Goodby Johnny

[Willabe]

Here's a few of my favorites.

Cheap Tequila (had a pretty good voice)

http://youtu.be/RNG6KpoiFl0

My favorite of his albums.

http://youtu.be/_XMngkIF1DI


                  Brad     

[Ed_Chambley]

I learned to play blues listening to the AND album.  Back when I had to stop the record and move the needle back.  I had a turntable that would run at 16 so I was learning everything a tad deep.  You know we had to work like crazy to get those licks.  I remember me and my friend, the dude that is a great player.  He would take part of an album and I would take the other and we would teach each other after we learned it.


Now all you gotta do is youtube it.  Gotten a lot easier.


Let's turn the lights down, slow things down, get a little funky and do a little blues for ya.

[Willabe]

Man Ed you and I sure like a LOT of the same music.   

I met him a couple of times and was his guitar/amp guy 1 time at a Chicago Blues fest in Grant park. Their was at least 70K at that show. Some reports in the news said as many as 100K!

Johnny couldn't see very well and his manager had me walk him out to his amps. My brother was blind so Johnny grabbing my elbow to have me walk him out there was normal for me.

So we're both squatting down in front of his amp (he had rented a BFSR for the gig) and he set the controls then he says "take me to the mic', ok, so I bring him out there and before I could turn and go he's off and rippin!

So Johnny's playin with the spot light blazzin on him and I'm right behind him, in the spot light too.         I turned to get off stage and Johnny's manager holds up his hands and was saying "stay there"! Stay there, what are you kiddin me??????             

I froze and looked out at a sea of 70K+ people!  Now I got no guitar, no harp, no mic to at least sing in, not even a stinkin tambourine!

To me I might of well have been naked.     So I went back and squatted to the side of Jonny's amp. I kept looking at Teddy (Johnny's manager) who was at the side of the stage wings and he kept holding up his hands like a stop sign and was saying stay there. 

At the time it seemed like forever but I think into the 2nd song he finial waved to me to come off the stage. Man I don't think I ever ran so fast before in my life.        

Even got to ride in the limo after the show, couldn't believe it. He was nice to me, talked freely about music/players and seemed like a nice guy.


              Brad     

[Ed_Chambley]

Brad, Great story.  I love that sound of the blues played on the Firebird.  I hated when he quit using it.


Here there used to be a Big club called Harlows that got large blues acts and I got the opportunity to see and meet Johnny.  There were too many people and I don't fight to get to talk.  I got one of his photos and he signed a T-shirt.


I think the reason we like a lot of the same music is because we like a lot of music.  Man, I tell ya I hear live music anywhere and I follow it until  I find it.


Got Tickets for ZZ Top and Jeff Beck this morning.

[Willabe]

I love that sound of the blues played on the Firebird.  I hated when he quit using it.

Naw, he had those Lazer headless guitars at the time.            I think he played them because the weight was much lighter?

Here's another (short) story about the rodie gig.

I showed up at Grant park a couple hours early as I was told to and they took me to Johnny's dressing room behind the band shell. So Johnny's tuning up 1 of his guitars and says " this 1 needs a new string would you put 1 on?" (He kept 1 for regular tuning playing and the other for tuning to a chord for slide. Usually A.)

So we're sitting face to face a few feet apart on folding chairs and he says something about the Lazer guitar having the tuning keys on the body and did I understand how to change the string on it. 'Sure I get it.'

So, like I said Johnny couldn't see very well and as he's tuning his guitar he has his tuner in his lap and he's bent forward leaning down with his face only 4"/5"s from it. So as I'm changing the string again he's says 'can you see it or can you see that?'  Hmmmm,   

Now I thought he was talking about the tuner in his lap            so I lean forward and now we're head to head and I'm trying to see his tuner readout. Johnny realizes I'm looking at his tuner and in that classic growl of his raises his voice and say's "NO, not this, that!"  Doh!!!!!         I mean geez, so the tuner keys were on the body, I get it.     

Yeah, a Firebird sounds real good in the right hands, it's the PUP's and the wood, IMO. Tone Quest Report mag has done several reviews on Firebird PUP's both new and old, they really like'um too.


                  Brad