Bill Kirchen - "Hot Rod Lincoln" in Washington D.C. *UPGRADED*

NOW IN HD!
Bill pays tribute to all the old school players while getting sound effects aplenty from his Fender in this live version of his hit single from 1972.

[@mex.tzgi0]

THAT MY GRAND DAD!!!!!! ILY G-PA

[@mex.tzgi0]

Shoot i didnt think anyone would like my comment-

[@creatrixanima]

Your grand dad rocked the house in Montclair, NJ last night!

[@johnmoyer5515]

Pretty cool g pop

[@alexnetick1834]

I can't believe anybody could not like this.

[@clarkburr]

My thoughts exactly

[@emkkahn]

This 10 minutes is way better than most stadium concerts I've gone to....

[@robbiegadeguitar]

This guy is a friiggin' human music library. What a talent.

[@Davedidntdoit]

Damn right. I have 5 or 6 autographed CD's by Bill.

[@JohnDoe-pm3oq]

@@Davedidntdoit : my apologies to Bill K and you. Accidentally clicked the wrong thumb.

[@kermitthefrog3589]

@@JohnDoe-pm3oq what

[@marcoabreo6506]

Save some cheek for everyone Robbie

[@joemcdonald9881]

He played this at my wedding. Great guy.

[@user-fp4ul7ut8m]

Bill Kirchen was my guitar teacher! I’m working on an opera!

[@mex.tzgi0]

NICEE

[@roykressin8229]

just a snare and sticks for the drum kit and it's perfect

[@joshuagallman7549]

i was hoping bill would of tooken that guitar and knocked that smile off the stand up bass player, I mean, he has sideburns,

[@tonepoet]

Bills giving a vital music history lesson. For free. Can't beat that.

[@Davedidntdoit]

He' one of the best. Of his contemporaries from the late 60's early 70's only Clarence White was better.

[@shannonmcsurely6956]

This seems to be his wonderful norm

[@jrscottweaver8161]

Bill Kirchen the original guitarist for Commander Cody and the Lost Planet Airmen and their 1972 hit "Hot Rod Lincoln" from the "Lost In The Ozone" album.

[@roddymoore]

Not only a master of the telecaster but a great entertainer and from what I here, a good person too.

[@christinagrimmiewasanactiv1847]

This guy is the rolodex of guitar songs.

[@harrykaplan]

IWT. I worked in that plaza and Bill playing that bandshell was the highlight of my year. What a great performer and more importantly, a great human!

[@coaltrain4423]

Bill Kirchen is a legend for sure.

[@CamboMaka]

Met this man in Jersey about 15 years ago. Nicest guy. Waited on his table at Jimmy's in Asbury, and he was kind enough to comp me a ticket to that night's show. Band SHREDDED. Thanks Bill :)

[@Davedidntdoit]

What a guy!!

[@jacobbuxton932]

That’s awesome. Great place too

[@e.w.johnsiii7334]

He was so cool when I've seen him at a couple of places in Johnson City TN. He's coming in January, jamming with Redd Volkaert. Tele-Attack!

[@user-fj1zp5cg6c]

I would never tell anyone that I was North of the Mason-Dixon. Actually I would not ever go North of the Mason-D🎉ixon. I have not ever lost anything up there. But I wish everyone that has brought their rumps South would carry their rumps back up there.

[@FenderJazzStudent]

The man is an all-around musical magician!!

[@LutherAmosHouse]

I’ve watched this 50 times at least, Kirchen is a guitar genius!!! 40 years on this planet and barely hear about musicians like this. Chances are he’s your favorite guitar player’s favorite guitar player

[@scottbostic6247]

Love it. Could not have said it better

[@SafetyMentalst]

"Hot Rod Lincoln" Cars go faster than a mind can think Follow to close you'll hit a brake light So always signal your blinkers do blink Night driving requires lights on bright And rethink having to much to Drink

[@starjunkie2804]

That is a BAAAD BAAAD man right there. Dangerous. I've never seen anybody play it like that before.

[@greggtrubee9565]

Too Much Fun.... Lived in Dc for 11 years. Seen his band several times. Plays around the area.

[@cbroz7492]

WOW!!! This dude is a year older than me...I'm 72...

[@cster9261]

I saw him when I was a kid he signed my cd the talent still amazing to me every time listen to it

[@marcelneuts]

Lijkt allemaal zo makkelijk.... tof!

