And I would also like to offer a huge thank you to everyone here for their wonderful reception to the Stevie book. As Alan has stated, it was a true labor of love for us both and so wonderful to be in Texas with his family and fellow band members this part weekend. Thanks everyone! Check out the audiobook too, it's awesome: https://read.macmillan.com/texas-flood-audiobook/
Well back in the days of 'analog interviews' it may be that Johnny didn't happen to see one where he got mentioned. There could be a difference between being mentioned at all, and being mentioned regularly.
without Johnny here to elucidate, it's hard to say.
I googled around and found ongoing debate about JW vs SRV ad nauseam so I'm almost sorry I asked.
it's safe to say they ran in the same circles and jammed with each other and all the same people.
I wonder if Johnny didn't, as humans do, perhaps want more of a mention and SRV, another white
guy with a blues power trio, just was disinclined to mention him as much as Albert n Jimi.
Johnny, who I saw in the late 70's/early 80's at the Capitol...
The first time I ever saw him, I can't say if I was on something, cause I had no dope or booze that I brought, someone mighta passed me a joint.....or two...but anyway... I thought I heard the notes he was going to play a second before he played them, and he was on FIRE, it was an amazing....I felt like I was just soaring with him for the better part of the night. Haven't had that happen again at any show. Not even the Dead hahaha.
Sorry I never caught SRV live.
"Stevie did talk to me about Johnny and said that he loved Johnny's playing and that Johnny was an influence on him. Here's part of that conversation:
AA: Was Johnny Winter ever an influence for you?
SRV: Yes, in different ways. Mostly, it was later on. I just didn't hear him that much, early on. I listened to him after I knew Tommy [Shannon].
So to say he never mentioned that Johnny was an influence--and that it may have been a slight--is incorrect.
Andy"
When SRV first "arrived" and joined Bowie. He was described to the media as part Jimi Hendrix and part Johnny Winter so the JW connection was always there.
After meeting SRV many times over the years, I don't have an interview or quotes. But he told myself and friends that Johnny was definitely an influence on him and pretty much all blues players. Johnny helped add that classic rock element to the blues that changed the genre.
Great book guys and awesome to have both authors on board. Met Andy briefly in Ottawa with Dickey. Told you then and will say it again - learned so much guitar from you over the years. For the numbers of people that read and used your transcriptions to learn, you are very under rated for your affect on guitar. Thank you.
My sister actually said this to me and my wife the other day....
"Stevie Ray Vaughan is a good technical guitarist, but he doesn't have any soul in his playing."
My wife and I, both of whom saw SRV live, were absolutely dumbfounded by what she said.
"Well, if you had seen him live, you would probably feel differently," was the nicest way I could respond.
Great book guys and awesome to have both authors on board. Met Andy briefly in Ottawa with Dickey. Told you then and will say it again - learned so much guitar from you over the years. For the numbers of people that read and used your transcriptions to learn, you are very under rated for your affect on guitar. Thank you.
Thank you! You are in the book! And yes on Andy... he taught America (and Canada and probably the world) how to play guitar, and is, of course, a fantastic player himself.
As for Stevie having no soul, well that's just crazy. I think I may have briefly fallen to that absurd notion when he first came out, probably just parroting what I heard from the cool kids. Anyone who says that, play them "Lenny" from El Mocambo. If they maintain their position, move on. They're hopeless.
Great book guys and awesome to have both authors on board. Met Andy briefly in Ottawa with Dickey. Told you then and will say it again - learned so much guitar from you over the years. For the numbers of people that read and used your transcriptions to learn, you are very under rated for your affect on guitar. Thank you.
Thank you! You are in the book! And yes on Andy... he taught America (and Canada and probably the world) how to play guitar, and is, of course, a fantastic player himself.
As for Stevie having no soul, well that's just crazy. I think I may have briefly fallen to that absurd notion when he first came out, probably just parroting what I heard from the cool kids. Anyone who says that, play them "Lenny" from El Mocambo. If they maintain their position, move on. They're hopeless.
Great point, spot on.
No soul? As I was fortunate enough to see him 13 times by the time I was 21, the man oozed soul -- he literally had it pouring out of him EVERY time I saw him perform whether it be during the drug and booze years or after he cleaned up. He was the best guitar player I have ever had the privilege see perform and his personality was even bigger than his playing. I feel bad for those who believe he played without any soul. I am not quite sure they will ever find what they are looking for.
Well said Guru.
Al and Andy - well done gentlemen! this book is hard to put down, but i'm doing it so that i can enjoy it longer.
this style of oral history is so appealing. i hope you guys collaborate more and more in this style.
and thanks for rekindling my love of SRV. it's been a while since my last deep listen and it is bringing back the love.
Al and Andy: just finished reading the SRV book. awesome read, thanks so much for writing it. a suggestion for your next project: a warren haynes/mule book. Hard to believe there is no gov't mule book out there. surely they are worthy of their own book dontcha think?
A next book?
Ben Harper. Records with Taj Mahal, the Blind Boys of Alabama,
Dani Harrison, Charlie freaking Musselwhite and...his mom.
Oh yeah you'll have you some fun with that!
