My original interests and intentions in guitar playing were primarily created on quality of tone, for instance, the way the instrument could be made to echo or simulate the human voice.
The first guitar I ever had was a gut-string Spanish guitar, and I couldn't really get the hang of it. I was only 13, and I talked my grandparents into buying it for me. I tried and tried and tried, but got nowhere with it.
But the guitar, when you think about it, is the most versatile, really. I mean you can pick it up and take it with you wherever you go.
I mean, the sound of an amplified guitar in a room full of people was so hypnotic and addictive to me, that I could cross any kind of border to get on there.
I just managed to convince my grandmother that it was a worth while that was something to do, you know, and when I did finally get the guitar, it didn't seem that difficult to me, to be able to make a good noise out of it.
I remember when I thought of singing as the bit that went between the guitar playing - something I couldn't wait to get out of the way. Singing was originally like a chore that I didn't really enjoy.
I tried when I was 13, when my grandparents gave me an acoustic guitar, and I tried for a year. It hurt so much to play. I mean, the fingertips hurt so much, I gave up.
Obviously, I am not going to say which one it is, but it is a guitar that has been around my house for years and I've picked it up in times of great stress like a comfort blanket,
Give me a guitar and I'll play; give me a stage and I'll perform; give me an auditorium and I'll fill it.
If you hand me a guitar, I'll play the blues. That's the place I automatically go.
Every time you pick up your guitar to play, play as if it's the last time.