Link Wray, pioneer of distortion and the power chord, was called ‘the Rumble Man.’ On February 10, 1959 Link Wray and his Ray men performed his controversial instrumental “Rumble” on Dick Clark’s “American Bandstand.”
“Rumble” has the distinction of being the only instrumental song ever banned for radio play in the U.S. The offensiveness, apparently, had to do with the fear that the song might incite gang violence.
Link Wray ‘s original single from vinyl, along with the opening street scene from the 1957 Delicate Delinquent movie by Jerry Lewis. Rumble came later in 1958.
Jimmy Page talking about “Rumble”.
A documentary of Link Wray.
Ted's Music Studio 