Chris Spedding

The legendary sideman and session guitarist on a "naughty" 70s, discovering the Sex Pistols and being an honorary Beatle.

- Bill DeMain

Who’s played with Elton John, Bryan Ferry, Paul McCartney and The Wombles? As one of the world’s most versatile guitar heroes, Chris Spedding has defied easy categorisation over his storied 60-year career. As he approaches his eightieth birthday, the Derbyshire-born virtuoso with the silver quiff still enjoys recording and touring, adding tasty, understated licks to whatever project comes his way. “I always try to inject some Spedding element, to make it different,” he says with a smile.

You started playing violin when you were nine years old. What made you switch to guitar?

I grew up in a household where opera was always on the radio. My mother sang in the local choir, my father played organ in church. That’s why I chose violin. I had an aptitude for it, but my heart wasn’t in it. When I was twelve I heard skiffle, and Elvis singing Hound Dog. I thought: “What am I doing with this rubbish violin?” Girls talk to me when I play the guitar.

Were any of your neighbours worried about you becoming a juvenile delinquent?

Listening to rock’n’roll would be the same as if your precious young son suddenly decided to listen to gangsta rap. So people in my town would say: “We’re very worried about Chris” [laughs].

In the early seventies, when you were an in-demand session guy, what was a typical week like?