Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2005: Buddy Guy

Blues legend discusses his induction and his true love



For almost fifty years, Buddy Guy has been one of the greatest
guitarists in Chicago blues -- in fact, Eric Clapton once called him
the best guitarist alive. Guy has played with everyone from Muddy
Waters and Howlin' Wolf to John Mayer. At sixty-eight, Guy remains
an electrifying performer, as liable to summon up the sound of Jimi
Hendrix as that of the blues greats he grew up on, such as B.B. King
or Guitar Slim. Last year, he released eleven live double CDs from a
month-long residency at Legends, his own Chi-town club. "My kids
didn't know who I was till they turned twenty-one and saw me in that
club," says Guy. "Then they said, 'My God, Dad, I didn't know you
could do that!'"
Guy has sat down with Rolling Stone many times over his career.
Below are excerpts from our two most recent chats:

How do you feel about being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of
Fame?

Better late than never. Blues players are the last at everything.
Last at airplay, last at everything. I guess that's why we sing
blues and play blues. It was a surprise, and I'm very proud. I don't
have words to express how I feel about it -- it's almost like an
explosion waiting to go off. It will set in more after the 14th. I
hope they don't ask me to make a speech because I get emotional. My
family visited me for Christmas and one of my nieces was at the
table and I came down and said, "This is the most happy Christmas
I've had since I left Louisiana." And she busted out and went to
crying. I said, "What you cryin' for?" And she says, "I'm crying
cause I'm happy."

Younger rockers have certainly championed your cause.

I got quite a few good friends I think I got the support from. I've
seen some quotes from Jeff Beck and other people who are all ready
in [the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame], who said that I should've been
in there. They said they learned a lot of their stuff from me.
Hendrix said that, Keith [Richards] and all those guys said that,
but I don't pay that no mind. I still have to go out there and play,
so that people know I can play.

Do you remember the first music you ever heard?

Church music out in the country in Louisiana. We didn't have
keyboards or anything, so you'd just have to put voices together.
Later on, my dad got one of those wind-up toys, a phonograph. Then
we heard Arthur Crudup and Lonnie Johnson and Lightnin' Hopkins.

Later in life you met Crudup, Johnson and Hopkins. What was that
like?

I never felt I was good enough to shake hands with those guys. I met
Lonnie Johnson onstage in Toronto in 1968. I just about fell out! I
was so shocked I couldn't turn his hand a-loose. He had to shake it
loose. But looking back on it, I must've played something right for
those guys to say hi to me.

How do you rate yourself among the guitar greats?

There's no comparison. It's like stacking up a boxer of today
against Ali, Louis or Marciano. I got a chance to see and play with
guys like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf and B.B. King -- those shoes
will never be filled. They had something. If you were interviewing
Muddy or Wolf, you'd be tapping your feet -- because they talk the
music. I don't have that.

Have you ever been scared or intimidated at a recording session?

[Laughs] I get scared at my own. I always doubted myself and took a
back seat. I made a lot of good records behind Muddy, Junior Wells,
Wolf, Little Walter and all of 'em. But I'd just sit in the corner --
until Muddy taught me how to drink cognac, I wouldn't say nothin'.
Muddy used to call me "motherfucker" and say, "Get over in the
goddamn corner and play!" [Laughs]

What's the craziest stunt you've pulled onstage?

I think the worst was in 1968, Central Park in New York. I jumped
off a stage that was too high and fractured both of my ankles.

Ouch.

When I came to Chicago, there were very few guitar players standing
up and playing -- all of 'em had chairs. I said, "Shit, I can't
sit!" I got the Baptist-church happiness! I feel like I got to shout
when I play!

What goes through your mind when you play a nasty lick?

My dad's last words to me: "Son. Don't be the best in town. Just be
the best until the best come around." If someone thinks enough of
you to come see you, whether it's cold or it's ninety-eight degrees,
I owe myself to them. I'm gonna give you everything I know, and it
might not be worth a shit, but it was the best that I've had. I've
never canceled a gig.

How was touring with John Mayer?

He can play my music, he can play Stevie Ray Vaughan, he can play
Hendrix, he can play everybody. Right now he's on top, and he's got
a good head on him. Let's put it this way: He can get down.

Do you ever watch MTV?

Yeah -- my youngest daughter, Shawnna, is in a video with Ludacris
and one with Mariah Carey. Her face is more famous than mine!

What instrument do you wish you could play?

The harmonica.

You made so many great records with Junior Wells -- he didn't teach
you how to blow a harp?

To learn an instrument, I think you really need to start young. If
you're forty years old and pick up a guitar, I don't think you're
gonna be able to play the B.B. King licks. You have to spend more
time with that guitar than you do with your wife. That's why I'm by
myself now. I had to come up with a divorce, because my wife would
tell me, "You're putting too much time into the guitar and ain't
givin' me none." And I said, "You go, I'm keepin' my guitar."



AUSTIN SCAGGS AND LAUREN GITLIN
(Posted Mar 08, 2005)





Buddy Guy