Well this is disappointing. Blues guitarist, Bo Diddley, born Ellas Otha Bates, died at age 79 from heart failure. I guess it’s something for a bluesman to live that long, but still, he was really, really good and rock and roll owes him a deep debt of gratitude. RIP Mr. Diddley.
Damn – now I’VE got the blues…
Godspeed, Bo Diddley!
I saw Bo Diddley open up for The Clash in Cleveland, and then again for TSOL. Diddley may have been a hot blues guitarist, but he was also a red-hot rock ‘n’ roll guitarist, and was open-minded enough to play with, hell- open up for, punk bands that owed him a debt.
I hung out with TSOL’s guitarist after the show, and he went on and on about Diddley playing that rectangular guitar. Bo let him play it. He tried and really couldn’t get it going. It was completely unique- just like the man.