[@kdeltatube]

Holy cow, I like this guy, a cornucopia of talent and songs. All from a little Telecaster

[@michaelsorrentino7409]

HOW CAN YOU NOT "LOVE BILL'S MUSIC" ????

[@Instramark]

Easy. Total cringe crap.

[@triviaone1]

Thanks to "Too Much Too Soon" radio for introducing me to this marvel

[@nellayema2455]

He's a bloody legend! Tearing it up!

[@maxmason6053]

Could watch Bill for hours...........amazing talent and a riot to listen to.

[@rdouglass]

Now that's the whole package. Amazing guitarist and outstanding performer. One more word-"wow".

[@cartwright420able]

And there my friends is the history of the guitar. Thanks Bill!

[@cbroz7492]

This guy is perhaps the greatest GI-tar player you never heard of...

[@michaelsorrentino7409]

BILL COULD HAVE PLAYED WITH ANY BAND IN THE WORLD!! BUT KEPT IT SIMPLE !! AND HUMBLE !!

[@ChrisB-xm3mg]

And he already knows all their music...

[@tomlis123]

@@ChrisB-xm3mg Always catch him when he comes to Chicago

[@MrRiverfeverwa]

Just saw Bill in Austin. He was AWESOME!

[@Geeman002]

Love the way Bill handles a telecaster. I wish I could get up to 1/4 of his speed.

[@Davedidntdoit]

Me too!!

[@ronweinstock1557]

I was at this show. Bill lived in the DMV for years and made regular stops after he moved to Austin.

[@mikemagnum7987]

43 people disliked this video and put on display the fact that there are 43 people in this world that are without souls......With that being said, Commander Cody is the King of Rockabilly and one of the great Guitar Players of our time. Thank you for posting this video! Bill has been going strong for 50 years and brings it ALL when he comes to your stage! Guitar pickers who look down at the Telecaster haven't learned how to play a guitar!

[@realmcqoy5341]

I am envious truly when I saw the talent magnitude level of this guy; I only saw this one video so far. I own a Tele myself, but I play rock.

[@Logan-wv8qf]

Mike Magnum- Proof That 43 Zombies already exist!!

[@Davedidntdoit]

They must not like or appreciate good music. Bill is the rock icon, rock & roll legend, King of Dieselbilly, Country music legend, Honk Tonk Hero, Austin, TX music guru, Honorary Texan, Texas Music Giant & links the young hippies to their music roots & old hippies to the uoung.

[@starjunkie2804]

Those 43 are all millenials. They wouldn't know great music if they stumbled onto a site like this. They'd rather see Justin Bieber strumming 3 open chords (D,C,A) for 2 hours and waiting on his next album. They should save their money cuz it all sounds the same! I swear, I can't tell any of them apart blindfolded!

[@media1groupDC]

Haters ALWAYS HATE because they have nothing else!

[@jpol3808]

Gotta love that guy because he just plain loves what he does and he puts on a great show indeed! ,,👍

[@tyger7406]

That HAS to be the most amazing display of guitar playing I have ever seen!

[@Davedidntdoit]

Seen him several times in Texas. It's always lights out! That's not just a Fender, it's the Hammer of the Honky TONK Gods!!

[@yojanelsoto1201]

this GUY is awsome

[@acousticshadow4032]

Saw BK do this number in a New London CT club about 20 years ago, and he tore up the joint. Great stuff!

[@TheOpinionatedGuitarist]

As long as I live I will never cease to be amazed or fail to be intrigued by the continuous number of amazing, yet almost unknown AWESOME guitar players there are all around the world! I just found out about this guy today on a Stewart-McDonald guitar repair video of all places and now I'm blown away once again!!!

[@ShotOfSelf]

Todd Hooper 4 years later, that’s exactly how I found him. Just got a telecaster as well so I’ll grab all his licks quick and then spend a lifetime on Danny Gatton!

[@Davedidntdoit]

Bill has been one of the rock guitar Icons since he broke into the rock scene as a Lost Planet Airmen with Commander Cody.

[@danakirkwood7516]

@@Davedidntdoit That's right. an Icon

[@rockinredneck57]

50 years ago this year I first heard Bill with Commander Cody. Truly legendary band. A bunch of long haired college boys playing revved up country music. They didn't write Hot Rod Lincoln but they made ur famous.

