Synopsis
Bryan Adams details how he acquired his first genuine six-string guitar years after the summer of 1969. Contrary to his song's lyrics, the guitar was not bought from a bargain store but from a music shop during a visit to his uncle in Reading, England.Key Takeaways
- Bryan Adams got his first guitar years after Summer of '69.
- The guitar was not a cheap purchase.
- He received it as a gift from his uncle.
- It was an imitation Stratocaster.
- The guitar returned to him after many years.
Los Angeles, April 16 (NationPress) Singer-songwriter Bryan Adams acquired his first authentic six-string guitar many years after the summer of 1969. The musician also disclosed that the guitar was not purchased from a low-cost shop.
The 65-year-old artist is widely recognized for his iconic 1985 track ‘Summer of ’69’. The song debuted when he was just 26, according to Female First UK.
In a recent episode of the ‘I Never Thought It Would Happen’ podcast, he shared the true tale of how he obtained his first guitar. While the lyrics of his 1985 classic ‘Summer of ’69’ suggest a straightforward buy at a local discount shop, Bryan confessed that the reality was quite different.
He recalled, “I told (my uncle) that I wanted an electric guitar, and he took me to a music store in Reading, and I still possess that electric guitar. It’s an Italian model, an imitation Stratocaster.”
According to Female First UK, Bryan stated that he made the purchase while visiting his uncle in Reading, England, at the age of 12. In 1969, he would have been only 10. His family was often relocating due to his father’s diplomatic role with the Canadian Embassy.
They subsequently spent a year in Israel, where Bryan gifted the guitar to a neighbor before returning to Canada to buy a replacement.
“I was like, ‘Ugh, why did I do that?’” he remarked. Years later, an unexpected email offered the guitar back. Bryan recounted, “I received a random email from someone saying, ‘Hey, I have your guitar from 1970. Do you want it back?’ I was like, ‘Whoa. Yes, absolutely, I want it back. Thank you.’”
The sender never followed up, and Bryan assumed the guitar was lost forever until a serendipitous meeting at a club in Berlin about a decade later. He described his encounter with the person holding his guitar, saying, “I asked, ‘What?’ He replied, ‘I have the guitar from your childhood. Provide me your address, and I’ll send it to you.’ I asked, ‘Wait a minute, are you the individual who emailed me back in ‘94?’ He said, ‘No, I’m his friend. He died in a plane crash and left it to me, and he informed me he was going to give it to you, so it returned to me.’”
He added, “It’s the craziest story, but it’s what took place.” Although the instrument has since undergone modifications, Bryan has chosen not to restore it.
He expressed, “I attempted to play it a few times, but I think the neck has been altered… it just exists. Just a piece of history.” The song ‘Summer of ’69’, co-penned with Jim Vallance, is not autobiographical for either artist. On his website, Jim previously noted that his first guitar was a Christmas present in 1965.
