Rocky Athas (born October 15, 1954) is an American songwriter and guitarist, best known for his work with Black Oak Arkansas, Glenn Hughes, Buddy Miles, Double Trouble and John Mayall.
Career
Early years Rocky Athas first founded the blues band 'Lightning' that toured Texas and played as supporting act for numerous local bands. When he was 23, The Original Texas Music Magazine, BUDDY Magazine, ranked him in the Top 10 best guitarists. Rocky Athas is one of the first and youngest Texas guitarists to receive this recognition, also granted to Eric Johnson, Jimmie Vaughan, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Billy Gibbons and Johnny Winter.
Black Oak Arkansas He then joined several acts as a lead guitarist, including Black Oak Arkansas. He wrote two of the band's greatest hits, "Ready as Hell" and "Wild Bunch". While in BOA, he met Johnnie and Tommy Bolin (Deep Purple and James Gang), who became close friends. After Tommy's death, Rocky performed tribute shows to his friend with Johnnie Bolin and Glenn Hughes (Deep Purple and Trapeze) in support of the Tommy Bolin Archives foundation. In 2009, he released A Tribute to Tommy Bolin with Glenn Hughes & Friends, a live tribute album to Tommy Bolin.
2000–2010 In 2000, Rocky recorded Blues Berries with Buddy Miles and Stevie Ray Vaughan's rhythm section, Double Trouble. Rocky also covered 'The Wind Cries Mary' for the album Blue Haze – Songs of Jimi Hendrix.
The Rocky Athas Group In 2003, he founded The Rocky Athas group and released Miracle, produced by Jim Gaines, with whom he became friends while recording Blues Berries. In 2005, the band released a second album, VooDoo Moon, in collaboration with Larry Samford. In 2007, he released Lightning Strikes Twice, made up of tracks from his first band 'Lightning'.
John Mayall In 2009, John Mayall asked him to play lead guitar on Tough. In 2014, he recorded a second album with Mayall, A Special Life. Athas intensively toured with the legendary bluesman until 2016, when John Mayall decided to operate as a trio.
2011–present
In 2014, Rocky released Let My Guitar Do The Talking...With My Friends on Cherryburst Records. The album is instrumental, and Athas used several vintage guitars from his personal collection. His old friend Smokin' Joe Kubek and John Mayall both appeared on the album.
In 2015, Rocky released two compilations, entitled The Essential Rocky Athas (Volume I and Volume II), featuring several bonus tracks, including a cover of "'White Room" by Cream.
In 2017, Athas released Shakin' The Dust, produced by Jim Gaines (Stevie Ray Vaughan, Santana's Supernatural).
Influences Athas has been influenced by Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton. Other influences are Freddie King, The Beatles, Cream, Mountain and Leslie West.
Discography
With Black Oak Arkansas
1984: Ready as Hell 1999: The Wild Bunch
With Glenn Hughes & Friends
1997: A Tribute to Tommy Bolin
With Buddy Miles
2002: Blues Berries
With The Rocky Athas Group
2003: Miracle 2005: VooDoo Moon 2007: Lightning Strikes Twice 2017: Shakin' the Dust
With John Mayall
2009: Tough 2011: Live in London 2014: A Special Life
Solo
1999: That's What I Know 2007: Rocky Athas' Lightning - Lightning Strikes Twice 2014: Let My Guitar Do The Talking ... with My Friends 2017: Shakin' The Dust 2024: Livin' My Best Life
References