Great Gifts for Guitar Players and Rock Fans

While not every musician might agree with that sentiment, it does illustrate one point. Playing or listening to great guitar music is an intense gig. So here are some unique rock n' roll gifts for your guitar god. Many of these items are unique to the web--you won't see them at the mall.

The photo is of my favorite guitar god--Kevin Brennan of The Mercury Retrograde.

Rock musicians are generally passionate souls. Sometimes difficult, often complicated and usually emotional, they live their art and record the trials of their hearts in their songbooks. From gentle ballads to heavy metal anthems, they lay their love on the line. And there is no finer example of the ability of a rock song to capture the desperation of love than Eric Clapton's monumental classic "Layla."

Clapton's raw, melodic and haunting plea to Pattie Boyd, then the wife of George Harrision, remains one of the most mesmerizing anthems of rock. The poignant piano coda, written by Jim Gorden, that comprises the second movement of the song, is masterful.

It's hard to believe it now, but when released in 1970 as the title track to Derek and the Dominoes album "Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs," this brilliant work generated little enthusiasm. Yet almost forty years later, it remains one of the defining love songs of the rock catalog.

These great gifts can be found at the Pikture Pick site shown above. Check out the site to find sets commemorating a favorite group, musician or celeb.