After high school, he began studying the guitar intensely, leading to a gig in the rhythm and blues group Lovera.

[9] From 1980 to 1990, Heussenstamm toured in Australia, mainly in his own bands with names such as the Alligators, the Lifters, Cicada, and the Rent Collectors.

Before returning to the United States, he independently recorded three new age albums, Cloud Hidden, Nameless Wanderer, and Honest Living.

In 1992, the LA Times wrote that Heussenstamm was "the most aggressive blues guitar player on the scene today.

His underground popularity became apparent when he began posting video guitar lessons on YouTube.