ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED ON NOV. 5, 2008
By Steve Newton
When Buddy Guy calls from Las Vegas at 7 on a Saturday morning, the sleep-deprived interviewer on the receiving end is still waiting for the coffee to kick in. But the 72-year-old Guy has already been up for hours.
“Oh man, I was born and raised on a farm,” enthuses the talkative blues-guitar legend. “Every mornin’ you can call me at 5 and I’ve done had my coffee, and if I’m home I’d of had my red beans and rice almost ready now. My mom used to teach me that, ’cause she had to use a wood stove to cook, and it would be so hot in Louisiana she would get up at 4 every morning and have the red beans done by 7, so the house wouldn’t be so hot. When the fire go off on the stove, that’s the only time the house stay cool.”
Guy has come a long way since his threadbare childhood, which he spent in a plantation shack with no running water, no electricity, and-until he got big enough to build them-no screen doors. (“We had to fan the flies and everything outta the damn house, man,” he recalls.) Nowadays, he runs his own Chicago blues club, Buddy Guy’s Legends, and is known far and wide as one of the Windy City’s most respected musicians.
More importantly, as evidenced by his new album, Skin Deep, Guy’s guitar work is as potent as ever. His passion still burns through the frets of his Buddy Guy Signature Strat, leading you to wonder how he manages to stay so energized at his age. Turns out he’s got a system.
“You know, ain’t none of us gonna stay young forever,” he relates. “I lost my brother [guitarist Phil Guy] goin’ on three months this month. My mom used to tell me, ‘If you drink too much milk, you’ll kill yourself.’ So I just try to balance myself; I don’t overdo anything.”
Blues fanatics could happily argue that Guy overdoes at least one thing these days: cramming smokin’ hot guitarists onto his records. And they aren’t all big shots, either. Take nine-year-old Quinn Sullivan, who unleashes a wicked solo on the new disc’s ode to next-generation blues players, “Who’s Gonna Fill Those Shoes”.
Raves Guy: “I know several young guitar players, but this kid, man—at that age, I don’t believe him when I hear him play.”
Slightly better known as Strat-handlers go is Eric Clapton, who trades incendiary licks with Guy on “Every Time I Sing the Blues”, and who once proclaimed him the greatest guitarist alive.
“He’s such a nice guy,” comments Guy, “but how could I agree with that statement? I wish I could sell half the records that he sells.”
Occupying a level somewhere between Clapton’s legend and Sullivan’s upstart status is underrated slide-guitar wizard Derek Trucks, whose bottleneck abilities shine on both the title track and “Too Many Tears”, where he’s joined on vocals by wife Susan Tedeschi.
“The first real good slide-guitar player I heard was the late Earl Hooker,” Guy explains. “Me and B. B. King used to say, ‘Hooker’s the only somebody you know who can play the slide and make you cry.’ Derek can make you cry too, but the way he play, every time a tear go to come out, it’s not a sad tear, it’s a joyful tear. Man, that kid, I don’t know why he got it, but whatever he got, I want him to keep on doin’ it.”
Steel-guitar ace Robert Randolph and rhythm specialist David Grissom also get their impressive chops in on Skin Deep, but the talent on Guy’s 10th studio album for the Silvertone label isn’t confined to guitar slingers. Former Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble keyboardist Reese Wynans performs on all 12 tracks, as does bass god Willie Weeks.
“It was like in the Chess [Records] days,” Guy recalls. “You just got some guys look like they know that studio stuff better than anybody. I’ve been in a lot of sessions, and a lot of sidemen will just play the set list back and tell you, ‘That’s it.’ Man, with this session, everybody was sayin’, ‘Look, I think I can do a little better; let me go back in there.’ And hair was standin’ up on my head-even though I’ve shaved it off!
