Paul Gilbert

Paul Gilbert (November 6, 1966) was the former guitarist for the band Mr. Big. After he parted ways with the group in 1996, Gilbert pursued his career as a solo guitarist and has evolved into a successful solo artist/singer/songwriter. He

Paul Gilbert (November 6, 1966) was the former guitarist for the band Mr. Big. After he parted ways with the group in 1996, Gilbert pursued his career as a solo guitarist and has evolved into a successful solo artist/singer/songwriter. He formed a group called Racer X in the 80's, but currently he is soloing.

Born in Carbondale, Illinois, he started playing guitar at the age of 5, but soon gave up, becoming frustrated with just learning simple nursery rhymes. Around age 11, he took up the guitar again, but with a skewed memory of the technique; he played only with upstrokes, and only used his middle finger to fret notes. Frustrated after trying to play a fast metal song with a galloping rhythm using this technique, he took lessons, and his teacher explained the error of his ways. His technique corrected, Gilbert continued practicing, and by the age of 15 he was not only touring local clubs with his band Tau Zero but was even spotlighted in Guitar Player magazine alongside fellow up-and-comer Yngwie Malmsteen.