GUITAR man Simon McBride went back to the past for his new album – by borrowing Jimi Hendrix's amp.

The Belfast native, who plays Glasgow next week, was a guitarist for years in several different bands before deciding to start singing and going solo.

He released his third studio album, Crossing The Line, last year, an album that saw Simon seek out a classic rock sound that called back to recordings by the likes of Free, Led Zeppelin and Hendrix.

"I just wanted something a bit more retro this time, a bit like the sound a guy like Gary Moore would have," explains Simon.

"Actually, the amp I used was an old Jimi Hendrix one. They discovered it in storage years ago and we hired it for a week.

"So we had it set as an exact copy of how he had used it in the 1960s.

"It was good for me to do that, and everything the way it was when recording was old school."

Simon's own music is a classic dose of rock and blues that have helped him tour with the likes of guitar god Joe Satriani.

It was Simon's own guitar skills that helped him start out in his career, when he joined the metal band Sweet Savage just after becoming 16.

He had already won various awards for being a talented young guitarist and continued to work in various projects for several years, including alongside Andrew Strong, the singer of The Commitments.

But, after years on the road, Simon decided he needed to take a break and it was while taking time out he hit upon the direction he wanted to go in.

"After several years I was living out of a suitcase and it had got a bit tedious," he says.

"So I needed to take a break, and I didn't know what I wanted to do, I was a bit confused.

"I had a year where I didn't do a lot, so I sat and thought, 'I'm just going to play today and see what happens'.

"It just so happens the first song on my first album, Down To The River, was what I played, so I thought, 'This is what I want to do' - and it seems to be working!"

Although Simon has now released three studio albums, he still admits everything is a learning process for him.

While he has always found writing melodies for the guitar come easily, getting a handle on singing and penning lyrics has been a lot harder.

"It's about writing music that is personal to me," he says.

"I am not the sort of guy who could write a science fiction concept album, it has to be based on my life and songs have to relate to me.

"I love a challenge, so while it was hard trying to develop my voice it was not frustrating. I am a firm believer that everyone can sing, you just have to manipulate your voice to sound better, the vocal chords are like another muscle and you need to train them."

Now it has worked, with Crossing The Line being hailed by critics and Simon being called a successor to the likes of Rory Gallagher.

While he is clearly delighted by that level of praise, he is even more pleased to have won over his heroes from growing up, such as when Joe Satriani asked him to play some gigs two years ago.

"Touring with Joe was a dream come true," adds Simon.

"When I was 12 or 13 I was a massive fan of his, and I even had the white guitar he used then.

"I am always wary of support tours because usually people just stand at the bar and drink rather than watch you.

"I would go on stage and it would maybe be half full each night, and by the time I had finished the first song the place was crammed, so I must have been doing something right.

"Joe is a lovely man, very down to earth. He is not running around screaming his lungs out all the time like some rock stars do, he is just a very quiet man and very humble.

"That is always an added bonus – to meet one of your idols and find out they are very nice."

Along with his touring and recordings, Simon also occasionally teaches guitar as well, and has some advice for any budding guitarists out there.

"The best advice is just to try and be yourself," he says.

"There are a lot of young guitarists out there who just copy people and that is not a bad thing when you are learning stuff, but try to do what you feel is right to you as well and not just be copying something."

l Simon McBride, O2 ABC2, March 14, £12.50, 7pm