Reflecting on the pioneers that inspired him, Eddie Van Halen singled out one guitarist in particular as possessing a "standalone" and distinctive character.

Brian May discussed some of his guitar heroes, praising Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix, while describing Jeff Beck as someone "outside anything" imaginable.

It was hard to avoid at least a contact buzz in the 1960s, but Eric Clapton knew music could keep him sustained for days at a time.