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BB and his beloved Lucille

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"I bought my first electric guitar when I moved to Memphis; a Gibson with a DeArmond pickup which I used with a small Gibson amplifier.

"But sometimes they'd get busted up, people would steal 'em and one time I even had a car wreck when an 18 wheeler ran into the back of me.

"At least that time I had a chance to get a new guitar on insurance."

One last time… BB on why Lucille is called Lucille

I know that you were always impressed by your cousin Bukka White – did you ever try playing steel guitar?

"I grew up hearing that Delta style but I could never play like Bukka or anyone else! I wanted to play like Lonnie Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson - even Jimmy Rogers did things I liked.

"I loved Django Reinhardt as well, but when T-Bone Walker came up with that single string playing on the electric guitar, that did it – I went crazy.

"I've tried to mimic these guys but I never really wanted to play just like them, I was a rebel and just wanted to play what I felt.

"I've been criticised for it and even read recently that I played 'watered-down blues'. Well if they think that they can – I don't mind, I just do what I do!"

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BB King tours the UK in June with special guest John Mayall. Dates include Manchester MEN Arena (24 June), Birmingham NIA Academy (25 June), Cardiff CIA (27 June), London Wembley Arena (28 June). National Credit Card Hotline: 0871 424 4444, Book online at Ticketline.

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