Texas Flood Tour

Last updated
Texas Flood Tour
Global tour by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
SRVBroncoBowlPoster.jpg
Poster for a concert in Dallas
Location North America, Europe
Associated album Texas Flood
Start dateJune 22, 1983 (1983-06-22)
End dateFebruary 25, 1984 (1984-02-25)
Legs5
No. of shows115
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble concert chronology

The Texas Flood World Tour was a concert tour in North America and Western Europe, undertaken by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble in 1983 and 1984. The band had released their debut album, Texas Flood , a week before the tour began.

Contents

The first leg of the tour took the band through the United States and Canada, and then on to Europe where they toured for two weeks. They then returned to North America where, during a leg that lasted more than three months, Vaughan and Double Trouble opened for Men at Work and The Moody Blues. The tour concluded in the Mid-Atlantic. The band returned to the studio in January 1984. The tour resumed the following month. The final leg incorporated return stops to several cities, and a visit to Hawaii, before the band returned home in late February.

The tour provided the band with widespread exposure and was a commercial success. Vaughan continued to tour in the ensuing seven years before his death in a helicopter crash in August 1990.

Background

Vaughan was one of two children born to Jimmie Lee "Big Jim" and Martha Jean Vaughan. His brother Jimmie Lawrence Vaughan was born March 20, 1951; Stevie (Stephen Ray Vaughan) was born on October 3, 1954, in Dallas. [1] His brother began to teach himself to play the guitar when he was twelve. Vaughan observed him intently, and his musical education was aided by exposure to his brother's constant practicing and playing. [2] According to Vaughan, "he made up three songs the first day. He didn't have to try. It just came out". [2] Steve Stevenson, a family friend, noticed that within a few days Jimmie was able to demonstrate what he had learned. [2]

Vaughan was playing the guitar by the time he was seventeen. In that year, 1972, he brought his band Blackbird to Austin to play at the Rolling Hills Country Club, and later at the Soap Creek Saloon. [3] Vaughan then joined a band called Krackerjack for a three-month stint. [4] He had accepted offers from several local bands, but within six years of arriving in Austin, Vaughan and his own group, Double Trouble, were playing at the Rome Inn. Among those present was Manor Downs accountant, and future business partner, Edi Johnson who remembered, "I'm not an authority on music—it's whatever turned me on—but this did". After an appearance before record producer Jerry Wexler, Vaughan and Double Trouble were invited to the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1982. [5] The audience disliked the band's music and booed their performance. [6] Vaughan and Double Trouble met Jackson Browne the following night. He offered them free use of his personal studio in Los Angeles where they recorded a full-length album in November 1982. [7]

As the band gave several performances toward year's end, they began to be noticed by music industry representatives. At the end of a two-night stand in Austin, Vaughan and Double Trouble earned more than $7,000 for their efforts. [8] The group signed with Epic Records. [9] The label's approval encouraged Vaughan to pursue further opportunities. [10] On a trip to New York, Vaughan and Double Trouble were the opening act at a Bryan Adams concert. [11]

Tour itinerary

Preparations

In a memorandum to executives at the southwest branch of Epic written before the tour, marketing Vice President Jack Chase agreed to break Vaughan and Double Trouble out of Texas. After a branch meeting he said: "The prize is having Stevie Ray Vaughn [sic] on our label and in your bags to promote and sell". Chase said it was his duty to break Vaughan nationally, otherwise "the pride in selling a 'Men at Work' is long gone".[ clarification needed ] He went on to describe Vaughan as a "remarkable artist". [12] Author Craig Hopkins has suggested that the success of Texas Flood was largely dependent on Chase's expertise in breaking a new artist: "John Hammond has received the most accolades [for the album's success], but without Jack Chase, the record might have been just another of those grapes withering on the vine", according to Hopkins. [13] However, there is no evidence to suggest that Hammond was less involved in the making of the band's subsequent studio albums; it seems that he trusted Vaughan's abilities as an artist. [14] [ clarification needed ]

Chase wanted Vaughan and the band to begin touring as soon as possible—the longer the album took to breakout, the more competition it would face. The itinerary he initially planned included the Eastern and Southwestern United States. [12] The additional legs were only added after the growing international success of Texas Flood. [15] The plan was for the band to begin the tour performing nationwide then tour Western Europe. They would headline theater dates in Texas playing for their immediate statewide fan base. [16] Agents Rick Alter and Alex Hodges provided marketing assistance. Their philosophies and techniques in the major markets led to the band eventually performing arena tours, which enabled them to earn bonuses for reaching specific ticket sales plateaus. [17] [ clarification needed ]