“But this is the kinda stuff that makes you feel like you should go on and keep on playin’, and that’s what Willie and all the guys make me feel like doin’. I don’t even think about retiring. I just say like everybody else, you know, ‘Blues musicians don’t retire, they just drop.’ ”
To hear the full audio of my 2008 interview with Buddy Guy–and my 1991, 1993, and 2001 conversations with him as well–subscribe to my Patreon page, where you can eavesdrop on over 400 of my uncut, one-on-one conversations with:
Dave Martone, 2020
Ian Gillan of Deep Purple, 2006
Joss Stone, 2012
Glenn Tipton of Judas Priest, 2005
Jack Blades of Night Ranger, 1984
Vivian Campbell of Def Leppard, 1992
Colin James, 1995
Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown, 1998
Tom Cochrane of Red Rider, 1983
Ed Roland of Collective Soul, 1995
Taj Mahal, 2001
Tom Wilson of Junkhouse, 1995
Mike McCready of Pearl Jam, 2003
David Lindley, 2002
Marty Friedman of Megadeth, 1991
John Hiatt, 2010
Nancy Wilson of Heart, 2006
Jeff Golub, 1989
Moe Berg of the Pursuit of Happiness, 1990
Todd Rundgren, 2006
Chad Kroeger of Nickelback, 2001
Steve Earle, 1987
Gabby Gaborno of the Cadillac Tramps, 1991
Terry Bozzio, 2003
Roger Glover, 1985
Matthew Sweet, 1995
Jim McCarty of the Yardbirds, 2003
Luther Dickinson of North Mississippi Allstars, 2001
John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls, 1995
Steve Hackett from Genesis, 1993
Grace Potter, 2008
Buddy Guy, 1993
Steve Lynch of Autograph, 1985
Don Wilson of the Ventures, 1997
Gordie Johnson of Big Sugar, 1998
Trevor Rabin of Yes, 1984
Albert Lee, 1986
Yngwie Malmsteen, 1985
Robert Cray, 1996
Tony Carey, 1984
Ian Hunter, 1988
Kate Bush, 1985
David Gilmour from Pink Floyd, 1984
Jeff Healey, 1988
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1996
Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 1993
Colin Linden, 1993
Kenny Wayne Shepherd, 1995
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues, 1986
Elliot Easton from the Cars, 1996
Wayne Kramer from the MC5, 2004
Bob Rock, 1992
Nick Gilder, 1985
Klaus Meine of Scorpions, 1988
Jason Bonham, 1989
Tom Johnston of the Doobie Brothers, 1991
Joey Spampinato of NRBQ, 1985
Patterson Hood of the Drive-By Truckers, 2003
Andy Powell of Wishbone Ash, 2003
Steve Kilbey of the Church, 1990
Edgar Winter, 2005
Johnette Napolitano of Concrete Blonde, 1990
Randy Hansen, 2001
Dan McCafferty of Nazareth, 1984
Davy Knowles of Back Door Slam, 2007
Jimmy Barnes from Cold Chisel, 1986
Steve Stevens of Atomic Playboys, 1989
Billy Idol, 1984
Stuart Adamson of Big Country, 1993
Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, 1992
Warren Haynes of Gov’t Mule, 1998
John Bell of Widespread Panic, 1992
Robben Ford, 1993
Barry Hay of Golden Earring, 1984
Jason Isbell, 2007
Joey Belladonna of Anthrax, 1991
Joe Satriani, 1990
Vernon Reid of Living Colour, 1988
Brad Delp of Boston, 1988
Zakk Wylde of Pride & Glory, 1994
John Sykes of Blue Murder, 1989
Alice Cooper, 1986
Lars Ulrich of Metallica, 1985
John Doe, 1990
Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, 1992
Myles Goodwyn of April Wine, 2001
John Mellencamp, 1999
Mike Campbell of Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, 1999
Kenny Aronoff, 1999
Doyle Bramhall II, 2001
Jon Bon Jovi, 1986
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1992
Randy Bachman, 2001
Little Steven, 1987
Stevie Salas, 1990
J.J. Cale, 2009
