Buddy Guy is a bad man

[Cheap Trills]

I was looking up Buddy Guy's age after coming across the thread regarding aging musicians. I ended up going down the rabbit hole and came across a few things I hadn't before. One, his daughter Shawna is a successful rapper who had hits in the early 2000's... never knew. And if you check out her Instagram now... well, make sure your wife's not around, it's NSFW... all I see is Buddy Guys face though.

Second, I came across this poem published in the Oxford American, written by poet Patricia Smith. Here's the link -- Making Love to Buddy Guy by Patricia Smith . Buddy is a bad man.

Third, the song "Cheaper to Keep Her", which he really seemed to enjoy singing when I saw him a few months ago, was about the messy divorce he had and supposedly came from his ex-wife's lawyer asking him if he was going to write "Damn right I got the Divorce Blues" and him singing a few bars of Cheaper to Keep Her in court. Haha, if that's true, it's pretty funny.

 

[TomBrokaw]

I'd rather not, thanks

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I'd rather not, thanks

I dunno, you might get off easy.



Then again...

 

[Happy Enchilada]

One of the best blues records and live records EVER.
Amazon wants $38 for one now ...

 

[smoothrecluse]

He’s coming to Dallas, and I’d like to see him, but man, those tickets are expensive.

 

[bladeswitcher]

Third, the song "Cheaper to Keep Her", which he really seemed to enjoy singing when I saw him a few months ago, was about the messy divorce he had and supposedly came from his ex-wife's lawyer asking him if he was going to write "Damn right I got the Divorce Blues" and him singing a few bars of Cheaper to Keep Her in court. Haha, if that's true, it's pretty funny.

I couldn't tell if you were suggesting that Buddy Guy wrote the song, but "Cheaper to Keep Her" was a Johnnie Taylor song, first released in 1973:

 

[bladeswitcher]

View attachment 1088244
One of the best blues records and live records EVER.
Amazon wants $38 for one now ...

Check ebay.

 

[Mister_Baddabing]

He’s coming to Dallas, and I’d like to see him, but man, those tickets are expensive.

I love Buddy for his history making music career and talent. And to see a living legend is pretty cool. But I think that is what we are paying for now days - to see him - not so much hear him play. I saw him last time he came to Dallas. He played some of his signature licks and did some guitar impersonations of other famous guitar players. But the majority of the six string work was done by various guitar players in his band. I left a bit disappointed by how little he actually played. That was prior to him turning 80, he is 86 now. I was lucky enough to see him perform at his club and at Chicago Blues Fest. And, yes, he still plays better than I likely ever will. But I prefer that my memories of him be from when he was at the top of his game.

I'm going to go see another amazing guitar player this Friday. Henry Garza and his brothers, Los Lonely Boys, at the HiFi in Dallas.

 

[Fiesta Red]

Buddy Guy is one of the best performers I’ve ever seen.

Sure, he has had a few clunkers, but when you do something for 60+ years, you’re gonna slip up here and there…but when he hits, he *HITS*…

I give him a pass on his “playing less” lately. The same could be said for Muddy Waters, BB King, Waylon Jennings as they got older…

Mr. Guy inspired more than one generation of blues and rock performers…and he did the heavy lifting for some of his forefathers when they hit their waning years.

He’s in his mid/late 80’s. He’s been doing this longer than most of us have been alive.

 

[hemingway]

When Buddy goes, who else is left? Surely he is the last of the great old bluesmen. Not that I'm wishing it on him.

 

[LowerAlabama]

Saw Buddy in 2021 Mobile, AL with Kenny Wayne Shepherd. Great show. It was postponed a couple of times due to Covid. Kenny Wayne Shepherd is married to Mel Gibson's oldest daughter and his backing band was Reese Wynans, Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon.

 

[rxmoore]

I have tickets to see Buddy Guy Saturday night in Anderson, Indiana. I'll see him again in Cleveland in August. The picture below is from Detroit last May. We were in the second row, and Buddy leaned down and handed my wife his guitar pick.

I'm not going to see a guitarist. He's in his mid-80s now and can't play like he used to. I'm going to see the legend, the storyteller, one of the men who shaped the music that I've loved for more than half a century now. I'm going to say thank you for every way he's enriched my life. I first saw him 30 years ago, when he was at his peak. With one or two possible exceptions, he's the best guitarist and best performer I've ever seen.

 

[Mjark]

I wouldn’t pay to see him now. But Did see him with Jr. Wells back in the 80’s a few times when they were playing clubs. Those were good shows.

 

[Lawdawg]

I dunno, you might get off easy.



Then again...

God, I love "Sweet Tea," it may be my all time favorite blues album.

Got to see Buddy Guy any number of times in the late 80s - early 90s when I lived in the Chicago area. He always delivered a helluva show. I know he's slowed down a lot, but he looks dang good for an 86 year old!

 

[menefreghista]

I saw Buddy play in a small theater outside of Boston, I think in 2018. He played a lot and ferociously. It was an excellent show and even though tickets are expensive it's probably worth it as this is last tour, wish I could see him again.

A friend of mine's band backed him up a few times in the 80's said playing with him was like standing in the middle of a hurricane.

 

[Strat Jacket]

I'm not going to see a guitarist. He's in his mid-80s now and can't play like he used to. I'm going to see the legend, the storyteller, one of the men who shaped the music that I've loved for more than half a century now. I'm going to say thank you for every way he's enriched my life. I first saw him 30 years ago, when he was at his peak. With one or two possible exceptions, he's the best guitarist and best performer I've ever seen.
View attachment 1088431

This.
This is the reason I continue to see Gordon Lightfoot every time he comes to play locally. As a singer and guitarist, he is
so far past his prime it's not funny. I do it to pay him props for a lifetime of remarkable achievement. Same goes for Buddy. Can you imagine still grinding it out at his age? He's earned his props and still keeps going. Rock on, Buddy!

 

[rand z]

I saw him 3 times over the last 40 years.

All 3 times he was "over the top."

Hokum, sure... it's part of the show.

And, though he certainly is a legend and I have tremendous respect for him and his work, his guitar playing was all over the place.

Every show I expected him to pull it together... but, it really didn't happen.

So, I really prefer his studio recordings over his live shows.

(I know for a fact that BG likes his cognac and has had restrictions on how much he consumes before and during a show. Whether this has had any significance...)

imo.

 

[Gimble]

One of my fondest live performance memories is Buddy Guy at Auditorium Shores in Austin back in the ‘90s:

Walked out into the crowd to play and stopped in front of my ex-wife and started ripping on the guitar making “googely eyes” at her then gives me a side glance and smiles and reaches out his hand, without missing a note, and shakes my hand!

 

[stephent2]

Heh,.. Saw Buddy last year, he played his butt off. His second guitar player got one solo. It was here in Atlanta, fifth row seats,.. fantastic and memorable concert. He played the Blues, was fully engaged w/ the audience and in the present tense. No wanking.

 

[telestratosonic]

I saw Buddy Guy in Edmonton in 2004.
He was the real deal.

I bought the Buddy Guy hoodie as well.
I was within 10' of him so I had a bird's-eye view of him. He did the walkaround amongst the audience as well.

The venue was basically an oversized school gym with a 3'-high stage at one end.

No seating other than trestle tables around the perimeter.
At the other end, they sold beer and burgers.

People were there with their kids. Relaxed laid-back atmosphere.
Memorable night.