Belgian Romani icon Django Reinhardt is considered by many music historians and fans to be the greatest jazz guitarist who ever lived. Known for his work in the early 20th century, Reinhardt managed to master his instrument, even after losing several of his fingers in a tragic fire-related accident.
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He was simply on another level, with songs like “Minor Swing” and “Belleville” still inspiring guitarists today. In fact, one could say he inspired everyone from metal shredders to pop guitarists alike. And at least three super-famous rock guitarists were obsessed with him. Let’s take a look!
George Harrison
It’s not exactly surprising that one of the most beloved guitarists of the 20th century was obsessed with one of the most influential guitarists of all time. In fact, you can hear that influence in some of his music. “Girl” has a bouncy sort of vibe not unlike Reinhardt’s own jazzy style. Even Harrison’s contemporaries, like Robin Nolan, noted that he had a love for Reinhardt.
“One of his ex-gardeners bought a CD and gave it to George [Harrison], and then George called me up out of the blue,” Nolan once said. “We played at a Christmas party, and then he loved this kind of music.”
Tony Iommi
Toni Iommi of Black Sabbath and Django Reinhardt have a lot more in common than one might think. They are two massively talented guitarists. Just as well, they both managed to master their instrument without the full use of their hands. Indeed, Iommi lost the tips of some of his fingers. That certainly didn’t stop him from becoming a heavy metal master.
“I could relate to Django Reinhardt after losing two fingers, and listening to him inspired me to play more,” said Iommi.
Jerry Garcia
Django Reinhardt also inspired The Grateful Dead’s famous frontman, Jerry Garcia. Like Iommi, Garcia was inspired by Reinhardt’s resilience and ability to master the guitar despite being disabled. In fact, Garcia praised Reinhardt for developing a technique that otherwise wouldn’t have existed if not for the loss of several fingers.
“Even today, nobody has really come to the state that he was playing at,” Garcia once said in the 80s. “As good as players are, they haven’t gotten to where he is. There’s a lot of guys that play fast and a lot of guys that play clean, and the guitar has come a long way as far as speed and clarity go, but nobody plays with the whole fullness of expression that Django has.”
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
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