“There was the greatest guestlist in rock history – Jimmy Page, B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Ronnie Wood, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Neil Young”: Jimmy Rip was a session man in demand by Mick Jagger and Tom Verlaine – then came a rock ’n’ roll icon

Jimmy Rip.

Jimmy Rip isn’t sure he has a signature sound. “I’ve never looked for one,” he says. “People do say they can tell it’s me on a recording. I can’t! I’m always trying to change according to the situation I’m in.”

The New York City native adds: “I used to practice to the radio, spinning that dial like a roulette wheel. I was always trying to mold to the music; I had a studio musician’s way of thinking about it even then.”