The Guitar Player Questionnaire goes where the typical interview doesn't. Here’s what we asked Greta Van Fleet’s Jake Kiszka.
What’s the first song you played well on the guitar?
It was either the Stones’ “Paint it Black or “House of the Rising Sun” by the Animals.
What is the one song you still can’t play well?
Jimi Hendrix’s “The Wind Cries Mary.” I’m still trying.
Which other instrument do you wish you could play?
The erhu and the guqin. They’re both Chinese instruments that I bought recently. I’m going to try to get them on the next record.
Best concert you ever saw?
About 10 years ago, I saw Mumford and Sons, and they were exceptional. Buddy Guy was pretty great too.
If you could play like any other guitarist, who would it be?
Hendrix. He set the standard.
A song comes on the radio and you pull over to listen to it. What song is it?
“Edge of Seventeen” by Stevie Nicks. Also, any early song by Fleetwood Mac.
What one song makes you immediately change the radio station?
Most likely, it would be some pop song I’ve heard a hundred times already.
If you could change one thing about your playing, what would it be?
I’d change the physical position of my playing. I lean back too much, and it hurts my back.
What is your weirdest guitar-playing habit?
I tend to rest my pinkie between the tailpiece and bridge on my ’61 Les Paul, and it causes my finger to bleed.
What is the best band name you ever heard?
King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.
What is the worst band name you ever heard?
Foo Fighters. I was talking with Dave Grohl and he told me how much he hated the name.
What is the one song you wish you had written?
“Seven Nation Army” by the White Stripes.
Have you ever met one of your heroes and regretted it?
No. I’ve met a lot of my heroes, and they received me with open arms. I’m very grateful.
Best guitar-related purchase you ever made?
I bought a Space Echo and some late ‘70s tape machines, and they’re game changers.
Do you own too many guitars?
Yes. But I think that’s a philosophical question: Is there any such thing as “too many guitars”?
What is the most expensive piece of gear you own and never use?
A Gibson style U harp guitar. I used it once and haven’t picked it up since.
You’re asked to play at a wedding. What song will you play?
“Kick Out the Jams” by the MC5.
What song would you like played at your funeral?
“Seed of Memory” by Terry Reid.
What is your favorite music movie?
The Sound of Music. I watched it again recently, and it absolutely holds up.
What is the one band or artist everybody loves that you just don’t get?
Probably some highly consumed pop artist that I can’t comprehend on a performance level.
Band or artist you love that nobody else knows?
José González. He’s a brilliant guitarist who’s in a band called Junip. Also, there’s Dylan LeBlanc, another great guitarist.
Which guitarist – living or dead – do you wish you could jam with?
I gotta say Hendrix. If I could play with his ghost, I’d steal from him.
Do you still own your first guitar?
I don’t. It was an SG and somebody stole it. I’m still hunting it down.
Your house is on fire. Do you actually run in to save a guitar?
In light of the previous question, I think I would. I’d want to save my ’61 Les Paul, which I call my “Beloved.”
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