Today In Music History: The Gibson Flying V And Jan. 6, 1958

On this day in 1958, Gibson introduced its Flying V electric guitar model.

Although the guitar was originally used by blues players like Lonnie Mack and Albert King, it's become associated with metal, since it's been played by the likes of Judas Priest's K.K. Downing, Randhy Rhoads and Michael and Rudolph Schenker. (Just for the record, Slayer's Kerry King plays B.C. Rich V's, not Gibson guitars.)

The guitar's also been used by Jimi Hendrix, Neil Young and late T. Rex guitarist Marc Bolan.

Here's a clip of Rhoads wailing away on a V during Ozzy Osbourne's "Mr. Crowley":