Anyone Can Play Guitar

Album: Pablo Honey (1993)
Charted: 32
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • In this song Yorke heaps scorn on desperate wannabes who seek validation via rock stardom.
  • According to Q magazine April 2008 everyone in the studio, from band to catering staff was roped in to play guitar. The track was then cut up and added to the arrangement.
  • This was released as a single prior to "Creep" becoming a hit and failed to chart.
  • Thom Yorke got the idea for the famous line "I wanna be Jim Morrison" after seeing Oliver Stone's movie The Doors. The line is meant to convey Yorke's dissatisfaction with the mythical status Morrison is given. This was made clear in the band's appearance at the MTV Beach House, where they played this song, and Yorke sang, "Maybe if I grow my hair I can become Jim Morrison," before shouting "Fat! Ugly! Dead!" >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Andrew - St. John's, Canada
  • Jonny Greenwood played guitar with a paintbrush on this song.
  • Jonny Greenwood: "I never listened to guitar playing in any band, ever, I still don't, really. Worshiping guitarists is all buying guitar magazines. Anybody can play guitar, but writing songs is a far harder challenge. I'd rather idolize someone like Elvis Costello than I would Steve Vai." >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France, for above 2

Comments: 7

  • A Paranoid Android from Vancouver, CanadaFAT. UGLY. DEAD.
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation'Which is why Jim Morrison is given a tough time in the new single and video? - Thom Yorke: "Jim Morrison was a bimbo. He was great looking and stuff and took loads of drugs and girls loved him, but his poetry just f--king sucked. The day they brought out a book of his poetry, it was all over. It's not art, it's pop music."' [NME, February 13, 1993]
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia Federation'Which is why Jim Morrison is given a tough time in the new single and video? - "Jim Morrison was a bimbo. He was great looking and stuff and took loads of drugs and girls loved him, but his poetry just f--king sucked. The day they brought out a book of his poetry, it was all over. It's not art, it's pop music."' [NME, February 13, 1993]
  • Deethewriter from Saint Petersburg, Russia FederationThom discusses the band's single 'Anyone Can Play Guitar' (and Melody Maker 'Single Of The Week') - "The song is an attack on people who think that growing their hair long and wearing tight leather trousers constitutes being a rock star - and God, it doesn't. It's such an easy way to market yourself." [NME, February 13, 1993]
  • Ellie from Melbourne, AustraliaRadiohead just lost a fan no one messes with jim morrison!
  • Bee from Malibu, CaAnyone can "Play" guitar,
    but can anyone really "Play" guitar?
  • Jordan from Toronto, OnI love this song. The message it gives is amazing a so true. Anyone can PLAY guitar, what matters is what you do with it.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson

Supertramp founder Roger HodgsonSongwriter Interviews

Roger tells the stories behind some of his biggest hits, including "Give a Little Bit," "Take the Long Way Home" and "The Logical Song."

Hardy

HardySongwriter Interviews

The country hitmaker talks about his debut album, A Rock, and how a nursery rhyme inspired his hit single "One Beer."

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" Album

Arrested For Your Art - The Story Of 2 Live Crew's "Obscene" AlbumSong Writing

In the summer of 1990, you could get arrested for selling a 2 Live Crew album or performing their songs in Southern Florida. And that's exactly what happened.

Weird Al Yankovic

Weird Al YankovicFact or Fiction

Did Al play on a Beach Boys record? Did he have beef with George Lucas and Coolio? See if you can spot weird but true stories.

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien Songs

The Truth Is Out There: A History of Alien SongsSong Writing

The trail runs from flying saucer songs in the '50s, through Bowie, blink-182 and Katy Perry.

Michelle Branch

Michelle BranchSongwriter Interviews

Michelle Branch talks about "Everywhere," "The Game Of Love," and her run-in with a Christian broadcasting network.