Sketches of ForgottenGlory

Sketches of ForgottenGlory A compendium of AI and Photoshop pencil sketches inspired by my favourite pictures of rock n' roll artists, artwork, artefacts, and anecdotes.

Ritchie Blackmore is one of the most influential guitarists in the history of hard rock and heavy metal. A founding memb...
13/08/2026

Ritchie Blackmore is one of the most influential guitarists in the history of hard rock and heavy metal. A founding member of Deep Purple in 1968, he helped create the band's powerful, classically influenced sound, contributing to landmark albums including Deep Purple in Rock, Machine Head and Made in Japan. His instantly recognisable riff to ‘Smoke on the Water’ remains one of rock's most celebrated guitar moments.

In 1975, Blackmore formed Rainbow, initially working with Ronnie James Dio and producing the highly regarded Rising and Long Live Rock ’n’ Roll. He later returned to Deep Purple for the successful Perfect Strangers era. Since 1997, Blackmore has explored Renaissance and folk music with Blackmore's Night. His adventurous playing, distinctive tone and willingness to challenge convention have secured his place among rock's true pioneers.

Mick Sweda built his reputation as one of the most distinctive guitarists to emerge from the late-1980s hard rock scene....
12/08/2026

Mick Sweda built his reputation as one of the most distinctive guitarists to emerge from the late-1980s hard rock scene. He first gained attention with the Los Angeles band King Kobra, appearing on the albums Ready to Strike and Thrill of a Lifetime, where his melodic playing and sharp songwriting stood out alongside the band’s polished arena-rock sound.

Sweda achieved his greatest commercial success as a founding member of BulletBoys. Their 1988 self-titled debut became a major success, powered by the hit single “Smooth Up in Ya,” their celebrated cover of the O'Jays “For the Love of Money,” and Sweda’s energetic guitar work, which blended bluesy riffs with flashy metal technique. Beyond performing, he also contributed heavily as a songwriter.

Although often associated with glam metal, Sweda’s style drew deeply from classic hard rock and blues influences, giving his playing a lasting appeal among rock guitar fans.

Allen Collins was one of the defining guitarists of Southern rock, best known for helping shape the twin and triple-guit...
06/08/2026

Allen Collins was one of the defining guitarists of Southern rock, best known for helping shape the twin and triple-guitar sound of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1952, he joined the group in its earliest days and became a key songwriter behind classics including Free Bird and That Smell. His fiery playing, full of speed, melody and emotion, helped turn Skynyrd into one of the biggest American rock bands of the 1970s.

Collins survived the tragic 1977 plane crash that killed Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines, Cassie Gaines, assistant road manager, Dean Kilpatrick and both pilots, but the trauma stayed with him for the rest of his life. He later performed with the Rossington Collins Band and the Allen Collins Band. The sudden death of his wife, Kathy, due to a miscarriage complication in 1980 further exacerbated his condition before a 1986 car accident left him paralysed.

Despite his struggles, he remained involved with Skynyrd’s reunion as musical director. Collins died from pneumonia complications in 1990 at just 37 years old, leaving behind a towering legacy in Southern rock.

Derek Trucks is widely regarded as one of the finest slide guitarists of his generation. A child prodigy from Jacksonvil...
05/08/2026

Derek Trucks is widely regarded as one of the finest slide guitarists of his generation. A child prodigy from Jacksonville, Florida, he formed The Derek Trucks Band while still a teenager and joined The Allman Brothers Band in 1999, helping to carry forward the group's celebrated Southern rock legacy.

In 2010, he and his wife, singer-guitarist Susan Tedeschi, founded the Tedeschi Trucks Band, whose blend of blues, soul, jazz, gospel and rock has earned widespread critical acclaim, including a Grammy Award for Revelator.

Trucks is admired for his expressive slide technique, drawing inspiration from blues legends, jazz pioneers and Indian classical music to create a distinctive sound.

His collaborations with artists including Eric Clapton, Bob Dylan and Buddy Guy further reflect his versatility. Consistently ranked among the world's greatest guitarists, Derek Trucks has become one of modern music's most respected and influential performers.

The striking cover of Freak of Nature (1993) was designed to mirror the band’s raw, untamed identity. Fronted by former ...
23/07/2026

The striking cover of Freak of Nature (1993) was designed to mirror the band’s raw, untamed identity. Fronted by former White Lion singer Mike Tramp, the group wanted to distance itself from the glamour of the 1980s and embrace a grittier, more organic hard rock sound. The artwork’s unsettling, primitive imagery reflects the shift that inspired both the band’s name and much of the album’s mood.

Official band interviews and contemporary record-label material consistently present Freak of Nature as a fresh artistic beginning rather than a continuation of Tramp’s previous success. The album marked Tramp’s first major release after White Lion’s split, allowing him complete freedom to redefine his musical direction.

