Duane Eddy, the pioneer of instrumental rock’n’roll most famous for the hits Rebel-Rouser and Peter Gunn, has died at the age of 86. According to a statement released by the musician’s family, Eddy died of cancer on Tuesday at the Williamson Health Hospital in Franklin, Tennessee.
“Duane inspired a generation of guitarists the world over with his unmistakable signature ‘Twang’ sound,” read the statement. “He was the first rock and roll guitar god, a truly humble and incredible human being. He will be sorely missed.”
Eddy was born in New York in 1938 and picked up the guitar at a young age. As a teenager he devised a technique of playing lead parts on the low strings of his instrument, conjuring up the “twangy” sound for which he’d become famous. His band used route-one melodies, adding rasping horns and a guitar tone like a motorbike engine, and the classic early singles Rebel Rouser and Peter Gunn – released in 1958 and 1959 respectively – prompted untold numbers of would-be stars to pick up the guitar.