I borrowed a guitar at age 16 and taught myself to play because I wanted to write songs.

Meaning of the quote

Adrian Belew, an American musician, wanted to write his own songs. So when he was 16 years old, he borrowed a guitar and taught himself how to play it. He didn't have a teacher - he just figured it out on his own because he was determined to create his own music.

About Adrian Belew

Adrian Belew is an incredibly talented American musician known for his innovative guitar playing and work with renowned artists like King Crimson, Frank Zappa, and David Bowie. He’s released numerous solo albums and has been recognized for his groundbreaking contributions to rock music over the past several decades.

More about the author

More quotes from Adrian Belew

I have enjoyed all the artists I’ve worked with.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

I was left with an urge to make the guitar sound like things it shouldn’t be able to sound like.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

I borrowed a guitar at age 16 and taught myself to play because I wanted to write songs.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

I love drums and still play frequently.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

For example, after developing a sound similar to an elephant trumpeting, I wrote the song Elephant Talk which gave my elephant sound an appropriate place to live.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

I prefer a quartet, it makes everyone work harder.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

DUST includes rarities, demos, unreleased songs and instrumentals, live recordings, and more.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

King Crimson is never easy; it’s challenging. That’s why I like it.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

As you can appreciate over my lifetime I’ve developed a large vocabulary of sounds each requiring certain physical techniques often combined with a specific effect box.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

Age 10. I joined the school marching band as a drummer.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

Yes, but don’t forget I also have the luxury of the worlds finest band when it gets lonely.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

Currently I’m working with Parker Fly on a new Midi guitar to arrive next year.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

I have no secrets; all of these things have been discussed at length in guitar magazines over the years but are far too elaborate to cover in one article.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

Digital for storage and quickness. Analog for fatness and warmth.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

We expect to keep our writing sessions going until late spring, then to play some new material in a few secret club dates. The record will likely take a long time and may not surface until 1999!

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

The only drawback is once the work is done you rarely see each other.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

I didn’t make my first solo record until 1981 so I don’t have any 60’s or 70’s recordings but I am working on a large boxed set called DUST to be released next year, the 20th anniversary of my first solo record.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

I thought I might be a band instructor, someone who plays all the instruments and teaches others.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

My favorite puzzle is trying to work out the parts myself, after all it is a solo effort.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician

King Crimson will soon be touring parts of Europe.

Adrian Belew

American rock musician