Rocky Athas

Rocky Athas (born 15 October 1954[1]) in Texas, is a blues songwriter and guitarist, best known for his work with Black Oak Arkansas, Glenn Hughes, Buddy Miles, Double Trouble and John Mayall.

Rocky Athas
Rocky Athas live with John Mayall at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, in 2014.
Background information
Born (1954-10-15) 15 October 1954
Texas, U.S.
GenresBlues
Occupation(s)Guitarist, songwriter
Associated actsJohn Mayall, Black Oak Arkansas, Double Trouble, Buddy Miles, Glenn Hughes
Websitehttps://www.rockyathas.com/

Career

Early years

Rocky Athas first founded blues band 'Lightning' that toured Texas and played as supporting act for numerous local bands.[2] When he was 23, Texas music magazine Buddy ranked him in the Top 10 best guitarists.[3] He is one of the first and youngest one to receive this recognition, also granted to Eric Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons or Johnny Winter.

Black Oak Arkansas

He then joined several acts as a lead guitarist, including Black Oak Arkansas. He wrote two of the band's greatest hits, "Ready as Hell" and "Wild Bunch". While in BOA, he met Johnnie and Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple and James Gang), who became close friends. After Tommy's death, Rocky performed tribute shows to his friend with Johnnie Bolin and Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple and Trapeze) in support of the Tommy Bolin Archives foundation.[4] In 2009, he released A Tribute to Tommy Bolin with Glenn Hughes & Friends, a live tribute album to Tommy Bolin.

2000–2010

In 2000, Rocky recorded Blues Berries with Buddy Miles and Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section, Double Trouble.[3] Rocky also covered 'The Wind Cries Mary' for the album Blue Haze – Songs of Jimi Hendrix.

The Rocky Athas Group

In 2003, he founded The Rocky Athas group and released Miracle,[5] produced by Jim Gaines, with whom he became friends while recording Blues Berries. In 2005, the band released a second album, VooDoo Moon, in collaboration with Larry Samford.[6] In 2007, he released Lightning Strikes Twice, made up of tracks from his first band 'Lightning'.[6]

John Mayall

In 2009, John Mayall asked him to play lead guitar on Tough. In 2014, he recorded a second album with Mayall, A Special Life. Athas intensively toured with the legendary bluesman until 2016, when John Mayall decided to operate as a trio.[4]

2011–present

In 2014, Rocky released Let My Guitar Do The Talking...With My Friends on Cherryburst Records. The album is instrumental, and Athas used several vintage guitars from his personal collection. His old friend Smokin' Joe Kubek and John Mayall both appeared on the album.

In 2015, Rocky released two compilations, entitled The Essential Rocky Athas (Volume I and Volume II), featuring several bonus tracks, including a cover of "'White Room" by Cream.

In 2017, Athas released Shakin' The Dust, produced by Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana's Supernatural).[7]

Influences

Rocky Athas has been heavily influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Other influences are Freddie King, The Beatles, Cream, Mountain and Leslie West.[8][4]

Discography[9]

With Black Oak Arkansas
  • 1984: Ready as Hell
  • 1999: The Wild Bunch

With Glenn Hughes & Friends
  • 1997: A Tribute to Tommy Bolin

With Buddy Miles
  • 2002: Blues Berries

With The Rocky Athas Group
  • 2003: Miracle
  • 2005: VooDoo Moon
  • 2007: Lightning Strikes Twice
  • 2017: Shakin' the Dust

With John Mayall
  • 2009: Tough
  • 2011: Live in London
  • 2014: A Special Life

Solo
  • 1999: That's What I Know
  • 2007: Rocky Athas' Lightning - Lightning Strikes Twice
  • 2014: Let My Guitar Do The Talking... with My Friends
  • 2017: Shakin' The Dust

References
  1. "Guitarist Rocky Athas talks about John Mayall, SRV, Glenn Hughes, Phil Walden, Thin Lizzy, & his Greek roots". blues.gr. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  2. Guitar, Vintage (2002-02-21). "Rocky Athas". Vintage Guitar® magazine. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  3. "Rocky Athas". www.smokestacklightnin.com. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  4. "About Rocky Athas". Rocky Athas. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  5. Posted by Michael Limnios Blues Network on June 6, 2012 at 1:00pm; Blog, View. "Guitarist Rocky Athas talks about John Mayall, SRV, Glenn Hughes, Phil Walden, Thin Lizzy, & his Greek roots". blues.gr. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  6. "Blues Magazine Interview". Rocky Athas. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  7. Ehrenclou, Martine (2018-04-30). "Album Review: Shakin' the Dust by Texas Bluesman, Rocky Athas - Rock and Blues Muse with Martine Ehrenclou". Rock and Blues Muse. Retrieved 2019-08-25.
  8. "Press". Rocky Athas. Retrieved 2016-11-28.
  9. "Rocky Athas". Discogs (in French). Retrieved 2019-08-25.
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