Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Fire Meets The Fury (2012)

×

Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Fire Meets The Fury (2012)

Close

Stevie Ray Vaughan's battle with drink and drug addiction during the mid-eighties was well documented, thus his triumphant return with fourth studio album 'In Step' in June 1989 was met with much relief and huge enthusiasm by fans and critics alike. His return was of course to be cut tragically short however when the horrific helicopter crash that ended his life took place little more than a year later.

But the body of work Stevie Ray left behind confirms his status as one of the most skilled and creative guitarists of all time, with comparisons to fret-board geniuses such as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton - with whom he had been performing the night he stepped into that fateful flying machine - regularly made. His unique blues influenced playing is wonderfully evident throughout this collection of rare performances.

Taken from the final two nights of 'The Fire Meets The Fury Tour', during which Vaughan was paired with British guitar legend Jeff Beck for a 28 date run, and as part of the wider 'In Step Tour', arranged to promote what was to be the maestro's final solo studio record (Family Style with brother Jimmy was already in the can and released posthumously), the first of the two shows was performed at the Tingley Colliseum in Alberquerque, New Mexico on 28 November, 1989, and features cuts from his then latest record, interspersed with numbers from the earlier Soul to Soul and Texas Flood albums. The set begins with In Step's infectious opener 'The House Is Rockin' and 'til the end of the night it does little else.

The second show included here was performed the following evening at the McNichols Arena in Denver, Colarado, and features a diverse set list, starting with a cover of the much loved Stevie Wonder hit 'Superstition'. There was much mutual admiration between the pair, with Vaughan making a humorous video for the song whilst Wonder returned the compliment with 'Stevie Ray Blues', written in Vaughan's honour. 'Crossfire', from In Step, the penultimate number of the second show, had already become a live favourite having stayed at the top of Billboard's Hot Rock Tracks chart for three weeks between June and July of 1989. Vaughan then concludes the show, and indeed the 'The Fire Meets The Fury Tour', by playing a full 11 minute version of his legendary cover of Jimi Hendrix's 'Voodoo Chile', a song which he first recorded for Couldn't Stand The Weather in 1984. Both shows were broadcast across the US courtesy of Westwood One.

With Stevie sadly passing on just eight months after these two gigs, they remain amongst the last recorded performances given by this guitar virtuoso, and accordingly, an historic document, as well as a hugely enjoyable listening experience for the man's millions of fans still flying the flag for the finest rock guitarist to emerge in the final quarter of the twentieth century.

×

Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Fire Meets The Fury (2012)

Close

×

Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Fire Meets The Fury (2012)

Close

×

Stevie Ray Vaughan - The Fire Meets The Fury (2012)

Close