Performance Photos

Stevie and I. Great days back then. We were on fire. Photo Credit: Jeff Jones Photographer comments: This, (and the next two photos) were taken at Will Rogers Auditorium in Ft. Worth, Texas in September of 1984 -- right before the Carnegie Hall show. Same night as the last picture. Check out the clothes - Stevie was influenced by Jimi in more ways than one. Photo credit: Jeff Jones We were playing either Lovestruck Baby, or Texas Flood. People went crazy when Stevie played behind his back. Photo credit: Jeff Jones These were our mariachi suits we had made for Carnegie Hall. The band’s were blue velvet, and Stevie’s was red. The other guitar player was Johnny "Clyde" Copeland, a great guitar player and friend of Stevie’s from Houston. Stevie was very picky about who he let share the stage with him. However, if he respected someone, and liked where they were coming from musically ("being real" as he called it), he wanted people to hear them. Wow. A picture is worth a thousand words. What could have been going through our minds? This is Stevie with four dancers dressed like sailors...........not really. This was taken aboard a ship; one of those giant carriers. Stevie was appointed as an honorary Captain. Imagine that! He looks like a captain to me - don't you agree?
This was taken at the CBS Convention in Hawaii with Jeff Beck. This is a great picture that speaks for itself. Photo Credit: Jimmy Stratton Photographer comment: This shot was made during the East Coast leg of the tour, circa 1986, at the Orpheum in Boston. It's one of the few times I've ever seen Stevie playing anything but a Strat. Here he is playing a Epiphone Riviera; I always wondered if he wrote Riviera Paradise on this guitar! I think this was around 1984. The headdress was given to Stevie by his big brother, Jimmie. This was after Reese Wynans joined the band. We were happy here, and it shows! Photo Credit: Donna Johnston Photographer comment: I shot this at the Orpheum Theater in Boston in late November of 1986, when both Tommy and Stevie were in the earliest stages of their recovery -- can't you just see them glowing with that new spirit? There were two shows in Boston; one on 11/23, and one on 11/24. The band then went on to perform at Radio City Music Hall on 11/26. Stevie playing at Antone's, wearing his Charlie's Guitar Shop teeshirt. Charlie was the one who made several of Stevie’s guitars. When Charlie died, Stevie was very hurt. This is when he wrote the song Life Without You. Photo credit: Susan Antone This was taken in the studio when we were recording the "Soul To Soul" album. Photo Credit: Jimmy Stratton Photographer comment: This shot was taken at Dallas Sound Labs during Soul to Soul sessions. This is where the band is singing "Soul to Soul, Soul to Soul," when Stevie says "Say What!" -- hence the grin!
I love this photo. We were playing 3rd Stone From The Sun. Stevie loved Jimi Hendrix more than most people know. He connected with Hendrix on a very deep level. Photo Credit: Jimmy Stratton Photographer comment: Pre Soul to Soul, shot on a riverboat cruise on the Mississippi during JazzFest. Others on the bill were Albert King and Gatemouth; I think JImmie sat in that night, too! I have a series of photos of him when he is doing this, and then he takes the whammy bar and uses it to pick up the guitar and flip it over! I didn't remember where this was taken, but it's a great photo. Photo Credit: Donna Johnston Photographer comment: This picture was taken at the University of MA (Amherst) on April 16, 1986, during the "Soul to Soul" moment that Stevie and Tommy usually shared during the opening number. This was within the first month that Stevie and I got sober. I’m fairly sure this was from our Riverboat show in new Orleans. I like the photo. I always loved playing this show, we always had a good time. I love New Orleans. Photo Credit: Richard Torres Photographer comment: This photo was taken during the Live Alive Recordings at the Austin Opera House. Stevie onstage at Antone's in Austin; early part of 1987. Photo credit: Susan Antone pal12
This is the great Chris (the Whipper) Layton. He has been a blessing in my life. We have been through so much together, I can’t imagine my life without him. This looks like some of Stevie's experimental photography. Pretty cool, eh? Me playing my old 62’ Jazz Bass. I have used this bass on most of my recordings. It’s the first bass I ever owned. Many great people have played it, including Jimi Hendrix. I have retired this bass; it's also locked away.