trust in 2010 to advocate against fox hunting and badger culling in the UK. May's varied personality - a rockstar, scientist, and activist - makes him a unique figure in the entertainment industry. His exceptional contributions to music, coupled with his intellectual pursuits and philanthropy, continue to inspire many around the globe.
- Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
- Saul Hudson, better known by his stage name Slash, is an English-American musician and songwriter famed for his distinctive guitar playing, characterized by intricate, powerful riffs and searing solos. Born on July 23, 1965, in London, England, Slash spent his early years surrounded by the artistic influence of his parents who worked with rock royalty including David Bowie and Joni Mitchell. However, it was a move to Los Angeles, California during his adolescent years that would set the stage for his eventual success in the music industry. Slash's rise to fame began as the lead guitarist of the American hard rock band "Guns N' Roses" which he joined in 1985. The band's debut album, Appetite for Destruction, released in 1987, propelled them to international stardom, largely credited to Slash's innovative guitar work. His contribution to the band's unique sound was instrumental in their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012. However, tensions within the band led to Slash's departure in 1996, marking the end of an era but not his musical journey. Post Guns N' Roses, Slash continued to demonstrate his musical prowess through a series of collaborative projects and solo endeavors. He co-founded the supergroup Velvet Revolver in 2002, which earned a Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance with their single "Slither". In addition, Slash has released several solo albums, showcasing his versatility across different genres and his ability to collaborate with a wide range of artists. Despite the many changes in his career, one thing has remained constant - Slash's commitment to his craft and his iconic status in the world of rock 'n' roll. His signature top hat, curly hair, and Les Paul guitar have become synonymous with his name, making him one of the most recognizable and influential guitarists in rock history.
- Birthplace: England, London, Hampstead
- Guitars Played: Gibson Les Paul
The Best Slash Guitar Solos Of All TimeSee all- 1Sweet Child o' Mine82 Votes
- 2November Rain84 Votes
- 3Paradise City57 Votes
- Stephen Richard Hackett (born 12 February 1950) is an English musician, songwriter, singer, and producer who gained prominence as the lead guitarist of the progressive rock band Genesis from 1971 to 1977. Hackett contributed to six Genesis studio albums, three live albums, seven singles and one EP before he left to pursue a solo career. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. Hackett released his first solo album, Voyage of the Acolyte, while still a member of Genesis in 1975. After a series of further solo albums beginning in 1978, Hackett co-founded the supergroup GTR with Steve Howe in 1986. The group released the self-titled album GTR, which peaked at No. 11 on the Billboard 200 in the United States and spawned the Top 20 single "When the Heart Rules the Mind". When Hackett left GTR in 1987, the group disbanded. Hackett then resumed his solo career. He has released albums and toured worldwide on a regular basis since. Hackett's body of work encompasses many styles; in addition to his work in progressive rock, he has explored pop, blues, world music and classical music on his solo recordings. According to Guitar World: "Hackett's early explorations of two-handed tapping and sweep picking were far ahead of their time, and influenced Eddie Van Halen and Brian May." Other guitarists influenced by Hackett include Alex Lifeson and Steve Rothery.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Born on August 25, 1954, in London, England, Elvis Costello, born Declan Patrick MacManus, showed an early interest in music, largely due to the influence of his father, Ross MacManus, a renowned jazz musician. Costello's unconventional blend of rock and punk with underlying hints of pop set him apart in the musical landscape, catalysing his rise to prominence. Costello's breakthrough came in 1977 with the release of My Aim is True, which was hailed due to its thought-provoking lyrics laced with anger and disillusionment. This album triggered the first of many waves of success, leading to an enduring relationship with the band, The Attractions. Together, they produced hits like "Pump it Up" and "Oliver's Army," further solidifying Costello's standing in the industry. His ability to seamlessly weave between genres - from country to classical - underscored his versatility as an artist. Despite the commercial success, Costello never allowed himself to be boxed into a single genre. Instead, he continuously evolved his sound, embracing jazz, classical, and even electronic music. This adaptability has resulted in numerous accolades, including induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003 and multiple Grammy Awards. Although he's known foremost as a musician, Costello's talent extends to other arenas as well; he's an accomplished record producer and television host, proving that his creative prowess knows no bounds.
- Birthplace: Paddington, London, England, UK
The Best Elvis Costello Albums of All TimeSee all- 1This Year's Model167 Votes
- 2My Aim Is True149 Votes
- 3Armed Forces170 Votes
- Alex Westaway is the lead vocalist of Gunship and co-vocalist and guitarist of the rock band Fightstar alongside Charlie Simpson, Omar Abidi and Dan Haigh.
- Birthplace: Northampton, United Kingdom
- Rod Stewart, born Roderick David Stewart on January 10, 1945, in London, England, is an iconic figure in the music industry. He started his career as a singer with multiple bands, including The Jeff Beck Group and Faces, before embarking on a successful solo journey. Stewart's distinctive raspy voice coupled with his unique blend of rock and pop has made him one of the best-selling music artists globally, with over 120 million records sold. Stewart's career, spanning more than five decades, has been marked by numerous hits and accolades. His breakout single, "Maggie May," from his album Every Picture Tells a Story, topped UK and US charts in 1971, propelling him to international stardom. Over the years, he has produced chart-topping singles such as "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and "Some Guys Have All the Luck." His contribution to music has not gone unnoticed. Among his many awards are two inductions into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, once as a solo artist and once as a member of Faces, and a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album for Stardust...The Great American Songbook Volume III. Besides his musical achievements, Stewart's personal life has also attracted significant attention. Known for his distinctive fashion sense, he became a style icon during the 1970s and 1980s, with his spiky rooster hairstyle and flamboyant stage outfits. Despite his bustling career, Stewart has managed to maintain a vibrant family life. He has been married three times and is a father to eight children. His love for football is also well-documented; he is a lifelong supporter of Celtic Football Club. Rod Stewart's enduring legacy in music and his charismatic persona continue to fascinate fans worldwide.
- Birthplace: Highgate, England, London
The Best Rod Stewart Albums of All TimeSee all- 1Every Picture Tells a Story261 Votes
- 2Never a Dull Moment196 Votes
- 3Gasoline Alley183 Votes
- Phil Collins, born on January 30, 1951 in Chiswick, London, built a career spanning multiple decades and diverse roles, as a drummer, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and actor. His musical journey began at a young age when he received a toy drum kit, sparking an enduring passion for music that would guide his life. Collins gained prominence as the drummer and later lead vocalist of the rock band Genesis. The band's innovative sound and experimental approach to music resonated with audiences worldwide, catapulting them to international fame. However, Collins' talents extended beyond the confines of the band. He embarked on a solo career in the 1980s, releasing numerous chart-topping hits such as "In the Air Tonight" and "Against All Odds". His unique blend of pop, rock, and soul, coupled with his emotive lyrics and distinctive voice, resonated with a broad audience, leading to substantial commercial success. Beyond music, Phil Collins delved into acting, appearing in various films and television series throughout his career. His most notable acting role was perhaps in the 1988 feature film Buster, where he played the titular character. Despite the demands of his multifaceted career, Collins also showed a strong commitment to charitable endeavors, lending his time and resources to causes close to his heart. His extensive contributions to music and philanthropy have earned him numerous accolades, including seven Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and two Golden Globe Awards.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Robin Leonard Trower (born 9 March 1945) is an English rock guitarist and vocalist who achieved success with Procol Harum during the 1960s, and then again as the bandleader of his own power trio known as Robin Trower.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- Matthew James Bellamy (born 9 June 1978) is an English singer, musician, and songwriter. He is best known as the lead singer, guitarist, pianist, and primary songwriter of the rock band Muse. He is recognised for his eccentric stage persona, wide tenor vocal range, and abilities on the piano and guitar.Bellamy is known for his usage of vibrato, falsetto, and melismatic phrasing, influenced by Jeff Buckley. As a guitarist, Bellamy often uses the arpeggiator and pitch-shift effects to create a more "electronic" sound, citing Jimi Hendrix and Tom Morello as influences. His guitar playing is also influenced by Latin and Spanish guitar music. His lyrics often incorporate political and dystopian themes. Muse have won numerous awards, including two Grammy Awards, winning the Grammys for Best Rock Album for The Resistance and Drones, two Brit Awards, winning Best British Live Act twice, five MTV Europe Music Awards and eight NME Awards. They have sold over 20 million albums worldwide. In 2012 the band received the Ivor Novello Award for International Achievement from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors.
- Birthplace: Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Clifford Williams (born 14 December 1949) is an English musician who has been a member of the Australian hard rock band AC/DC as their bassist and backing vocalist since 1977 except for a brief retirement from 2016 to 2018. He had started his professional music career in 1967 and was previously in the British groups Home and Bandit. His first studio album with AC/DC was Powerage in 1978. The band, including Williams, was inducted into the American Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2003. Williams' side projects, while a member of AC/DC, include benefit concerts and playing with Emir & Frozen Camels on their album San (2002) and a European tour. In 2016, Williams announced his retirement from the music industry after AC/DC's Rock or Bust World Tour but later rejoined the band and came out of retirement in 2018.
- Birthplace: Romford, England, London
- Born in Surrey, England in 1943, Roger Waters is an iconic figure in the world of music. Known predominantly as the co-founder, bassist, and principal songwriter of the phenomenally successful rock band Pink Floyd, his influence has reached far beyond the confines of the band. Waters's work is characterized by its daring innovation, complex thematic content, and immense emotional depth. His father's death during World War II and his own formative years spent in the shadow of post-war Britain deeply affected him, providing a wellspring of inspiration for much of his artistic output. Waters's association with Pink Floyd began in his late teens when he formed the band with school friends Syd Barrett, Nick Mason, and Richard Wright. With their distinctive blend of psychedelic and progressive rock, they quickly developed a unique and influential sound. However, it was under Waters's creative direction in the mid-70s that the band released some of its most acclaimed work, including the concept albums The Dark Side of The Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, and The Wall. These records, characterised by their exploration of themes like war, madness, and estrangement, have achieved enduring popularity and critical acclaim. Despite leaving Pink Floyd in 1985, Waters continued to carve out a significant career as a solo artist. His solo works, such as The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, Radio K.A.O.S, and Amused to Death, mirror the thematic complexity and musical ambition of his work with Pink Floyd. His live performances are distinguished by their visual spectacle and theatricality, with tours like The Wall Live being among the highest-grossing of all time. Despite numerous personal and professional upheavals, Waters's standing as a leading figure in contemporary music remains unchallenged. His contributions to the music industry have forever influenced the landscape of rock and roll.
