The blues guitarist who prefers British legends to American icons

Countries & Cities · Published 12 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: While most blues players look to the Mississippi Delta, Joe Bonamassa found his soul in the UK. From opening for B.B. King at age twelve to commanding a massive collection of vintage gear, his path reveals a fascinating reversal of musical tradition.

Born in New York in 1977, Joe Bonamassa’s musical identity was shaped less by American bluesmen and more by the British and Irish blues-rock explosion. Influenced by the sophisticated approach of artists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Peter Green, Bonamassa often found the English interpretation of the genre more resonant than the traditional American style. This preference was rooted in his childhood, where his father exposed him to the works of legends like Cream and John Mayall.

His career is marked by extraordinary commercial milestones and a deep commitment to the genre's infrastructure. Since 2000, he has released seventeen solo studio albums through his independent label, J&R Adventures. He holds a record-breaking 29 No. 1 blues albums, a figure that reaches 30 when including the 2026 collaborative project, B.B. King's Blues Summit 100. Beyond his solo work, he supports the community through the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation and his label, KTBA Records, which has hosted artists like Dion.

Despite his massive success, Bonamassa remains a 'gearhead' with a specific, sometimes controversial, philosophy. He maintains the 'Bona-seum,' a collection that has included over 400 guitars and 400 amplifiers. While he prizes vintage instruments—such as his 1951 Fender Telecaster, 'The Bludgeon'—he is famously critical of the modern reliance on effects pedals, calling the trend of using 'boxes' to mask a lack of playing skill 'lazy' and 'insulting' to the craft of musicianship.

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