BB King RIP

DrJazzTap

Sad times, arguably the most influential blues guitarist of all time. RIP

Beexter

RIP BB King... you'll be missed but your music and influence will live on.

I'm going to see Clapton tonight at the Albert Hall and this news is sure to have an impact...

richardhomer

Beexter;633932" said:

I'm going to see Clapton tonight at the Albert Hall and this news is sure to have an impact...

I'm sure it will - EC looks genuinely distressed in this clip:


http://www.buzzfeed.com/imaansheikh/eric-clapton-thanks-bb-king

robwright

Very sad news. Massive influence on so many people.

stuagu

Eric may play out of his skin... Let us know.

Neil

Very sad news but something we all knew was coming.

I loved reading about and listening to his music.

Glad I got to see him live.

RIP Riley.

IvisonGuitars

RIP indeed. I saw him twice, both times exceptional.

As I find with Hendrix, I prefer his singing over his guitar playing, incredibly soulful voice.

Luminous

A beautiful human and player....we won't see the like again

GuyBoden

Sad, the Thrill is gone................
:-<

equalsql

When I saw him in Brighton in about 1981 he was just kick-ass. His guitar really 'spat' when he played. His live tone back on those days just painted the walls of the venue and the interplay between his singing and soloing was inspirational. His band had real muscle and he took no prisoners.  Brilliant it was and when he played 'Paying The Cost To Be The Boss'  there was no doubt in my mind who was running the show.

This clip is from about that time and if you turn the volume up it gives you some idea of what he really sounded like.
And... boy could he sing!

daveww

Loved that @equalsql I saw him again about 3 years ago.  Still good but prefer to remember him the way he used to be.

RIP B.B

ArchtopDave

Sad news indeed.

I'm old enough to have seen BB King back in  1968 / 1969 - the support act was Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee. 

As an aside, it strikes me that Eric Clapton as aged a lot in the last year or two.

drwiddly

The last of the Kings of the Blues. A sad day :-(

Blueingreen

Very sad news.  Got into him so many years ago via "Live at Cook County Jail".  Along with Peter Green became my favourite blues guitarist, and one of my favourite players in any style. My infatuation with electric blues music didn't last, and I never got into later generation players like SRV, Bonamassa etc - to my ears the music became a prisoner to its own cliches - but B B remained the one blues guy I've always gone back and listened to.  RIP.

sted

A life lived to its fullest extent, RIP Blues Boy, thanks for the music.

NervousJohn

The last of the three Kings. Very sad.

57Deluxe

ArchtopDave said:

Sad news indeed.<SNIP>

As an aside, it strikes me that Eric Clapton as aged a lot in the last year or two.

/\ have thought the same thing myself... youd've thought a man so obsessed with his apearance as he has like for-ever, would have had a neck tuck at least!

rlw

Is EC the last of them now, as he suggests? Will he keep going as long?
I bloody well hope so as he can still do it, as witnessed last night.
If anyone is going tonight, let us know if he slips in a BB number.

rlw

In addition to the above I probably saw BB every year he came here from about 1972 onwards. Always a great show from a very humble man.

ArchtopDave

Just been watching a 25 minute programme, dating from 1972, on BB King on BBC4 iplayer - think it was titled "Sounding Out". In part of the programme he talks about discovering T Bone Walker. Charlie Christian, and Django Reinhart.  Also explains that he developed his famous vibrato because he was useless at slide guitar, and wanted to imitate his cousin Bukka White's slide style.