As social distancing continues, award-winning photographer Cathy Miller goes into her vaults for some legendary photos from her past.

I sharpened my trigger finger back in the 1980s photographing countless musical acts at many New Jersey and New York venues. The Capitol Theatre, at 326 Monore Street in Passaic, was one of the best around (although parking was always dicey). Not delving into The Capitol’s storied history (1971-1984), John Scher, owner/concert promoter, booked an unbelievable roster of artists.

The show spotlighted here ranks as one of the most impressive. On November 3, 1984, “Guitar Greats” brought together ten of the most eclectic guitarists of the time. With reserved seating tickets costing just $15, it was well worth every cent. Well, as a working photographer, I had no cents to give!

Herewith excerpts from the original “Guitar Greats” program:

“The Capitol Theatre is proud to present and have you be part of ‘Guitar Greats,’ an extraordinary All-Star evening. Tonight’s show is being taped as part of the ‘Rock Influences’ series and will air on MTV Tuesday, November 20, 1984 at 10 p.m. EST. Each of the… artists will perform a couple songs that represent a different genre of rock’n’roll guitar playing which showcases his own unique style. ENJOY!

“DAVE EDMUNDS (host). Groupology: The Raiders, Love Sculpture, Rockville, The Dave Edmunds Band. Influences: Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry. Guitar: Gibson 335 Dotmarker. Choice Cuts: Crawling From the Wreckage • From Small Things Big Things Come • Information • Something About You.

“STEVE CROPPER. Groupology: Stax/Volt Records sessions, the Mar-Kays, Booker T. & the MG’s, the Blues Brothers, Levon Helm & The RCO All-Stars. Influences: The fatback sound of soul. Guitars: Gretsch, Fender Telecaster. Choice Cuts: In The Midnight Hour (Wilson Pickett) • Sittin’ On the Dock Of the Bay (Otis Redding) • Hip-Hug-Her (Booker T. & the MG’s).

“LINK WRAY. Groupology: Link Wray and His Wraymen. Influences: Grady Martin, Johnny Smith, Les Paul, Hank Williams, Chet Atkins. Guitars: 1953 Gibson Les Paul with Premier amp (‘Rumble’), Danelectro with Premier amp (‘Rawhide’), Gibson SG Standard, Yamaha 180, 1910 Gibson tuned to D with DeArmond pickups for slide. Quirk: Wray is the father of fuzz-tone – he punched holes in his amplifier speakers with a pencil to achieve his distinctive sound. Choice Cuts: Rawhide • Rumble.

“BRIAN SETZER. Groupology: Bloodless Pharaohs, Stray Cats. Influences: Scotty Moore, James Burton, George Harrison, Cliff Gallop. Guitars: Gretsch, Schecter. Choice Cuts: Stray Cat Strut • Rock This Town • Runaway Boys • Sexy and Seventeen.

“DICKEY BETTS. Groupology: The Allman Brothers Band, Dickey Betts’ Great Southern, Betts, Hall, Leavell & Trucks. Influences: Robert Johnson, Dave Lyle, Chuck Berry, Django Rheinhart, B.B. King, Willie McTell, Duane Allman. Guitar: Gibson Les Paul Goldtop. Choice Cuts: Jessica • Blue Sky • In Memory of Elizabeth Reed • Ramblin’ Man.

“JOHNNY WINTER. Groupology: Johnny & the Jammers (with brother Edgar), barnstormed the Deep South bar circuit as Texas Guitar Slim, came to national prominence in 1968 under the managerial wing of Steve Paul … Influences: T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Merle Travis, Chet Atkins, Otis Rush, Luther Naley, Seymour Drugan, Chuck Berry, Jimi Hendrix, Lightnin’ Hopkins, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Robert Johnson. Guitars: On … ‘Guitar Slinger,’ he’s playing a Cort headless six-string. He also … plays a Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, a Gibson Firebird, a Gibson Flying V, a ’66 Fender Mustang and a National Steel guitar. Choice Cuts: Hustle Down in Texas • Be Careful With a Fool • It’s My Own Fault.

“TONY IOMMI. Groupology: Earth, Black Sabbath. Influences: Wes Montgomery, Les Paul, Eric Clapton. Guitars: Twelve JD custom guitars, Gibson Les Paul SG (until 1973), John Birch Custom SG, 1954 left-handed Les Paul, Rickenbacker 12-string, Gibson Barney Kessell, Boogie amps (previously Marshall and Music Man), standard effects (wah wah, flanger, phaser), Picarto strings. Choice Cuts: Lonely is the World • Paranoid • Heaven and Hell.

“NEAL SCHON. Groupology: Santana, Journey, Schon/Hammer, Hager/Schon/Aaronson/Shrieve. Influences: Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Wes Montgomery, George Benson, Mike Bloomfield, B.B. King, Harvey Mandel, Peter Green, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck. Guitars: Les Pauls – single-coil ’83 with a PAF hum bucking pickup in the treble position and a Floyd Rose and a 25th Anniversary model with a Floyd Rose, ’81 Roland Synthesizer Guitar (Strat model), first reissue Explorer with a Floyd Rose, 100-Hi Watt Head, 2 Bolder (Swedish) amps, Roland Jazz chorus, Lexicon 224 in stereo, Roland DOL, Vinci strings. Choice Cuts: Top of the Rock (HSAS) • Topaz (Journey) • No More Lies (Schon/Hagar).

“DAVID GILMOUR. Groupology: Pink Floyd (since February 18, 1968). Influences: Pete Seeger and Bill Haley early on, then Jimi Hendrix, Keith Richards, Chuck Berry. Guitars: An avid collector, he owns the first Fender Stratocaster ever made (with the incredible serial numbers of 0001). His main guitar on stage is a black 1979 Fender Strat with a DiMarzio pickup and a ’62 Strat neck. He also [plays] a beat-up old Fender Telecaster … a gift from his parents on his 21st birthday. Choice Cuts: Comfortably Numb • Money • Let’s Get Metaphysical.”

Author’s note – not listed in the program: LITA FORD. Groupology: The Runaways. Influences: Ritchie Blackmore, Tony Iommi, Jimmy Page. She saw Tony Iommi playing a Gibson SG at a 1971 Black Sabbath concert and had to have one! Choice Cuts: Cherry Bomb • Rock and Roll.

If you would like to nominate someone for person of the week, please reach out to Cathy Miller at info@insidewarren.com