Billy Duffy

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Billy Duffy

Emerging from the violent streets of Manchester during the ‘real’ punk rock wars and rolling into post punk, death rock, hard rock and back. He has played with the best, Morrissey, Jagger, Iggy et al, this kid has done more than most could ever dream. He is peerless, a tyrannical perfectionist and iconoclast. In a world of self-imposed savants and virtuosos, he has never been a self-promoter leaving that for his live performances and studio recordings. A working class hero who has owned the biggest stages in the world and delivered without mercy. As rock dissolves into a patchwork of ragged styles and fading icons, Duffy holds himself with an integrity, sensitivity and ferocity that few can match. He is one of the greatest living guitar heroes of the 20/21st century, often mimicked, never matched. I have witnessed other players take a step back when he straps on the Falcon, big boys’ rules.
Billy Duffy — album cover

Photos

Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 1
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 2
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 3
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 4
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 5
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 6
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 7
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 8
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 9
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 10
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 11
Billy Duffy — The Pursuit of Tone, photo 12

I think what was great with the Cult was that we were allowed to evolve. We made different types of records, which was interesting. You play 'Love' and 'Electric' back to back, and they're really not that similar.

— Billy Duffy

Billy Duffy plays Ernie Ball guitar strings

Ernie Ball is the world's leading manufacturer of premium electric and acoustic guitar strings, bass strings, and guitar accessories. Our strings have been played on many of the best-selling albums of all time and are used by some of history's greatest musicians including Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Slash, The Rolling Stones, Angus Young, Eagles, Jeff Beck, Pete Townshend, Aerosmith, Metallica, and more.

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FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK…

Whilst Billy’s guitar work with The Cult on their first two albums, ‘Dreamtime’ (1984) and ‘Love’ (1985), flirted with goth and ’60s psychedelia, he unleashed his affection for the metal-blues guitar sound of AC/DC and Led Zeppelin on The Cult’s third album ‘Electric’ (1987). Produced by the legendary Rick Rubin this progression into a heavier sound bought in a new larger fanbase particularly in the US. In 1988 Billy decided to move from London to Los Angeles, where he began work with Ian on the band’s fourth album ‘Sonic Temple’, which was released the following year. This period saw The Cult’s success continue with the band now filling stadiums around the world. With the release of 1991’s ‘Ceremony’ the stadiums and crowds just got bigger and bigger. Soon after, the Seattle grunge scene shook the world of music and the band responded with the stripped down, raw sound of ‘The Cult’ (1994). 12 years of intense hard work and constant touring finally took its toll and the band broke up in 1995. By this point in his life Billy’s parents were getting quite old, so to be able to spend more time with them he moved back to England. For a short period in the summer of 1995 Billy played guitar in ‘Vent’, a band formed by his friend, and ex-Wonderstuff frontman, Miles Hunt. Being back in the UK also meant he could catch up with many of his other old friends including Mike Peters ex of The Alarm. In this time hanging out with Mike naturally the guitars came out and these jams lead to songs which eventually became an album, the eponymous ‘Coloursound’.