Do you think Stevie Ray Vaughn would have continue to take blues guitar to next level?

Question

if he hadnt died? or was he pretty much going to be same player he died as?

Answer 1

A moot question.
The better question maybe why no one else picked up the ball since 1989? Robert Cray was a possible prospect. Still a great player but gets little air play.

Answer 2

Good question. I don't know. All I can say is that I was fortunate enough to see SRV play in a blues club on 6th Street in Austin, Texas back in the day when he was playing with the Cobras (this was before Montreux, where, incredible as this may sound to those who may not be aware of this, he was not well received. Bowie and J Browne thought otherwise, however...and the rest is history). When I saw him at that seedy after hours blues club, I thought, Holy Guacamole! This guy is channeling some kind of energy that is unlike anything I've ever seen in a musician! Check out his video recorded performance at the El Mocambo, especially his rendition of Jimi Hendrix's, "Third Stone From the Sun". Outtasite!

Answer 3

I don't know about all this. Most of the blues players I've loved had been better when they have been full of youthful exuberence, and other substances. Check out the two concerts, 'Live at El Macabo', and 'Austin City Limits'. He tears it up when he's younger and on the good gear. Same with Clapton, peaked in the early seventies for mine. Check out the early stuff from Led Zep. Stones were at there best in the early seventies with Taylor.

It's a romantic notion that they get better. Slower maybe, which alows more time to have a different feel, but better? Not for mine

Answer 4

Stevie was GREATLY influenced by Jimi Hendrix,and a jazz guitarist by the name of Charley Christian(believe that was his name) he dug into traditional blues licks,but gave it a fat thick electric tone by his sawing method playing.Also the use of heavy gage strings ,that are for the most part hard for the average player to bend.most likely he would have dabbled in different modes of music attempting to keep it within his style of the blues vein.he was for the most part,a blues heavy metal player,for the lack of a better term.an early player that resembled this style was Dwain Almond of the early Almond Brothers Band,who was also gifted but also died way to young in a motorcycle accident.
Listen to Stevie's rendition of Voodoo Child on his video Live At El Mocambo.Carbon copy of Jimi's recording.After a great creative musician has passed it's hard to speculate his or her future. One can only enjoy what they have left behind.

Answer 5

I believe he would have gone through different phases. Maybe he would have released an acoustic blues album. He probably would have collaborated with other artists as well like Buddy Guy, BB King, Eric Clapton or Jeff Beck. Then perhaps toured with them. That would have been great. No doubt he would have recorded with his brother Jimi again. Maybe he would have collaborated with more obscure artist like Brian Eno or Robert Fripp and released an experimental ambient blues album. Wouldn't that have beeen interesting? Maybe by this time he would have also recorded a jazz album or two. It's too bad we'll never know.

Answer 6

His brother said it "He never played the song the same way the first time, must less the second time". Family Style hinted to a continuing direction. I feel he had just started, when he "cleaned up", In Step had a new feel. Maybe it is up to us to take it to a next level. To answer your question tho, I think he would always be "SRV"!! always pushing the envelope. Like Hendrix.
I'm with skownripken, I sure do miss him!

Answer 7

SRV, had he lived longer, might have simplified his approach to the blues. But he was such a great soloist, it's really hard to speculate on where he would've headed.
Maybe towards jazzy blues (like "Chitlins Con Carne"), or like what Hendrix seemed to want, mixing blues, jazz, and rock.
When you have talent Stevie did, anything was possible. The only thing we know for sure is he'd keep on playing, and keep his ears open for new sounds.

Answer 8

Stevie, with due respect was a good guitarist with a lot of emotion,but for me the next level are guys who are more modern in their playing.. Larry Carlton, Garth Webber, Robben Ford, Chris Cain, Volker Strifler.

Answer 9

I believe that this " fireball" player, great as he was, would have matured as all great blues players do. To a lot of peoples horror, he probably would have mellowed out, as time went on. And his playing would have continued to be better and better, just like Clapton, Slash ( playing jazz these days), etc. It's still just a guess, after all, he did colaborate with David Bowie! This is proof that ANYTHING is possible!

Answer 10

I don't think so.
While I don't wish anyone to die, sometimes death really makes a true musical legend last forever. What USUALLY Happens with someone famous is they reach their plateau and go downhill from there, later selling out and embarassing themselves. Look at all the has been stars that used to be so popular and famous a long time ago.