50’s

The Stratocaster is perfected into the form that players recognize today and introduced as Fender’s new top-of-the-line electric guitar.

Buddy Holly plays a Stratocaster on The Ed Sullivan Show with his band The Crickets, unveiling the guitar to a national audience.

The two-color Sunburst finish becomes the iconic three-color Sunburst finish, a colorway still used on Stratocaster models today.

60’s

Bob Dylan “goes electric” with a 1964 Sunburst Stratocaster at the Newport Folk Festival.

The Stratocaster is featured on the Beach Boys’ first live album.

Jimi Hendrix famously burns his Stratocaster at the Monterey Pop Festival and performs his iconic version of the “Star Spangled Banner” at Woodstock.

70’s

Richie Blackmore and Deep Purple release “Smoke on the Water”, one of the most iconic electric guitar riffs played on a Stratocaster of all time.

Pink Floyd’s Live at Pompeii and Dark Side of the Moon are released which prominently feature the Stratocaster, inspiring players to this day.

Robbie Robertson plays a bronzed 1954 Stratocaster in the Martin Scorcese concert film The Last Waltz.

80’s

Stop Making Sense is released, a concert film about Talking Heads where David Byrne plays a 1962 Sunburst Stratocaster alongside Jerry Harrison.

Los Lobos records their rendition of “La Bamba” which features Cesar Rosas on the Stratocaster, reintroducing the song to a new generation.

Stevie Ray Vaughan plays a Stratocaster at the Montreux Jazz Festival and their set vows David Bowie.

90’s

The release of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Blood Sugar Sex Magik reawakens worldwide interest in the Stratocaster.

Bonnie Raitt plays a Stratocaster in her “Something To Talk About” music video. Following popular demand, the Fender Bonnie Raitt Artist Signature Stratocaster is introduced.

Kurt Cobain destroys his black Stratocaster during the recording of “Endless, Nameless” and Nirvana blows the roof off the MTV VMAs featuring Kurt Cobain playing a white Stratocaster.

00’s

Arctic Monkeys’ Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not is the fastest selling debut in British history, led by Alex Turner’s angular, stabbing Stratocaster sounds.

The Strokes release their debut album Is This It, ushering in a new renaissance period of creativity and ‘alternative’ bands out of New York City.

Juanes plays for 1 million attendees at Paz Sin Fronteras Peace Festival in Colombia.

10’s

Nile Rodgers performs with Daft Punk, Pharrell, and Stevie Wonder on “Get Lucky” using a vintage White Stratocaster.

H.E.R. plays a clear Stratocaster during her GRAMMYs debut performance and performs a mesmerizing rendition of “America the Beautiful” at the Super Bowl using the H.E.R. Signature Stratocaster.

20’s

Bruno Mars (as part of Silk Sonic) performs at the GRAMMY® Awards with a vintage Stratocaster.

Fender unveils the highly anticipated Vintera II Series, which includes ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s inspired Stratocaster models.

Fender celebrates the 70th Anniversary of the Stratocaster with an Anniversary Collection featuring new, exclusive colorways.