Lockdown Licks no.35
“Big Shot” by Billy Joel
Intro/Signature riff reminiscent of style of Keith Richards of the Stones. Played on a Fender Stratocaster set to middle pick up, volume backed off to 7. NUX Mighty 8 Amp on ‘super lead’, gain backed off to 6 with reverb on 1. Original guitar played by Michael DelGuidice.
“Big Shot” was the second hit single from Billy Joel’s 1978 album 52nd Street. The song was released in early 1979, just as his other hit single from that same album, “‘My Life”, was peaking at 3, Big Shot peaked at 14. In an interview Joel said the song was written after having dinner with Mick and Bianca Jagger. Joel said that while writing the lyrics to “Big Shot,” he was thinking of Mick singing the song to Bianca..the couples relationship was on the rocks at the time!