SRV's death I can still remember as though it was yesterday, where I was, what I was doin and who I was talkin to, 25 years ago this morning. It was on the 10:00 a.m. news on the radio that they reported that Eric Clapton had perished in a helicopter crash. Although I was sorry to hear that, I was never a huge fan. But I was torn up, an hour later on the 11:00 news, when it was confirmed that it was not Slowhand at all, but tragically my all-time fav guitarist had died that morning. It was for me, along with Dec 7 1980 (the day John Lennon was assisinated) the 2 "days the music died" in my life (to borrow from Don McLean). Like a kick to the gut, I was crushed, mad, sad and filled with disbelief. Having seen him 3 times live, it was hard to realize that there would be no 4th Stevie show for us. Marilyn and I didn't talk much that night. Ate dinner and stared at the rain. And man did it evrr rain. Raining sideways like a Texas Flood as the sky was crying, in our neck of the woods and we just couldn't stand the weather. But we cranked up the Double Trouble albums and played them over and over for days.We hoped that the news would change again, after the remains had been found, and it would turn out that Lil Stevie Ray was alive and well. It took a live Buddy Guy show 5 days later, for us to start smilin again and put aside our grieving. Buddy couldn't hit a bad note, that night, and played like a man possessed. He paid tribute the only way he knew how. The most amazing Buddy show I have ever witnessed. And I have seen him just a few dozen times. R.I.P SRV !!! Been O.D.ing on your music today And Stevie, you always said your guitar heros were guys named King. Well you got them all now, in your band! And you just got done welcoming that Texan guitar slinger into the group. Guy with the Gibson Thunderbird. Name is Winter, Johnny. You must be smiling a lot these days. You gotta hellluva band up there. But hey whatdya say, make that 'new kid on the block' up there, pay his heavenly dues before he gets to play lead. Make B.B finally learn how to play rhythm!
