FIRST PLAYEPIPHONE INSPIRED BY GIBSON 1963 FIREBIRD I & V
Well does this reviewer recall hearing Cream’s live version of the blues classic Sitting On Top Of The World on the band’s Goodbye album. Clapton spits out reams of notes with a huge distorted tone that it turns out was his 1964 sunburst Gibson Firebird I. Just as memorable was first catching the infectious swagger of Johnny Winter’s Rock And Roll Hoochie Koo, most likely played on Johnny’s own 1964 Firebird, this time a white model V.
While Winter made a Firebird the main staple of his career, Clapton only stayed with his for the final Cream tour and on a few Blind Faith shows the following year. EC’s use of the Firebird inspired Gary Moore and Joe Bonamassa to purchase identical models, and it’s likely that many a Firebird lover took Winter’s fiery licks and slicing tone as inspiration. Gibson later produced limited-edition runs of both guitars.
