Although he has surely been discussed, here, on Tell Me, before, I do not recollect the last time we talked about the guitarist, Roy Buchanan, and what our views on him are. Admittedly, for long spells, I forget about him entirely; that is, until the four million+ viewed YouTube video of him and his band performing ‘Hey Joe’ appears. What an extraordinary piece of guitar-work it is; at least, I find it to be so. I suppose he could have been considered a one-trick pony, and I have no idea if he wrote any of his own pieces; it seems that he is not revered to anywhere near the extent of many of his contemporaries. I understand the late Jeff Beck was a keen admirer, and he was ‘considered’ as Mick Taylor’s replacement; at least his name was mooted. Actually, can anyone enlighten me – and others, unaware – to the extent of the truth to his Stones connection?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026-03-19 16:26 by Big Al.

AAAAAH yes .. . . I remember back in the day (mid 70s?) he was the "it" guitarist among electric blues fans, but did not really break out from occasional FM radio airplay. He was considered to be a bit old-school and didn't fit well into guitar god status.

HBK

Quote
HouseBoyKnows
AAAAAH yes .. . . I remember back in the day (mid 70s?) he was the "it" guitarist among electric blues fans, but did not really break out from occasional FM radio airplay. He was considered to be a bit old-school and didn't fit well into guitar god status.

HBK

Well he didn't 'look the part', certainly.

Roy was a master of the Telecaster. His solo albums are excellent and worth seeking out. Thats What I AM Here For and Second Album come to mind. He had "issues" but boy could that guy play! Would not have been a good fit with the boys, but he was a great musician.

Second Album, That's What I Am Here For and In the Beginning (US) aka Rescue Me (UK) are for me three masterpiece in a row.

Two words:


SWEET DREAMS

During Buchanan's time, if I remember right, in another genre/style was guitarist John Fahey. His playing was exquisite. I wasted many a weekend afternoon just listening to Fahey's albums. I told myself I would concentrate and practice more to play somewhat like him - due to my love of good acoustic guitar - but it ain't happened yet.

Here's Buchanan live from the show Austin City Limits back in the day. The comments under the clip are interesting. I've added a clip of another great guitar player Danny Gatton. Enjoy.

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]

Quote
dmay
During Buchanan's time, if I remember right, in another genre/style was guitarist John Fahey. His playing was exquisite. I wasted many a weekend afternoon just listening to Fahey's albums. I told myself I would concentrate and practice more to play somewhat like him - due to my love of good acoustic guitar - but it ain't happened yet.

Here's Buchanan live from the show Austin City Limits back in the day. The comments under the clip are interesting. I've added a clip of another great guitar player Danny Gatton. Enjoy.

[www.youtube.com]

[www.youtube.com]

Just brilliant! Roy was such a beautiful player and the fact that he may not have been so gregarious and "didn't look the part" ain't important. We will probably never see and get to hear people like him again.

According to an interview done by Roy's manager for a Buchanan bio a few years back , Roy was a habitual teller of tall tales and invented the story
about being considered for the Rolling Stones. "Live Stock" is a good live LP.

I always assumed that he ‘may’ have been considered after Mick Taylor’s departure; but from what I’ve read, it was when Brian was fired.

This Vintage Guitar excerpt isn't the same interview I was referring to but you get the drift. If I can find the one from his old road manager, I'll post it.

Buchanan later told journalist Tom Zito that at this point he turned down – through Daniels – a job offer from the Rolling Stones stemming from Brian Jones’ death in July 1969. It’s a great story: a guitarist too hot, too disinterested in fame to join the Stones. Unfortunately, Daniels himself told me he had never even heard that story, nor spoken to the Stones. Could this oft-repeated tale simply be one of Roy’s “greatest hits,” one of the greatest stories ever told in rock and roll circles?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2026-03-21 14:59 by roryfaninva.

Young Robbie Robertson encounters Roy Buchanan.