This Friday Brian Phillips and myself will be screening Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues for our Reelin’ and Rockin’ at the Gateway Film Center series. Brian recently interviewed the film’s producer and narrator Kirby Warnock for the CD92.9 Morning Show. Click here to listen to that conversation. Happy Hour in the Festival Lounge at 7:30 and the movie is at 9pm. Details www.gatewayfilmcenter.org 

For guitar players my age, there have basically been three unquestioned guitar heroes in our lifetime. 

1) Ace Frehley 

2) Eddie Van Halen

3) Stevie Ray Vaughan

Now while I love Ace, he makes the list because millions of kids like myself were inspired to play electric guitar, or at least paint their faces and play air guitar after  hearing KISS Alive in elementary school. 

As for Eddie and Stevie, they were the absolute, unquestioned guitar gods of the past 50 years. Eddie completely dominated until Stevie appeared out of nowhere in a cowboy hat. Then there were two. Even as they have both passed, their legacies still tower over all who have followed them. In fact, how about this list; Since the invention of the FM Album Rock format, what guitar players have redefined the instrument? I’ll give you a hint. There are three. 

1) Jimi Hendrix

2) Eddie Van Halen

3) Stevie Ray Vaughan 

Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. blah there are lots of amazing players like the dude from Dream Theater and Joe Satriani or whoever. Ask me who is the best guitar player ever and I would answer Jeff Beck but I never really listen to him and most likely neither do you. Go figure. And I haven’t forgotten Prince but he did so much more than play lead guitar that it’s hard to put him in this company. So in my opinion Jimi, Eddie and Stevie are the big three. And I don’t think we have had a full on guitar god since Stevie. Jack White could have been a contender but through no fault of his own, rock n roll lost it’s place in the mainstream during his prime years.

Uh-oh. Got to jump. Customer coming in. FYI- Colin’s Coffee last day in this location will be August 20th. It’s been a great run! Follow colinscoffee on Instagram for future updates. - Colin

More stuff!

Obviously lots of footage of SRV online but I have always been partial to this show. Appearing as a surprise guest at a benefit show, he walks on with absolutely no frills and lays waste to the joint. Damn.

Like everyone, I have heard this song a zillion times, but only recently did notice what an amazing guitar solo this is by EVH. Tried to find a good live version to watch but the bootleg sound isn’t brown.

And this is fun. Eddie sitting in with the World’s Most Dangerous Band giving “Panama” the Booker T. treatment.

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