[@cbroz7492]

Yup...me too..stumbled onto him...greatest GI-TAR play you never heard of

[@rickroche8860]

Great show! A musician with a sense of humor, for a change! Hats off to the great workout by the rhythm section!

[@SafetyMentalst]

"Hot Rod Lincoln" Cars go faster than a mind can think Follow to close you'll hit a brake light So always signal your blinkers do blink Night driving requires lights on bright And rethink having to much to Drink

[@bobwallace1880]

Saw Bill at Gruene Hall in New Braunfels Tx few years ago. No cover but he did hawk his "Kerchindise" . Fabulous show, very nice man. No roadies unloaded his stuff himself.

[@AutumnMoth]

Bill was in the Lost Planet Airmen and he almost always introduces it that way. Cody is cool with it, and Bill has changed the words. Either way it has lived on through Bill since Cody doesn't play very often anymore. He tells the whole story on one live recording about how the song became popular. \

[@knuckle47]

Saw this back in 1973 or1974 with Commander Cody ... yep, this man is fluid

[@LRBerry]

I only found the amazing Bill Kirchen today on a Stew-Mac video of him talking about his guitar and reversed controls. What an absolutely fantastic player he is.

[@dr.sminty7781]

I stumbled across this and I am glad I did. That was pretty damn good.

[@alext.1459]

Wow wow wow!!!!!!!! My favourite tele player.!!

[@bobkonradi1027]

At 0:37 in the song, he says, "its got 8 cylinders and uses 'em all..." The actual song as written by Charlie Ryan says, "its got 12 cylinders and uses 'em all.." I've seen the actual car, I watched it go over the auction block at Barrett-Jackson's January auction in Scottsdale some years ago. Its a V-12 Lincoln Zephyr engine. The history of the car is that it was a V12 Lincoln Zephyr, Charlie Ryan bought the whole car and shortened the frame so he could adapt a Ford Model A coupe body on to it. There are videos of the man who bought the car for $105,000 plus buyer's premium driving the car in parades, and it shows the V12 engine. For these reasons, I do not know why Bill Kirchen and others would arbitrarily change the wording of the song from a V12 engine to a V8 engine.

[@eeboy1778]

I can’t believe this. I was born in ‘52 and grew up loving people like Eric Clapton with Cream; Peter Green; Jeff Beck; Paul Kossoff. Over the past few years I’ve discovered some fabulous players on KZbin such as Lari Basilio, Jack Thammarat, Vinai Trinitapakdee. And in the space of the last few days I have come across Louie Shelton, and this gentleman - Bill Kirchen. These last two just floor me. Shows what incredible talent there was on some of the most “poppy” records we have listened to over the years....

[@jwosborne4262]

An absolutely funny dude! I love the impressions of EVERYBODY!!!!!

[@MechWarrior894]

Gotta love that Rockabilly, I hope some day that I'll get off of Rock Band and carry on that legacy.

[@CopperSound]

I worked at that building from 2003-2003 for the EPA. In the window above the stage is a conference room. I got lucky in there. And this guitar player , Bill Kirchen, has magic in his soul. He captures it well. Thank you for the music Bill!!!

[@Davedidntdoit]

Damn right!!

[@KJensenStudio]

omgs...what a hambone! I love Bill Kirchen so much, and kudos to his back ups for keeping up with his changes.

[@skelter1153]

Well, he's having fun up there! That's great. Entertaining.

[@jgmusic81]

I just saw him tonight at The Troubadour in London and it was most amazing show☺

[@countvond233]

Damn. That is being entertained. Inviting your audience in. We need more Bill K's in the world.

[@Davedidntdoit]

Damn right!! My hero's are Bill Kirchen & Dr. Timothy Leary!

[@markg1051]

Don't know how many times I've watched and listened to this, it never fails to put a big grin on my face!

[@paliazzar]

Great! Glad you enjoy it!

[@mearkitek3773]

Just got hip to this vid. Thanks a bunch Bill Kirchen! You play that tele like it's 1966!!

[@catherinephonevalencia2937]

Commander Cody and Bill are forever fantastic. I shall forever love them!!

[@robochop65]

The drummer is slicker than snot on a door knob! Love it!!

