[punknews.org] Link Wray (1929-2005)

 

November 22, 2005, 05:31 PM

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<img src="/images/interviews/linkwray-fp.jpg" width="120" height="155" style="float: left; border: 1px solid #000; margin-top: 0; margin-left: 0;"/>
Legendary and pioneering guitarist <a href="http://www.linkwraylegend.com/">Link Wray</a> passed away earlier this month from heart failure at the age of 76. The guitarist was renowned for his progressive and innovative styles and the ubiquotous "power chord" is attributed to him.
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Wray, lost a lung to tuberculosis while serving in the Korean War and as such concentrated on instrumental music. Among his innovations was to punch holes in his amplifier to create his trademark distorted sound. One of his most famous songs was "Rumble," an instrumental song that was considered so evocative and violent that it was banned from several radio stations despite having no actual lyrics. Another one of his tracks, "Rawhide" was equally influential and has been covered by a variety of artists from Guitar Wolf to Dead Kennedys to Senator John Kerry's college band.
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He was inducted into the <a href="http://www.rockabillyhall.com/LinkWray.html">Rockabilly Hall of Fame</a> and named as one of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolling_Stone%27s_List_of_the_ 100_Greatest_Guitarists_of_All _Time">100 Greatest Guitarists</a> by Rolling Stone.
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Our deepest condolences to his friends, families and fans.

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