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Twin Barrels Burning’! 10 Famous Twin Lead Guitarists

And while we could mean that there are two guitarists in a band who happened to be blood twins, what I really mean is bands where they feature twin lead guitars all or some of the time. Yes, those with a surfeit of plank-spankers and axe-wielding shape-throwers. Famously Ritchie Blackmore couldn’t tolerate another six-stringer anywhere near the stage lest they prove slicker and more arrogant than he, while others were more than happy to share the lead lick work with another.

1 and 2.  Ted Turner and Andy Powell (Wishbone Ash)

 

Wishbone Ash were formed in October 1969 by bass guitarist Martin Turner and drummer Steve Upton. When the original guitarist left the trio they advertised for a guitar player and also for a keyboard player. After an extensive search for a guitarist, the band could not decide between the final two candidates, Andy Powell and Ted Turner. It was suggested that they try both guitar players "just to see what it sounds like". Differing from the twin lead sound of The Allman Brothers Band, Wishbone Ash included strong elements of progressive rock, and also of folk and classical music.  Andy Powell did much to champion the fortunes of the Gibson Flying V guitar, while Ted Turner favoured a Fender Stratocaster. But they both were versatile musicians and played mandolins, banjos and other stringed instruments too.



 

3 and 4.   KK Downing and Glen Tipton (Judas Priest)

When these two Brummie fret-freaks break lose on solos, it’s very hard to get a Rizla between them as to who is the best. But why try? They are the perfect electric foils for the distinctive and awesome voice of Big Daddy Rob Halford, he of the glistening pate, tattoos, goatee, studs and black leather. They’ve been going a long time with the same line-up (with a few fallings out along the way), and you can hear why! Note the Flying V and Strat set up again.

5 and 6. Gary Moore and (Thin Lizzy)

A blistering live open-air performance of Lizzy’s trademark double-guitar riffing  here.  While flash-harry yanky-boy Scott Goreham threw the standard shapes and tossed his mane, gritty Northern Ireland street-brawler Gary Moore played solid and hard. Both were perfect foils for Phil Lynott’s melodic rock tunes and up-above-his-balls bass-playing!

Moore is top left, Goreham, top middle.               Goreham last year at High Voltage, London.

Gary Moore at High Voltage 2010, he died shortly after. I saw him there and he didn’t seem all that comfortable with the vocals, but his guitar playing, as always, was exemplary.



 

7 and 8. Dave Murray and Adrian Smith    (Iron Maiden)
       

The well-loved English band fronted by one-time Olympic prospect fencer Bruce “Prong on two legs” Dickinson. Adrian Smith was influenced by Johnny Winter and Pat Travers, Dave Murray is known for his legato technique which, he claims, "evolved naturally…  I'd heard Jimi Hendrix using legato when I was growing up, and I liked that style of playing.” Adrian is left…Dave in the middle and Eddie at the end!



 

9 and 10 Paul Landers and Richard Z Kruspe(Rammstein)

   

Here we have German band Rammstein churning out their trademark double-chunked guitar riffs over a synth rhythm and guttural lyrics. Du Hast Mich. A band that Ozzy Osbourne hates because “It’s just Dar! Dar Dar! And there’s no friggin’ melody man!”. Methinks the Osbourne doth protest too much… early Sabbath anyone?

Richard’s solo endeavour, “Emigrate” is also well worth a listen.