[@The_worst_alchamists]

I would kill to play this good

[@clairewyndham1971]

Long live Rock-a-billy!

[@jackboot3946]

I think rockabilly might be named after this guy.😊

[@margaretmcinroe265]

Need anyone say more? Thank you Bill and Commander Cody and all of the songs that lead us through the worst of times to the very best hits of Rock and Roll. Public Service Announcement from Penn Station area. #savepennstationarea NYC loves you! Going back to the old days of driving herds outta town

[@jezebeljones659]

Some ultra-cool dudes, of whom Bill is the coolest!

[@saddleweary2777]

Man what a ride.❤️❤️❤️

[@diegoayala11]

dang ` enjoyed this a bunch. just came up randomly. 2011 post -

[@exilemike]

He's badass,and a nice guy.He actually remembered me from seeing and talking with him at the previous show the year before.

[@Davedidntdoit]

Wow!!

[@Jrc-sb2lo]

Rock n roll history in 10 minutes or less!!!!!

[@143ht9ball]

Saw the CC & the Lost Planet Airmen band many times in the early 70 in the South Bay area near San Jose. CC is the finest piano player like Jerry Lee Lewis! BUT Bill didn't really get to be the Guitar Hero until many years later with his 3 piece Band. So happy for him and everyone that listens to HIS version of Hot Rod Lincoln. Everyone over 60 recognizes all these "Licks from the Past". This is his "Masterpiece!"

[@dannygjk]

Why can't I like this 99 times HUH!?

[@Davedidntdoit]

You can. It never gets old.

[@paulholding2011]

Go Bill, wicked player👌👍🎩

[@ericmelia5828]

I gave Bill a bumper sticker years ago from : Red Knuckles and his trail blazers... it read "I'm a Knucklehead" Bill likes "Hot Rize"

[@raveon09]

two big thumbs up!Bill is an American treasure.

[@pietop55]

I never grow tired of this great talent!!

[@chandravene]

If you put thumbs down on this, you got no soul, no sense of humor, & NO TASTE!

[@rickmalarky9878]

Too Cool! Love the electric guitar sounds!!

[@LutherAmosHouse]

Titan of the Telly! The way he blended all those riffs together was awesome. I’ve been playing for 28 years and just recently learned of Kirchen (sadly), a new guitar hero for me.

[@Njnnetwork]

God I got way too much to learn before it's all over

[@ams7224]

We saw Bill do this at the Oak Grove Music Festival in Staunton, VA a few summers ago! He is fantastic!!!!

[@johnkeimig3025]

My only regret is that I can only LIKE this version once! I heard Weasel play it on his Wild Weekend on WTMD one evening, and my love of this old song was born again.

[@kmonz90]

always puts a big smile on my face :)

[@jimwortham8634]

Hot rod Lincoln ETC so glad I clicked made my day

[@davidmoore7647]

Bill Kirchen is an amazing player!!!

[@jsres838]

Wonderful

[@boataxe4605]

I love how the tires are only “Fair”.

[@ARichardP]

Always loved that they were just fair.

[@tomfields3682]

As in "good enough"!

[@boataxe4605]

@@tomfields3682 Yeah, and it’s better than having good tires and “fair” brakes!

[@MrJackchap]

Bill is the man

[@m.leblanc1911]

Fantastic, amazing to hear all those artists coming out of one guitar. Whoa!

[@patrickmurphy5338]

A living legend

[@seabrookthemagnificent9580]

That was a blast!!!

[@dvh065]

Love it, I listen to all types of music that he played include the Bluegrass.

[@mikedwyer9845]

Amazing Talent

[@jrscottweaver8161]

Outstanding and a whole lot of fun. This comment coming from Grand Rapids Michigan.

[@shannonmcsurely6956]

melting my butter,Bill!-LOVE LOVE LOVE

[@thedevilinthecircuit1414]

See him live soon! He plays a trombone solo. Really.

[@dawndare3949]

Wow blown away!

[@arneyhern3768]

i saw him in wv most amazing show ever

[@dickie538]

Thanks so much Bill.your doinit.

[@tracykingston9668]

certainly has mastered the electric guitar.

[@dawndare3949]

LOVED this. Wish I was there!

[@geofredotappan9777]

Very eclectic mix

[@MrSteplaza]

Great! Play this every now and again. Really fun!