ERIC JOHNSON

In the early ’80s there were a bunch of magazines that were very popular among musicians around the world and of them the most coveted was the Guitar Player as it came with a free floppy vinyl record featuring the best new talent. My first issue of the magazine had Eric Johnson on the cover and inside was a record featuring his live version of the epic track Cliffs of Dover. I was smitten from the moment the needle hit the record groove and the majestic violin-like tone and classical baroque-like musical motifs jumped out of the speakers and blew my mind forever. His clean rhythm guitar tone was almost akin to the sound of diamonds falling from the heavens. His guitar-playing is like a 360-degree thing where he embellishes a song in such a way that the song takes on a different dimension because of his touch. He is like a master painter who paints with these wonderful colours and he has this vast palette of sounds that he can draw from and his technique is so in sync with his spiritual being that they meld together and take the music to another level. We make it a point to celebrate his birthday here in Calcutta every time on August 17 with my gang of pupils. I am really looking forward to his latest collaborative album with Mike Stern releasing this November titled Eclectic.

EJ song for Saturday gig at SPE: East Wes

crazy FAn Moment: Meeting ERIc

Vikramjit ‘Tuki’ Banerjee of Krosswindz with his hero Eric Johnson

Krosswindz toured the US in 2009 and I finally met Eric in Austin City on September 24. Before leaving for the US I had sent an email to Mr Park Street (best friend and associate of Eric) that I would be in Austin City on Sept. 24 and would like to meet Eric. He replied that he would try his best to get him to the venue where we were playing. By the time we got on stage to start the gig it was 10.30pm. We started with a guitar instrumental, Emotions, based on Raag Lalit and as I was about to end the tune I saw Eric Johnson walk into the pub. I had butterflies in my stomach and I had to tell myself to get a grip.

We took a break after an hour of playing and I headed for Eric Johnson’s table. He got up to shake my hand and I had all these emotions come over me.We sat and talked for a long time and he turned out to be exactly the same sweet, humble and kind person that I had always imagined him to be. We discussed music, touring, guitar, gadgets, Zakir Hussain and Ustad Alla Rakha Khan, gharanas, and even the possibility of doing a concert tour together in India! He also said that he really liked my guitar-playing and that he wanted to give me a little gift. After a nice lengthy conversation that lasted a good 45 minutes we went back on stage for our second set.

In San Francisco, as we landed, the chief organiser came to me saying an enormous cardboard box had come by courier. On opening it my eyes popped out. Sitting inside was Eric Johnson’s very own personal tube overdrive guitar pedal!

First guitar hero

My first guitar hero was John McLaughlin as I heard the album Friday Night in San Francisco Live in junior school and the speed-picking passages by John really had me stoked and it gave me the impetus to stay up nights practising my technique as a school kid. The primal energy got me first off and the pentatonic lines were very attractive to my ears. I really liked the melodic content but to be frank I really dug the virtuosic side of things more at that early stage of my career.

Jimi Hendrix

He is as big an influence on me as EJ. Hendrix was was so visceral and natural that his playing almost sounds off the cuff. With his powerful string bending and rapid-fire hammer-ons and whammy bar attacks to controlled feedback from his stack of Marshall amplifiers, he broke down all the doors and windows and all musical norms were blown to dust. What Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page did in 30 years, he accomplished more in a career spanning only four years. The vast treasure trove of work that is still being discovered is so inspiring. My fave Hendrix album keeps rotating, presently it is Crash Landing.

Hendrix songs for Saturday gig at SPE: All Along the Watchtower, Purple Haze, Foxy Lady, Little Wing

Joe Satriani

He is the man who single-handedly brought back an interest in guitar-based instrumental music. With grunge sweeping through the music scene in the ’90s, anything remotely virtuosic was frowned upon. But his smooth legato playing and memorable licks brought back generations of music aficionados.

Fan moment: When I slipped past his security in ITC Sonar hotel (Satriani performed in Calcutta in 2005), I showed him the letter he had written back to me in 1989. He was amazed that a fan had stayed loyal and had kept that manuscript and the two signature plectrums. He graciously agreed to sign my copy of Time Machine and took a photograph with me. While walking away he suddenly called me back and said he would like to sign on the disc itself just in case I lose the autographed CD cover, much to my amusement and that of his entourage.

Jeff Beck

A real guitar god. Just listening through his entire discography is like a ride on a thoroughbred horse that takes you on a wild yet exhilarating ride. Jeff is like a magician who can coax the most amazing notes out of thin air with his bare hands, an electric guitar and an amp. He can weave sonic tapestry of brilliant depth and texture. I love how Beck moved with the times and his take on the music scene was almost like how Miles Davis interpreted the social scene with his music. As a school kid I totally internalised his bending and vibrato style.

Beck songs for Saturday gig at SPE: Led Boots and Cause We Ended As Lovers

I always loved the way Jennifer Batten played and as a child I even got to correspond with her via snail mail and she sent me her book on two-handed tapping. I love her work with the Jeff Beck band and her work with Michael Jackson was so inspiring.