Thanks so much Canadian Mule! I remember playing Ottawa with Betts--it was hot! I was thinking, "We're in Canada, isn't it supposed to be cold?" Dumb Americans. Thank you for your very kind words and I am glad the lessons have been useful to you over the years. And thanks for your contribution to our SRV book--every puzzle piece in there helps tell the story and set the record straight on one of the greatest ever and also one of the nicest, warmest people you could ever meet.
Andy
When SRV first "arrived" and joined Bowie. He was described to the media as part Jimi Hendrix and part Johnny Winter so the JW connection was always there.
After meeting SRV many times over the years, I don't have an interview or quotes. But he told myself and friends that Johnny was definitely an influence on him and pretty much all blues players. Johnny helped add that classic rock element to the blues that changed the genre.
Great book guys and awesome to have both authors on board. Met Andy briefly in Ottawa with Dickey. Told you then and will say it again - learned so much guitar from you over the years. For the numbers of people that read and used your transcriptions to learn, you are very under rated for your affect on guitar. Thank you.
Thank you so much for the very kind words! A Warren/Mule book is a good idea so maybe we will start to kick that one around...
Andy
Al and Andy: just finished reading the SRV book. awesome read, thanks so much for writing it. a suggestion for your next project: a warren haynes/mule book. Hard to believe there is no gov't mule book out there. surely they are worthy of their own book dontcha think?
Thanks Andy - the Ottawa Blues Fest has not come close to matching you guys since that show. Dickey laughed as I set my chairs up at the venue well in advance - front and center. Always nice to see a friendly face in front.
I paid for it as my wife and I got a healthy dose of Dickey's amp. I always brought up that show and a few others I saw when some would bash at Dickey around here. You guys were smoking that night especially you and Dickey. It was a hot night and if not for the festival curfew you would have had a complete set. had to cut a couple of numbers that night. After years of reading your stuff, it was nice to finally see you.
Now I use some of your articles to help young people that I teach at a community center. Thanks - it helps if I visually show them and then give your article to them to read and use the transcriptions.
This week it was adding the Major 3rd to the E Blues scales. 
But millions read those articles and you open so many doors and/or remind people like me of what we forgot we knew. You deserve far more credit than you will ever receive.
I am all for a Warren book. I will pay now. Can I get in that one too? lol
SRV was a kind soul who loved music and inspired us all. Enjoyed being around him during good times and bad.
Warren is such a thoughtful and articulate soul that I would love to read a book of interviews with him.
I have not read much from him or Dickey about what it was like to be in Dickey's band in the 1980s. I'd love to get a better sense of his role within the ABB too - from the outside, it certainly seemed like without Warren helping to push the wagon from 1989 onwards, a lot of ABB music would not have happened.
Derek is also a fascinating creature, always a great interview, and the story of his days on the bar circuit could be told much more fully than it has been.
I wonder if both of them are too much the gentlemen to really spill some of the beans ...
Guys, really enjoying the book. Just finished chapter 23, Change It, and I know how the book is going to end but for a few moments I'm hoping it doesn't. We really lost someone special. Thanks again for the insight on such a great person.
I know how the book is going to end but for a few moments I'm hoping it doesn't.
It was difficult to write, honestly, and every time I proofed the book I had to put it down and come back fresh and separate from everything that came before. I was maniacal about having no mention of Stevie's death before it came, because I thought it was crucial to readers really feeling the loss and shock so long after the fact. I did something very similar with Duane, but of course there was still a lot of book left to run and plenty of time and space for people to reflect.
We really lost someone special. Thanks again for the insight on such a great person.
Yes indeed. You're welcome. An honor to shine a light.
I ordered my copy. Can't wait to read it. Alan, you rule GW this issue with the excerpt (which I didn't read, as I'm waiting for the book) and the Allman -Betts article. Nice work! And Andy, thanks again for one of the best guitar lessons I ever took! I should really hit you up again, but been busy. Congrats to you both!
Thanks so very much for the very kind words--writing the Stevie book was a true labor of love and we are so glad people are digging it.
I ordered my copy. Can't wait to read it. Alan, you rule GW this issue with the excerpt (which I didn't read, as I'm waiting for the book) and the Allman -Betts article. Nice work! And Andy, thanks again for one of the best guitar lessons I ever took! I should really hit you up again, but been busy. Congrats to you both!
Thanks so much CM--really very very much appreciated! That major 3rd comes in pretty handy! We will speak with Warren and see what he has to say...
Thanks Andy - the Ottawa Blues Fest has not come close to matching you guys since that show. Dickey laughed as I set my chairs up at the venue well in advance - front and center. Always nice to see a friendly face in front.
I paid for it as my wife and I got a healthy dose of Dickey's amp. I always brought up that show and a few others I saw when some would bash at Dickey around here. You guys were smoking that night especially you and Dickey. It was a hot night and if not for the festival curfew you would have had a complete set. had to cut a couple of numbers that night. After years of reading your stuff, it was nice to finally see you.
Now I use some of your articles to help young people that I teach at a community center. Thanks - it helps if I visually show them and then give your article to them to read and use the transcriptions.
This week it was adding the Major 3rd to the E Blues scales.
But millions read those articles and you open so many doors and/or remind people like me of what we forgot we knew. You deserve far more credit than you will ever receive.
I am all for a Warren book. I will pay now. Can I get in that one too? lol
SRV was a kind soul who loved music and inspired us all. Enjoyed being around him during good times and bad.
