Watch Raiders of Rock

Raiders of Rock was a television show that aired on Country Music Television (CMT) in 2012. The show was created and produced by executive producer Juan Carlos Ortiz and his team at Ozone Entertainment Group, collaborating with the Nashville-based country music network. The fifteen-episode series was filmed at various locations across the United States, featuring some of the most legendary guitars and rock memorabilia in the world.

Each episode featured two experts in the field of pop culture and music history, John "Jocko" Marcellino and David Fishof, as they traveled to private collections, museums, and historic sites to discover and explore the stories behind some of the most iconic guitars of all time. They were tasked with uncovering the history and significance of each instrument, from the guitars played by rock legends such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Keith Richards, to lesser-known but equally important instruments used by studio musicians and session players.

The show's format consisted of Jocko and David arriving at a location where they would meet the owner of the collection and be given a tour of the instruments and artifacts. They would then sit down with the owner and discuss the history and significance of the guitars on display. This was interspersed with archival footage of the artists who had played the guitars, and interviews with music industry experts and historians who provided additional context and insight.

Throughout the series, Jocko and David encountered a wide variety of guitars and related artifacts, including the guitar used by Eddie Van Halen to record "Eruption," the Fender Stratocaster that Jimi Hendrix played at Woodstock, and Eric Clapton's "Blackie" Stratocaster, among others. They also explored the National Guitar Museum in New York City, which houses some of the most important and historically significant instruments in the world of music.

In addition to exploring the instruments themselves, the show also delved into the stories of the people behind them. Many of the owners of the collections featured on the show were musicians and music lovers in their own right, who had spent years amassing their collections. They often had personal connections to the guitars they owned, and shared stories of how they had acquired them and what they meant to them.

Raiders of Rock was well received by audiences and critics alike. It was praised for its engaging mix of music history and pop culture, as well as its beautifully shot and edited footage of the guitars and artifacts on display. Critics also noted the show's ability to appeal to both hardcore music fans and more casual viewers, who might be less familiar with the history and significance of the guitars featured on the show.

In summary, Raiders of Rock was a fascinating and insightful exploration of some of the most iconic guitars and rock memorabilia in the world. Through the eyes of two experts with a deep passion for music, the show provided a unique and engaging look at the history and significance of these instruments, and the people who owned and played them. As a result, it remains a beloved and essential watch for music fans of all backgrounds and levels of expertise.