- Birthplace: Cambridge, England, UK
- David Michael "Dave" Murray (born 23 December 1956) is an English guitarist and songwriter. He was one of the earliest members of the British heavy metal band Iron Maiden and, along with the group's founder, bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris, has appeared on all of the band's releases. Growing up in various areas of London, Murray became a member of a skinhead gang before he took an interest in rock music at 15 and formed his own band, Stone Free, with childhood friend Adrian Smith. After leaving school at 15, he regularly answered advertisements which appeared in Melody Maker before auditioning for Iron Maiden in 1976. A short while later, Murray was sacked following an argument with the group's lead vocalist, Dennis Wilcock, and spent six months in Smith's band, Urchin. In the spring of 1978, following Wilcock's departure, Murray was asked to rejoin Iron Maiden, in which he has remained to this day.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- Hank Brian Marvin (born Brian Robson Rankin, 28 October 1941) is an English multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and songwriter. He is best known as the lead guitarist for the Shadows, a group which primarily performed instrumentals and was the backing band for Cliff Richard, and subsequently for Marvin, Welch & Farrar.
- Birthplace: Newcastle upon Tyne, England
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- Edward Clarke may refer to: Edward Clarke (MP for Hythe) (died 1628), English MP for Hythe, 1625 Edward Clarke (of Chipley) (16th–17th century), Member of Parliament for Taunton, Somerset, England Edward Clarke (Lord Mayor of London) (died 1703) Edward Clarke (MP for Norwich) (died 1723), English politician, MP for Norwich, 1701–1702 Edward Clarke (1650–1710), English politician, MP for Taunton, 1690–1710 Edward Clarke (author) (1730–1786), English cleric Edward Daniel Clarke (1769–1822), English naturalist, mineralogist and traveller Edward Clarke (1770–1826), British politician, MP for Wootton Bassett, 1796–1802 Edward Frederick Clarke (1850–1905), Canadian journalist and politician Edward Clarke (footballer) (1871–?), English footballer Edward Clarke (aviator) (1898–1966), World War I flying ace Edward Hammond Clarke (1820–1877), American physician and author of Sex in Education; or, A Fair Chance for the Girls Sir Edward Clarke (barrister) (1841–1931), British lawyer and politician, Solicitor-General for England and Wales, 1886–1892 Edward Bramwell Clarke (1874–1934), educator in Meiji period Japan Edward Clarke (pentathlete) (1888–1982), British modern pentathlete Edward Marmaduke Clarke (fl. 1830–1850), Irish scientific instrument maker Edward Young Clarke (1877–?), Imperial Wizard pro tempore of the Ku Klux Klan Edward Clarke (Canadian politician) (born 1932) Edward H. Clarke (1939–2013), American economist, of Vickrey–Clarke–Groves auction "Fast" Eddie Clarke (1950–2018), British rock guitarist, known predominantly for his work with English heavy metal group Motörhead Eddie Clarke (footballer) (born 1998), English footballer
- Birthplace: Twickenham, London, England
- Guitars Played: Fender Stratocaster
- Michael Ronson (26 May 1946 – 29 April 1993) was an English guitarist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, arranger, and producer. He achieved critical and commercial success working with David Bowie as one of the Spiders from Mars. He was a session musician—who recorded with Bowie followed by several albums with Ian Hunter, also Morrissey—as well as a sideman in touring bands with Van Morrison and Bob Dylan.He also recorded several solo albums, the most popular being Slaughter on 10th Avenue, which reached No. 9 on the UK Albums Chart. Ronson played with various bands after his time with Bowie. He was named the 64th greatest guitarist of all time by Rolling Stone in 2003 and 41st in 2012 by the same magazine.
- Birthplace: Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK
- As one of the most influential figures in rock and roll history, Roger Daltrey, born on March 1, 1944, in Hammersmith, London, England, became a symbol of youthful rebellion and powerful musical expression. A founding member of The Who, Daltrey was instrumental in establishing the band's unique sound and style. His robust onstage persona and compelling vocal range, from guttural scream to tender ballads, propelled the band to international acclaim. Daltrey's early life was punctuated by his love for music. As a teenager, he formed The Detours with Pete Townshend and John Entwistle, which later evolved into The Who in 1964. Their influence has been vast, with their pioneering of the 'rock opera' format through albums like Tommy and Quadrophenia. Daltrey's performance of these complex narratives showcased his vocal versatility and solidified his status as a formidable frontman. Alongside his career with The Who, Daltrey also embarked on a successful solo career. His first solo album Daltrey released in 1973 was well-received, marking the start of a fruitful individual journey in the music industry. Outside of music, Daltrey also ventured into acting, appearing in films such as Tommy, Lisztomania, and McVicar. Daltrey, throughout his illustrious career, has been awarded numerous accolades including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award with The Who, an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and even a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to the music industry. Despite the ups and downs that naturally accompany such a lengthy career, Daltrey's dedication to his craft, his ability to reinvent himself, and his resilience have earned him a permanent place in the annals of rock and roll history.
- Birthplace: Hammersmith, London, England, UK
- Born as Steven Demetre Georgiou in July 1948, Cat Stevens is an internationally celebrated singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His journey into the world of music began during his teenage years in England when he started showcasing his talent at local cafes. This led to him being discovered in 1966, and subsequently signing a deal with Decca Records. Under this label, Stevens released his first album Matthew and Son, which charted within the top ten in the UK. Stevens's early success was followed by a series of health and personal challenges that temporarily halted his musical career, but also significantly shaped his artistic direction. After battling tuberculosis in 1969, he returned to the music scene with a fresh perspective and a more introspective sound. His comeback albums Tea for the Tillerman and Teaser and the Firecat are widely considered his best works, featuring timeless hits like "Wild World", "Father and Son", and "Morning has Broken". These albums established Stevens as a leading figure in the folk-rock genre. In 1977, following a near-death experience, Stevens converted to Islam, adopted the name Yusuf Islam, and took a prolonged hiatus from his musical career to focus on philanthropy and education. He returned to recording and performing in 2006, blending his folk-rock roots with Islamic themes and sounds. With a career spanning over five decades, Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf, has influenced countless artists.
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Jeff Lynne, an influential figure in the music industry, was born on December 30, 1947, in Birmingham, England. He is best known for his work as a songwriter, singer, and producer, particularly within the rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). Lynne's musical journey started when he formed a band called "The Rockin' Hellcats" at the age of 17. His prowess as a musician grew over the years leading him to co-found ELO in 1970. The band went on to achieve significant international success with hits like "Evil Woman", "Livin' Thing", and "Mr. Blue Sky". Lynne's talent extends beyond his efforts with ELO. In addition to his work with the band, he has made substantial contributions as a solo artist and a music producer. He released his debut solo album, Armchair Theatre, in 1990, which showcased his ability to blend different musical styles effectively. As a producer, he has worked with some of the premier names in the music industry. Notably, Lynne produced albums for George Harrison, Tom Petty, and Roy Orbison, and was a part of the supergroup Traveling Wilburys alongside these artists and Bob Dylan. Despite the commercial and critical success, Lynne remained a down-to-earth individual, always prioritizing music over fame. His dedication to his craft resulted in his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2017 with ELO, solidifying his place in music history. Lynne continues to inspire new generations of musicians with his unique approach to songwriting and production. His career serves as a testament to his musical genius and influence in shaping the landscape of rock and pop music.
- Birthplace: England
- Emerging from the 1970s London punk scene, Billy Idol, born as William Michael Albert Broad, has carved a niche for himself in the music world with his iconic sneer, spiked hair, and rebellious attitude. Initially gaining fame as a member of the punk band Generation X, Idol went on to establish himself as a solo artist, achieving extraordinary success in the 1980s with a series of chart-topping hits and platinum albums. His fusion of punk sensibilities with dance-friendly beats spawned a new genre known as "Punk 'n' Roll," which garnered him a massive worldwide fan base. Idol's musical journey took a definitive turn when he moved to New York City in the early 1980s. He transformed his raw punk persona into a more polished rock star image, complete with leather jackets, fingerless gloves, and an infectious swagger. His debut solo album, Billy Idol, released in 1982, was a commercial success, featuring the hit single "White Wedding." The follow-up album, Rebel Yell, further enshrined his status as a rock icon, with tracks like "Eyes Without a Face" and the title track "Rebel Yell." Despite a career hiatus in the 90s due to various personal issues, Idol's impact on music remains untouched. Over his career, he has released multiple successful albums, including Charmed Life, Cyberpunk, and Devil's Playground. His ability to reinvent himself and adapt to changing music trends underscores his status as one of the most enduring figures in rock 'n' roll. Equally notable is his foray into acting, with appearances in movies like The Wedding Singer and The Doors. Billy Idol's imprint on both the music and pop culture landscape is a testament to his lasting power as an entertainer.
- Birthplace: Stanmore, Middlesex, England, UK
- Dido, born as Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong on December 25, 1971, in London, England, is a renowned pop singer and songwriter who rose to global prominence in the late 1990s. Her introduction to music was deeply influenced by her brother, Rollo Armstrong, a member of the successful British band Faithless. Dido studied law at the University of London but left after two years to concentrate on her music career. Her strong passion for music led to her recording demos which subsequently caught the attention of her brother's manager, ultimately paving the way for her professional singing career. Dido's debut album, No Angel, released in 1999, became a worldwide sensation with its unique blend of electronic music layered with her soft vocals. The album was recognized as the top-selling album in the UK in 2001, catapulting Dido into the international spotlight. However, it was her single "Thank You" from the same album that truly marked her breakthrough. This song gained increased popularity after it was sampled in rapper Eminem's hit track "Stan." This juxtaposition of genres showcased Dido's versatility as an artist, and "Thank You" went on to become one of her most iconic songs. While Dido's music career continued to thrive with subsequent albums like Life for Rent and Safe Trip Home, she remained a private and low-key figure, avoiding the typical trappings of fame. Her dedication to her craft is evident in her numerous accolades, including several BRIT Awards and a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Despite her success, Dido has continuously proven that she is more than just a chart-topping artist. Her love for music and her ability to connect with audiences through her soulful lyrics and melodies have established her as one of the most respected figures in the music industry.
