Bill Kirchen

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Bill Kirchen (born Jan 29, 1948 in Ann Arbor, Michigan)[1]) is an American rockabilly guitarist. He is best known as lead guitarist with the original Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen from 1967 to the mid-1970s. He played lead guitar on the 1972 Commander Cody hit "Hot Rod Lincoln." He normally plays a Fender Telecaster.

Kirchen grew up in Ann Arbor Michigan, where he attended high school with Iggy Pop and Bob Seger. In recent years, Kirchen has toured or recorded with Nick Lowe, Elvis Costello, Doug Sahm, and others.

For years he lived in the Washington, D.C. area, where he formed the band Bill Kirchen and Too Much Fun, which toured regionally and nationally. In 2005 he moved to the west coast to take care of family, and is now back in the D.C. area. His live show includes an extended version of "Hot Rod Lincoln," in which he solos in the styles of many famous rock, blues, power pop, punk, and country guitarists, including Johnny Cash, Duane Eddy, Roy Orbison, Johnny Rivers, Marty Robbins, Buck Owens, Merle Travis, Merle Haggard, Bob Wills, Bo Diddley, Elmore James, Muddy Waters, Jimmy Reed, Link Wray, Vince Gill, Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, The Ventures, Jerry Reed, Earl Scruggs, Lester Flatt, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles ("The Fab Four" as Bill says), The Monkees ("The Prefab Four" as Bill says), Cream, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, The Sex Pistols, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and even, as he says, "The Kings" -- Elvis, B.B. King, Albert King, Billy Jean King (a tongue in cheek Pong style imitation of tennis), King Kong (a comical visual), Don King (another visual), and others.

Kirchen released his first album in a number of years Jan. 30 2007, Hammer of the Honky Tonk Gods on Proper American Records. The disc is a mix of Kirchen's musical styles. Nick Lowe guests on the album.

Besides being a singer, songwriter, and virtuoso guitarist, Kirchen is also a virtuoso whistler, arguably on par with Bing Crosby.