“She told me, ‘That Les Paul’s too heavy for you, honey. You’re not gonna be able to do that.’ So she took me to Norm’s Rare Guitars”: When Bonnie Raitt took Melissa Etheridge guitar shopping – and convinced her to swap her Les Paul for a Strat

Bonnie Raitt and Melissa Etheridge jam together onstage in 2000.

Melissa Etheridge had no shortage of heroes growing up, and like any other young guitarist, those inspirations shaped the way she played the guitar.

In a recent interview with Guitar Player, Etheridge revealed who was on her pantheon of greats. It was easy. There were a trio of players that summed up everything she wanted to do with the instruments.