fri 29/03/2024

BB King: 'I play the way I'm feeling' | reviews, news & interviews

BB King: 'I play the way I'm feeling'

BB King: 'I play the way I'm feeling'

Recalling an encounter with the great blues guitarist who inspired Jagger, Clapton and Bono

'BB King has essentially defined the blues for half a century'© David L Segal

B B King was the greatest blues guitarist of the age. Many contemporary rockers credit him as a formidable inspiration, from Mick Jagger to Eric Clapton to Bono. But when I met him in 2006, the then 83-year-old musician had a different perspective on his ability. "I don't think it's true," he says with a shrug. "A lot of kids tease me when they see me, they start to bow. I'm not trying to stop them. I think I'm a pretty good musician, I don't think I'm the best, that's all. I just do what I do my way."

B B King was the greatest blues guitarist of the age. Many contemporary rockers credit him as a formidable inspiration, from Mick Jagger to Eric Clapton to Bono. But when I met him in 2006, the then 83-year-old musician had a different perspective on his ability. "I don't think it's true," he says with a shrug. "A lot of kids tease me when they see me, they start to bow. I'm not trying to stop them. I think I'm a pretty good musician, I don't think I'm the best, that's all. I just do what I do my way."

My mother was very religious and I enjoyed church a lot too, specially when the girls were there

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