- Birthplace: England, Kensington, London
- Peter Frampton, a native of Beckenham, England, stands as an iconic figure in the landscape of rock and roll history. Born on April 22, 1950, this versatile musician began his journey with the guitar at the tender age of seven. His astonishing talent soon led him to join bands such as The Preachers, produced by Bill Wyman of Rolling Stones, and The Herd, which gained considerable success in the UK in the late 1960s. However, it was his role in Humble Pie and his subsequent solo career that catapulted him to international stardom. Frampton's time with Humble Pie in the early 1970s proved to be pivotal, honing his skills as both a performer and songwriter. Yet, his solo venture unveiled the breadth of his artistry. His album, Frampton Comes Alive! released in 1976, became a colossal hit, selling over six million copies in the U.S alone and topping the Billboard charts for weeks. This live double album showcased his exceptional guitar prowess and distinctive use of the talk box, revolutionizing the rock music scene. Despite tumultuous phases, including health challenges and a tragic car accident, Frampton's commitment to music remained unwavering. He continued to produce numerous albums, earning him several Grammy nominations. A testament to his enduring influence, he was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2014. Frampton's journey is a testament not only to his musical genius but also to his resilience.
- Birthplace: Beckenham, Kent, England, UK
- Roland Jaime Orzabal de la Quintana (born 22 August 1961) is an English musician. He is a co-founder, main songwriter and joint vocalist of Tears for Fears, and has also produced other artists.
- Birthplace: Havant, United Kingdom
- Martin Lee Gore (born 23 July 1961) is an English songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist, singer, record producer, remixer, and DJ. He is one of the founding members of the synth-pop band Depeche Mode and is its primary songwriter. Gore is the band's keyboardist and guitar player, contributes backing vocals, and occasionally provides lead vocals.In 1999, Gore received the Ivor Novello Award from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors for "International Achievement".
- Birthplace: Dagenham, England, London
- Tony Iommi is an actor who appeared in "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Black Sabbath: The End of the End," and "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus."
- Birthplace: Birmingham, England, UK
- Lita Ford, a world-renowned rock musician, carved her niche in the largely male-dominated music industry with her undeniable talent and unyielding determination. Born on September 19, 1958, in London, she shifted to Los Angeles with her family while still very young. Her love for music was not inherited but self-discovered, capturing her interest at the tender age of eleven. Ford's journey into stardom began when she became part of The Runaways, an all-female band, at the age of sixteen. The group gained international fame with their powerful performances and unique style. However, it was Ford's guitar-playing prowess that stood out, leading her to pursue a solo career post the band's breakup in 1979. Her distinctive style blended heavy metal with hard rock, creating memorable tunes like "Kiss Me Deadly" and "Close My Eyes Forever." These tracks not only topped charts but also cemented her status as a "Queen of Heavy Metal." Despite facing several personal and professional challenges, Ford remained committed to her passion. She took a hiatus from music in the early 1990s to focus on her family but made a powerful comeback in the late 2000s. Her autobiography, Living Like a Runaway, published in 2016, gives an insight into the highs and lows of her life, highlighting her resilience.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Ronnie Wood, born in 1947 in Hillingdon, England, is a multi-faceted artist whose creative prowess extends beyond music into visual arts. As one of the core members of the Rolling Stones, his influence on rock and roll is substantial. However, his journey into stardom began much earlier, with his first foray into music as a guitarist with the band The Birds during the mid-1960s. Following this, he joined the Jeff Beck Group and later the Faces, both of which played a significant role in shaping his musical style and persona. It was in 1975 when Wood's career took an exciting turn. He replaced Mick Taylor as a guitarist in the globally acclaimed band, the Rolling Stones. With his unique playing style and charismatic presence, Wood has made significant contributions to some of the Rolling Stones's most iconic tracks and performances. He co-wrote several songs and often shared lead vocals, proving himself as a key contributor to the band's success and longevity. Beyond his notable musical career, Wood is also recognized for his artistic talents in painting and drawing. He attended Ealing Art College prior to embarking on his musical journey, and has maintained this passion throughout his life. His artwork, typically portraying musicians, has been exhibited worldwide and adds another layer to his diverse artistic portfolio. Despite personal struggles, Ronnie Wood continues to be a defining figure in the world of rock and roll, while also demonstrating his versatility as a true multimedia artist.
- Birthplace: Hillingdon, Middlesex, England, UK
- Anthony Edwin Phillips (born 23 December 1951) is an English musician, songwriter, producer and singer who gained prominence as the original lead guitarist of the rock band Genesis, from 1967 to 1970. After Phillips recorded From Genesis to Revelation and Trespass with the band, he left in July 1970 and learned to play more instruments before he began a solo career. Phillips released his first solo album, The Geese & the Ghost, in 1977. He continues to release solo albums, including further solo albums, television and film music, collaborations with several artists, and compilation albums of his recordings.
- Birthplace: London Borough of Wandsworth, London, United Kingdom
- Steven John Wilson (born 3 November 1967) is an English musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer, most closely associated with the progressive rock genre. Currently a solo artist, he became known as the founder, lead guitarist, lead vocalist and songwriter of the band Porcupine Tree, as well as being a member of several other bands. Wilson is a self-taught composer, producer, audio engineer, guitar and keyboard player, and plays other instruments as needed, including bass guitar, autoharp, hammered dulcimer and flute. Despite being mainly associated with progressive rock, his influences and work have encompassed a diverse range of genres including psychedelia, pop, extreme metal, electronic and jazz, among others, shifting his musical direction through his albums. His concerts incorporate quadraphonic sound and elaborate visuals. He has also worked with artists such as Opeth, King Crimson, Pendulum, Jethro Tull, Andy Partridge, Yes, Marillion, Tears for Fears, Roxy Music and Anathema. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Wilson has made music prolifically and earned critical acclaim. His honours include four nominations for Grammy Awards, twice with Porcupine Tree, with his collaborative band Storm Corrosion and as a soloist on one occasion. In 2015, he received three awards at the Progressive Music Awards in London for his services to the genre, where he was crowned "the king of prog rock". Nevertheless, his work has largely stayed away from mainstream music, and he has been described by publications such as The Daily Telegraph as "the most successful British artist you've never heard of".
- Birthplace: Kingston upon Thames, England, London
- Sir Raymond Douglas Davies, ( DAY-viz; born 21 June 1944) is an English singer, songwriter and musician. He is the lead singer, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the Kinks, which he leads with his younger brother, Dave. He has also acted, directed and produced shows for theatre and television. He is often referred to as "the godfather of Britpop". After the dissolution of the Kinks in 1996, Davies embarked on a solo career.
- Birthplace: Fortis Green, London, England, UK
- Redmond Symons (born 13 June 1949) is an English-born Australian musician, and television and radio personality. He was the lead guitarist in the band Skyhooks, the snide judge of 'Red Faces' (a segment of the long-running variety show Hey Hey It's Saturday), and a judge on talent search show Australia's Got Talent. He hosted ABC Radio Melbourne's breakfast show from 2003 until 2017.
- Birthplace: Brighton, Melbourne, Australia
- Noel Gallagher, a name synonymous with British rock and roll, is best known as the principal songwriter, lead guitarist, and occasional vocalist of Oasis, one of the most iconic bands of the 1990s. Born on May 29, 1967, in Manchester, England, Gallagher's early life was marked by turbulence and hardship. Despite the hardscrabble start, he found solace in music, an interest he shared with his younger brother Liam, that would eventually lay the groundwork for their future success. His musical journey began in earnest when he joined the band "Rain" as a roadie in 1988. The band, later renamed "Oasis", saw Noel's knack for songwriting quickly catapulting them to the forefront of the Britpop movement. Oasis' debut album, Definitely Maybe, released in 1994, became the fastest-selling debut album in UK history at the time, a testament to Gallagher's songwriting prowess. Their follow-up album, (What's the Story) Morning Glory? further solidified their status as one of Britain's leading bands. Despite the meteoric rise to fame, internal discord, primarily between Noel and Liam, punctuated Oasis' career. This tension ultimately led to the band's dissolution in 2009. Post-Oasis, Gallagher continued his musical journey, forming the band "Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds". His influence on British rock and pop culture is undeniable, with songs like "Wonderwall" and "Don't Look Back in Anger" remaining timeless anthems. As both a member of Oasis and through his solo career, Gallagher has helped shape the soundscape of modern British music.
