Background in classical piano, but when I was 16 or so, I had quit lessons. I started playing guitar so I could play heavy metal tunes like Guns n Roses and Aerosmith.
(Sad but true)
We always had guitars around the house because my Dad and brother played... once my Dad got me started on 5 or 6 basic chords, I taught myself.
Fifteen years later, I don't listen to much metal any more, but I play lots of Irish and Scottish trad-stuff and my dad's musical tastes have rubbed off on me, so Dylan, Cohen, and above all Phil Ochs are all on my play list and in my CD and vinyl collection.
-MudWeasel