They're everywhere, from the European Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young tour to the "Today" show - Gibson Firebirds are making a bold comeback both stateside and overseas. Peter Stroud, guitarist for Sheryl Crow, rocked the kickoff of "Today's" Summer Concert Series with a blue mist model, and guitarist Andy Abad strummed a copper model from Gibson USA for Marc Anthony's "I've Got You" video and on "The Rosie O'Donnell Show." Abad's been playing his Firebird consistently while on tour with Anthony this summer.

"We borrowed it for the video, and when I plugged it in, it was exactly what I was looking for," says Abad. "The Firebird is really cool, because it has such a retro tone - it sounds as cool as it looks. It's like a low-rider or something."

The solidbody Firebird guitars were originally developed in 1963 by Ray Dietrich, a well-known automotive designer, who reversed conventional guitar design by making the treble-side horn longer than the bass horn. The headstock was also reversed, with the tuners on the treble side. Banjo-style tuners came straight out of the back of the headstock to simplify the tuning process. The first four models debuted in 1963 with a new set of custom colors created just for them. The revolutionary guitar helped revitalize Gibson and make it an influential leader in the production of electric guitars in the mid-'60s.

Gibson was in the process of refining the design, by switching the tuners to the bass side of the headstock, when Fender claimed infringement on its offset-waist body design. Gibson then redesigned the Firebird with a "non-reverse" style in 1965, with a shorter body, bass horn longer than treble horn and conventional set neck (the originals had a neck-through-body design). The new shape did not catch on, however, and the model disappeared after 1969. After several reincarnations through the decades, the original reverse-body Firebird has been in regular production since 1990, and the non-reverse model was reintroduced this year by Gibson's Custom, Art & Historic division. In the spirit of the originals, the 2002 Firebirds have a new set of custom finish colors. The Gibson USA Firebird VII offering includes Blue Mist, Copper Metallic and Red Metallic finishes. The Custom non-reverses are available in pthalo blue, cardinal red and antique natural finishes. There's also a Custom limited edition non-reverse Firebird Plus with swirled nitrocellulose finishes and the long neck tenon found on historic reissues.

Kenny Olson, guitarist for Kid Rock, is a longtime Firebird man. "Since I was a kid, I've always been drawn in by Gibson Firebirds. I grew up seeing amazing players with the Firebird and I just always loved the sound of them and the way they looked."

Olson got two 1965 models, a Firebird V and a Firebird VII, from Gibson's Custom division and put them to good use. "I ended up using them on the tail end of a lot of stuff on the latest Kid Rock record, Cocky. As soon as I got them, I was just blown away and I immediately had to go into the studio and use them on some of the tracks," he explains.

Gem Archer, guitarist for English band Oasis, has been playing Firebird VIIs almost exclusively while on tour in support of their latest album, Heathen Chemistry. Axeman Stevie Van Zandt jammed on a Firebird VII with the E Street Band during Bruce Springsteen's recent surprise concert from Convention Hall in Asbury Park, NJ. Even "The Great White Way" is not immune - guitarist Kevin Kuhn has been strumming a Firebird V in The Lion King Broadway Musical.

Numerous other guitar enthusiasts attest to the Firebird's healthy rebound in popularity. For now, it looks like this 'Bird, once in danger of extinction, will continue to bring the funky retro tone and wild colors to future generations of axemen.