Link Wray

Link Wray (1929-2005) was an American rock'n'roll guitarist, songwriter and vocalist. Born in North Carolina, he was half Shawnee Indian and referred to his upbringing frequently in his songs and interviews. His achievements with and without his backing band, the Wraymen, are for the most part instrumental, since Wray had a lung removed pursuant to contracting tuberculosis during his service in the Korean War. In fact, his main claim to fame is Rumble (1958), which features a murderously heavy riff that allegedly inspired Jimmy Page, Neil Young, Iggy Pop and Pete Townshend, among many others. The title was allegedly supplied by Phil Everly, who said it sounded like a street fight. It has frequently been cited as an influence on punk and heavy metal, and his website claims it was the first song to intentionally use distortion in a rock'n'roll recording (although it is really a blues piece).

Wray recorded infrequently over the years, latterly in a studio self-made from a chicken shack. He was married several times and ended his life in Copenhagen. Peel obviously respected the man's pioneering spirit, while also noting that not all of his material was at such an exalted level. After succumbing to a BFBS listener's request to play Link's 1966 version of the Batman theme, John commented: "'There are times, you know, when I think Link Wray should have just recorded Rumble and then disappeared without a trace.'" Nonetheless, John saw him with Robert Gordon at Pinkpop in 1978, Rumble headed the Peelenium 1958 choices and Kat's Karavan attempted to record the man for a session, but allegedly could not find a studio in time. 

Festive Fifty Entries

 * None

Sessions

 * None

Other Shows Played

 * 05 June 1979: 'Rawhide (LP-Bullshot)' (Charisma)
 * 07 August 1980: 'Comanche (LP-Link Wray & The Wraymen)' (
 * Peel Early 1985: 'Ace Of Spades'
 * Peel 125 (BFBS): 'Batman Theme (7")' (Swan)
 * Peel May 1994: 'Fat Back (LP-Early Recordings)' (Chiswick)
 * 05 June 2003: 'Rumble (LP-The Original Rumble Plus 22 Other Storming Guitar Instrumentals)' (Ace)
 * 14 September 2004: 'Batman Theme (LP-Early Recordings)' (Ace)
 * 19 October 2004: 'Tiger Man (LP-Barbed Wire)'