Although Eddie Cochran died at age 21, he has left an enduring mark as a rock n' roll pioneer and somehow, time has not given him the same respect as other rockabilly greats like Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson or Gene Vincent mainly because of his brief lifespan as a singer.

Eddie focused on 50s teenage angst and desire with such classic tunes as "C'mon Everybody," "Twenty Flight Rock," and "Summertime Blues," with a wit that bore some similarities to Chuck Berry, through Eddie was more lighthearted and less iconic then Chuck.

A flashy stage dresser with a rough sounding voice, Cochran epitomized the sound and energy of the 50s rock n' roll rebel, but he was also a guitar playing virtuoso, overdubbing parts such like Les Paul even on his earliest songs and playing with an authority that has led people to call him rock’s first high energy guitar player, an influence for guitarists from Pete Townshend and Jimmy Page to, at least in terms of finger dexterity, Jimi Hendrix, but Eddie was proficient on piano, bass and drums as well.

Beneath Cochran's polite appearance lurked an all-American musical rebel, and in death he achieved a cult following with two generations of rock groups from The Beatles to The Sex Pistols who covered Cochran's classic song, "Something Else." Eddie even played an indirect role in the formation of The Beatles. In 1957, Paul McCartney taught John Lennon the cords to Eddie's "Twenty Flight Rock" at an event that John's Quarrymen were playing. In the late 60s, heavy metal pioneers, Blue Cheer recorded a memorable version on Cochran's classic song about teenage disenchantment, "Summertime Blues," as did The Who in 1970.

Eddie released only one album during his recording career which was cut short when he died in a car crash in 1960 when on tour in Britain. The last single he released before he was killed was eerily titled "Three Steps To Heaven."

Ironically, he had been planning for some to cut back on touring and more time on songwriting and recording.

In my mind, Eddie Cochran is definitely the father of the high energy rock guitar player. Besides Chuck Berry, no other guitar player of the 50s had as such energy as he did.

Posted by Andrew on Tuesday, 02/11/2014 @ 23:19pm

Eddie Cochran leads directly to punk rock 20 years later. Inducting him so early (2nd class) was the right movez

Posted by Bookhouse on Wednesday, 01/4/2023 @ 15:17pm