Vaughan and Double Trouble prepared for the tour by performing showcases in Dallas and Houston. These were attended by various musicians, radio station personalities, disc jockeys, record store owners, music critics, and record company executives. [18] The band also made promotional appearances. [19] On tour, even during the busiest traveling days, they would fit these into their daily schedule. The band would later find them exhausting. [20] Before the tour could begin, Vaughan and Double Trouble needed the support of radio stations, Dallas' Q102-FM in particular. [21] At first disc jockey Redbeard received only negative reactions from listeners when he played the album. Nevertheless, he persevered and played Texas Flood for an additional two weeks leading to more album sales in the Southwest. At least 15,000 units were shipped to record stores. [22]

Opening leg (June–August 1983)

The tour began on June 22, 1983. On the second night Vaughan developed laryngitis, requiring the cancellation of three performances. [23] He used this time to rest his throat. [24] In Philadelphia, on July 8, the band played at Ripley Music Hall and recorded the show for a radio show broadcast. [25] The next stop was Providence, where they appeared before a capacity audience. [26] The group moved on to New York, where they performed for another packed house in Rochester. [27]

The next extended stop was in Canada. Vaughan and Double Trouble played four concerts including a July 20 appearance at the El Mocambo in Toronto. [27] From there the band took their newly purchased tour bus back to New York, where they played additional concerts. [28] One of the concerts was organized by tennis players Vitas Gerulaitis and John McEnroe as a benefit for the Special Olympics. A review of the concert described it as "one of the lightest turnouts of the season", adding that Gerulaitis and McEnroe "still cannot lure hordes of teenagers to a concert, even a benefit for a worthy cause". However, the review praised the band: "The concert opened strongly with the ubiquitous Texas guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan leading his trio Double Trouble through a workmanlike set of blues and boogie-woogie." [29]

The group proceeded to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest and East South Central regions of the US. [30] Returning to Canada, they reached Montreal, where they performed before over 38,000 people, at the Olympic Stadium. The concert also featured The Police, Talking Heads and Peter Tosh, earning nearly $700,000 in gross revenue. [31] The band proceeded through the west and Midwestern U.S., an area that encompassed Michigan, Illinois, Colorado and California, arriving in Grand Rapids, on August 11. [32] After two performances at ChicagoFest with opening act Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, ("I'll open for them", Vaughan told his agent Rick Alter), [33] Vaughan and Double Trouble gave a performance as the warm-up for Sammy Hagar on August 19. [34] In late August the band departed for England. [35]

Europe (August–September 1983)

On August 27, 1983, Vaughan and Double Trouble arrived in England. The band hoped for a positive reception from the crowd at the Reading Rock Festival in the county of Berkshire. However, in a lineup with mainly hard rock and heavy metal artists, Vaughan and the band stood out and were not received well by the audience, some of whom began throwing bottles of urine. One person who took particular note of this was the band's road crew member Byron Barr, whose journal records the reaction in demeaning terms: "Played Reading Festival. People were rude bastards. They threw bottles full of piss & all kinds of rude shit." [35] Uber Rock writer Andy P's own recollection, written in 2014, was similar: "He kinda stuck out a bit like a sore thumb and like Steel Pulse the day before he caught the attention of the bottle throwers. Unlike Steel Pulse who ended their set early with bottles clanging off their steel drums he persisted with real flair asking the crowd politely, 'I know it's fun but put a stop to it'." [36]

On August 31 the band traveled to Paris for two shows. There they received their first gold records from the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for selling 50,000 copies of Texas Flood. In Paris they also visited the famous Eiffel Tower, then the Arc de Triomphe—"...where Hitler marched through on horseback. Pretty scary to think that all that shit happened just 40 years or so ago", wrote Barr in his journal. [37] A further concert was played in Berlin on September 4 at a nightclub in the borough of Kreuzberg. [38] The next day Vaughan and Double Trouble's first German television appearance was broadcast—a brief interview with Vaughan and a performance of four songs from Texas Flood. The interview featured a male and female host. The male host asked questions in English, and the female host translated Vaughan's responses into German. Hopkins comments that the female host came out wearing Vaughan's trademark flat-brim hat, which he did not appear to find humorous. On September 8 the band arrived in London. [15]

Vaughan and Double Trouble's first London show was at The Venue on Victoria Street. They were advertised as a "special guest at the Reading Rock Festival" with their "new album Texas Flood". [15] The group's London performance proved successful; according to The Guardian , Vaughan's "technique and command are something quite extraordinary". [39] This was, as former bandmate Billy Alford put it, "just a major drug fest". Referring to Vaughan's escalating substance abuse, Alford said, "I knew he was going to be a star, that he had it. It was just a matter of timing and whether he would kill himself before he got there." [40] The final European concert was performed on September 9 at the Paradiso in Amsterdam. The band then returned to the U.S. for a tour of the East Coast. [41]

