Robin Trower

Though he was one of the great players carrying the torch for post-Jimi Hendrix rock guitar, Robin Trower began his career nearly at the same time as his hero. Born in London in 1945, Trower cut his teeth with The Paramounts—who logged sweaty hours in the same clubs as The Rolling Stones—before joining Procol Harum in 1967. Their mix of psychedelia and early prog rock helped spread the word of his guitar prowess. He left in 1971 and formed the Robin Trower Band two years later. Showcasing blues rock rich in atmosphere and nuance, their six-record run from 1974’s Bridge of Sighs to 1980’s Victims of the Fury earned them a cult-like fanbase. Trower has never let up. In addition to ceaseless touring, he has dropped nearly two dozen studio and live albums since the ’80s; he’s also collaborated with Cream founder Jack Bruce and Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry. The agelessness captured on albums like 2009’s What Lies Beneath and 2016’s politically oriented Where You Are Going To helps explain why young guitarists continue to study Trower’s gift for coaxing moody licks from his custom-made Fender Stratocaster.