Adrian Belew

One of the most unusual and forward-thinking guitarists of his time, Adrian Belew has played with some of rock's biggest names while also attracting a die-hard following for his solo work. Belew has his own recognizable sound that's fluid and expressive while incorporating a broad range of sounds and effects in which he mimics animal noises or mechanical rumblings alongside his deft guitar picking. Belew established himself as a valued sideman in the 1970s, and stepped out on his own with a pair of solo efforts, 1982's The Lone Rhino and 1983's Twang Bar King, that showed he could write songs that were ideal vehicles for his bag of instrumental tricks, mixing up elements of hard rock, funk, new wave, experimental music, Beatlesque pop, and more. He can collaborate with others on his own terms and also craft exciting music solo.