North America (September–December 1983)

On September 14 Vaughan and Double Trouble arrived in Norfolk, where they played at The Boathouse; a few days later they played an awards show held by WSHE in Miami. [40] The band's agent Rick Alter was sufficiently confident of their career status to announce the group's appearance at concerts at Houston Music Hall, Austin City Coliseum and the Bronco Bowl in Dallas in early October. [16] An advertisement for the Dallas concert included the phrase "the triumphant return of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble". [42] The main reason for their return to Texas was to play celebratory homecoming concerts for Vaughan's immediate fan base in the state. He had performed extensively on the Texas club circuit for nearly a decade. Vaughan featured guitarist Eric Johnson as the warm-up act for each show. [16]

Manager Chesley Millikin had been effusive with his praise in a letter to Epic's Jack Chase, dated October 12. He wrote that the band would not have had the chance to breakout nationally without the benefit of Epic's marketing efforts. He confirmed that Vaughan and Double Trouble would soon return to the studio, and learned that Texas Flood was approaching sales of 300,000 units. [16] According to Alex Hodges, one of the band's agents, many people disliked the idea of them performing in an upcoming tour with The Moody Blues. He reckoned that both bands had a common thread in musical genre,[ clarification needed ] however, and accordingly organized concerts for October through December, which were deemed a success. Hodges apparently "didn't have any doubt" in Vaughan's ability to command the audience. [17] During a short hiatus in mid-December, the band turned their attention briefly from performing to composing. Among other compositions, they finished two instrumentals, which were incorporated into the closing shows of the year, which they completed during a return appearance in Norfolk. [43]

United States (February 1984)

The band traveled to New York City for two and a half weeks. The band played no concerts during this period although there were recording sessions scheduled at the Power Station with John Hammond. [44] Drummer Chris Layton was effusive about Hammond's presence during the sessions; Hammond, he said, "was kind of like a nice hand on your shoulder", and: "he was a feedback person". [45] Layton called him "our gyroscope", and praised his keen ability to identify keeper takes and eliminate over processing. [46]

The recordings made by Vaughan and Double Trouble during these sessions were released as Couldn't Stand the Weather , the band's second studio album. [47] On February 4, the band left New York for Nashville. They played a concert there at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium, appearing at the tenth-annual Volunteer Jam, an event organized by Charlie Daniels. [48] They moved on to Knoxville where they performed at Alumni Memorial Gym on the University of Tennessee campus. [49] The band traveled to Georgia, arriving in Atlanta on February 8, where they did two shows at the Moonshadow Saloon. During the first performance, Vaughan paused during their set and asked an unruly patron to leave the venue, [49] one of the few times he called out a disruptive patron. [50]

The tour through the Midwest continued, with concerts in Missouri and Illinois. [49] Less than a week after the band left Chicago, a 28-year-old man named Willie M. "Wimp" Stokes, Jr., the son of a drug kingpin, was shot and killed at a motel there. Austin musician Bill Carter read about the incident in a local newspaper and wrote the song "Willie the Wimp". He recorded a demo of the song that he gave to Vaughan, who later included his version on the band's live album, Live Alive . [51] Resuming the tour, the band reached Honolulu on February 25 where they closed the tour as the warm-up for The Police at Aloha Stadium. [51]

Reception

Commercial

The band had survived a few setbacks, including three canceled shows which were rescheduled due to Vaughan's laryngitis. [24] The full extent of the tour's earnings and expenses was not highly publicized. Hopkins confirms the band had averaged $500 to $950 per show before the release of Texas Flood, but this had grown to $1,500 by the beginning of the tour. [19] After four months on the road, during the Moody Blues tour in October–December 1983, the band received $5,000 per show, an amount that included additional bonuses dependent on ticket sale plateaus. [52] Layton stated that, "I could actually pay my rent and keep my lights turned on and have money to eat on and put gas in my car—that was our real priority in life." [53] He later recounted that the year before they had "very little money" and were "basically broke". [54]

At times, the shows were packed to capacity; in August 1983, near the end of the first North American excursion, the group's performance at The Palace in Los Angeles was a sellout. [34] "As we were pulling up to the club, there was a line all the way around the block," recalled Shannon. [55] Two months later, after their success in Europe, Vaughan and Double Trouble received a portion of the near $75,000 in ticket sale revenue, following an appearance opening for Men at Work in Seattle. [56] However, in December of that year, after the Moody Blues tour concluded, they returned to performing in smaller theaters—they sold out the Beacon Theatre on December 28. [57] The following year, after studio duties were completed, Vaughan and Double Trouble earned a percentage of the near $155,000 gross revenue after their performance in Nashville. [58] The stability of the band's career meant they could enjoy making their living by playing music. [59]

