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It's been 30 years since we lost Stevie Ray Vaughan

kiwigtx

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A sad day it was. My wife and I were travelling through Vermont at the time, on our way to New York. Brings back memories of other great artists who tragically lost their lives through ill-fated travel.

He had a good solid Kiwi connection for us at the time....he filmed a TV commercial down here for 'Europa' fuels, show-casing some of our finest scenery.



The old blue pickup was then owned by the father of the young kid who sketched my GTX at the Drags in 1999.

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And the graveyard of cars shown late in that advert is known affectionately as "Smash Palace" - an old boneyard that starred in a local movie of the same name.

Death of Stevie Ray Vaughan
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Death of Stevie Ray Vaughan
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A Bell 206B similar to the accident aircraft
Date August 27, 1990
Location Alpine Valley Resort, East Troy, Wisconsin
Coordinates
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42°43′55″N 88°25′30″WCoordinates:
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42°43′55″N 88°25′30″W
Cause Controlled flight into terrain.
Burial August 31, 1990, at Laurel Land Cemetery, Dallas, Texas
Inquest October 24, 1990, in Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Coroner John T. Griebel
Verdict Death by misadventure
On 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".

Vaughan spent much of his last days performing with his band Double Trouble as the opening act for Eric Clapton at Alpine Valley Music Theatre. After the concert concluded, he and three members of Clapton's tour entourage boarded a helicopter that crashed into the side of a nearby ski hill shortly after takeoff. The Civil Air Patrol was notified of the crash at 4:30 a.m., and authorities were called to locate the scene of the accident. All five people were pronounced dead on arrival. The autopsy concluded that Vaughan suffered multiple internal injuries and died of exsanguination due to blunt trauma. At the inquest, the coroner found no evidence of drug or alcohol use and recorded death by misadventure. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) concluded that the pilot failed to gain sufficient altitude to avoid rising terrain.

Vaughan was buried at Laurel Land Cemetery in Dallas, Texas, on August 31, 1990. In 1992, his family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Omniflight Helicopters, which was settled for an undisclosed amount in 1995.

R.I.P. S.R.V. :(
 
SRV! One of my favorites! Was a sad day for sure!

I was able to get some incredible photos of him in concert back in the day he was at the University of Maine. I had many blown up and they still sit on the walls in my music studio!
 
This happened about 30 miles S.W. of where i was living at the time. I remember listening to the radio at work that morning and at first they weren't sure who was on the copter. Clapton was also there at Alpine Valley and there was some speculation he was on the chopper. I remember the day vividly and the days events and as they unfolded. Hard to believe it's been 30 years.
 
The man was surely blessed with incredible talent, so much so that he literally
became a conduit for the music to flow through when he got rolling.
He'd talk about that often - how when things got going really well with a performance,
it was all he could do to get ahold and hang on to what flowed through him.

The real shame about when he died was that he had finally beaten his demons (drugs)
and was finally sober enough to really hear and feel what was going on - that magic of
himself and Double Trouble (including Reece!) - and he was at peace finally with life.
God rest his soul...
 
Ya, I remember that day well, very sad to loose a musical talent like him. I was living in Austin at the time and it crushed the city as well as the state. There is a statue of him on Town Lake of him facing the city, though I havent been to it in years people would always place flowers and an occasional joint at the base.
He is in my top 3 guitarist of all time, which coincidently were all taken way to early, their music is timeless, Jimi Hendrix, SRV & Randy Rhoads
RIP SRV
 
RIP SRV

I remember it well.
I was introduced to his music by a close friend. Loved it ever since !!!
I always wish to have just the talent that SRV has in his little pinkie finger to play the guitar. He is an amazing
musician and singer
 
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What an incredible loss. I've never seen or heard anyone play with as much passion and just raw talent. He couldn't read a note but, like Ed said, the music just flowed through him. Riviera Paradise still stirs my pot; I had it played at our wedding reception. The absolute greatest of all time - in my humble estimation.
Thanks for the thread Kiwi.
 
Amazing live show. I saw Stevie at Lake Compounce in Ct. around 1988 and the opening band cancelled last minute. SRV and Double Trouble came on early and played for almost 3 hours. Unbelievable show. People were thinning out during the 2 encores and I went right up to the stage and witnessed an incredible version of Voodoo Chile. Stevie had a way of channeling himself through his guitar and you saw it. I believe he was also responsible for reviving blues music in the 80's ushering back a lot of our great blues legends back onto the music scene. I believe he was also the bright spot in some pretty crappy music in the 1980's. Rock on Stevie!!
 
I'm a guitar guy too. A few years ago on Ebay was a Fender Strat signed by SRV "To Dave" (my name). Didn't buy it (went for $7,000) but was SORELY tempted. Loved Stevie

I did buy another Texas bluesman signed guitar - my all time favourite Johnny Winter.

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Time has sure gone by quick. Wow. 30 years. RIP
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I listen to him almost every time I get in any of my cars, bluetooth or stick. Raw talent and golden fingers. Can't forget him, he died on my dads birthday, yes today!! Thanks for sharing!!
 
30 years. Damn.
I seen a documentary with him and BB king just talking and jamming, those two and no bands.
Stevie was not very old at that time.
It was a public broadcast network.
Wish I could locate a DVD of it
 
There’s a great YouTube video of him at sound check. He obviously just woken up, yawning. Cranks out a few bars of The Star Spangled Banner, then goes in to some great, fast stuff. While yawning. Like I said, effortless.
 
He was on my top 10 list for sure! Yup, hard to believe 30 years has gone by so fast....
 
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