As every year, Wroclaw is preparing to beat the Guitar Guinness World Record. On the 1st of May, guitarists will traditionally gather on the Wroclaw Market Square to play “Hey Joe” by Jimi Hendrix together. This year they will make an attempt to break the record set in 2012, when Hendrix’s song was played by 7,273 guitarists.
Lower Silesian Guitar Workshop with Leszek Cichoński
Already on Friday, the 11th of April, Lower Silesian Guitar Workshops start. Free guitar workshops under the guidance of Leszek Cichoński, a guitarist and the originator of the Guitar Guinness Record initiative, will take place in Lubin, Kłodzko, Lubiąż and Ziębice. "Everyone can come, no matter what your skills are. All you need is your own guitar and enthusiasm", encourages Leszek Cichoński, the originator of the biggest guitar event in Poland and this year’s winner of the title of Best Blues Guitarist in the Guitar Awards contest.
During 4-hour free courses, participants will play rhythmic exercises and learn more about articulation in blues and rock. They will also have an opportunity to learn chords for "Hey Joe" – a legendary song from Jimi Hendrix's repertoire. Participation in guitar workshops is free. Each participant should bring his own guitar.
Check: How to play in the Guitar Guinness World Record
Stars of the Guitar Guinness World Record
At the Thanks Jimi Festival in Wroclaw, a number of world-famous guitarists will play, including Eric Burdon and his band The Animals, Michael Angelo Batio – the fastest guitarist of the world, Steve Vai – regarded as one of the best guitarists of all time, or Chris Jagger – the younger brother of Mick Jagger. As regards Polish stars, there will be an opportunity to listen to the Luxtorpeda band and Wojciech Waglewski.
Angelo Batio – the fastest guitarist of the world
Michael Angelo Batio is a true giant among guitarists. He is one of the creators and pioneers of the shred guitar technique, and his guitar courses on VHS cassettes have become fundamental handbooks for guitarists around the world. Batio is also the inventor and first user of the double guitar. Apart from that, he is noted for the quad guitar solo that he played during his performance with the glam metal band NITRO. The video from this concert has become famous, and the said solo was listed among "50 most outrageous moments in rock history” of FHM magazine.
Steve Vai
Steve Vai, the winner of three Grammy Awards, has been an active guitarist for 30 years, and his unparalleled virtuosity and compositional mastery have no counterpart in the entire music world. From the thrilling debut “Flex Able” (1984) till the last studio album "The Story of Light” (2012), Vai’s music has constantly astonished listeners with its unique style. What counts most for him is the innovativeness of sound.
Chris Jagger
Chris Jagger is the younger brother of Mick Jagger. On the 1st of May, on the Thanks Jimi Festival in Wroclaw, Chris Jagger will perform, among others, songs from his latest album, on which his famous brother and other members of The Rolling Stones appear as guests. Chris Jagger began his professional career in the early 1970s, when he recorded two albums: "You Know The Name but Not The Face" (1973) and "The Adventures of Valentine Vox The Ventriloquist" (1974) for David Geffen from Asylum Records in Los Angeles. He also sang on Eric Clapton's album "No Reason To Cry" (1976). Chris resumed his musical activity at the beginning of the 1990s by releasing the album "Atcha" (1994), on which, apart from band members, contributions were also made by David Gilmour (Pink Floyd), Dave Stewart (Eurythmics) and Leo Sayer. Since then, the artist has regularly performed with the Atcha Band or the folk acoustic band Acoustic Trio. His ninth album "Concertina Jack" was recorded at the end of 2013 and features guest contributions from Mick Jagger and members of the horn section of The Rolling Stones.
Eric Burdon & The Animals
Eric Burdon, the frontman of The Animals, will also perform on the 1st of May in Wroclaw. Among many classic rock songs recorded by The Animals there are such hits as "Sky Pilot", "Monterey", "It's My Life", "Don't Bring Me Down" or, in particular, the legendary "House of the Rising Sun". Being so well known to several generations, this last song will be performed by participants of the Guitar Guinness Record alongside the standard "Hey Joe” to emphasise the intergenerational character of the event. The history of The Animals was particularly turbulent - the group disbanded at the end of 1966 and reformed twice subsequently. The last comeback took place in May 1983, when the band performed in its original line-up for the first time since the breakup. This was followed by the album "Ark" and a worldwide tour, including a concert at Wembley in December 1983, which was later released as a live album. The band eventually split up at the end of 1984, and Eric Burdon has since performed both solo and as Eric Burdon & The Animals.
Uriah Heep – a hard rock legend
Uriah Heep, a legendary British hard rock band, will be another star of the Guitar Guinness World Record event. The band's music is rooted in hard rock and progressive rock. Initially known as Spice, the group was established in London in 1969 on the initiative of the guitarist Mick Box. Its biggest hits include ballads: "July Morning", "Come Away Melinda" and "Lady in Black". During more than 40 years of their activity, musicians of Uriah Heep have released 23 studio albums, the latest of which – "Into The Wild” – was released in April 2011. Uriah Heep will play in Wroclaw on the 1st of May together with other artists at the Thanks Jimi Festival, which is organised in connection with the Guitar Guinness World Record.
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Thanks Jimi Festival on Słodowa Island on the 1st of May – tickets are available in Empik and MediaMarkt chain stores throughout Poland and via online ticket agencies. They cost PLN 65 or PLN 80 on the day of the concert. As usual, very attractive discounts will be offered to participants of the Guitar Guinness Record event. Participation in another attempt to beat this record on the Wroclaw Market Square is free of charge.
In order to read more or learn how to play "Hey Joe", visit: www.heyjoe.pl