Joe Bonamassa, 2011
Tommy Emmanuel, 1994
Rob Baker of the Tragically Hip, 1997
John Petrucci of Dream Theater, 2010
Eric Johnson, 2001
Stu Hamm, 1991
Gene Simmons of Kiss, 1992
Ace Frehley from Kiss, 2008
David Lee Roth, 1994
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
John Mayall of the Bluesbreakers, 1988
Steve Vai, 1990
Tony Iommi of Heaven and Hell, 2007
Flea of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, 1996
Geoff Tate of Queensryche, 1991
James Hetfield of Metallica, 1986
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1990
Rick Richards of the Georgia Satellites, 1988
Andy McCoy and Sam Yaffa of Hanoi Rocks, 1984
Steve Morse, 1991
Slash of Guns N’ Roses, 1994
Brian May from Queen, 1993
Dickey Betts of the Allman Brothers, 1991
Jake E. Lee of Badlands, 1992
Rickey Medlocke of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1997
John Fogerty, 1997
Joe Perry of Aerosmith, 1987
Rick Derringer, 1999
Robin Trower, 1990
Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, 1994
Mick Ronson, 1988
Geddy Lee of Rush, 2002
Buck Dharma of Blue Oyster Cult, 1997
Michael Schenker, 1992
Vince Neil of Motley Crue, 1991
Vinnie Paul of Pantera, 1992
Joan Jett, 1992
Steve Harris of Iron Maiden, 1988
Sebastian Bach of Skid Row, 1989
Rob Halford of Judas Priest, 1984
Bill Henderson of Chilliwack, 1999
Paul Rodgers, 1997
R.L. Burnside, 1999
Guthrie Govan of the Aristocrats, 2015
Mick Mars of Mötley Crüe, 1985
Carlos Santana, 2011
Walter Trout, 2003
Rudy Sarzo of Quiet Riot, 1983
Rob Hirst of Midnight Oil, 2001
Tommy Aldridge, 2001
Donald “Duck” Dunn, 1985
Mark Farner of Grand Funk, 1991
Chris Robinson of Black Crowes, 1990
Jennifer Batten, 2002
Mike Fraser, 2014
Leo Kottke, 2002
Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead, 2002
David Gogo, 1991
Booker T. Jones, 2016
Link Wray, 1997
James Reyne from Australian Crawl, 1988
Mike Rutherford of Genesis, 1983
Buddy Guy, 1991
Country Dick Montana of the Beat Farmers, 1990
Mike Cooley of the Drive-By Truckers, 2016
Gary Rossington of Lynyrd Skynyrd, 1986
Lindsay Mitchell of Prism, 1988
Buddy Miles, 2001
Eddie Money, 1988
Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith, 1983
Gaye Delorme, 1990
Dave Murray of Iron Maiden, 1984
Graham Bonnet of Alcatrazz, 1984
Mick Fleetwood of Fleetwood Mac, 2016
Doc Neeson of Angel City, 1985
Rik Emmett of Triumph, 1985
Sonny Landreth, 2016
Tosin Abasi of Animals as Leaders, 2016
Jeff Beck, 2001
Albert King, 1990
Johnny Ramone of the Ramones, 1992
Peter Frampton, 1987
Otis Rush, 1997
Gord Downie of the Tragically Hip, 1989
Leslie West of Mountain, 2002
Steve Howe of Yes, 2017
Bruce Dickinson of Iron Maiden, 1983
Uli Jon Roth, 2016
Poison Ivy of the Cramps, 1990
Stevie Ray Vaughan, 1985
Greg Lake of ELP, 1992
Robert Plant, 1993
Malcolm Young and Brian Johnson of AC/DC, 1983
Warren Zevon, 1992
Tal Wilkenfeld, 2016
Steve Clark of Def Leppard, 1988
Ronnie Montrose, 1994
Danny Gatton, 1993
Alex Lifeson of Rush, 1992
Ann Wilson of Heart, 1985
J.J. Cale, 1990
Yngwie Malmsteen, 2014
Chris Cornell, 2008
Long John Baldry, 1985
Allan Holdsworth, 1983
Kim Mitchell, 1984
Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers, 1994
Derek Trucks, 1998
Susan Tedeschi, 1998
Joe Satriani, 2018
B.B. King, 1984
Albert Collins, 1985
Ronnie James Dio, 1985
Tony Iommi of Black Sabbath, 1984
Dick Dale, 2000
Greg Allman, 1998
Dickey Betts, 2001
….with hundreds more to come