10 Guitarists You've Never Heard Of - Sam Roberts

Sam Roberts was born in Quebec, to immigrant parents from South Africa. After spending time as a budding guitarist, by 17 he played for several bands including Grover and William. In the 90's Sam Roberts moved to Los Angeles and joined the band North Star, and tried hard to get their music to record companies, but had no success. After some time, he returned to Montreal, low on money and put out his own 12-track demo called Brother Down. Brother Down was later noticed for the remastered version with 6 songs and has since found himself at the top of Canadian charts. After his album was remastered with band members Eric (lead guitar), Dave (rhythm, vocals), James (bass) and Corey (drums), they played several small gigs and then went back to the studio. Not too long after that Sam Roberts and his band released a full 14 song CD titled We Were Born In A Flame in 2003. Shortly after releasing the album, he got to play at the Junos (Canadian Music Awards) and won Album Of The Year, which has been the height of his career so far.

Sam Roberts new CD We Were Born In A Flame defines his music as pop/rock. Sam's music resembles such styles as the Rolling Stones, The Beatles and some other old classic rock acts (Led Zeppelin and does not resemble Sam Roberts, as he would not appeal to most metal-heads). Also with his fast catchy songs like On The Run, Don't Walk Away Eileen, and Rarefied. He also has some very intelligent, whity and political lyrics in such songs as Brother Down, The Canadian Dream, Higher Learning, and Dead End.

I Recommend:

Brother Down (his best song in my opinion, but does not resemble much Classic Rock, but is very original)

On The Run

Rarefeid and Hard Road (fast catchy Rock and Roll)

Taj Mahal (a slow melodic song that has a good solo)

Were Have All The Good People Gone? and Dead End (for some pop or soft Rock)

Sam Roberts has used a Fender Strat and a Gibson SG, but usually uses a Rickenbacker 381. Eric has used a Gibson SG also, but usually uses a Fender Telecaster. Dave, who dose backup vocals and guitar, usually plays a Gibson Les Paul. Their Bassist, James plays a Rickenbacker Bass. They have used many different amps from Marshall to Fender. Most of their songs have little or no effects and they use minimal amounts of distortion.

Sam does get some radio time in Canada, but still isn't very popular in the United States. Sam and his band played in the SARS benefit concert in Toronto in 2003 along with bands like AC/DC, The Rolling Stones and Rush. Sam Roberts is, in my opinion, the best songwriter in modern music. His music is quite original. I think in a couple of years time you will be hearing much of Sam's music if you aren't already.

POSTED: 07/21/2004 - 09:40 am

+ print this article

+ mail to a friend

Comments

[BrofUJu]

First. Sam Roberts isn't that good, but good still

[chuckles_34]

^^^ agreed

[xalwaysfallingx]

never heard of him but maybe when he gets a little more well-known i will...

[dangerlives]

Speratists pour la roche ! Subsistance hors des Américains !

[starbomb13]

actually- i've heard of sam.MAybe that's because i'm from canada and his videos are played all the f*ckin' time.

[dyingforwhat]

Well since I'm in Canada, I've heard him quite a few times. Sam Roberts is a decent guitarist and his lyrics are great.

[AvixK7]

Sam Roberts is fantastic. my fav song from him is Hardroad, brother down is great too though.

The title in this case though shoudl be artists americans havne't heard of lol. because he'S very well known in Canada. And he get lots of radio play if you listen to the right station.

[HelpImARock]

I bought his EP, the Inhuman Condition. Since I live in Canada i've heard about him many a time and I like his music.

[siamesedream]

Yeah, I've heard of him too. He's one of my favorite artists. Brother Down rocks.

[GuitarGuy77]

starbomb13:
actually- i've heard of sam.MAybe that's because i'm from canada and his videos are played all the f*ckin' time.

really though haha! It almost seems weird to read that some of you guys don't know who he is. But yeah he is decent, never heard him play anything to amazing on the guitar but a good musician nonetheless!

[EpitaphMan440]

Good ol' Canadian Rocker.

[Aka55]

How the hell haven't you heard of Sam Roberts or Teppei?? C'mon... Make one about an actual guitarist no one has heard of. Both of them are incredibly popular.

[Spike6sic6]

Never heard of?Wtf?

[Psykotik]

good article

[Lint]

he's a decent guitarist and aquite a good lycrist, his music doesn't appeal to everyone though it's not trash or shredding or anything but i like him his songs are quite mellow and i like the We Were Born In a Flame CD its really good.

[corey182__]

Aka55:
How the hell haven't you heard of Sam Roberts or Teppei?? C'mon... Make one about an actual guitarist no one has heard of. Both of them are incredibly popular.

dude, no one ever talks about these ppl is what he means...they are not significantly talked about like guitarists such as Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page...but they are worthy guitarists that deserve their props..that's what he means

[hobo8917]

cool

[Darth_Qurashi]

Sam Roberts is a really good songwriter and his music is original. I think he should have one the best canadian artist of the year award on the mmva's.

[bucky_2300]

what the hell do you mean "guitarists you've never heard of"? Sam Roberts was sitting at #5 on the charts last year, and he was getting constant rotation on the radio! Hell, Sam Roberts is POPULAR where I live!

