Stevie Ray Vaughan

27th Aug 1990, Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed when the helicopter he was flying in, hit a man-made ski slope while trying to navigate through dense fog. Vaughan had played a show at Alpine Valley Music Theatre, East Troy, Wisconsin with Robert Cray & His Memphis Horns, and Eric Clapton. Vaughan was informed by a member of Clapton's crew that three seats were open on a helicopter returning to Chicago with Clapton's crew, it turned out there was only one seat left; Vaughan requested it from his brother, who obliged. Three members of Eric Clapton's entourage were also killed.

Full story here: http://www.thisdayinmusic.com/pages/stevie_ray_vaughan

Hard to believe it's been 25 years!
After all this time he's still influencing guitar players everywhere. Just an extraordinary talent and electrifying to watch.

SRV was also a decent blues singer, something that often gets lost in the sheer power of his playing. Not so much on this clip, but it can be heard in others and of course his studio work.

SRV had what it took.  Don't come across many guys like him.

Still have the T-shirt from the gig I saw in Newcastle City Hall in June 1988. He was extraordinary, still my favourite guitarist.


edited to add...

I also remember exactly where I was when I heard he had been killed. I was in the wine bar in Lytham St Annes when an Aussie contractor called Chris Derks came in and gave me the news. Weekend completely ruined

The only gig I've ever walked out of; SRV, Dunedin Town Hall, 1980. Christ, it was loud... I mean, it was really painful and the lass I was dating at the time and I weren't the only ones fleeing the auditorium; there was a veritable flow of people walking out shaking their heads....
And before you jeer too much, I'd been to Zeppelin and Purple and was playing professionally at the time so I had some idea of volume vs gain!

That said, Texas Flood and Couldn't stand the weather are simply fabulous records and his loss is certainly profound.

I have been subscribed to a chap called Griff Hamlin for some time now. He's an extremely likable guitar player with a winning teaching style.

Today, he also marked SRV's passing with a link to this very interesting video interview clip. Bloody shame we didn't have the digital technology back then that we enjoy today (it's low resolution) however, it's still great to see him working it.
SRV