Jim/J.J./Jimi Humble was born in a bar in Liverpool and
quickly put his stamp on the 80’s British metal scene with his
extremely loud, non-melodic guitar style. Scores of British
guitarists, including Spinal Tap’s
Nigel Tufnel, list Jimi as a major influence and source of
inspiration. His first band, The Pittsburgh Steelers, scored a
number one hit with their rendition of the song “Iron
Man”. The music magazine Metal Hedge called his
playing “a dissonant note in an otherwise harmonic
world”. Assuming this to be some sort of compliment, Jimi
formed the band Van Humble, which went on to huge success with six
quasi-platinum albums and sold-out Japanese tours. He also left
his mark as a studio musician by recording tracks for the Australian
band Frogfinger. With little left to accomplish in the music
scene, Jimi dedicated himself over the next decade to the study of
botany. Having pushed botany to its limits, Jimi is making a
comeback as a founding member of Pastel Black, the loudest band in
Winona.
His credits include the invention of the 13-string
guitar which, as Jimi puts it, is “one better than a
12-string”. He is also credited with developing an
amplifier modification which allows his amps to go to 11 and,
coincidentally, is also “one better”.