Critical response and creative development

In terms of critical reception, while there were some mixed reactions, Vaughan and Double Trouble were generally well received. [60] The band was now known throughout the United States, Canada and Europe. As well as encounters with other musical celebrities, the group now had the ability to share the stage with their musical influences; the tour represented, for them, an indicator of success. [61] However, these advantages had been gained at a price; Shannon, in retrospect, noted the stress and strain on the band. They had succumbed to "everything you'd want, [which was] right there—and for a long time it was fun". [45] However, Vaughan's friend Lew Stokes, while also expressing concerns, concludes that, despite Vaughan's substance abuse, his moral compass remained, and the way he treated people had never wavered. [20] The tour confirmed Vaughan's mastery of the electric guitar. [57] This was evidenced in his hometown, on June 16, when a number of radio VIPs attended the Texas Flood record release party. They were frankly skeptical about Vaughan's performance skills, believing them to be feasible only in the studio. [21]

Four songs Vaughan and Double Trouble composed at the end of 1983 were included on their next album, Couldn't Stand the Weather. A number of songs were outtakes, including an instrumental and a lyrical piece. [62] The released works include two instrumentals "Scuttle Buttin'" and "Stang's Swang", and two lyrical pieces "Couldn't Stand the Weather" and "Honey Bee". Vaughan's creative progress is reflected in the songs released on Couldn't Stand the Weather, which, according to Hopkins, quickly outpaced the sales of Texas Flood. [47] The album includes Vaughan's first attempt at instrumental jazz, "Stang's Swang". [44]

Aftermath

Despite his earnings from the tour, Vaughan and his wife Lenny continued to live in their modest house in Austin. [63] However, travel and public appearances dominated the next two years of Vaughan's life. In March 1984 the band was on tour again, this time around North America, Europe, Australasia and Japan, remaining on the road until May 1985. [64] In June Vaughan and Double Trouble left for another tour—with Reese Wynans who was now the band's keyboardist. [65] They were away for over ten months, and took a break in May 1986, to change their management team. [66] A second visit to Europe, from September until October 1986, was the last of the exhaustive touring schedule. [67] Vaughan's new personal assistant, Timothy Duckworth, had concerns about his escalating substance abuse. This ultimately threatened Vaughan's life—and now threatened Shannon's, who was also immersed by addiction. [68]

Typical Setlist

[69]

  1. "Testify" (The Isley Brothers cover)
  2. "So Excited"
  3. "Voodoo Child (Slight Return)" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
  4. "Pride and Joy"
  5. "The Things (That) I Used to Do" (Guitar Slim cover) or "Tin Pan Alley" (Bob Geddins cover)
  6. "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (Buddy Guy cover)
  7. "Love Struck Baby"
  8. "Texas Flood" (Larry Davis cover)
  9. "Tell Me" (Howlin' Wolf cover)
  10. "Little Wing" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)
  11. "Third Stone From the Sun" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)

Encore:

  2. "Lenny"
  3. "Rude Mood"
  4. "Testify" (Reprise) or "Wham!" (Lonnie Mack cover) or "Manic Depression" (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover)

Tour dates

List of concert dates, cities, states, venues, and opening act(s)
DateCityCountryVenue / EventOpening Act(s)
North America
June 22, 1983 Bloomington United StatesJake's
June 23, 1983 Cleveland Pirate's CoveRay Fuller and the Bluesrockers
June 28, 1983 Cincinnati Bogart's
June 29, 1983 St. Louis Mississippi Nights
July 1, 1983 Milwaukee Summerfest Grounds Short Stuff, Truc
July 2, 1983 Quincy Quinsippi Island
July 3, 1983 Chicago Metro Chicago George Faber and Stronghold
July 6, 1983 Asbury Park Asbury Park Convention Hall
July 7, 1983 New York City First City CabaretEve Moon
July 8, 1983 Philadelphia Ripley Music Hall
July 9, 1983 Providence Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel
July 10, 1983 Boston Paradise Theatre The Lost Tropics
July 12, 1983 Poughkeepsie The Chance
July 13, 1983 Auburn Schines Auburn Theatre
July 14, 1983 Rochester Red Creek Inn
July 15, 1983 Buffalo Rooftop SkyroomVincent Michaels Band
July 16, 1983 Toronto Canada CNE Bandshell
July 18, 1983 Montreal Montreal Spectrum
July 19, 1983 Ottawa Barrymore's
July 20, 1983Toronto El Mocambo
July 22, 1983 Rome United StatesColmans
July 23, 1983New York City Pier 84
July 24, 1983 Scotia Radio City
July 25, 1983 New Haven Toad's Place Current
July 27, 1983 Washington, D.C. The Bayou Bob Margolin
July 28, 1983 Pittsburgh The DecadeLoan Sharks
July 30, 1983 Detroit Saint Andrew's Hall Street Light Knights
July 31, 1983 Dayton Gilly's
August 1, 1983 Louisville Stage II Lonnie Mack
August 3, 1983MontrealCanada Montreal Olympic Stadium
August 11, 1983 Lowell United StatesLowell Showboat Amphitheater
August 12, 1983Chicago Soldier Field Vanessa Davis Band