- Birthplace: Longsight, Manchester, England, UK
- Stephen James Howe (born 8 April 1947) is an English musician, songwriter and producer, best known as the guitarist in the rock band Yes across three stints since 1970. Born in Holloway, North London, Howe developed an interest in the guitar and began to learn the instrument himself at age 12. He embarked on a music career in 1964, first playing in several London-based blues, covers, and psychedelic rock bands for six years, including the Syndicats, Tomorrow, and Bodast. Upon joining Yes in 1970, Howe helped to change the band's musical direction, leading to more commercial and critical success. Many of their best-known songs were co-written by Howe, who remained with the band until they briefly disbanded in 1981. Howe returned to the group in 1990 for two years and has remained a full-time member since 1995. Howe achieved further success in the 1980s and beyond as a member of the rock bands Asia, GTR, and Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe. He also has a prolific solo career, releasing 20 solo albums that reached varied levels of success and collaborated with artists such as Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Martin Taylor, and Queen. He continues to perform with Yes, as a member of his jazz group, the Steve Howe Trio, and as a solo act. In April 2017, Howe was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Brian Jones, born as Lewis Brian Hopkin Jones on February 28, 1942, is best known as one of the founding members of the legendary rock band, the Rolling Stones. Born in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, his passion for music was evident from an early age. With a flair for mastering various instruments, Jones ventured into the world of blues and rock, which led him to cross paths with Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, marking the inception of what would become one of the most iconic rock bands in history. Jones's musical prowess played an instrumental role in shaping the Rolling Stones' initial sound. He was known for his versatility, proficiently playing several instruments including the guitar, harmonica, keyboards, and sitar. His unique style blended traditional rock with experimental sounds, contributing significantly to the diversity of the band's repertoire. However, by the late 1960s, personal issues and substance abuse began to affect his contributions to the band, leading to his departure in June 1969. In addition to his musical career, Jones was known for his complex personality and tumultuous personal life. Famed for his charismatic stage presence, he was simultaneously notorious for his volatile relationships and struggles with substance abuse. Despite these challenges, he remains a significant figure in rock history. Tragically, Jones's life was cut short at the age of 27 when he was found dead in his swimming pool, a case that sparked much speculation and controversy. His legacy continues to influence generations of musicians, underscoring his impact on the world of rock 'n' roll.
- Birthplace: England, Cheltenham
- Gavin Rossdale, born on October 30, 1965 in London, England, is a renowned British musician and actor. He rose to fame as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the rock band Bush, which was formed in 1992. The band's debut album, Sixteen Stone (1994), was a huge commercial success, certified 6x multi-platinum by the RIAA. Post-Bush, Rossdale embarked on a solo career and his first album, WANDERlust, was released in 2008. Rossdale's impact on the music industry extends beyond Bush and his solo work. He was also part of the band Institute, which he formed after Bush disbanded in 2002. The band released one album, Distort Yourself, before disbanding in 2005. Furthermore, he has collaborated with various artists, such as Blue Man Group and Apocalyptica, showcasing his versatility as an artist. His songwriting prowess is evident in Bush's hit songs like "Swallowed" and "The Chemicals Between Us," both of which reached number one on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. In addition to his musical endeavors, Rossdale has also made his mark in the acting world. He made his film debut in the movie Zoolander in 2001, playing himself. He went on to appear in a variety of roles in films and television series, including Constantine and Criminal Minds. Despite his multiple talents and interests, it is clear that Rossdale's primary passion has always been music.
- Birthplace: Kilburn, London, England, UK
- Graham Nash, born on February 2, 1942, is an internationally renowned musician and songwriter, hailing from Blackpool, England. His exceptional talent came to light as a co-founder of the iconic British pop group, The Hollies, which was formed in the early 1960s. The group enjoyed tremendous success, with Nash contributing heavily as a songwriter and vocalist. His tenure with The Hollies was marked by many chart-topping hits, including "Bus Stop" and "Carrie Anne", which solidified his status as a standout figure in the UK music scene. In 1968, Nash relocated to Los Angeles, California, where he formed Crosby, Stills & Nash (CSN) alongside David Crosby and Stephen Stills. This supergroup emerged as one of the defining acts of the era, known for their intricate vocal harmonies and politically charged lyrics. Nash's songwriting prowess was further demonstrated through classic CSN songs like "Teach Your Children" and "Our House". The group would later expand to include Neil Young, rebranding as Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young (CSNY), with whom Nash continued to attain both commercial and critical success. Beyond music, Graham Nash has made significant strides as a visual artist, photographer, and activist. His photographic works have been showcased in several major galleries worldwide, displaying his keen eye for capturing candid moments. As an activist, Nash uses his platform to advocate for various social and environmental causes. He remains a dedicated champion of peace and social justice, using his artistry to amplify his message. Despite his myriad accomplishments spanning several decades, Graham Nash continues to inspire with his enduring creativity and commitment to making a positive impact.
- Birthplace: Blackpool, England
- Marc Bolan, born as Mark Feld, was an English singer-songwriter who left his impact on the music world. Known for his expressive lyrics and distinctive style, he became a pivotal figure in the glam rock movement of the 1970s. His journey began in London, where he was born on September 30, 1947. His passion for music emerged early on, and by the time he was nine, he had already begun penning his own songs. Bolan started his career as a model before diving into music with the band, John's Children. However, it was with T. Rex, originally formed as Tyrannosaurus Rex, that Bolan achieved meteoric success. His unique blend of folk, rock and theatricality resulted in chart-topping hits including "Bang a Gong (Get It On)" and "Jeepster." T. Rex's album, Electric Warrior, has been cited as one of the defining works of the glam rock genre, thanks to Bolan's flamboyant stage presence and memorable songwriting. Tragically, Marc Bolan's life and career were cut short when he died in a car accident on September 16, 1977, just two weeks before his 30th birthday. Despite his untimely death, Bolan's influence on music remains substantial. His legacy continues to inspire countless artists, and his work still resonates with fans worldwide. Famed for his creativity, charisma and pioneering spirit, Marc Bolan will forever be remembered as a glittering star in the annals of rock 'n' roll.
- Birthplace: London Borough of Hackney, England, London
- Phil Manzanera (born Philip Geoffrey Targett-Adams, 31 January 1951) is an English musician and record producer. He was the lead guitarist with Roxy Music, 801, and Quiet Sun. In 2006 Manzanera co-produced David Gilmour's album On an Island and played in Gilmour's band for tours in Europe and North America. He wrote and presented a series of 14 one-hour radio programmes for station Planet Rock entitled The A-Z of Great Guitarists.
- Birthplace: England, London
- James or Jimmy Murphy may refer to:
- Birthplace: Portsmouth, United Kingdom
- John Charles Julian Lennon (born 8 April 1963) is an English musician and photographer, son of The Beatles member John Lennon and his first wife Cynthia. He was the direct inspiration for three Beatles' songs: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" (1967), "Hey Jude" (1968), and "Good Night" (1968). His parents divorced in 1968. He is half-brother to Sean Lennon. He has produced a number of albums starting with Valotte (1984), as well as a documentary film WhaleDreamers on an environmental theme. Lennon has also held exhibitions of his photography.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England
- Christopher Russell Edward Squire (4 March 1948 – 27 June 2015) was an English musician, singer and songwriter best known as the bassist and a founding member of the progressive rock band Yes. He was the longest-serving original member, having remained in the band until his death and appearing on every studio album released from 1969 to 2014. Born in Kingsbury, London, Squire took an early interest in church music and sang in the local church and school choirs. After he took up the bass guitar at age sixteen, his earliest gigs were in 1964 for the Selfs, which later evolved into the Syn. In 1968, Squire formed Yes with singer Jon Anderson; he would remain the band's sole bassist for the next 47 years. Squire was widely regarded as the dominant bassist among the English progressive rock bands, influencing peers and later generations of bassists with his incisive sound and elaborately contoured, melodic bass lines. His name was associated with his trademark instrument, the Rickenbacker 4001. In May 2015, Squire announced a hiatus from Yes after he was diagnosed with acute erythroid leukemia, and subsequently died on 27 June at his home in Phoenix, Arizona. The band's first show of their tour with Toto on 7 August 2015 marked the first Yes concert ever performed without Squire, with longtime friend and frequent collaborator Billy Sherwood performing in his place. From 1991 to 2000, Rickenbacker produced a limited edition signature model bass in his name, the 4001CS. Squire released two solo albums, Fish Out of Water (1975) and Chris Squire's Swiss Choir (2007), a Christmas album. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Yes in 2017.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Eric Victor Burdon (born 11 May 1941) is an English singer-songwriter and actor. He was previously the vocalist of rock band the Animals and funk band War. He is regarded as one of the British Invasion's most distinctive singers with his deep, powerful blues-rock voice. He is also known for his aggressive stage performances.In 2008, he was ranked 57th in Rolling Stone's list The 100 Greatest Singers of All Time.
- Birthplace: England
- A talented singer-songwriter whose personal demons eclipsed his art, Pete Doherty broke out alongside his friend Carl Barât with The Libertines. Powered by Doherty's potent songwriting, the band dazzled critics and fans with songs like "Up the Bracket," "Time for Heroes" and "Can't Stand Me Now." While stepping out on his own to collaborate on hits like "For Lovers" with Wolfman and "Prangin' Out" with The Streets, Doherty's drug use and erratic behavior derailed The Libertines and he rebounded with a new group, Babyshambles. While dating and musically collaborating with supermodel Kate Moss, Doherty achieved major label success and critical praise with his band, charting the hit "F*** Forever." After splitting with Moss and a brief engagement to model Irina Lazareanu, Doherty went solo with the masterful Grace/Wastelands. Despite his musical gifts and acclaimed output, Doherty was best known worldwide for his frequent stints in prison, failed attempts at rehab, and seemingly death's-door photos of him strung out on heroin, crack and cocaine. When fellow troubled soul and addict Amy Winehouse died in 2011, many worried he might be next. Although critics noted exceptional beauty and talent in the music, writings and art he created, Pete Doherty struggled to ensure that his ultimate legacy would reflect his body of work and not just his painful-to-watch battles with substance abuse and jail time.
- Birthplace: Hexham, Northumberland, England, UK
- Vernon Alphonsus Reid (born 22 August 1958) is a British-born American guitarist and songwriter. Reid was the founder and primary songwriter of the rock band Living Colour, Reid was named No. 66 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2004 list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.Critic Steve Huey writes, "[Reid's] rampant eclecticism encompasses everything from heavy metal and punk to funk, R&B and avant-garde jazz, and his anarchic, lightning-fast solos have become something of a hallmark as well."
