Forty-five years ago, when the cauldron of rock was just starting to simmer, Link Wray went into the studio and recorded his signature tune, "Rumble." It was a raw, aggressive debut, but little did anyone realize then that the three down-stroked power chords opening the song would become an electric-guitar template for bands ranging from The Who to The Pixies. As country and blues began to midwife rock 'n' roll in the late '50s, instrumental rock became a force on the charts. The same year Duane Eddy's clean twang and top-10 hit, "Rebel Rouser," made Eddy a household name, "Rumble" was doing the same for Wray, landing him in the top 20 and in hot water for the "outlaw" sound of his fuzzed-out masterpiece, which critics said promoted gang violence (despite its utter lack of lyrics). For several years hence, Wray played Stones-y bad boy to Eddy's Beatles-esque mass appeal, until the British Invasion made instrumentals an anachronism. While those sessions in the first half of the '60s are Wray's major legacy, producing gems like "Raw-Hide," "Jack the Ripper," and the inimitable Wray composition, "Batman," he's continued to produce albums through the years, and like Les Paul, the 73-year-old Wray shows no sign of slowing down.

Fri., July 12, 10 p.m., $12-$14, North by Northwest, 7165 Germantown Ave., 215-248-1000.

The student the School District blamed for the violence at South Philadelphia High School shares his story. It's not the same one District officials have been telling.

One year after he fled the GOP, Pa.'s senior senator is scratching and clawing to do what he does best: survive.

Seuss Chef

Environmental lip service takes a back seat to tasty a.m. fare at Green Eggs Café.

The Climb

Behind Ladder 15's Ansill-fied revamp.

The Next Movement

Oh! Pears' Corey Duncan is assembling an ambitious rock orchestra.

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