When Metter Bozze posted to the ATCW group “No words” and a link to a video new on YouTube, the group erupted, minds blown!
Metter had found a video of Chris, Dougie Bowne, and Alan Gevaert in August 1993 playing a tribute set at the Lone Star Roadhouse (NYC) in memory of John Campbell, a fellow traveler who had died suddenly in June:
John Campbell, a blues guitarist and singer, died on Sunday at his home in Manhattan. He was 41. The cause was heart failure, said a statement from Elektra Records. Mr. Campbell, who was born in Shreveport, La., took up the guitar at the age of 16 after he was seriously injured in a drag-racing accident. During his convalescence, he spent hours listening to blues artists like John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf and soon began playing in roadhouses in Louisiana and Texas. He came to New York City in 1987, making the rounds of the city’s small music clubs and bars. In 1989, hired to open for Albert King at the Lone Star Cafe, he was approached by a representative of Elektra Records who offered him a contract. His first album for the label, “One Believer,” was released later that year, and was followed last February by a second album, “Howlin’ Mercy.” He is survived by his wife, Dolly Fox; a daughter, Paris; a sister, Ellen Searcey; a brother, William, and his father, John. [NYTimes]
Note that Chris and John shared some of the same influences, so it’s no wonder that they were friends. In fact, when Chris was planning to leave Belgium and return to New York, he asked John to find him a good used National guitar. That guitar is “Mustard” – the iconic guitar featured on the LWTL album cover. Chris plays Mustard in the tribute set (see video below) and acknowledges John’s finding the guitar for him. Chris and John appeared together October 11, 1992 at Caravan of Dreams, a Fort Worth, TX performing arts center [ preview to Fort Worth show and review of that show ].
The trio of Chris, Dougie, and Alan were billed as “Chris Whitley & The Brides of Jesus.” In a reply to Metter’s post, Dougie explained “the brides” bit: “The Brides of Jesus is a Lowell George song …. We learned it and covered for a bit, just us, not in public. Proud to be a Bride!” And we’re all ecstatic to have this video documenting early takes on many Din of Ecstasy tunes. This is one of only two videos we have that feature Din songs so prominently; the other one is here. If you’d like just the audio of this show, you can access the file here [Thanks to Buzzy Dudley for sharing!].
You can access the full video playlist of the concert here.
All Things Chris Whitley 