Link Wray, legendary rock guitarist

COPENHAGEN – Guitar player Link Wray, who invented the power chord, the major modus operandi of modern rock guitarists, has died.

He was 76. A native of North Carolina, Wray’s style is considered the blueprint for heavy metal and punk music.Wray’s is best known for his 1958 instrumental Rumble, 1959s ‘Rawhide’ and 1963’s ‘Jack the Ripper’.His music has appeared in movies like ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Desperado’.His style is said to have inspired many other rock musicians, including Pete Townsend of The Who, but also David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Steve Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen have been quoted as saying that Wray and Rumble inspired them to become musicians.”He is the king; if it hadn’t been for Link Wray and ‘Rumble’, I would have never picked up a guitar’,” Townsend wrote on one of Wray’s albums.Neil Young once said: “If I could go back in time and see any band, it would be Link Wray and the Raymen.”According to his Wray’s official Web site, he invented the fuzz tone by deliberately punching holes in his amplifier speakers.In 2002, the Guitar World magazine elected Wray one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.Wray, known for his trademark black leather jacket, toured the United States and Canada 1997-2002.He was half Shawnee Indian.- Nampa-APA native of North Carolina, Wray’s style is considered the blueprint for heavy metal and punk music.Wray’s is best known for his 1958 instrumental Rumble, 1959s ‘Rawhide’ and 1963’s ‘Jack the Ripper’.His music has appeared in movies like ‘Pulp Fiction’, ‘Independence Day’ and ‘Desperado’.His style is said to have inspired many other rock musicians, including Pete Townsend of The Who, but also David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Steve Van Zandt and Bruce Springsteen have been quoted as saying that Wray and Rumble inspired them to become musicians.”He is the king; if it hadn’t been for Link Wray and ‘Rumble’, I would have never picked up a guitar’,” Townsend wrote on one of Wray’s albums.Neil Young once said: “If I could go back in time and see any band, it would be Link Wray and the Raymen.”According to his Wray’s official Web site, he invented the fuzz tone by deliberately punching holes in his amplifier speakers.In 2002, the Guitar World magazine elected Wray one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time.Wray, known for his trademark black leather jacket, toured the United States and Canada 1997-2002.He was half Shawnee Indian.- Nampa-AP