Buzz Campbell

Buzz Campbell is an American guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter. His music is primarily rockabilly, blues, swing, country and rock & roll. Campbell is also a songwriter. He has played with numerous rockabilly acts, including Lee Rocker, Slim Jim Phantom and Brian Setzer, all original members of the Stray Cats. Campbell and his group have also backed up and performed with Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Bo Diddley, and Chris Isaak, and has become a mainstay on the California rockabilly scene.

Campbell (right) performing with Lee Rocker in April 2026

Early life

Campbell was born on January 19, 1969, in Dallas, Texas. He was first introduced to 1950s doo-wop by his father’s old cassettes. He soon thereafter picked up the guitar, and with the influence of his uncle, began to learn 1950s-style rock and roll. At first it was just a hobby, but in 1991 at his twenty-first birthday, he saw the Stray Cats perform live at the Bacchanal in San Diego. The show had such an impact on him that he dropped out of college to concentrate on music.

Campbell has named Chuck Berry as his first influence, followed by Carl Perkins, Cliff Gallup, Scotty Moore, James Burton, and Brian Setzer.

Career

In 2001, Campbell was approached at a gig by Jocko Marcellino, one of the founding members of the 1950s group, Sha Na Na (2000–2004). This group is internationally known for their debut at Woodstock, their TV show in the mid-‘70s, and their cameo in the movie Grease. Campbell became the lead guitarist for Sha Na Na, and still occasionally performs with them. In 1995 he also participated in the group The Bastard Sons of Johnny Cash later known as Mark Stuart and The Bastard Sons), on the lead guitar.

Campbell was given the opportunity to open for Lee Rocker and wrote the track, “Crazy When She Drinks” for the Black Cat Bone album. He opened for the Stray Cats' European Farewell Tour in the summer of 2008, performing in seven countries.

Instruments

Campbell is sponsored by Gretsch. He uses mostly a 2007, 6136 Gretsch White Falcon and also has a 1958 Gretsch Country Club (mostly for recording on the RHL and Lee Rocker albums). On live performances, he has used a 90s red Gretsch Hot Rod. When writing songs, he also uses a Gibson acoustic.

Albums

with Hot Rod Lincoln

• Blue Cafe (1999)
• Astraunaut Girl (2001)
• Tokyo Bop (2003)
• RunAway Girl (2006)
• The Best of Buzz Campbell & Hotrodlincoln (2008)

with Lee Rocker

• Racin’ the Devil (2006)
• Black Cat Bone (2007)

with Buzz Campbell Band

• Buzz Campbell: Shivers & Shakes (2010)

External links

• Official website