"Securing the Iconic Gibson Firebird: Phil Manzanera's Roxy Music Journey"

# Phil Manzanera’s Red Gibson Firebird: A Rock Star’s Retrospective

Phil Manzanera, the iconic guitarist of the legendary band Roxy Music, has a life story that is closely linked to his beloved red Gibson Firebird guitar. In this exclusive interview with Guitarist magazine, he unveils the intriguing tale of how he landed this prized possession.

## 1973: A Guitar That Transcends Time and Space

The story begins when Manzanera stumbled upon a classified ad in the Melody Maker, a popular magazine at that time. “This is a guitar that I found in the back of the Melody Maker,” recalls Manzanera. “I rang up, and it wasn’t in a shop or anything, it was a private individual.” Little did he know, this guitar was going to change his life forever.

## The Haunting Melody of Unheard-of Origin

The guitar’s arrival was nothing short of enigmatic. Here’s what unfolded when Manzanera went to collect his newly-found treasure – “I went to this very posh house in Regent’s Park in London, knocked on the door and this 16-year-old American kid held it up, and I said, ‘It’s a red guitar – I’ll have it!’ I didn’t even plug it in. I think it was about 120 quid, but I needed something flashy for my Roxy stint.”

## Birth from the American Legacy – To Rock Stardom

The red guitar came with a history so unique that it left Manzanera awe-struck. Unbeknownst to him, this striking piece was initially custom-ordered by the young boy’s parents in Kalamazoo, Michigan, as a birthday present. “For some extraordinary reason, he didn’t want it, or maybe it was too unwieldy, or he had given up guitar and taken up cricket or something”, expresses Manzanera, and the rest was history.

## A Red Guitar’s Unbelievable Journey

Manzanera’s timeless romance with his signature guitar unfolded over the years, becoming an integral part of his musical journey. “Not only was it my signature guitar, but I first used it on the third Roxy Music album, Stranded, in particular on the track called Amazona,” reminisces Manzanera. The peculiarly charming guitar has made an indelible mark, making its way into each of his albums, solo or otherwise.

## Uncover More Hidden Secrets

For the complete revelation of Phil Manzanera’s story and a deeper dive into his enchanted life with his Gibson Firebird, grab your copy of Guitarist Magazine from [Magazines Direct](https://www.magazinesdirect.com/az-magazines/6936509/guitarist-magazine-subscription.thtml).

Don’t miss out on Roxy Music’s hits – travel through the musical ark. [Source link](https://www.guitarworld.com/artists/guitarists/phil-manzanera-roxy-music-gibson-firebird)