Eddie Taylor

August 13, 1983 Buddy Guy and Jr. Wells, Clark Street
August 15, 1983 Colorado Springs Rose'sDave Drynan, Red Perry and Walter Chase
August 16, 1983 Denver Rainbow Music Hall
August 19, 1983 Sacramento Cal Expo Y&T
Berkeley Keystone Fabulous Pork Swords

Mitch Woods and His Rocket 88's

August 20, 1983 San Francisco The StoneThe Uptones

Northern Rockers

August 21, 1983 Palo Alto KeystoneExpresso, Star Lamone and the Deltoids
August 22, 1983 Los Angeles The Palace Hodge Brothers Band
August 23, 1983 Huntington Beach Golden Bear
Europe
August 27, 1983 Reading England Reading Festival
September 1, 1983 Paris FranceRock and Roll Circus
September 2, 1983
September 4, 1983 West Berlin West GermanySektor
September 7, 1983 Hamburg Fabrik
September 8, 1983 London England The Venue
September 9, 1983 Amsterdam Netherlands Paradiso Harry Muskee
North America
September 14, 1983 Norfolk United StatesThe Boathouse
September 15, 1983 Richmond Much MoreJohnny Sportcoat and the Casuals
September 16, 1983 York York Fairgrounds
September 17, 1983 Benson Scott Lake Pavilion The Spongetones

Control Group

September 20, 1983 Charlotte P.B. Scott's Music Hall Reverend Billy C. Wirtz
September 21, 1983 Stone Mountain Harlow's The Heartfixers

The Road Ducks

September 22, 1983 Jacksonville Playground SouthThe Road Ducks
September 23, 1983 Miami James L. Knight Convention Center Mitch Ryder
September 25, 1983 Cocoa Beach Brassy's Night ClubThe Road Ducks
September 26, 1983 Orlando Tom's Point After
September 27, 1983 Sarasota Playground South
September 28, 1983 Clearwater Mr. T's Club 19
September 30, 1983 Gainesville University of Florida Artimus Pyle Band
October 1, 1983 Destin NightownThe Road Ducks
October 2, 1983 New Orleans McAlister Auditorium G.T. and the Trustees
October 6, 1983 Houston Houston Music Hall Eric Johnson
October 7, 1983 Austin Austin City Coliseum
October 8, 1983 Dallas Bronco Bowl
October 11, 1983 Portland Portland Memorial Coliseum Opening act for:

Men at Work

October 12, 1983 Seattle Seattle Center Arena
October 13, 1983 Vancouver Canada Pacific Coliseum
October 15, 1983 Edmonton Northlands Coliseum
October 17, 1983 Hartford United States Hartford Civic Center Opening act for:

The Moody Blues

October 18, 1983 Worcester Centrum in Worcester
October 19, 1983 Buffalo Buffalo Memorial Auditorium
October 21, 1983 Philadelphia Philadelphia Spectrum
October 22, 1983 East Rutherford Brendan Byrne Arena
October 23, 1983 Portland Cumberland County Civic Center
October 25, 1983 Baltimore Baltimore Civic Center
October 26, 1983 Pittsburgh Pittsburgh Civic Arena
October 28, 1983 Cincinnati Riverfront Coliseum
October 29, 1983 Ann Arbor Crisler Arena
October 30, 1983 Rockford Rockford MetroCentre
October 31, 1983 Saint Paul St. Paul Civic Center
November 1, 1983 Cedar Rapids Five Seasons Center
November 2, 1983 Omaha Omaha Civic Auditorium Arena
November 4, 1983Dallas Reunion Arena
November 6, 1983Austin Frank Erwin Center
November 7, 1983Houston The Summit
November 20, 1983Seattle Seattle Center Coliseum
November 21, 1983 Portland Veterans Memorial Coliseum
November 22, 1983VancouverCanadaPacific Coliseum
November 24, 1983EdmontonNorthlands Coliseum
November 25, 1983Calgary Olympic Saddledome
November 28, 1983 Denver United States McNichols Sports Arena
November 30, 1983 Tempe ASU Activity Center
December 1, 1983 San Diego Montezuma Hall The Paladins
December 2, 1983 Santa Barbara UC Santa Barbara
December 3, 1983 Inglewood Inglewood Forum Opening act for:

The Moody Blues

December 4, 1983 San Francisco Kabuki Nightclub Ron Thompson and the Resistors

Pamela Rose and Wild Kingdom

North America
December 27, 1983 Washington, D.C. United StatesWax Museum NightclubBob Margolin
December 28, 1983 New York City Beacon Theatre The Outlaws

The Nighthawks

December 29, 1983 Upper Darby Township Tower Theater The Outlaws
December 30, 1983 Baltimore Famous BallroomSkip Castro Band
December 31, 1983 Norfolk The Boathouse
North America
February 4, 1984 Nashville United States Nashville Municipal Auditorium Grinderswitch

Rodney Crowell

February 5, 1984 Knoxville Alumni Memorial Gym The Heartfixers
February 7, 1984 Charlotte P.B. Scott's Music Hall Robert Cray Band
February 8, 1984 Atlanta Moonshadow SaloonThe XL's
February 10, 1984 Athens Tate Student Center The Heartfixers
February 11, 1984 Carbondale Shryock Auditorium Mike Jordan and the Rockamatics
February 12, 1984 Kansas City Uptown Theater The Bel Airs
February 15, 1984 Normal Braden Auditorium
February 16, 1984 Peoria Second ChanceDeluxury
February 17, 1984 Chicago Embassy Ballroom
February 18, 1984 Ida Noyes Hall Duke Tumatoe and the Power Trio
February 25, 1984 Honolulu Aloha Stadium Opening act for:

The Police

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Ray Vaughan</span> American blues guitarist (1954–1990)

Stephen Ray Vaughan was an American musician, best known as the guitarist and frontman of the blues rock trio Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Although his mainstream career spanned only seven years, he is regarded as one of the most influential musicians in the history of blues music, and one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He was the younger brother of guitarist Jimmie Vaughan.

<i>Texas Flood</i> 1983 studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Texas Flood is the debut studio album by the American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, released on June 13, 1983, by Epic Records. The album was named after a cover song featured on the album, "Texas Flood", which was first recorded by blues singer Larry Davis in 1958. Produced by the band and recording engineer Richard Mullen, Texas Flood was recorded in the space of three days at Jackson Browne's personal recording studio in Los Angeles. Vaughan wrote six of the album's ten tracks.

<i>Couldnt Stand the Weather</i> 1984 studio album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Couldn't Stand the Weather is the second studio album by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. It was released on May 15, 1984, by Epic Records as the follow-up to the band's critically and commercially successful 1983 album, Texas Flood. Recording sessions took place in January 1984 at the Power Station in New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmie Vaughan</span> American blues rock guitarist and singer

Jimmie Lawrence Vaughan Jr. is an American blues rock guitarist and singer based in Austin, Texas. He is the older brother of the late, great Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was a founding member of the The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tommy Shannon</span> American bass guitarist (born 1946)

Tommy Shannon is an American bass guitarist, who is best known as a member of Double Trouble, a blues rock band led by Stevie Ray Vaughan. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Shannon moved to Dumas, Texas when he was nine, where he originally started as a guitarist, though he started playing bass at the age of 21. He appeared with Johnny Winter at Woodstock in 1969. He later joined Double Trouble in 1981 and became a permanent member of Double Trouble until Vaughan's death in 1990. Shannon and bandmate Chris Layton later formed supergroups such as the Arc Angels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Double Trouble (band)</span> American blues rock band

Double Trouble is an American blues rock band from Austin, Texas, which served as the backing band for singer-guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan. The group was active throughout the 1980s and contributed to reviving blues music, inspiring many later blues and rock acts. Formed in Austin, Texas in 1978, the group went through several early line-up changes before settling on a power trio consisting of Vaughan, Chris Layton (drums), Tommy Shannon (bass). They became a four-piece by 1985 after adding Reese Wynans (keyboards). Whilst with Vaughan they were billed Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Rooted in blues and rock music, the group worked in various genres ranging from ballads to soul, often incorporating jazz and other musical elements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Struck Baby</span> 1983 single by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

