“I went to this very posh house in Regent’s Park in London, knocked on the door and this 16-year-old American kid held it up. I said, ‘It’s a red guitar – I’ll have it!’” How Phil Manzanera got his trademark Roxy Music Gibson Firebird

Phil Manzanera of Roxy Music performs on stage at The O2 Arena during their 50th Anniversary Tour, on October 14, 2022 in London, England.

Phil Manzanera’s musical life has been closely tied to a very specific vintage electric guitar, which has been by the Roxy Music hero’s side for the majority of his career. It’s seen countless stages and can be heard on every single album Manzanera has ever recorded.

We’re talking, of course, about his red Gibson Firebird – and in the new issue of Guitarist, Manzanera takes a trip down memory lane and tells the story of how he got it in the first place.