Stevie Ray Vaughan: Our 1989 Interview About Jimi Hendrix

[JasO]

In 1989, Stevie Ray Vaughan took a break from the In Step sessions to talk to me about Jimi Hendrix. He described the first time he heard Jimi’s music, and how when he was first starting to perform, he used to dress up like Jimi, hook up four rented amps to a P.A. in his bedroom, and “floorboard” it to Axis Bold as Love (wish I’d been there to see that!). At that time, he said, he was using a Telecaster that he'd rebuilt himself. Stevie also discussed Jimi’s blues roots, as well as how playing a flipped-over Strat effects playing technique. Stevie then went into the frustration he was having with amps at the In Step sessions – he’d brought 32 of them, and none of them were working right! You can see the whole conversation here:

http://jasobrecht.com/stevie-ray-vaughan-1989-interview-jimi-hendrix/

 

[dstroud]

Awesome interview - thanks!

 

[JasO]

Someone sent me youtube links to the two Sly Williams tracks, and they're now imbedded in the article. Stevie's right -- those songs are a revelation! I wonder who Sly Williams was and whatever happened to him. And leave it to Stevie to know the obscure guys!

 

[mentoneman]

thanks Jas, and Merry Christmas!

and yes Phillip Sayce is interview worthy and carrying the hendrix/vaughan torch!

people can accuse him of being another srv knockoff but when you see him live you know he's not faking anything, and he's more honoring the legend's tone and style while doing his own thing.

and right when you think it's safe he'll drop a strafing of gary moore victims/corridors-era runs on you and remind you he's got some youngblood in him.

 

[JasO]

Since I put the SRV interview online a few days ago, there's been some speculation zinging around the internet that Jimi was actually the guitarist on the Sly Williams records Stevie talked about. Hearing the records (Ive embedded links in the article), it's tempting to speculate that it's very early Jimi, but I don't think so. Here's why: When we were working on the book "My Son Jimi" together, Al Hendrix said that Jimi got his first electric guitar after they'd moved to 1314 East Terrace in Seattle. He put the year for that move at 1959. Sly Williams probably made his recordings in 1958, when Jimi had yet to obtain an electric guitar. And Jimi's first guitar, which he played through the early 1960s, had no whammy bar. Finally, Al Hendrix was so poor in 1958 that there's no way he afford to send Jimi to California to make a record. And if Jimi had recorded in 1958, Al would certainly have mentioned it. So I'm convinced Jimi couldn't be the guitarist on the Sly Williams 45.

 

[TX6Strings]

Someone needs to post SRV's statement's regarding Dumbles on TGP!

 

[GtrWiz]

He's a total SRV rip from day one. Just jacked up a bit. That's cool, but he's no torch-bearer, IMO. Rather listen to Eric Gales, who at least has his own style.

agreed. weaksauce...

 

[wheelman]

That was a great interview. Thanks for sharing.

 

[robertkoa]

Hey Jas - thanks for posting and bringing back some of the cool work done at Guitar Player Mag.

Stevie mentioned how few people have gone beyond what Hendrix did.

I think a good candidate for that is Stevie's friend Eric Johnson, whom you've interviewed of course.

He's taken a few steps beyond the doors that Jimi opened in some ways and we've sort of been in the EJ era for awhile now, where I hear lots of his influences in other pro's and amateurs styles.

It's a little bit hard when soloing to completely step out from EJs shadow I think.......................

Interesting that Stevie seemed to be totally commanding the guitar forcefully like Godzilla and EJ seems to be commanding the guitar in a more finesse, smoother way- but they both do ( or did ) amazing Hendrix interpretations.............