"Love Struck Baby" is a blues rock song performed by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Vaughan wrote the song about the night that he moved in with his then-wife, Lenny. The track was produced by Vaughan for the band's debut album Texas Flood, recorded in Los Angeles. "Love Struck Baby" was the first single from Texas Flood, released by Epic Records in the United States and United Kingdom. In the song's accompanying music video, bassist Tommy Shannon and drummer Chris Layton are shown relaxing at a bar before Vaughan enters and starts performing the song for a crowd. "Love Struck Baby" was a concert favorite for fans of the band; Vaughan would frequently play the guitar behind his head for part of the solo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pride and Joy (Stevie Ray Vaughan song)</span> 1983 single by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

"Pride and Joy" is a song by American singer, guitarist and songwriter Stevie Ray Vaughan and his backing band Double Trouble, released in late 1983 by Epic Records. It lists Vaughan as the writer, but actually it is rewritten from a 1962 record called "I Go Into Orbit" by Johnny Acey. The song was released on Stevie's debut studio album Texas Flood (1983). "Pride and Joy" was released as Vaughan's debut single and has become one of his most popular songs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lou Ann Barton</span> American blues singer (born 1954)

Lou Ann Barton is an American blues singer based in Austin, Texas since the 1970s. AllMusic noted that "The grace, poise, and confidence she projects on-stage is part of a long tradition for women blues singers".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour</span> 1984–1985 concert tour

The Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour was a worldwide concert tour by blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Produced in support of their 1984 album Couldn't Stand the Weather, the tour visited North America, Europe, Australasia and Japan from 1984 to 1985. To reflect the new musical direction that the group took with Couldn't Stand the Weather, the tour was aimed to differ from their past and surpass expectations of the band. In comparison to Vaughan and Double Trouble's modest stage setup from the previous Texas Flood Tour, the Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour involved a slightly more elaborate production. It utilized grander amplifier setups and sound systems to take advantage of the larger venues in which they performed. To avoid their renowned strictly blues material, Vaughan and Double Trouble embodied a more expanded and varied repertoire during performances. In disparity to the previous tour, each of the Couldn't Stand the Weather shows opened with mostly the same three songs before other material was played. The album and the tour were the beginnings of the group's mid-eighties musical development.

The Soul to Soul Tour was a concert tour through North America, Europe and Australasia, undertaken by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble from 1985 through 1986. At the beginning of the tour, the band had finished recording their album Soul to Soul. Their commercial and critical acclaim had been demonstrated during the Couldn't Stand the Weather Tour in 1984, when they had played before a sold-out audience at Carnegie Hall. Longing for opportunities to expand the group's lineup, Vaughan and Double Trouble hired keyboardist Reese Wynans during the Soul to Soul recording sessions in Dallas, Texas. Throughout the tour, the band's success was confirmed as their performances consistently amazed and gratified their audiences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Live Alive Tour</span> 1986–88 concert tour by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

The Live Alive Tour was a concert tour through North America and Europe, undertaken by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble from 1986 to 1988. At the start of the tour, Vaughan and bassist Tommy Shannon had both achieved sobriety. Their success with overcoming long-term drug and alcohol addiction had been attained by entering a rehabilitation facility, where they stayed for four weeks. Although Vaughan was nervous about performing while sober, he received encouragement from his bandmates. Throughout the tour during performances, Vaughan would warn his audiences about the dangers of substance abuse.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">In Step Tour</span> 1989–90 concert tour by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

The In Step Tour was a concert tour through the United States and Canada, undertaken by American blues rock band Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble from 1989 to 1990. Launched in support of their fourth and final studio album In Step, this was the third tour to include keyboardist Reese Wynans, who joined the band in 1985. Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble achieved international fame when their debut album, Texas Flood, was released in June 1983. Throughout their subsequent concert tours, the group's success was confirmed as their performances consistently amazed and gratified their audiences. Similar to their previous tours, the In Step Tour was a minimalist production. The stage featured a simple light show that changed according to the mood of certain songs performed. Although Vaughan and Double Trouble never followed a set list, all ten songs from In Step were played at least once during the tour, and as many as seven of them were included in each of the band's performances.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stevie Ray Vaughan discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Stevie Ray Vaughan was an American blues rock guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and the frontman for the band Double Trouble. He is often regarded as one of the greatest guitarists and blues musicians of all time. During his career, he released four studio albums, one live album, and several singles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Fire Meets the Fury Tour</span> 1989 concert tour

The Fire Meets the Fury Tour is a 1989 concert tour co-headlined by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jeff Beck. Epic Records paired the two guitarists together for a 29-day concert tour starting in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This tour was the third leg of the Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble In Step Tour. In addition to being one of the highest-grossing concert tours of 1989, The Fire Meets the Fury Tour won the Pollstar magazine award for most creative tour package of the year.

