They pioneered ‘Heavy Melody’, spearheaded grunge and blazed the trail for drop D tuning – King’s X are one of rock’s most singular bands, and Ty Tabor is a master guitarist who fuses the Beatles and Jimi Hendrix in his supernova style

Bathed in red-orange stage lights, Ty Tabor plays a blue Strat onstage with King's X.

One of the most unique-sounding bands in rock, King’s X are known as one of the forebears of grunge. This trio from Missouri pioneered the use of drop D tuning, thereby introducing rock lovers to a thicker, heavier sound.

King’s X’s riffs were powerful and resonant but also had clarity thanks to guitarist Ty Tabor’s individual single-coil tone. His guitar was supported by singer-bassist Doug Pinnick’s huge, bi-amped tone, like Chris Squire on steroids.