Vito Bratta earned a lasting reputation as one of the finest guitarists to emerge from the 1980s hard rock scene. In 198...
22/07/2026

Vito Bratta earned a lasting reputation as one of the finest guitarists to emerge from the 1980s hard rock scene. In 1983, he co-founded White Lion with vocalist Mike Tramp, combining dazzling technique with a strong sense of melody. His inventive playing became a defining feature of albums such as Pride, Big Game and Mane Attraction, while songs including “Wait”, “When the Children Cry” and “Little Fighter” showcased his expressive solos and tasteful songwriting.

Although often compared with Eddie Van Halen, Bratta developed a distinctive style built on lyrical phrasing, precision and originality rather than imitation. Following White Lion’s split in the early 1990s, he stepped away from the music industry. While he has made extremely rare appearances and granted occasional interviews in more recent years, he largely maintained a very low profile, focusing on his family and personal life.

Even so, his influence endures, and he remains widely respected by guitarists and fans as one of the most gifted yet underrated players of the era.

During Great White's commercial peak in the late 1980s, guitarist Mark Kendall became almost as well known for his outra...
16/07/2026

During Great White's commercial peak in the late 1980s, guitarist Mark Kendall became almost as well known for his outrageous shark-shaped guitar as for his fiery blues-based solos. The striking instrument was created by special-effects artist Johnny "J Frog" Garcia, whose film work included A Nightmare on Elm Street. Built to resemble a great white shark, the guitar perfectly complemented the band's name and became an unforgettable stage prop during the MTV era.

Kendall's original shark guitar gained legendary status when television producer Dick Clark requested it for display at the Hard Rock Cafe in Hollywood in 1989. Kendall gladly donated the instrument, allowing it to become part of rock memorabilia history before it later moved to other Hard Rock locations.

The guitar later became a point of contention in 2022 when it was sold at an auction for $20,000. Kendall expressed disappointment regarding this, noting that he would not have donated it had he known it would eventually be sold for profit by the corporation.

Steve Stevens’ Flamenco.A.Go.Go marked a bold and imaginative departure from the hard rock sound that made him famous al...
15/07/2026

Steve Stevens’ Flamenco.A.Go.Go marked a bold and imaginative departure from the hard rock sound that made him famous alongside Billy Idol and Vince Neil Band. Released in 1999, the album grew from Stevens’ lifelong fascination with flamenco music, reignited after seeing legendary guitarist Paco de Lucía perform live. Stevens later explained that he wanted to move away from purely technical “shred” guitar playing and create something more emotional and atmospheric.

Rather than making a traditional flamenco record, Stevens fused Spanish acoustic guitar with rock, ambient music, electronica, drum-and-bass rhythms, world music and jazz influences. The album also incorporated loops, synthesisers and cinematic textures, giving tracks such as “Our Man in Istanbul” and “Riviera '68” a modern, adventurous feel. The result was an endlessly rewarding, stylish and deeply personal almost-instrumental album that showcased Stevens as far more than a virtuoso hard rock guitarist.

Eric Clapton’s lifelong devotion to the blues has shaped one of the most influential careers in rock music. Inspired by ...
09/07/2026

Eric Clapton’s lifelong devotion to the blues has shaped one of the most influential careers in rock music. Inspired by American blues pioneers such as Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, B.B. King and Freddie King, he developed a distinctive style built on expressive phrasing, tasteful vibrato and melodic solos rather than sheer speed.

Clapton first gained recognition with The Yardbirds before leaving to pursue a purer blues direction with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers. He then helped redefine blues rock as a founding member of Cream, later forming Blind Faith and Derek and the Dominos, whose album Layla and Other Assorted Love Songs remains a landmark recording. His solo career produced enduring classics including “Wonderful Tonight”, “Lay Down Sally” and the deeply personal “Tears in Heaven”.

Among his many honours, Clapton is the only musician inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame three times. He has won a career-spanning total of 18 Grammy Awards, received both an OBE in 1994 and a CBE in 2004, and continues to be celebrated for bringing the blues to audiences around the world while inspiring generations of guitarists.

Tom Keifer is best known as the distinctive voice, guitarist and principal songwriter of the bluesy hard rock band Cinde...
08/07/2026

Tom Keifer is best known as the distinctive voice, guitarist and principal songwriter of the bluesy hard rock band Cinderella. Formed in the Philadelphia area during the early 1980s, Cinderella rose to prominence after being signed to Mercury Records, going on to achieve multi-platinum success with albums such as Night Songs, Long Cold Winter and Heartbreak Station. Keifer’s blues-infused guitar work, gritty vocals and strong songwriting helped produce enduring hits including Nobody’s Fool, Gypsy Road and Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone).

Despite serious vocal cord problems that threatened his career in the 1990s, Keifer persevered and successfully returned to recording and touring. He later launched a solo career, releasing the acclaimed albums The Way Life Goes and Rise. With more than 15 million records sold through Cinderella and a continuing presence on the live circuit, Keifer remains one of hard rock’s most respected and resilient performers.

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