[garagerocker69]

starbomb13:
actually- i've heard of sam.MAybe that's because i'm from canada and his videos are played all the f*ckin' time.
[POSTED: 21 July 2004 - 10:53]
amen to that bro

[Whstripesrox]

I had heard of the last guy, Teppei, but I have never heard of this dude.

[sultan_d87]

my grandma was his teacher in elementary school.

[Rock 101]

Dude, I know about this guy. He's one of the best new artists around! and he's not little none, man. He's had around 4 hits, and the album is platinum. Little known my ass

[guitarguy8810]

everyone seems to know him, ive never heard of him but im from the us if that makes any diff

[Jimmy Page fan]

of course everyone knows sam roberts!!! I mean little kids in my town know him! BTW I love his stuff, bought the cd and seem him live once and his catchy rock has won me over

[Jerman]

Most people in Canada take their musicians for granted. I mean, ask anybody in Canada about the Tragically Hip, The Weakerthans, or Sam Roberts and I guarentee you'll get a positive response. I used to get surprised when Americans hadn't heard about a Canadian band, but not anymore.

[Backup Guitar]

Okay, why the hell is Mrlucky getting the credit here?

useyourbrain wrote this... time to PM zappp. For anyone interested, all of these articles were written by different people.

[punksnafu]

uh...who hasnt heard of sam roberts???!! ah you guys

[punksnafu]

....could it be hes only well known in canada cuz of muchmusic? much like alexisonfire...

[stuartmcwilliam]

ive herd of sam roberts

[Matty Ramone]

nice article, but I've herd of Sam roberts

[eon_blue56]

heard of him..

[toadhjo]

I had heard of the last guy, Teppei, but I have never heard of this dude.

Ditto.

[ark]

i live in canada and you hear of Sam Robersta daily....ive met him before, hes a great guy to party with...canadia style..

[assbagman]

yo do something on tripp ensien from static-x/muderdolls that guys super underated and really good. Static-x doesnt solo but he does most of em on the murderdolls cd

[MrLucky77713]

Yay, it was fixed. I didn't write this and I have no idea who the guy is. Nice article, though. Cheers.

[sg4eva]

I was at the SARS concert and thats when i discovered him, he was great, I'm just disappointed that they only gave him 15 mins of stage time because he was 1st

[Y2A 66]

yep, another canadian here. I saw one of his shows when he came to dal and it was pretty kickass. I'm not his biggest fan but he's got some good stuff thats for sure

[Antzzang]

me too i was at sarstock and he was pretty good

[KevinHallX]

sam roberts is a f*cking hippy. his songs are way overplayed, and his lyrics suck.

[Mute]

i've heard of sam roberts. after all, his band is named after him. brother down was way too overplayed.

[rhcpcure2826]

never heard of him, actually- but how was thrics's guitarist unheard of???

anyways this is an extremely boring article. these dont need entire articles

[rhcpcure2826]

backup guitar, um- maybe i should tell you this-

NOBODY gave mrlucky any credit. are you just trying to say something, or what?

[chet91]

i think if your canadian(which i am) you've heard of sam roberts.

[gregmccormick]

agreed chet i cant really believe anyone hasnt heard of sam

[behn_rocker]

alot of people have heard of him, but he is less known than, say, ace frehley. i actually saw these guys in concert almost a month ago. they are a pretty good band.

[GodinSDtx]

SAM ROBERTS SUX y wud u even do an article about him? I mean how cud u compare his stuf to actualy decent bands like the Rolling Stones n Beatles. N he doesnt resemble Zeppelin jus cause Zeppelin was good n he isnt

[guitarshroom]

man the *** you talkin about sam roberts is awsome and is a great song writer so FUCK you bitch (godinSDtx)

[Necronomicon]

HAHAHA

[Necronomicon]

You people are messed, I've heard of every single guitarist you've talked about and 2 of them are from bands with THEIR NAMES in them. This series is shit.

[_lone_guitarist]

well, hell. i guess they dont play good music in the states, because everyone up here in canada's heard of him. though i doubt the writer of this article is intelligent enough to point out quebec on a map. by the way, what the hell is wrong with being a hippie?

[SFP]

Well first of all, eric is rythm and keyboard, dave is lead guitar and at the time, corey was the drummer but he is no longer cause he quit but they have a new drummer but i dont know his name. i first noticed in ottawa on canada day

[E.B.I]

KevinHallX wrote:

sam roberts is a f*cking hippy. his songs are way overplayed, and his lyrics suck.

GodinSDtx wrote:

SAM ROBERTS SUX y wud u even do an article about him? I mean how cud u compare his stuf to actualy decent bands like the Rolling Stones n Beatles. N he doesnt resemble Zeppelin jus cause Zeppelin was good n he isnt

you guys are both major fagots. Sam Roberts is a rockin hippy who is well known enough, and has a good following, unlike you unheard of, loser opinion fags.

Sam Roberts ****ing rules, FUCK you guys

[jackzeppelin972]

Love how his chord progression use common chords but have some extra little fills that make it instantly recognizable ( To those that have heard of him