"I hadn't realized I was so important to so many people." Scotty Moore

Beatles producer Sir George Martin recently opened his famous North London Air Studios to celebrate. Rock legends Jack Bruce, Jimmy Page, Gary Moore, Alvin Lee, Jeff Beck, Steve Howe, and Phil Manzanera came to honor a legendary inspiration and guitar hero--Scotty Moore. This exclusive event commemorated the launch of the latest Gibson signature guitar - the Scotty Moore model - based on the original ES-295. This was the guitar Scotty Moore played on all his early recordings with 'The Blue Moon Boys' fronted by a young singer named Elvis Presley.

The first of the new 'Scotty Moore' instruments was presented to the guitarist himself at the party by Henry Juszkiewicz, Gibson CEO. "We are delighted to bring Scotty to London as part of our launch celebration - he is an acknowledged guitar legend and subsequent 'greats', like Keith Richards, Mark Knopfler and George Harrison give Scotty as the reason they took up the instrument," said Juszkiewicz. As Richards said recently, "Scotty Moore was the mid-wife at the birth of rock 'n' roll." Said a humble Scotty Moore, "I hadn't realized I was so important to so many people."

At Air Studios an invited audience of Gibson friends and supporters witnessed Scotty's trademark licks as heard on the great rock classics such as 'That's All Right Mama', 'Heartbreak Hotel', 'Blue Suede Shoes' and 'Hound Dog'. Scotty was accompanied by DJ Fontana, Elvis's original drummer, and their band. Soon a jam riot broke out with Howe, Moore, Lee, and Bruce among others taking the stage with Scotty.

Gibson Guitars, in their 105th year, remains an American icon. Their new office at 21 Denmark Street, London, displays a large quantity of their finest instruments for use by Gibson artists in recording sessions, video shoots and live performances. It will also be the central co-coordinating point for artist liaison and assistance in Europe, supporting the existing offices in Paris and Hamburg.

Named after Scotty Moore, the legendary guitarist who played with Elvis Presley and became his first manager, the signature guitars mark the start of an aggressive campaign by the Nashville-based company to step up sales across Europe.

Scotty Moore & Elvis drummer D.J. Fontana

Scotty hits licks with Phil Manzanera (Roxy Music)