It’s strange when you think about it. For the single most important instrument in the history of pop music, the basic structure of the most popular electric guitars has been remarkably consistent.
“What is fascinating compared to some other aspects of popular culture in terms of design, three of the classic electric guitar brands have not changed — the Fender Telecaster, the Gibson Les Paul and the Fender Stratocaster,” said Matt Donahue, lecturer in Bowling Green State University’s Department of Popular Culture, in an interview with Toledo Free Press.
“Interesting as we have seen so many other designs of popular culture items change over the years and the decades, but not these three classic designs. Of course there are now so many different companies and designs, but the three mentioned have stood the test of time.”
Of course, as with so many tools of art, it’s not just how it’s made — it’s what you do with it. And ever since its debut over 80 years ago, artists as varied as Jimi Hendrix and Prince have left their mark on music using the dulcet tones of the six string.
Now, in celebration and analysis of the instrument, the Department of Popular Culture will be hosting a two-day conference, “The Electric Guitar in Popular Culture,” March 27-28 at the school’s Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Featuring a wide variety of speakers, panels and performances, the event is set to shine a light on the instrument and its impact in a wide range of cultural settings.
“I had the idea of putting together a conference about it a few years ago,” Donahue said. “Then one of the student organizations affiliated with the Department of Popular Culture — the Popular Culture Scholars Association, who have been putting on popular culture-themed conferences in the memory of the department’s founder Dr. Ray Browne — two of the leaders in this organization, Becky Denes and Jacob Brown, and I discussed the idea of putting on this conference. Thanks to their hard work and efforts, the conference is taking place.”
The conference in many ways is a labor of love for Donahue, who has a lifetime of experience with the instrument.
“I got into the electric guitar at first, by being introduced to music played around the house by my parents. Then when my brothers started playing their rock ’n’ roll records around the house such as Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin, I continued my interest in popular music and worked and worked to save up enough money for a guitar and amp, both of which I still own!”
Donahue has been a regular around the Northwest Ohio music scene for the past 30 years, playing and singing in a variety of punk and rock bands while growing in prestige as a scholar. He will be performing during the conference along with artists such as Toledo’s own Chuck Stohl, Skip McDonald (Little Axe), Kelly Richey and Chris Buzzelli from the BGSU Department of Music.
“We have tried to highlight a variety of different performers and genres related to the electric guitar and also tie that in to a connection that many of the performers are based out of Ohio or have had a connection to Ohio,” Donahue said.
In addition, keynote speakers such as journalist Martin Popoff and Ken Haas from Reverend Guitars will bring their own history and experience with the instrument, and panels focusing on the intrument’s impact on a wide variety of cultures promise to bring attendees new perspectives on the fabled six-string.
“I do think that the electric guitar and its reach worldwide has been underestimated,” Donahue said. “I think a lot of it is the connection to popular music and how popular music is so heavily guitar-based and has been at the forefront of so many different genres that have gone on to be popularized throughout the world. And in doing so, the guitar has become popularized throughout the world.”
The Electric Guitar in Popular Culture conference will begin at 9:30 a.m. March 27 at the Bowen-Thompson Student Union. Registration is encouraged but not required.
For more information, visit www.bgsu.edu/egpc.