- Birthplace: England, London
- Chris Martin, born Christopher Anthony John Martin on March 2, 1977, in Exeter, Devon, England, is a globally recognized artist known for his exceptional talent as a singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He gained international fame as the lead vocalist, keyboardist, rhythm guitarist, and one of the founding members of the rock band Coldplay, which was formed in 1996. The band's debut album, Parachutes, released in 2000, quickly shot up the charts, establishing Martin and his bandmates as major forces in the music industry. Martin's musical career has been marked by multiple accolades and widespread recognition. With Coldplay, he has won several awards, including multiple Grammy Awards from dozens of nominations. The band's third album, X&Y, was particularly well-received and became the best-selling album worldwide in 2005. Martin's lyrical genius combined with his distinctive falsetto voice and piano-playing skills have contributed significantly to the band's unique sound and success. Beyond his musical achievements, Martin has also been proactive in various philanthropic activities. He is known for his work in campaigns such as Make Trade Fair and Band Aid 20. Moreover, he has supported causes like Amnesty International and Teenage Cancer Trust.
- Birthplace: Exeter, Devon, England, UK
- Adrian Kelvin Borland (6 December 1957 – 26 April 1999) was an English singer, songwriter, guitarist and record producer, best known as the frontman of post-punk band The Sound. Following a substantial musical career spanning numerous groups, as well as a solo career, he succumbed to symptoms of what is known as schizoaffective disorder, and committed suicide by jumping in front of a train on 26 April 1999.
- Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
- Johnny Marr was a revolutionary guitarist who left an immense legacy during his time with The Smiths, and went on to become a prolific session musician and successful solo artist. While with The Smiths, Marr revolutionized and renewed the potential for the guitar in pop music in the 1980s. His innovative guitar playing led the way for a full-scale revival in British guitar groups. As a professional gun-for-hire, he spent every year of his post-Smiths career playing with bands, elevating each group he joined and contributing to their breakout success. He toured and recorded with Pretenders in 1987, followed by The The from 1988 through 1994, recording two albums with the group. He simultaneously formed Electronic with New Order's Bernard Sumner, performing and recording intermittingly from 1989 and 1998, followed by stints with Modest Mouse (2005-08) and The Cribs (2008- ), before finally releasing his first solo album, The Messenger (2013).
- Birthplace: Ardwick, England
- Gregory Stuart Lake (10 November 1947 – 7 December 2016) was an English singer, songwriter, bassist, guitarist and record producer. He gained prominence as a founding member of the progressive rock bands King Crimson and Emerson, Lake & Palmer (ELP). Born and raised in Dorset, Lake began to play the guitar at the age of 12 and wrote his first song, "Lucky Man", at the same age. He became a full-time musician at 17, playing in several rock bands until fellow Dorset guitarist Robert Fripp invited him to join King Crimson as their singer and bassist. They found commercial success with their influential debut album, In the Court of the Crimson King (1969). Lake left the band in 1970 and achieved significant success in the 1970s and beyond as the singer, guitarist, bassist, and producer of ELP. As a member of ELP, Lake wrote and recorded several popular songs including "Lucky Man" and "From the Beginning". Both songs entered the UK and US singles charts. Lake launched a solo career, beginning with his 1975 single "I Believe in Father Christmas" which reached number two in the UK. He went on to release two solo albums thereafter, as well as collaborating with other artists. Lake performed with various groups in the 1980s, and occasional ELP reunions in the 1990s, and toured regularly as a solo artist into the 21st century. He died on 7 December 2016 in London, of cancer, at the age of 69.
- Birthplace: England, Poole
- John McLaughlin (born 4 January 1942), also known as Mahavishnu John McLaughlin, is an English guitarist, bandleader and composer. His music includes many genres of jazz, combined with elements of rock, Indian classical music, Western classical music, flamenco, and blues. He is one of the pioneering figures in fusion. After contributing to several key British groups of the early 1960s, McLaughlin made Extrapolation, his first album as a bandleader, in 1969. He then moved to the U.S., where he played with Tony Williams's group Lifetime and then with Miles Davis on his electric jazz-fusion albums In a Silent Way, Bitches Brew, Jack Johnson, and On the Corner. His 1970s electric band, the Mahavishnu Orchestra, performed a technically virtuosic and complex style of music that fused electric jazz and rock with Indian influences. McLaughlin's solo on "Miles Beyond" from his album Live at Ronnie Scott's won the 2018 Grammy Award for the Best Improvised Jazz Solo. He has been awarded multiple "Guitarist of the Year" and "Best Jazz Guitarist" awards from magazines such as DownBeat and Guitar Player based on reader polls. In 2003, he was ranked 49th in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time". In 2009, DownBeat included McLaughlin in its unranked list of "75 Great Guitarists", in the "Modern Jazz Maestros" category. In 2012, Guitar World magazine ranked him 63rd on its top 100 list. In 2010, Jeff Beck called McLaughlin "the best guitarist alive," and Pat Metheny has also described him as the world's greatest guitarist.
- Birthplace: Doncaster, England
- Robert Smith is best known as the frontman of the influential rock band, The Cure. His iconic appearance, replete with smeared red lipstick, black eyeliner, and disheveled hair, has become emblematic of the post-punk era, and his musical contributions have cemented him as a major figure in alternative music. Born on April 21, 1959, in Blackpool, England, Smith's musical journey began at an early age. His brother Richard introduced him to the guitar when he was just six, sparking a passion that would guide the course of his life. Initially, Smith didn't intend to be a musician; he was more focused on his studies. However, in 1976, together with school friends Michael Dempsey, Laurence Tolhurst, and Porl Thompson, he formed The Easy Cure, which would later become The Cure. The band quickly gained traction, with their debut album Three Imaginary Boys receiving critical acclaim. Smith's poignant lyrics and distinctive voice became the band's signature, creating an immersive soundscape resonating with fans worldwide. Over the years, The Cure has released several albums, with noteworthy ones like Disintegration and Wish, solidifying their status as one of the most iconic bands of the 20th century. Despite numerous lineup changes, Smith remained the consistent face and creative force behind the band's enduring success. His contributions to music have been widely recognized, earning him and the band a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Beyond The Cure, Smith has also worked with other notable artists, including Siouxsie and the Banshees and Billy Corgan, further demonstrating his versatility and influence in the music industry.
- Birthplace: Blackpool, England
- Michael John Cloete Crawford Rutherford (born 2 October 1950) is an English guitarist, songwriter, and singer who co-founded the rock band Genesis in 1967. He is one of the group's two continuous members along with keyboardist Tony Banks.Initially serving as Genesis's bass guitarist and backing vocalist, Rutherford also performed most of the band's rhythm guitar parts—frequently on twelve-string guitar—in collaboration with successive Genesis lead guitarists Anthony Phillips and Steve Hackett. Following Hackett's departure from Genesis in 1977, Rutherford assumed the additional role of lead guitarist on the band's studio albums (beginning with ...And Then There Were Three... in 1978). Rutherford was one of the main Genesis songwriters throughout their career and wrote the lyrics for some of the band's biggest international hits, such as "Follow You Follow Me", "Turn It On Again", "Land of Confusion" and "Throwing It All Away". He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Genesis in 2010. In addition to his work with Genesis, Rutherford released two solo albums in the early 1980s. In 1985, he formed the highly-successful band Mike and the Mechanics, which became a chart-topping act and significant live draw in its own right, and earned Rutherford an Ivor Novello Award for the 1988 single "The Living Years".
- Birthplace: Guildford, England
- In the late '70s and early '80s, Ian Dury became an unlikely hero of the British new wave scene. Born on May 12, 1942 in Middlesex, England, Dury suffered from polio as a child, spending a year and a half in a hospital and emerging with a crippled arm and leg. In the mid '60s he attended the Royal College of Art, becoming a painter and art teacher. In the early '70s, Dury founded the band Kilburn & The High Roads, a pub-rock band that helped pave the way for punk but also had a quirky, bookish side influenced as much by jazz and Steely Dan as rock 'n' roll. After two albums, they split in 1975. Ian Dury & The Blockheads formed in 1977, bearing a sound that picked up where Kilburn & The High Roads left off, but adopting more of a new wave edge and highlighting both Dury's Cockney tale-spinning and his onstage antics. The 1977 album New Boots and Panties was an Ian Dury & The Blockheads album in all but name, and it became a No. 5 hit in England. In 1978, the danceable non-LP single "Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick" became a No. 1 hit for the band in the U.K. The follow-up, 1979's Do It Yourself, was the first official album with The Blockheads, and it went all the way to No. 2. Crucial contributions from keyboardist Chas Jankel, bassist Norman Watt-Roy, and saxophonist Davey Payne helped the band achieve its idiosyncratic signature sound, but Jankel was gone by the time Laughter came out in 1980. By this time, Dury's alcohol and drug problems were creating conflict in the band, and he soon cut The Blockheads loose, releasing the solo album Lord Upminster in 1981, with help from the returning Jankel. Over the next decade, Dury released three more solo albums, but he reunited with the original Blockheads for 1998's Mr. Love Pants. Dury was diagnosed with cancer in 1996 and died on March 27, 2000 in London. The Blockheads overdubbed some previously unreleased recordings for the posthumous 2002 album Ten More Turnips from the Tip. A Dury biopic, "Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll," was released in 2010 with Andy Serkis as Dury.
- Birthplace: Harrow, Middlesex, England, UK
- A working-class stiff from Newcastle, rough-hewn actor-singer-writer Jimmy Nail first came to prominence as one of the gang of bricklayers in the immensely popular British TV series "Auf Wiedersehen Pet" (1983-84) and, after appearing on American TV in the miniseries "Master of the Game" (CBS, 1984) and "Wallenberg: A Hero's Story" (NBC, 1985), reprised his role as Oz for a second "Auf Wiedersehen Pet" (1986) series. Nail co-created and starred as the melancholy detective "Spender" (BBC, 1991-93) before writing, co-executive producing and starring in "Crocodile Shoes" (BBC, 1994), playing a Newcastle factory worker and budding country singer-songwriter. Outstanding as Latin lover Augustin Magaldi, the tango singer who first introduces the young Eva Peron to Buenos Aires, in the film version of "Evita," he returned to the small screen for the sequel "Crocodile Shoes II" (1997). He also reteamed with the writers of "Auf Wiedersehen Pet" (Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais) for the feature "Still Crazy" (1998), about the reunion of a British rock band in which he played a singer now working as a roofer.
