The Thrill Is Gone - BB King

[vienna]

This one hurts hard, even though the news of BB's condition has been known for some time. Eighty-nine years is a good, long life, but it wasn't enough for those of us who will never hear him play live again. I saw him for the first time in 1969, when King was a part of the Rolling Stones US tour, known as the "Uncle Sam" tour and, infamously as the Altamont tour. The Stone have always insisted on presenting blues and R&B artists as opening acts on their tours, particularly performers who had influenced their music and who they respected and felt they owed a debt of recognition. The concert was in Oakland. The bill was Terry Reid, BB King, The Ike & Tina Turner Revue, and the Stones, in that order. Each opening act was allowed to do a full set. BB's band came out first, in R&B style, and played one or two numbers, after which the band leader, over the band playing the opening bars of a King song, announced the entrance of BB. "Ladies and gentlemen, the King of the Blues, Mr. BB King!" and BB strode out, Lucille strapped on, plugged in, and proceeded to prove he really was the "King of the Blues". He played his hits, a few lesser known numbers, and played them all with passion and precision. Ever since that night, I was hooked on the King's playing and style...

There are some musicians who, when they pass away, people say "that's the end of an era". BB is one of those musicians. He was one of the Three Kings: BB, Albert, and Freddie. Each of them had a profound effect and influence on blues and rock guitar, specifically and, all music in general. Albert and Freddie are gone and, now, with BB gone, the book is pretty much closed the book on that era and style of bluesmen. It says a lot about the mastery of a musician when their legacy is so deeply a part of the musical world...

RIP, Mr. King, You Royal Bluesness; the thrill may be gone, but many, many sincere thank you's for the thrills when you were here...


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