5 Feet of Fury

Marshall amp creator goes to eleven — er, heaven

Farewell to the “father of loud”:

Early users included Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix and Pete Townshend. As stage acts grew, the Marshall became the most familiar brand of amp, invariably stacked in walls behind the band.

The company is still making amplifiers at its base in Milton Keynes.

Guitarist Slash tweeted: ‘R & R will never be the same w/out him. But, his amps will live on FOREVER!’ (…)

Mr Marshall was given the OBE in 2003 for his services to music and charity.

Over the years, he donated millions of pounds to good causes including the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore where he was treated for tuberculosis as a child.

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I can’t believe he lasted so long in business given England’s pre-Thatcher confiscatory tax schemes.

UPDATE: don’t miss Ed Driscoll’s profile of Jim Marshall

PS: I really want this Marshall amp beer fridge some day. Without the beer.