“He’s the king. If it hadn’t been for Link Wray and ‘Rumble’ I never would have picked up a guitar.” – Pete Townshend
“If I could travel back in time to see one band, it would be Link Wray and the Ray Men.” – Neil Young
Your favorite guitar player’s favorite guitar player may well be Link Wray. His devotees include Townshend and Young, Jimmy Page, Bruce Springsteen, Robbie Robertson, Elvis Costello, Iggy Pop, Dan Auerbach, Jimmy James and many others.
Back when rock and roll was the sound of rockabilly, doo wop, R&B, and saxophones, guitarist Link Wray invented the power chord, distortion and VOLUME. His 1958 single “Rumble” is raw and dangerous, and from that moment rock and roll became a medium for the guitar as an instrument of menace. It sounded like nothing that came before. And, it's in the DNA of punk, heavy metal, grunge and hard rock today.
Link Wray was born in Dunn, NC, half Shawnee Indian and dirt poor. The family lived across the street from the fairgrounds, and when he was 8, Link was sitting on the front porch playing with his brother’s guitar. An old, African-American circus performer called Hambone wandered past and offered to tune the guitar and show Link how he played it. Link was hooked the moment he heard those first slide notes. He and his brothers got up a band played country, swing and big band stuff of the time. Link served 2 years in the Army in Germany and Korea, where he contracted tuberculosis that would later cost him a lung. When he got back in 1953, the brothers got the band back together. In 1958, they were playing in Fredericksburg, VA, and the DJ host asked them to play a current hit song “The Stroll.” Link had never heard it, but his brother Doug, the drummer, knew the rhythm and played a little. Link credits his “Jesus God” for zapping those 3 power chords to what would become “Rumble” into his brain and he ad libbed the entire instrumental on the spot. And, before you ask, Link never drank, smoked, or took drugs in his life. He was even a strict vegetarian.
Link played mostly in Washington, DC clubs, some of which were frequented by gangs prone to their own rumbles. “Rumble” was initially called “Oddball” but was re-named by the daughter of the record producer who titled it for the gang fight scenes in West Side Story. Because of these connections, and it's incendiary sound, the song was banned by radio stations in NYC, Boston and DC. Of course, that only sold more records.
Link produced several more hit songs and albums through the late 60s. He laid low in Arizona for a while, before getting back out to play in the mid-70s. He joined with punk-rockabilly singer Robert Gordon for two albums and touring in the late 70s. Then, in 1984, he moved to Denmark with his new wife. He remained there except for occasional forays to the UK and the US, and died in 2005.
Dunn, NC, will have its 4th annual Link Wray celebration today. There has been a concerted effort to get Link into the rock HOF. He has been nominated twice, but to the chagrin of his fans has been passed over for induction.
Link Wray, “The Rumble Man” born May 2, 1929.
A 1960 single (shades of Mick Jagger):
