Rocky Athas

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. 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'.

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