IT’s billed as ‘the ultimate guitar show’ and after talking to the man behind The Story of Guitar Heroes, Phil Walker, it’s easy to see why.

For Phil will play 15 different guitars during the course of the two-hour show which comes to Blackburn’s Thwaites Empire Theatre on Sunday night, as he charts the history of the electric guitar.

The show is a celebration of some of the finest guitar players of all time - with Phil and a live band bringing their songs to life.

During the course of the evening he’ll switch from Slash, Eric Clapton, Brian May, Jimi Hendrix and Hank Marvin.

“Who wants to have an easy life?” he laughed. “There are a lot of different styles to learn but actually that suits me. Even when I was growing up I never had one particular discipline I was into. So one week I was into rock then the next it was country and so on, so this show actually suits me down to the ground.”

Phil also admits that the show has helped him add to his impression of authentic guitars.

“I had the idea of the show and had quite a few guitars already,” he said. “Then once I set ball rolling obviously I had to get a few more!”

The show is now in its fourth year and has become increasingly popular as word of mouth about it spreads.

“As well as playing all the music live with the band we also have video screens showing some of the greats in action,” he said. “We like to think of it as a rockumentary in a way as it does chart the development of the guitar.”

Given that the show looks at the songs of some of the finest guitar players ever, who have been the most challenging for Phil to get ready for the show?

“One of most difficult sounds to get was Hank Marvin of the Shadows,” he said. “A lot of people think the Shadows sound is very simple but it is also unique. The echoes he gets after a note was one of hardest things to emulate.”

Another guitarist with a very distinctive sound is Queen guitarist Brian May, famous for building his own guitar.

“Fortunately Brian now has a company manufacturing replicas of that guitar,” said Phil. “So getting hold of a guitar is the easy bit but he’s not that easy to copy.

“Partly that’s because instead of playing with a plastic pick, he plays with a sixpence which really does help with the sound. But after playing with piece of thin plastic for most of the show, getting used to the coin is a bit different.”

The show is not solely guitar-based. Phil and the band perform all the songs with Phil on vocals.

“Vocally it’s me,” he said. “I don’t try to send like who I’m singing but stylistically I do try my best.”

Phil looks at changing the show every couple of years and listens to what the audiences have to say about their favourite guitarists.

“If a particular name keeps cropping up we will look to introduce them in the show,” he said. “The show will get a major revamp next year and I know we will be introducing Ritchie Blackmore of Deep Purple fame.”

If you were thinking this is a show for guitar lovers only, Phil was quick to dispel that thought.

“We always said we didn’t want it to be boring for the guitarist’s wife,” he said. “A lot of times they were getting dragged along but they have found they love it. You definitely don’t need to know the difference between a Gibson and Fender to have a great night out. I really think we have got the mix right now and I love doing it. Those two hours on stage fly by.”

Story of Guitar Heroes, Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn, Sunday, February 11. Details from 01254 685500 or www.thwaitesempiretheatre.co.uk