JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s been nearly two years since Paul Wane made his debut on the national stage during the Jaguars-Titans matchup. It was an experience the rock guitarist would never forget. As it turned out, those were life-changing moments.
“The next day, I woke up, I was in Guitar World magazine, USA Today, I was all over the television and radio,” Wane said. “I did lots of interviews and things like that, and people got to find out how silly I really am.”
Silly or not, Wane is preparing to do it all over again on Sunday. He is scheduled to play the national anthem for the Jaguars home opener game against the Cleveland Browns. Wane couldn’t be happier.
“I’m just grateful, I’m humbled by it all,” Wane said. “It’s very, very humbling. I mean it, man, it really is. It lets you know who you really are.”
Wane says, though it’s been a magic carpet ride since that day in January 2023, a lot has changed. His band, Duval County Line, has been touring like crazy and even released their first album. Wane says he’s truly living the dream, one he doesn’t take for granted.
“I’ve had a love affair with music since I was 8 years old,” Wane said. “My uncle Chet gave me a guitar and told me that I could do it, he told me I was the one. Ever since then, I’ve just been banging away at this thing trying to figure it out.”
That’s a love and passion Wane strives to share daily, especially with young people. Wane’s project, Guitars For Kids, is now officially a 501(c)(3) charity. Special guitars and musical instruments are restored and gifted to kids, fostering a love of music for future generations. “It’s ingrained in me that, that’s how a kid gets a guitar. Someone has to give it to them,” Wane explained. “There’s no kid walking around with two grand in their pocket. You got to gift it to them and then you’ve got to show them that you believe in them. And let them understand that there’s only two ears on the planet like theirs. Don’t let anyone tell you you’re not playing it right, they don’t hear what you hear.”
One important change for this year’s performance is the guitar he’ll be playing. Last year, Wane played the custom-made instrument he affectionately named “Freedom”. Appropriate, given it is covered with a design of the American flag. Though Freedom is special, Sunday will be historic for Wane.
“I’ve actually been honored with the opportunity to play, Alan Collins from Lynyrd Skynyrd, Rossington Collins and the Allen Collins band, his 1977 Les Paul special double cutaway,” Wane said, beaming. “I am absolutely honored that Lloyd Beasley, who Allen gave the guitar to, is going to give me the chance to play this guitar. It’s just an incredible piece of work. It’s a work of art.”
No matter the guitar he plays, Wane says he’s just ready to get back to the stadium. Most importantly, he’s ready to get back to the crowd he loves.
Donations can be made to Guitars For Kids. To learn how visit Paul Wane Music. Kick-off for Sunday’s home opener against the Cleveland Browns is at 1 p.m.