Bruno Mars has revealed that the legendary Jimi Hendrix inspired him to pick up the guitar.

The 26-year-old, who last month picked up a BRIT Award for Best British Male, told Playboy magazine of his admiration for the late blues-rock pioneer when asked about his dream collaboration:

“I think he's the greatest guitar player in the world, and I would want to see him do his thing in person. He's the reason I picked up a guitar in the first place.”

The ‘Grenade’ star also credited several other artists from his father’s generation for influencing both his image and sound:

“Growing up in the showbiz world, I looked up to those guys. Frank Sinatra and of course Elvis Presley. My dad was into the 1950s doo-wop era. If you look at those groups, or at James Brown, Jackie Wilson and the Temptations in the 1960s, you'll see you had to be sharp onstage.”

Mars, who appears alongside Miss April, Raquel Pomplun, on the front of this month’s ‘Sex and Music’ issue, joined the likes of Seth Rogen, Steve Martin and Jerry Seinfeld this week as one of only ten men to grace the cover of the famous publication.