He’s gigged with Mick Jagger, Jack Bruce, Television and more. But it’s with his own band that Jimmy Rip really gets cooking.

BY JOE BOSSO

DURING THE 1980s and into the ’90s, Jimmy Rip was one of the hottest session guitarists on the scene, racking up gigs with Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart, Debbie Harry, Jerry Lee Lewis, Willie Nelson, Jack Bruce, Hall and Oates, Mariah Carey and others. So what was it that made the New York–born musician everybody’s go-to guy?

@VEROMANSOPH

He has no idea.

“Nobody ever told me what they liked about my playing,” Rip says with a laugh. “Maybe it’s because I’m a pleasant person to have breakfast with. It’s kind of strange. People hire you, but they never really give you compliments.

“I think it’s because of my versatility,” he offers after a bit more thought. “I grew up on New York City radio in the ’60s, when you could literally hear anything: rock, pop, soul — you name it. For four or five hours a day, I would spin the dial and play along to each song. That was more valuable than guitar lessons. By the time I started going to auditions, I had a certain amount of taste and skills. Whatever people asked me to play, I could do it. I wasn’t stuck in just one bag.”

While juggling recording sessions and tours, in 2006 Rip also joined Television following the departure of their second guitarist, Richard Lloyd. He remains a member of the New York City–based band despite having relocated to Buenos Aires 11 years ago. “I came down here for a visit and immediately fell in love with the music scene,” he says. “It’s like New York used to be: It’s very rock and roll. People are playing music everywhere. There’s kids walking around with gig bags. It’s the most happening music spot on the planet. So I decided to stay. The place has been very good to me.”