Frank Zappa’s three favourite guitarists of all time
Known for his mercurial ake on making music, Frank Zappa was an extremely influential American musician, bandleader, singer, and composer. Considered to be one of the most innovative, stylistically diverse musicians of his generation, Zappa composed music within a variety of genres and produced over 60 albums. He had a career filled with accolades, hits, experimentation, and discovery.
Working with his band and as a solo artist, Frank Zappa had the opportunity to work with a variety of musicians and industry professionals, all of which have enriched his experience as a bandleader and composer, especially in the case of some of his favourites. The influential musician was as commanding in interviews as he was on stage. While the jazz-infused performer was known for his acerbic wit when speaking about other musicians, he was also happy to heap praise where he believed it to be due.
Whether his favourite guitarists are people he’s worked with or players he admires, he’s had some great things to say about quite a few guitarists. He’s praised Guitar Slim, Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown, Wes Montgomery, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Allan Holdsworth, Bryan May, and Billy Gibbons over the years.
Picking one’s favourite guitarist is a difficult task for most music lovers, but to pick a selection of contemporaries as such an esteemed guitarist as Zappa was, must have been an almost impossible situation. However, when it comes to his absolute favourites, he’s been quoted naming Jeff Beck, Johnny Watson, and Allan Holdsworth.
Allan Holdsworth may not have the cultural cache of performers such as Jimi Hendrix or Jimmy Page, but the guitarist’s influence on rock and roll is hard to ignore. Though primarily forged in the fires of jazz, his progressive rock sound mixed with an advanced theoretical approach to guitar playing would see him become widely regarded as “your favourite guitarist’s favourite guitarist”. About Holdsworth, Zappa once said, “Well, there’s one other guy whose work I know should be included in that list who I respect and that’s Allan Holdsworth,” when asked about his favourite players.
Rock and ro is full of influential yet comparatively invisible payers and that accolade can also be sadly atributed to Johnny Watson. Not as famed for his virtuosos style as his hip-swaying prowess on stage, the guitarist operated on another plane. His music and performances were centred on his showman energy, delivering a mixture of rock and roll, funk and soul, which inflamed the soul, moved your feet and sent hips shaking into the night.
When speaking of Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson, Zappa commented, “Well, my original favourite guitar player was Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson not from a technical standpoint but from a listening to what his notes meant in the context in which they were played, and also Guitar Slim who was the first guitar player I ever heard that had distortion — even during the 50s. In a strange way I think I probably derive more of my style from his approach to the guitar from the solos I heard then.”
As for his other favourite, Jeff Beck, he simply says, “One of my favourite guitar players on the planet. From a melodic standpoint and just in terms of the conception of what he plays. He’s fabulous. I like Jeff.” The late, great Beck may be regarded as one of rock and roll’s most innovative guitarists. However, his genre-defying dexterity set him apart from the crowd. Whether it was The Yardbirds, Johnny Depp or Stevie Wonder, Beck delivered a killer guitar line that would make your mouth water. Formed in the blues revival of the 1960s, Beck’s career would span decades and be rightly regarded as one of the most glittering around.
It’s always great to know what great artists think of their contemporaries, especially in the case of a man who often describes his fellow musicians in terms like, “I don’t know him,” or “I’ve never heard his playing,” and “he doesn’t do drugs,” which seem to be common descriptors he dishes out regarding his peers.
One might suppose that these comments are only fair, as he says himself, “I don’t listen to rock and roll.”