Gnarly Guitarists: Bill Kirchen

Guitar Player Magazine called BILL KIRCHEN “The Titan Of The Telecaster,” which is entirely accurate (sez Stinky).  Bill's first taste of fame came with the release of a cover of Charlie Ryan's "Hot Rod Lincoln" when Bill was a member of Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen.  Kirchen played with Commander Cody from the mid-60’s to the mid-70’s, then started a swing band called The Moonlighters, which was the beginning of his long association with producer Nick Lowe.  

After The Moonlighters, Kirchen started another new band called TOO MUCH FUN, which played around the DC area for many years.  Their album Tombstone Every Mile was reissued in 2019.

Searching for a suitable name for his unique style of Americana/Roots music, Kitchen came up with “Dieselbilly Music” because he’d been playing trucker songs since the days of the Lost Planet Airmen.  He's also been called the King Of Truck Drivin' Twang.  

One of the high points of a Bill Kitchen show is his inventive reimagining of HOT ROD LINCOLN in which (as he races the titular car) he passes other guitarists traveling down the same road, and mimics their guitar styles exactly.  During the narrative, Bill passes Albert King, Freddie King, B.B. King, The Beatles, and many more. 

Volume 1 of The Best of Bill Kirchen ends with an epic live "Hot Rod Lincoln", and features other live and studio recordings from Kirchen's career.