Nathan East (bassist, Eric Clapton Band): Stevie and I spoke briefly in the dressing room before he went on stage, saying how much we all looked forward to jamming together at the end of the night. He lived his last day in such a blissful state. Big hugs, “Hello, man, howya doin’?” He was in a beautiful place. He opened it up, standing there with no shirt on, but he had his big hat on. Greg Rzab (bassist, Buddy Guy Band): I remember knocking on the door of Stevie’s dressing room. One of the purest channels I’ve ever seen, where everything he sang and played flowed straight down from heaven. Everybody was so healthy and our future was so bright.Įric Clapton: On the first night, I watched his set for about half an hour and then I had to leave because I couldn’t handle it! I suddenly got this flash that I’d experienced before so many times whenever I’d seen him play, which was that he was like a channel. He had been in the program for several years, and from 1985 till the day he died, he was clean and sober.Ĭhris Layton (drummer, Double Trouble): I remember thinking how good it was that we had put all these demons behind us. Skip Rickert (tour manager, Stevie Ray Vaughan): During that time, Stevie was working very hard on his rehab program. He said he didn’t know how much time he had left. I basically died, was taken to hospital and came back to life.” He said that was when he knew he had to go sober.

He said, “You know, I don’t think I have much longer to live.” I asked why he would say that, and he replied, “Well, listen, I was in Switzerland and I basically had, like, an overdose in the street. I hung out with Stevie, which was great because I had known him for several years. Iglauer worked with Vaughan as co-producers on the recording of Lonnie Mack's 'Strike Like Lightning,' which featured Vaughan's electrifying guitar solos on several tracks.Robert Knight (photographer): I was invited to Alpine Valley to do a photoshoot for Fender. 'Stevie was not only a great talent, but also probably the greatest popularizer of blues guitar in history,' Iglauer said. I mean the guy didn't miss a note,' said Lin Brehmer, a long-time DJ at WXRT.īruce Iglauer, founder of the Chicago-based Alligator Records, said Vaughan's legacy goes even beyond his musical talent. 'You don't find too many guitar players that can play the style of blues and rock guitar that he played that also had the same kind of precision.

Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash 30 years ago as he was on his way to Chicago, where the blues community is reflecting on Vaughan's death and musical legacy.ĬHICAGO (WLS) - Stevie Ray Vaughan was among the most successful and revered blues guitarists in history when he died in a helicopter crash on his way to Chicago on August 27, 1990.

Stevie ray vaughan autopsy photos