Chris Shiflett
Christopher Aubrey Shiflett (/ˈʃɪflɪt/ SHIF-lit;[2] born May 6, 1971) is an American musician. He is the lead guitarist for the rock band Foo Fighters, which he joined in 1999 following the release of the band's third album There Is Nothing Left to Lose (1999). Shiflett was also previously a member of the punk rock bands No Use for a Name (1995–1999) and Me First and the Gimme Gimmes (1995–2019).
Chris Shiflett
Christopher Aubrey Shiflett
May 6, 1971
Santa Barbara, California,[1] U.S.
Musician
Guitar, vocals, mandolin
1985–present
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes, No Use for a Name, Jackson United, Sound City Players, The Real McCoy, The Dead Peasants, Rat Pack
Though primarily a lead guitarist and backing vocalist, Shiflett has also fronted bands such as Jackson United and Chris Shiflett & the Dead Peasants. He has also made several solo albums; his third, Lost at Sea, was released in October 2023. In 2021, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of the Foo Fighters.
Early life[edit]
Shiflett was born in Santa Barbara, California. He has two older brothers, Mike, and Scott, who also became a musician – best known as the bassist of the punk rock band Face to Face. When Shiflett was 11, he started learning how to play the guitar. A promising young soccer player, Shiflett played with the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) from 1982–1984 under legendary coach Noemi Vazquez. Pressed to make a choice on his career, Shiflett joined his first band by the time he reached the age of 14. Shiflett is a supporter of Arsenal F.C.[3]
Shiflett uses various Gibsons[9][10] and Gretschs,[11] but over the past few years has been using mostly Fender Telecasters, Fender Telecaster Deluxes, and Fender Telecaster Thinlines. Shiflett also assembled some Telecaster Deluxes and Telecaster Thinlines out of Warmoth guitar parts with his tech. On the headstock of the Warmoth Telecasters, Shiflett's nickname "Shifty" replaces the Fender logo that would appear on a Telecaster created by Fender. He also has a signature Fender Telecaster Deluxe based on the Warmoth Telecasters, that is now his main guitar.