Here are some of the tributes paid to Les Paul, the great guitar innovator, who dies last week aged 94.
"Les Paul brought six strings to electricity and electricity to six strings. Les Paul was an innovator, a groundbreaker, a risk taker, a mentor and a friend. Try to imagine what we'd be doing if hadn't come along and changed the world."
Billy Gibbons - ZZ Top
"If the general public knew how much of that influence is heard every day in the music that they listen to, they would be amazed. Every time I pick up a guitar I´ll know that his spirit is alive and well right next to me."
Joe Perry - Aerosmith
"My heart goes out to his family as well as all of his extended family, my friends at Gibson Guitars. May Les rest in peace and my friends at Gibson keep up the fine work on all of the Les Paul Models they have continued to release since 1954. - Godspeed!"
Tom DeLonge - Blink 182
"A true musical pioneer whose inventions and innovations have influenced every facet, genre, and spectrum of the industry. The world may have lost an icon, but his name and legacy will live on forever. Thanks Les."
Neal Schon
"Truly one of the funniest best human beings I have ever met. He will be deeply missed but not forgotten."
Derek Trucks
"Les Paul played until the day he died. I admire that... That's the way you live a life."
Slash
"Without the advances he pioneered, the recording sciences and the electric guitar would have been left years behind. I will miss him so much."
Ace Frehley
"Les is single handedly responsible for the direction and evolution of the modern rock movement. Period. If you are a fan of modern music, you owe Les Paul an enormous THANK YOU!"-
Dave Navarro - Janes Addiction
“Les Paul and Mary Ford were among my most favorite musicians in the 50´s. He was the first guy to do multi guitar multi track recording and that turned me on to guitars and stacking vocals for our records”
Brian Wilson - Beach Boys
“He would walk into a room and put a smile on anyone´s face. His musical charm was extraordinary and his techniques unmatched anywhere in the world.”
Henry Juszkiewicz, CEO Gibson Guitar
