Dave Grohl Pays Trini Lopez Tribute
Today, the world sadly lost yet another legend: singer-guitarist Trini Lopez. The former musician, actor and star of Robert Aldrich’s 1967 film The Dirty Dozen died on Tuesday (August 11) from complications linked to COVID-19.
Dave Grohl has paid tribute to the guitar legend and actor, thanking him for “unknowingly” shaping the sound of Foo Fighters from the band’s very inception. He recalled that he purchased a red 1967 Trini Lopez signature guitar while still with Nirvana, and has used it in the studio for every Foo Fighters record to date.
He says the Gibson Trini Lopez ES-335 helped him transition from Nirvana to the Foos, and that it’s “the one six-string that has stuck with me” for years now. It’s a guitar that’s been present during all the band’s recording sessions, and has even been featured in a number of music videos throughout the years.
The ES-335 was originally designed by Trini Lopez, and is known for its diamond-shaped body holes and Firebird-style headstock shape. It was released in the late 1960s and is considered a classic among guitarists.
As a singer, Lopez had hits such as If I Had a Hammer and Lemon Tree. He performed at the club PJ’s in Hollywood, California, and later signed with Reprise Records.
His first album, Trini Lopez Live at PJ’s, was recorded in 1963 and included the hits If I Had a Hammer and Lemon Tree. The album also included several other covers, including “La Bamba” and “Sweet Caroline.”
Aside from his recording career, Lopez also made an appearance in the 1967 movie The Dirty Dozen starring Buddy Holly and Rodgers and Hammerstein. The movie was a major hit and helped Lopez become a household name in the United States.
In the film, he played Pedro Jiminez. He had a long career as a singer, and his work earned him several awards. He starred in two films, The Dirty Dozen and A Night of Drums, in which he had a lead role.
He also designed a series of guitars for Gibson, which became popular among musicians. The Trini Lopez Standard ES-335 was launched in 1964, and the DG-335 model, which is similar to it but features diamond-shaped body holes and a unique headstock shape, was introduced in 2007.
As for the Foo Fighters guitarist’s own signature Gibson DG-335 guitar, the design of this instrument is inspired by his prized Trini Lopez. This model has been crafted by the Gibson Custom Shop and comes in a metalic gold finish.
It’s a great guitar that has been with the band for years and will remain with them for many more to come. It’s an essential piece of gear for any guitarist, and it was a big part of the sound that Foo Fighters have been known for since their debut.
The original Trini Lopez ES-335 is an iconic guitar and remains his favorite for recording, but Grohl has many other guitars that he uses on tours. He has several different Les Pauls and SGs, but prefers to keep the Trini Lopez at home so that it won’t be damaged.