- Birthplace: Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK
- Syd Barrett, born Roger Keith Barrett on January 6, 1946, was an influential English singer, songwriter, and musician. He is best known as a founding member of the band Pink Floyd, which he formed with his college friends in London during the mid-1960s. An innovative and eccentric artist, Barrett was the leading creative force behind the band's early psychedelic sound, contributing memorable songs like "Arnold Layne," "See Emily Play," and much of their debut album, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Barrett's contributions to music were not limited to Pink Floyd. After leaving the band due to mental health issues exacerbated by drug use, he embarked on a solo career. While his tenure as a solo artist was short-lived, producing only two studio albums - The Madcap Laughs and Barrett, they left a lasting impact on the genre of psychedelia. Despite their commercial underperformance at the time of release, they have since gained cult status, being cited as influential by artists across genres. Unfortunately, Syd Barrett's promising musical career was marred by personal struggles. His deteriorating mental health, believed to be a result of heavy LSD use, forced him to withdraw from the public eye by the mid-1970s. For over three decades until his death in 2006, he lived a life of reclusion, away from the glitz and glamour associated with his Pink Floyd days.
- Birthplace: England, Cambridge
- Guitars Played: Fender Telecaster
- Rowland Kelechukwu "Kele" Okereke (born 13 October 1981), also known by the mononym Kele, is an English musician, best known as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist of the indie rock band Bloc Party.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Roy Harper may refer to: Roy Harper (comics), DC Comics character Roy Harper (singer) (born 1941), English musician Roy Harper (footballer) (born 1929), Australian footballer Roy Harper (referee) (died 1969), English football referee Roy Winfield Harper (1905–1994), American judge
- Birthplace: United Kingdom
- Ken Nelson (born 6 February 1959 in Liverpool) is an English record producer. After several years working on demos and independent artists, he achieved success with Gomez, and worldwide success with the first Coldplay recording. He has also worked with Badly Drawn Boy, Howling Bells, The Charlatans, Kings of Convenience, The Orange Lights, Ray LaMontagne, Snow Patrol, Paolo Nutini, and Deadbeat Darling. He has won three US Grammy awards, two Mercury Music Prizes, and was "Music Week" magazine's 'Producer of the Year' in 2003.The Canadian singer/songwriter Alana Levandoski began recording her second album with producer Ken Nelson in Kelwood, Manitoba, Canada- at a local church in February 2008. Final sessions for her album took place at Parr Street Studios in Liverpool, England in April and May 2008.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, United Kingdom
- Michael Geoffrey Jones (born 26 June 1955) is a British musician, singer and songwriter best known as the lead guitarist, co-lead vocalist, co-founder and songwriter for The Clash until 1983. In 1984, he formed Big Audio Dynamite with Don Letts. Jones has played with the group Carbon/Silicon along with Tony James since 2002 and has toured the world as part of the Gorillaz live band. In late 2011, Jones collaborated with Pete Wylie and members of the Farm to form the Justice Tonight Band.
- Birthplace: Clapham, London, England, UK
- Jeremy Webster "Fred" Frith (born 17 February 1949) is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer, and improvisor. Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. He was also a member of the groups Art Bears, Massacre, and Skeleton Crew. He has collaborated with a number of prominent musicians, including Robert Wyatt, Derek Bailey, the Residents, Lol Coxhill, John Zorn, Brian Eno, Mike Patton, Lars Hollmer, Bill Laswell, Iva Bittová, Jad Fair, Kramer, the ARTE Quartett, and Bob Ostertag. He has also composed several long works, including Traffic Continues (1996, performed 1998 by Frith and Ensemble Modern) and Freedom in Fragments (1993, performed 1999 by Rova Saxophone Quartet). Frith produces most of his own music, and has also produced many albums by other musicians, including Curlew, the Muffins, Etron Fou Leloublan, and Orthotonics. Frith is the subject of Nicolas Humbert and Werner Penzel's award-winning 1990 documentary Step Across the Border. He also appears in the Canadian documentary Act of God, which is about the metaphysical effects of being struck by lightning. Frith has contributed to a number of music publications, including New Musical Express and Trouser Press, and has conducted improvising workshops across the world. Frith's career spans over four decades and he appears on over 400 albums. He still performs actively throughout the world.Currently Frith is Professor of Composition in the Music Department at Mills College in Oakland, California. He lives in the United States with his wife, German photographer Heike Liss, and their children, Finn Liss (born 1991) and Lucia Liss (born 1994). Frith was awarded the 2008 Demetrio Stratos Prize for his career achievements in experimental music. The prize was established in 2005 in honour of experimental vocalist Demetrio Stratos, of the Italian group Area, who died in 1979. In 2010 Frith received an honorary doctorate from the University of Huddersfield in West Yorkshire, England in recognition of his contribution to music.Frith is the brother of Simon Frith, a music critic and sociologist, and Chris Frith, a psychologist at University College London.
- Birthplace: Heathfield, England
- Justine Elinor Frischmann (born 16 September 1969) is an English artist and musician. She is best known for being the lead singer of the Britpop band Elastica, before retiring from the music industry and pursuing a career as a painter.
- Birthplace: Kensington, London, United Kingdom
- Justin Karl Michael Broadrick (born 15 August 1969) is a British singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer. He is best known as a founding member of the band Godflesh, one of the first bands to combine elements of extreme metal and industrial music. He was briefly in the English grindcore band Napalm Death when he was a teenager in the mid-1980s, writing and recording guitar for Side One of Napalm Death's debut album, Scum. Broadrick has also maintained a parallel career as a producer, producing records and remixes for groups such as Pantera, Isis, Mogwai and Hydra Head labelmates Pelican. Since 2012, he has been releasing hard techno music under the solo moniker JK Flesh. Broadrick has set up record labels such as HeadDirt, Avalanche Recordings, Post Mortem Productions (briefly renamed Uprising Productions), Lo Fibre and Heartache.
- Birthplace: Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Carl Ashley Raphael Barât (; born 6 June 1978) is a British musician, best known for being the co-frontman with Pete Doherty of the garage rock band The Libertines. He was the frontman and lead guitarist of Dirty Pretty Things, and in 2010 debuted a solo album. In 2014 he announced the creation of his new band, The Jackals.
- Birthplace: England, Basingstoke
- Philip Kenneth Collen (born 8 December 1957) is an English musician. He is the lead guitarist for the rock band Def Leppard, joining the band in 1982 during the recording of the Pyromania album.
- Birthplace: Hackney Central, London, England, UK
- Guitars Played: Jackson Guitars
Bruce Clifford Gilbert (born 18 May 1946) is an English musician. One of the founding members of the influential and experimental art-punk band Wire, he branched out into electronic music, performance art, music production, and DJing during the band's extended periods of inactivity. He left Wire in 2004, and has since been focusing on solo work and collaborations with visual artists and fellow experimental musicians.- Birthplace: Watford, United Kingdom
- Allan Holdsworth, an English guitarist and composer, carved a deep groove in the world of music with his instrumental prowess and innovative techniques. Born on August 6, 1946, in Bradford, England, he ignited his love for music at a tender age, and by his early 20s, Holdsworth had already started making waves in the local jazz scene. Throughout the course of his career, he was associated with numerous bands and projects, including 'Igginbottom, Nucleus, Tempest, Soft Machine, The New Tony Williams Lifetime, Pierre Moerlen's Gong, Bruford, U.K., and his own band, the Allan Holdsworth Trio. Holdsworth was revered for his advanced knowledge of music theory, unique chord progressions, and intricate soloing technique. His style was marked by rapid scales and arpeggios, fluid legato phrasing, and vast stretches on the fretboard. This musical proficiency allowed him to create complex harmonies often described as closer to contemporary classical music than to popular music or jazz. It is no wonder that such a revolutionary musician inspired many guitarists across various genres, including Eddie Van Halen, Frank Zappa, and Joe Satriani. Despite his remarkable talent, commercial success eluded Holdsworth for much of his career. However, this did not deter his passion or creativity. He continued to refine his art, releasing twelve studio albums between 1982 and 2016, each demonstrating a progression in his musical style and technique. Holdsworth also had a keen interest in beer brewing, a hobby which led him to coin specific names for some of his albums. He passed away on April 15, 2017, but his legacy continues to influence countless musicians around the globe.
- Birthplace: Bradford, England
- Paul Francis Kossoff (14 September 1950 – 19 March 1976) was an English blues rock guitarist. He was most notably a member of the band Free. He was ranked 51st in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.
- Birthplace: England, London, Hampstead
- Peter Asher, CBE (born 22 June 1944) is a British guitarist, singer, manager and record producer. He came to prominence in the 1960s as a member of the pop music vocal duo Peter and Gordon before going on to a successful career as a manager and record producer. As of 2018, he tours alongside Jeremy Clyde of Chad and Jeremy in a new duo entitled Peter and Jeremy, where they perform hits from both of their respective catalogues.
- Birthplace: England, London
- James Blackshaw (born 1981) is an English, Hastings-based fingerstyle guitarist and pianist. Blackshaw primarily plays an acoustic 12 string guitar and has been compared to Bert Jansch, Robbie Basho, John Fahey, Jack Rose, and Leo Kottke. He has released albums on the labels Celebrate Psi Phenomenon, Barl Fire Recordings, Static Caravan, Digitalis Industries, Important Records, Tompkins Square, and Young God Records. In April 2016, he announced an indefinite hiatus from recording and performing music. His show in Hastings in August 2016 is his last one prior to hiatus.
- Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
- Albert William Lee (born 21 December 1943) is an English guitarist known for his fingerstyle and hybrid picking technique. Lee has worked, both in the studio and on tour, with many famous musicians from a wide range of genres. He has also maintained a solo career and is a noted composer and musical director.
- Birthplace: Leominster, England
- Gareth "Gaz" Michael Coombes (born 8 March 1976 in Oxford) is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known as the lead vocalist and guitarist of the English alternative rock band Supergrass. He first entered the music scene aged sixteen as the lead singer of the band The Jennifers which featured Supergrass bandmate Danny Goffey. Coombes was noticeable for his large sideburns during the 1990s.
