Bill Kirchen in Newport

Bill Kirchen is an American guitarist, singer and songwriter, born in 1948 and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He co-founded Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen and played the lead-guitar part on the band’s recording of “Hot Rod Lincoln.” His solo catalog includes the albums Tombstone Every Mile and Hammer of the Honky-Tonk Gods. In 1973, Commander Cody and His Lost Planet Airmen recorded Live from Deep in the Heart of Texas at the Armadillo World Headquarters in Austin, capturing Bill Kirchen’s early stage work with the group. He later toured as a guitarist in Nick Lowe’s band during the 1990s, then returned to fronting his own concerts on vocals and Telecaster with Too Much Fun.