<i>Live at the El Mocambo</i> (Stevie Ray Vaughan video) 1991 video by Stevie Ray Vaughan

Live at the El Mocambo is a live video by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. The film was recorded at El Mocambo club in Toronto, Ontario on July 20, 1983, during the band's Texas Flood Tour. It was also released as a DVD on December 21, 1999, with interviews from drummer Chris Layton and bassist Tommy Shannon.

<i>Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985</i> 2001 live album by Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble

Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985 is the fourth live album of American blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughan and his band Double Trouble, recorded at the Montreux Jazz Festival on July 17, 1982 and July 15, 1985, and released November 20, 2001 on Epic Records. Neither are complete concerts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Death of Stevie Ray Vaughan</span> 1990 helicopter crash

In the early morning of Monday, August 27, 1990, American musician Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed in a helicopter crash near East Troy, Wisconsin, at age 35. He was one of the most influential blues guitarists of the 1980s, described by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as "the second coming of the blues".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Layton</span> American drummer

Christopher Layton, also known as "Whipper", is an American drummer who rose to fame as one of the founding members of Double Trouble, a blues rock band led by Stevie Ray Vaughan.

References

  1. ↑ Patoski & Crawford (1993), pp. 6, 8
  2. 1 2 3 Patoski & Crawford (1993), p. 10
  3. ↑ Patoski & Crawford (1993), pp. 45–6
  4. ↑ Hopkins (2010), pp. 67–70
  5. ↑ Patoski & Crawford (1993), p. 145
  6. ↑ Patoski & Crawford (1993), p. 148
  7. ↑ Patoski & Crawford (1993), p. 149
  8. ↑ Patoski & Crawford (1993), p. 150
  9. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 9
  10. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 17
  11. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 16
  12. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 19
  13. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 18
  14. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 11
  15. 1 2 3 Hopkins (2011), p. 35
  16. 1 2 3 4 Hopkins (2011), p. 38
  17. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 39
  18. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 22, 24
  19. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 23
  20. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 28
  21. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 22
  22. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 19, 23
  23. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 24–5
  24. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 25
  25. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 26
  26. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 26–7
  27. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 27
  28. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 27–8
  29. ↑ Holden (1983)
  30. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 29–30
  31. ↑ "AB Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. August 20, 1983. p. 44. ISSN   0006-2510.
  32. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 31–3
  33. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 31
  34. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 32
  35. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 33
  36. ↑ H, Johnny; P, Andy (December 7, 2014). "Stevie Ray Vaughan And Double Trouble: 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection'". Uber Rock: Kick Ass Rock 'n' Roll. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  37. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 34
  38. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 34–5
  39. ↑ Brown (1983), p. 8
  40. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 36
  41. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 36–7
  42. ↑ "Stevie Ray Vaughan Double Trouble 1983 Bronco Bowl Dallas Handbill". The Heart of Rock and Roll. 2018. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  43. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 44–5
  44. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 46
  45. 1 2 Interviews by Dan Jackson, July 26–27, 1997: Doyle Bramhall, Jimmie Vaughan, Chris Layton, Tommy Shannon
  46. ↑ In The Studio, Album Network, 1993, Redbeard
  47. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 59
  48. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 47
  49. 1 2 3 Hopkins (2011), p. 48
  50. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 48, 145
  51. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 49
  52. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 39, 45
  53. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 45
  54. ↑ "Success in Disguise" (DVD documentary), Live at Montreux: 1982 & 1985.
  55. ↑ Guitar World , August 2000, "Pride and Joy," Andy Aledort; "The Lost Interviews," Andy Aledort
  56. ↑ "AB Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 95, no. 45. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. November 5, 1983. p. 48. ISSN   0006-2510.
  57. 1 2 Hopkins (2011), p. 44
  58. ↑ "AB Boxscore: Top Concert Grosses" (PDF). Billboard. Vol. 96, no. 6. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. February 18, 1984. p. 37. ISSN   0006-2510.
  59. ↑ Guitar World, May 2000, "Rise & Shine," Andy Aledort
  60. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 24
  61. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 29–32
  62. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 301
  63. ↑ Barr, Byron (2013). "Stevie Ray Vaughan". Vintage Texas Blues. Retrieved March 5, 2018.
  64. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 53–98
  65. ↑ Hopkins (2011), p. 99
  66. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 99–132
  67. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 144–7
  68. ↑ Hopkins (2011), pp. 136, 146
  69. ↑ "Stevie Ray Vaughan Average Setlists of tour: Texas Flood | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved 2019-12-12.

Sources

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.