- Birthplace: Oxford, United Kingdom
- Timothy John Gane (born 12 July 1964) is an English songwriter and guitarist who co-founded Stereolab with his former partner Lætitia Sadier.
- Birthplace: London, Barking, United Kingdom
- Peter Green (October 29, 1946 – July 25, 2020) was an English blues rock singer-songwriter and guitarist. He was a co-founder of Fleetwood Mac, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. Green's songs, such as "Albatross", "Black Magic Woman", "Oh Well", "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)" and "Man of the World", appeared on singles charts, and several have been adapted by a variety of musicians. Green was a major figure in the "second great epoch" of the British blues movement. Green passed away in his sleep July 25, 2020 in Essex, England.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Bernard Sumner (born 4 January 1956) is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. He is a founding member of both Joy Division and New Order and is widely credited with the latter band's move towards electronica and synthpop.Sumner has also been credited with advancing UK dance music and popularising the use of sequencers. In the early 1990s, he collaborated with former Smiths guitarist Johnny Marr as Electronic.
- Birthplace: Manchester, United Kingdom
- Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (born 22 April 1961) is a British guitarist best known as one of the founder members of seminal thrash/speed metal band Venom, with which he played as a guitarist from 1979 to 1985 and 1989 to 2002. In 1986 he left Venom to form the band Mantas which so far has recorded two full-length albums: Winds of Change in 1988, and Zero Tolerance in 2004. In 1992 he played guitars for Warfare, a NWOBHM band from the United Kingdom. In 2006, Mantas toured with German hardcore techno act Scooter in Germany as an additional member on guitar.As of 2007, Dunn was working with the band Dryll.In 2009, he guested on German metalcore band Last One Dying's debut album The Hour of Lead and released the Dryll EP Digital Surgery which was available at live shows only. In 2010, Jeff Dunn and former Venom members, Antony "Antton" Lant (drums; brother of Venom frontman Conrad "Cronos" Lant) and Tony "The Demolition Man" Dolan (bass, vocals) are back with their new band, initially called Primevil but now Mpire of Evil. Dunn played guitar on the track Hold On by Scott Michael Cavagan. In May 2018, Dunn underwent emergency heart surgery (double bypass) in Lisbon following a life threatening incident.
- Birthplace: Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
- Victor Harvey Briggs III (born 14 February 1945 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England) is a former blues and rock musician, best known as the lead guitarist with Eric Burdon and The Animals during the 1966-1968 period. Briggs, a convert to Sikhism, currently plays classical Indian and Hawaiian music.
- Birthplace: Twickenham, London, England
- William Richard Thorpe, AM (29 March 1946 – 28 February 2007) known as Billy Thorpe, was an English-born Australian pop / rock singer-songwriter, producer,and musician. As lead singer of his band Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs, he had success in the 1960s with "Blue Day", "Poison Ivy", "Over the Rainbow", "Sick and Tired", "Baby, Hold Me Close" and "Mashed Potato"; and in the 1970s with "Most People I Know Think That I'm Crazy". Featuring in concerts at Sunbury Pop Festivals and Myer Music Bowl in the early 1970s, the Aztecs also developed the pub rock scene and were one of the loudest groups in Australia.Thorpe also performed as a solo artist; he relocated to the United States from 1976 to 1996 where he released the space opera Children of the Sun, which peaked in the top 40 of the Billboard Pop Album chart in 1979. He worked with ex-Aztec Tony Barber to form a soft toy company in 1987 and co-wrote stories for The Puggle Tales and Tales from the Lost Forests. Thorpe also worked as a producer and composed music scores for TV series including War of the Worlds, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Columbo, Eight Is Enough and Hard Time on Planet Earth.Thorpe returned to Australia in 1996 and continued as a performer and producer, additionally he wrote two autobiographies, Sex and Thugs and Rock 'n' Roll (1996) and Most People I Know (Think That I'm Crazy) (1998). According to Australian rock music historian Ian McFarlane, "Thorpie evolved from child star, beat pop sensation and cuddly pop crooner to finally emerge as the country's wildest and heaviest blues rocker [...] Thorpie was the unassailable monarch of Australian rock music". Thorpe was inducted into the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) Hall of Fame in 1991. He died of a heart attack in February 2007 and was posthumously appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in June for his contribution to music as a musician, songwriter and producer.In 2009 as part of the Q150 celebrations, Billy Thorpe was announced as one of the Q150 Icons of Queensland for his role as "Influential Artists".
- Birthplace: England, Manchester
- Julian Alexander Bream, CBE (born 15 July 1933), is an English virtuoso classical guitarist and lutenist. One of the most distinguished classical guitarists of the 20th century, he played a significant role in improving the public perception of the classical guitar as a respectable instrument.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Justin David Hawkins (born 17 March 1975) is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known for being the lead singer and lead guitarist of the Darkness. Heavily influenced by classic rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s (particularly Queen, Aerosmith, Def Leppard and AC/DC), Hawkins is noted for his falsetto singing voice and on-stage persona. He was also the lead singer and guitarist for the band Hot Leg, formed in 2008, and now on hiatus. Since 2005 he has been active in his synthpop alter ego British Whale.
- Birthplace: England, Chertsey
- Stephen Philip Jones (born 3 September 1955) is an English rock guitarist, singer, actor and radio DJ, best known as a guitarist with the Sex Pistols. Following the split of the Sex Pistols, he formed The Professionals with former bandmate Paul Cook. He has also released two solo albums, and worked with the likes of Johnny Thunders, Iggy Pop, Bob Dylan and Thin Lizzy. In 1995, he formed the short lived supergroup Neurotic Outsiders with members of Guns N' Roses and Duran Duran. Jones was ranked in Rolling Stone's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
- Birthplace: England, London
- Andy Cox (born Andrew Cox, 25 January 1956) is a British guitarist born in Birmingham, who along with Dave Wakeling, founded The Beat in 1978.The Beat achieved eight Top 40 singles and three hit albums in the UK before announcing their break up in 1983. Some of their notable hits included "Mirror in the Bathroom", "Hands Off She's Mine" and "Can't Get Used to Losing You". In 1985 he joined fellow Beat member David Steele and singer Roland Gift, to form Fine Young Cannibals. In 1988, while Fine Young Cannibals were on hiatus, Cox and Steele released the instrumental house music single, "Tired of Getting Pushed Around", under the name of Two Men, A Drum Machine and A Trumpet. It reached #18 in the UK Singles Chart. That same year, they also collaborated with Wee Papa Girl Rappers debut single Heat It Up which reached #21.In 2002, Cox formed Cribabi with Japanese vocalist, Yukari Fujiu, and released the album Volume on his own Fidela record label.
- Birthplace: Birmingham, England
- Danny Jones (born 12 March 1986) is an English musician who is one of the lead vocalists and the lead guitarist for pop-rock band McFly. Jones' fellow band members are Tom Fletcher (rhythm guitarist and vocals), Dougie Poynter (bass and vocals), and Harry Judd (drums). Jones is married to former Miss England, Georgia Horsley.
- Birthplace: England, Bolton
- Charles Roger Pomfret Hodgson (born 21 March 1950) is an English musician, singer and songwriter, best known as the former co-frontman and founder member of progressive rock band Supertramp. Hodgson composed and sang the majority of the hits such as "Dreamer", "Give a Little Bit", "Breakfast in America", "Take the Long Way Home", "The Logical Song" and "It's Raining Again". Hodgson left Supertramp in 1983 and moved his family away from the Los Angeles music scene to live a simpler lifestyle close to nature and be home with his children as they were growing up. Hodgson returned to touring in 2001. He often writes about spiritual and philosophical topics, and his lyrics have been described as personal and meaningful.
- Birthplace: England, Portsmouth
Rod Clements
Age: 77Roderick Parry Clements (born 17 November 1947 in North Shields, Tyne and Wear) is a British guitarist, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. He formed the folk-rock band Lindisfarne with Alan Hull in 1970, and wrote "Meet Me on the Corner", a UK Top 5 hit in March 1972, which won Clements an Ivor Novello Award. Lindisfarne broke up in 1973 and Clements became a founding member of Jack the Lad, also working with Ralph McTell and Bert Jansch. Lindisfarne reformed in 1977 and Clements continued to be part of the line-up until 2003. Rod rejoined Lindisfarne in 2015 and is currently touring and performing with the band.- Birthplace: North Shields, United Kingdom
- Bill Gilonis (born 1958) is an English guitarist and composer. He co-founded the gritty experimental rock group The Work in 1980 with Tim Hodgkinson. The group was active intermittently until 1993, recording four albums and touring extensively, including in Russia, Japan Finland, Yugoslavia and Switzerland. Gilonis has also worked as a producer, sound engineer and/or musician with (among others): Robert Wyatt, News from Babel (Chris Cutler, Lindsay Cooper, Zeena Parkins, Dagmar Krause), David Thomas, Peter Blegvad, Ut, Lindsay Cooper Film Music Group, Hail and The Hat Shoes (with Catherine Jauniaux, Tom Cora, Charles Hayward, and others). Other projects include: writing and recording the music for Frida Béraud’s one-woman theatre piece, "Aus den Haaren gezogen"; a collaboration with Anja Burse on Wild Thing, an audio-visual installation piece; and a multi-media piece for the Val de Travers exhibition about Absinthe in Neuchatel, Switzerland (with Luigi Archetti, Jeroen Visser and Julien Baillod). He has been living in Zurich since 1993 where he has mixed and/or produced CDs by Swiss bands such as No Secrets in the Family, The Jellyfish Kiss and Lödig. His most recent recordings have been Zürich-Bamberg (Ad Hoc, 2008), a CD of electroacoustic compositions (together with Canadian composer Chantale Laplante), and Calvary Greetings by the Anglo-Dutch-American band Stepmother (with Lukas Simonis, Jeroen Visser and Dave Kerman) - "a reunion of an 80s band the never existed but should have". In 2009, together with Alex Julyan, he published Lost in Translation, on Lost & Found Publishing.
- Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
- Jonathan Mark Buckland (born 11 September 1977) is a Welsh musician and multi-instrumentalist. He is the lead guitarist and co-founder of the rock band Coldplay.
- Birthplace: London Borough of Islington, England, London
- Hugh Alan Cornwell (born 28 August 1949) is an English musician and singer-songwriter, best known for being the vocalist and guitarist for the punk rock/new wave band the Stranglers from 1974 to 1990.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Richard G. "Dik" (also "Dick") Evans (born 1957) is an English-born Irish musician best known as a founder of the band Virgin Prunes and an early member of U2. Dik and his brother, David "The Edge" Evans, U2's guitarist, were among the group's co-founders.
- Birthplace: Barking, London, United Kingdom
Stan Cullimore
Age: 62Ian Peter Cullimore (born 6 May 1962) is an English musician and journalist. He played guitar, between 1983 and 1988, for the Hull-based indie rock band The Housemartins.- Birthplace: Kingston upon Hull, United Kingdom
- David Wakeling (born 19 February 1956 in Birmingham, England) is an English ska musician, known for his work with the band the Beat (known in North America as the English Beat), and General Public.
- Birthplace: Birmingham, England
- Philip Catherine (born 27 October 1942) is a Belgian jazz guitarist.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Charles Nicholas Hodges (28 December 1943 – 22 September 2018) was an English musician and singer who was the lead vocalist of the musical duo Chas & Dave.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Daniel Jones (born 22 July 1973) is an Australian musician, songwriter, and record producer. He is best known for being a member of the successful Australian pop duo Savage Garden, whose international hit singles included the songs "I Want You", "To the Moon and Back", "Truly Madly Deeply", "I Knew I Loved You", and "Crash and Burn". After Savage Garden split in 2001, Jones launched his own production company (Meridien Musik) and a recording studio (Level 7 Studios), to work with various new, young Australian artists.
- Birthplace: Southend-on-Sea, England
- Christian Anthony Burns (born 18 January 1974) is an English singer and songwriter. He is the son of Tony Burns of The Signs, a Liverpool-based rock band signed to Decca Records in the 1960s.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England
- Nicholas George "Nick" Gilder (born 21 December 1951) is an English-Canadian musician who first came to prominence as the frontman for the glam rock band Sweeney Todd. He later had a successful solo career as a singer/songwriter.
- Birthplace: London, England
- Raymond Ronald Jones (born 25 April 1939, Thornton Heath, Croydon, Surrey), better-known as Wizz Jones, is an English acoustic guitarist, singer and songwriter. He has been performing since the late 1950s and recording from 1965 to the present. He has worked with many of the notable guitarists of the British folk revival, such as John Renbourn and Bert Jansch.
- Birthplace: Croydon, London, United Kingdom
- David Thomas Mason (born 10 May 1946) is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist from Worcester, who first found fame with the rock band Traffic. Over the course of his career, Mason has played and recorded with many notable pop and rock musicians, including Paul McCartney, George Harrison, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Michael Jackson, David Crosby, Graham Nash, Steve Winwood, Fleetwood Mac, Delaney & Bonnie, Leon Russell and Cass Elliot. One of Mason's best known songs is "Feelin' Alright", recorded by Traffic in 1968 and later by many other performers, including Joe Cocker, whose version of the song was a hit in 1969. For Traffic, he also wrote "Hole in My Shoe", a psychedelic pop song that became a hit in its own right. "We Just Disagree", Mason's 1977 solo US hit, written by Jim Krueger, has become a staple of US classic hits and adult contemporary radio playlists.In 2004, Mason was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a founding member of Traffic. Within the same year, Dave started a new electric guitars company with business partner and Industrial Designer Ravi Sawhney. RKS Guitars was showcased at the 2004 NAMM show in Anaheim, CA.
- Birthplace: Worcester, England
- Thomas Michael Fletcher (born 17 July 1985) is an English musician, singer, composer, author and YouTube vlogger. Among his accomplishments, he is one of the lead vocalists and the Rhythm guitarist of English pop rock band McFly, in addition to being the group's founder. He originally auditioned and was accepted into the band Busted before losing out on the place after the record label Island decided the band should be a trio rather than a four-piece. However, he still carried on writing with the band. In his thirteen-year career as a professional songwriter, Fletcher has penned ten UK number one singles and twenty-one top ten singles. He is credited as having written songs for bands including One Direction, Busted, the Vamps and 5 Seconds of Summer.
- Birthplace: England, London, Harrow, London
- Bryn Haworth (born 29 July 1948) is a British Christian singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pioneer of Jesus music in mainstream rock. Born in Blackburn, Lancashire, UK, he has released some twenty-two albums and several singles since the 1970s as well as guesting as guitarist on many other albums by rock and folk artists. He continues to tour in the UK, appearing mostly at smaller venues, Christian centres and at prisons. He has also appeared three times at the UK Greenbelt Festival. His chosen instruments include guitar (particularly slide or bottleneck guitar) and mandolin. He recorded sessions for the John Peel show on BBC Radio 1 in 1974, 1975 and 1976, and made two television appearances on BBC Two's The Old Grey Whistle Test. Also in the 1970s, Haworth appeared on the weekly ITV television show "Pop Gospel", presented by Berni Flint. Together with wife Sally, Haworth has engaged in extensive musical and evangelical work in prison settings. Haworth has his own website and is featured in the current Crossrythms artists catalogue.A sample of Haworth's music, together with a list of forthcoming concert dates, may be found on his MySpace Music page. A 2003 review of The Gap album concluded: "He's largely unknown, but those who follow virtuosos know about this guy".John Ingham, for Sounds music paper, wrote: ". . . if we are to have God-rock, then let it be Bryn Haworth; he thinks of the music foremost . . . you owe yourself a listen".
- Birthplace: Darwen, United Kingdom
- Christopher Colin Dean, OBE (born 27 July 1958 in Calverton, Nottinghamshire) is an English ice dancer who won a gold medal at the 1984 Winter Olympics with his skating partner Jayne Torvill. They also won a bronze medal at the 1994 Winter Olympics.
- Birthplace: England, Calverton
- Second only to Thom Yorke as Radiohead's major creative force, multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood constantly helped to guide the band towards new sonic territories while also pursuing a sideline composing classical scores for a string of big-screen epics. Born in Oxford in 1971, Greenwood first showcased his talents in indie-rock outfit Illiterate Hands with future The Unbelievable Truth members Andy Yorke and Nigel Powell before he joined the former's brother and his own sibling, Colin, as harmonica player in On A Friday, later taking over keyboard duties and eventually settling in the role of lead guitarist.
- Birthplace: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England, UK
Paul Arthurs
Age: 59Paul Benjamin Arthurs (born 23 June 1965) is an English musician and one of the founding members of the English rock band Oasis, best known as their rhythm guitar and occasional keyboard player from 1991–1999.- Birthplace: England
- Simon Geoffrey Fowler (born 25 May 1965 in Meriden, Warwickshire) is an English singer and acoustic guitarist, best known as the frontman of Ocean Colour Scene.
- Birthplace: Meriden, United Kingdom
Simon Jeffes
Dec. at 48 (1949-1997)Simon Harry Piers Jeffes (19 February 1949 – 11 December 1997) was an English classically trained guitarist, composer and arranger. He formed, and was the core performer of, the Penguin Cafe Orchestra. He was the composer of the ballet Still Life at the Penguin Cafe. He is also known for assisting Sex Pistols producer Bill Price with the string arrangement for the now-legendary Sid Vicious version of “My Way” which reached #7 on the UK singles charts as part of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle soundtrack. Jeffes was born at the Montalan Nursing Home, Crawley, Sussex, on 19 February 1949, the son of James Henry Elliston Jeffes, a research chemist, and his wife, Anne Hope Madeline, née Clutterbuck.Jeffes died of an inoperable brain tumour on 11 December 1997, leading to the breakup of the Penguin Cafe Orchestra.- Birthplace: Crawley, United Kingdom
- Stephen Patrick McNally (born 4 July 1978) is an English singer and songwriter, best known for his work with BBMak and 10 Reasons to Live.
- Birthplace: Liverpool, England
- William Stuart Adamson (11 April 1958 – 16 December 2001) was a Scottish guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. He was the co-founder, lead vocalist, and guitarist of rock group Big Country, which rose to prominence in 1983. Prior to that he founded Scottish art-punk band Skids. In the 1990s he founded alternative country rock act The Raphaels. He was once described by DJ John Peel as "the new Jimi Hendrix".
- Birthplace: Manchester, United Kingdom
- Liona Maria Carolynne Boyd, CM, O.Ont (born 11 July 1949, London), is a classical guitarist often referred to as the First Lady of the Guitar.
- Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
- David Russell Gordon Davies (born 3 February 1947) is an English singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is the lead guitarist, backing (and occasional lead) singer for the English rock band The Kinks, which also featured his older brother Sir Ray Davies. In 2003, Davies was ranked 91st in Rolling Stone Magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time".
- Birthplace: England, London
- Bernard Joseph Butler (born 1 May 1970) is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He is best known as the first guitarist with Suede, until his departure in 1994. He has been hailed by some critics as the greatest guitarist of his generation; BBC journalist Mark Savage called him "one of Britain's most original and influential guitarists". He was voted the 24th greatest guitarist of the last 30 years in a national 2010 BBC poll and is often seen performing with a 1961 cherry red Gibson ES-355 TD SV (Stereo Varitone) with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece.
- Birthplace: Stamford Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Marc Riley (born 10 July 1961 in Manchester) is an English radio DJ, alternative rock critic and musician. He currently presents on BBC Radio 6 Music. Formerly a member of the Fall, he had his own record label, In-Tape, and also worked as a record plugger for bands such as Massive Attack, Pixies, Cocteau Twins and Happy Mondays. Marc has worked in radio since about 1991 and for 14 years of that he worked with Mark Radcliffe on BBC Radio 5 and BBC Radio 1, during which time he was known as Lard. He joined 6 Music in April 2004.
- Birthplace: Manchester, United Kingdom
