Les Paul proud of American-made friends

With the release of the all-star tribute album Les Paul & Friends: American Made World Played on August 30, 2005, some of the best-known guitarists from the rock era are paying tribute to music-industry icon Les Paul. Through their playing -- and more importantly, through their friendship -- artists including Keith Richards from the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Peter Frampton, and Reverend Billy F. Gibbons from ZZ Top are showing the world just how much Les Paul means to them. Les Paul told us that he can hear his influence in their playing, but he's just as proud that they've moved forward with whatever they learned from him: "They've taken the, the licks and the ideas and applied 'em differently, so it's very amusing, or very interesting, to me to see how they've changed it and made it work, made it so new and different. It's always a pleasure to hear someone creating something new."

American Made, World Played also has Les Paul disciples including Joe Perry from Aerosmith, Neal Schon from Journey, Steve Miller, and Jeff Beck, among others.

The album is part of the 90th birthday celebration of Paul's life and legacy, which also included the Songwriters Hall Of Fame giving him the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award back in June -- on what was his actual 90th birthday.

Les Paul still does two shows at the Iridium jazz club in New York City every Monday night.
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