The origins of jazz, the 4/4 timing of most pop music and most famously rock ‘n’ roll are from Congo Square in New Orleans where on Sundays many African Americans would gather to play music together. We owe them all a debt of gratitude for the tremendous art that followed in their footsteps. Robert Johnson famously sold his soul at the crossroads to play guitar the way he did, but he was one of many. There was a great northern migration up the Mississippi to Kansas City and Chicago by these musicians to escape the nightmare of the racist south, but the music spread far wider than that.

The British liked it so much that they perfected it before we had a chance to. The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen, Black Sabbath, and dare I say, Oasis. This isn’t an indictment on America, the music is for everyone, but they own the ‘classic rock’ era and it’s not even close. Maybe I was inconsiderate to not include U2, but I didn’t want to escalate tensions in the region, because they are up there too. Where would I be without my first musical memory on State St. being, ‘Where the Streets have No Name.’

The Beatles were something to everyone, because the songs were so damn likable. My perspective on them is skewed by that a bit, and, ‘I Wanna Hold Your Hand’ isn’t my bag. However, when they started doing psychedelics and ‘expanding’ their horizons, that’s when they got me. My favorite Beatles song is, ‘Taxman’ for the Harrison guitar solo, but ‘Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds’ has to be a close second. When I see things like Paul McCartney and Dave Grohl teaming up to make, ‘Band on the Run’ happen at The White House, I know my music isn’t dead.

‘Mick and the boys makin’ some noise.’ I heard this quip from an old timer at my college job, and upon consideration there isn’t a bigger understatement of their significance that I have ever heard. I wanted to tell him, ‘Gimme Shelter’ but I don’t think he would have gotten the reference. The Rolling Stones have now transcended centuries and are for me, the definition of Rock’n’Roll. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards have formed this unshakable core to their band and songwriting with many others swapping in and out. Make no mistake, The Rolling Stones are the greatest rock band of all time.

Every amateur guitarist almost inevitably starts by learning as much of, ‘Stairway to Heaven’ as they can. Jimmy Page is a genius, and it was as if he had a classic riff in every pocket of a pair of jeans with very deep pockets. Led Zeppelin is an institution in rock and will be forever. The talent level of every member of the band may never be matched again, even in so called, ‘super groups.’ ‘Over the Hills and Far Away’ is my favorite of their songs, but there are at least 15 more that you might change your road speed or volume due to the induced adrenaline.

I’ve seen it written that, ‘My Generation’ is the most covered song of all time and I’m not surprised. Released in 1965, it has had a few generations to resonate with. The Who, and by the way, what a great name. The Who were the loudest and ‘Won’t Get Fooled Again’ is classic anthem of protest that is sometimes mis-interpreted as a conservative statement. ‘YEAH!’ There just isn’t anything like that scream anymore. We used to play, ‘Baba O’Riley’ in our college band, so the memory will never leave me of replicating that Daltrey/Townsend magic.

This is not an anti-American post, merely a statement of fact that when it comes to Rock’n’Roll, we have to give it to the British. It’s like the Italians with food, or the French with dropping rifles, sometimes you just have to stand in amazement and not hate the greatest. The best thing that any of this gave me was the influence that made Oasis, and Noel Gallagher, so I could pick up a guitar and mess about myself. As he says, ‘We’re All Part of the Masterplan.’

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