Yeah, Im back. Kind of, any way. I just wanted to say that you are right about Stevie Ray Vaughan. You dont know how hard it is for me to say this. You see, Im a son of the South. For more years than you can count, I have always said that the Allman Bros were the band. Indeed, I have been told that I saw them on Pensacola Beach back when they were called the Allman Joys... I dont remember this, but thats my story and Im sticking to it. But, I digress. I have spent the better part of this evening listening to Stevie; and, yes, you are right. He was the one and only. Im embarrassed to say that he used to play in Houston in the early 80s, and I never saw him live. I live about 50 miles north of town, and my kids were just babies then. What can I say? One memory I have is when I lived in Sacramento during the late 80s. I had been skiing all day at Lake Tahoe. On the way home doing the Highway 50 boogie, I turned on the radio just in time to hear Cold Shot for the first time. It sure did this Texan good to hear Stevie as I drove off that mountain. Another time, I was flying from Denver to Austin. My seat mate was a fellow who sometimes played sax with Double Trouble. Walking through the Austin airport, I thought is was cool that they were playing Stevie over the loud speakers. When I got into a cab, they were still playing SRV on the radio. I asked the cabby what was going on. He pulled over to the side of the road and started crying. I just wanted to thank you for keeping the spirit alive. I dont remember the signature than Jens and Amar used to have. Somehow, it seems appropriate. Your friend, Dale
Dear Dale, what a wonderful reading early in the morning (Germany, Saturday 07:30a.m.). Yes indeed, SRV was a one-of-a-kind Texan guitar slinger! Sadly he died too early..... I have had the pleasure to meet Stevie first time in early 1982 at the Montreux Jazz Festival - during a time nobody knows him over here. Yes, the time before he released his first recording "Texas Flood". We shared our phone numbers and this was the beginning of an awesome great friendship over many years. He stayed several times at my private house, doing some shopping together, sightseeing tours thru Heidelberg......a.s.o. I have had the honor & pleasure to see him over 100 times live on stage during 2 European Tours. And each gig was another show! He never played one song twice in the same way! Lots of privat storys, fun and great moments I`ll never forget. Here are some private shots from my "memorial corner". (Sorry for the reflections on the pics - they are framed thats why) The Fender Musicmaster 1957 was a personal signed gift from SRV to me. Best Wolfgang Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Wow, Wolfgang, did not know you knew SRV that well. Been a long time fan, first got mesmerized by Tin Pan Alley and Scuttle Buttin', and the live versions of "Ain't Gonna Give up on Love" and "Cold Shot", recorded when he came back to Montreux in 85, remain in my opinion some of the best tunes blues has to offer. I also remember how he was booed in his first gigs in 82, and became a legend thereafter. Never had the priviledge to see him play live, Stevie Ray Vaughan was to play in Bern a month or so after he died in a tragic helicopter accident, if my memory is correct. This tragic destiny aside, you must have fund memories of having had such a brilliant musician as a friend.
Wolfgang buddy. I'm REALLY impressed by your SRV collection, I knew you were a big fan of him and you had a great relationship. Still today people look at SRV as an icon and his legendary guitar playing will live on forever, he was a great artist, I've heard some of his work - and I was amazed....even though blues is not my strongest side. I know he's still a very popular artist in the blues scene, I've seen (very rarly) his original imprinted guitar picks have been sold on ebay for over 250 USD! So I belive people havent forgoten about him..... For those of you who dont know: Stevie Ray Vaughan from Texas died in a helicopter crash in 1990 at the age of 35
Wolfgang, last night I was laying in my pool and playing SRV as loud as that little boom box would go. I'm moving to a new home so screw the neighbors. While listening and floating, I realized that Stevie was truly one of kind. I know that there are a lot of guys who say that they can play like Stevie, but they can't. Eventually, I thought of you across the pond who I knew had seen Stevie play many, many times. While I, even though he played in my backyard for years and years, never saw him once. Isn't the Internet great! We can reach out and touch each other, even when we have never meet. Thanks for sharing your memories. Dale
Hi Wolferl, the SRV Fender Musicmaster 1957 dedicated to WOLFGANG is a really impressing memorial stuff. I wish I could have a guitar like this in my home. BTW: Was Stevie car nut as well? cinque
Thanks for all the nice comments. Patrick, no SRV was not a car nut But there are so many other great musicans I have met during the last 15 years (doing business with them) who are realy in love with Ferrari. Jeff Beck - huge collection of Hot Rod`s and he is a great mechanic!!! Eric Clapton - Ferrari collector and driver (incl. the new ENZO) Chris Rea - lots of old & youngtimer Ferraris Nick Mason (Pink Floyd) - Ferrari 250GTO and a bunch of old historical cars. Billy Gibbons (ZZ Top) - Ferrari driver saw him last time with a 308 in Houston. Yngwie Malmsteen - Ferrari driver 550 Maranello on my last visit in LA.
Paul, I realy don`t know about his whole car collection. Its now 3 years ago when I have met him in LA/SoCal. He showed up with a F 550 Maranello in red. He was living (during this time) in a f****** huge house north of LA (close to Beverly Hills) with a wonderful swimming pool. we have been talking about Ferraris but he never mentioned Lamborghini.
Like I said, I could be wrong, I just remember from long time ago, I was reading about him in a Swedish music mag, and there he was pictured in the front of his house and in the driveway there was a black countach, now this was looong before I really could tell the difference between a VW "bouble" and a Lambo So for all I know, the car could just have been placed there...as a "showoff"
Ohh...BTW: Yngwie is a great guitarist, I've seen him several times here in Oslo MAAAAAAAN...that guy throws out guitar picks...I've got a whole bunch LOL
