Bluesman Roy Rogers, on Robert Johnson

[MrJack035]

What the hell is with comparing one player to another???.....i don't get it???..Its like comparing your own children against each other.Its pointless....doesn't achieve anything!!!.Watch the clip....take it on its own merits.....its brilliant.....period.!

[TheBhannah]

thats one mean player

[fireblossom2u]

Saw Roy and the DRK's last night in Seattle. He is just what you see here. A truly genuine modest man. Well, we can afford to be modest playing as he does. :-) After the show he came out and spent time with anyone who wanted to talk to him. His wife Gaynell was back at the merchandise table and again was a real and down home as can be. Roy shared lots of history during his performance .... wonderful!

[Samueltrad]

Robert Johnson has been reincarnated!

[Antisyzygy]

This dude is a regular blues historian. He can play all the styles.

[lordkoos]

What's really weird is that he does that with a flatpick.

[ixlikexscurvy]

What Is the name of his band now? I want to see him live

[007theAlien]

Hooly shit and i taught vai was crazy!

[MadnessOfMarmots]

essence of cool.

[salm37]

wow just turned on to him.....the best!

[4fingersinge]

Wow, thank god for the internet and YouTube. Talent like Roy's needs to be seen and heard to keep the blues alive in these days of no talent schmucks!

[vonalxao1]

I just discovered this guy last night. Serious. I think he may be a genius.

[sstteevvwee]

that is so intense !! damn thats great music to my / the wolrds ears !

[Mike4Kidney]

Dam this is is a BLAST!!!!

[gamedogs4life1]

dude is waaaay of the hook..

[Suns360]

Holy shit

[CletusColtrane]

awesome playing man.....

[kafegkri]

1.35 i cry.

[ger221054]

This guy plays it for real!

[VelvetRevolverMother]

i saw this guy for the second time last night!!! he shreds all the time, great guitarist.

proud to say im only fifteen years old, first time i saw him was with the doors keyboardist ray manzerek for my birthday in february

[80419415769]

THIS is insane! The best fusion of passion, skill and execution Iv ever seen... Just insane how good this is

[lighthouseofmishigan]

that was amazing wow you give him life when you profile him to other music lovers and musicians.

[VelvetRevolverMother]

saw roy with ray mazerek from the doors!

hes a great guitarist!!! but i thought this video was recent until i saw him live.

greatest bluesman alive, that i have seen anyway

[zachblues1]

hes amazing, it just flows out of his thingers !

[pretty9reenpark4]

this awsome just got into robert johnson an stumbled on this video i seriously wana learn slide and blues so much soul in this sort of music.

[YoGroucho]

Roy is THE MAN

[mbblaster1964]

I truly think of all time. He is F-in amazing.

[nuvius]

Sounds amazing, RJ played it fingerstyle though.

[arjhendrix]

what a great album producer and a wonderfull slide player.

RIP JLH

[buffalobilly]

check out this guy's album "live! at the sierra nevada brewery big room"

[indy4ever]

I try to explain to my friends why Robert Johnson is special, but from now on I am just going to show them this video instead

[TampaRed]

I'd love to hear Roy play "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)"

[maxzaxe217]

Great playing, what type of pickup on the 12 string National is that A P-90 or some type of single coil it was really hard to tell in the video. Your comments are just on R.J. is the only player from that era that it's just not call and responce but the slide is used throughout, I love his single note phrases when playing rhythm. Thanks for the insight Robert it's just right.

[melrhyne]

That was amazing!

You could tell he really respects the culture that the music comes from!

[Mouldytone]

What a brilliant musician. How long before he completely wears through the top of his beautiful little Martin O-16?

[Jurbo33]

I love how he can just come in and out of playing so damn well! One minute he's talking away, and then out of nowhere he's just like BAM! I'm awesome at guitar! lol

[wjb585]

Just beautiful! Makes me wanna go play guitar right now!!

[BGainey100]

i saw him live and got his autograph on his latest cd

[BlackerWinter]

I love this guy not only for his outrageous talent but because he really has a reverence and respect for his predecessors. He manages to really go to the roots and you can hear his influences in his music. Two thumbs up Mr. Rogers!!!

[pollywoggle24]

That's amazing

[aswtx75]

I don't know that I've ever heard anyone play 12 string slide. For a time a played one but I only left two of the treble strings doubled up. That sounded pretty bad ass.

[jleoblues]

Leadbelly played slide guitar occasionally. Leo Kottke - check out "Machine # 2" great 12 string slide. Bob Brozman has a National 12 and he does incredible things with it. I am not sure but Johnny Winter's version of "Highway 61" was done on a Fender 12 string electric.

Do a you tube search on 12 string slide and you will find some interesting stuff.

[Mazeltof90]

the first guitar he uses - is that a modified nylon acoustic? // open tuning?

[Raulin2007]

It´s a Martin 0-16NY acoustic with steel strings.

[Mazeltof90]

alright:) thnx.

[digitaldown]

"where do think he got that from?"

it must have been the devil. how does one go from being a hack lousy guitar player to one of the greatest of all time in one year like robert johnson did? i totally buy that myth. that whole story blows me away.

[zed0469]

truth is practice, practice. practice. And he probably got tips from someone.

The devil myth is more interesting though :)

[digitaldown]

he got so good in just about a year though. it's like he achieved 20 years worth of practice in one year. amazing. had to be the devil, just had to be.;)

i could practice like that for 100 years and still not be half as amazing.

practice isn't enough. had to be some kind of magic in there.

[Claire1Rogers]

@digitaldown some people are gifted i supposed. Genes or something :P Or a higher inspiration level.

[lampshad3126]

thats how they got effects and feeling before technology gave it to guitar players they had to earn it with incredibly complicated playing styles. Its good that we have people like EC,JP,PK,JB,JH to remind us how influential Robert Johnson was to the sound of 1960's Britain

[BenLongman]

he plays RJ like the man himself! the first thing especially. Seeing it done makes you appreciate how hard it is

[oneslowride]

Hands are just working those 12 strings!

[KevoBlues88]

Damn! This guy owns!

[chadabox]

roy is the shit.

[lilhurt38]

i've never heard of this guy before, but he rips it up.

[INTENSETIM]

that man is amazing. robert johnson probably had no idea the influence hes had on music 70 years on

[BossHospital]

this guy's good. looks hard as heck to play like Robert Johnson.

[MaxwellPots]

This guy can sure play that guit box

[caralhosvosfodam]

The interviewer maybe wasn't aware that Roy Rogers was about to do a concert worth performance just for him.

Lucky bastard.

[lbluesey]

interviewer got a treat of a lifetime here

[Gagagrr]

Possibly the best slide player alive? Think so..

[whiteonsolo]

Derek Trucks is good too, but Roy Rogers is my favourite.

[VaughansBlues]

Pretty cool but the best maybe not

[SupremoHumberto]

@Gagagrr him, or Ry Cooder

[samysauf]

@Gagagrr I think so to!

[unklbuk1]

@Gagagrr man i have to agree..this man is amazing a true master of the art of slide and blues

[wslyder]

@Gagagrr Not possibly, most definately. This man played a very small venue, free festival in our town and I was embarassed by the turn out, but I immensely enjoyed the lack of crowd. He is a beautiful human being, humble, kind and a master of the classic blues style. I have seen many artists over the years and been to many concerts and that one is in my top five favorites. I will go to see him at every opportunity. Roy Rogers is the real deal.

[LeeVaiM]

This guy is amazing. I can't believe I haven't listened to him

[altstrasse]

I like this fellas playing. Does he ever play with bare fingers or thumbpick and bare fingers. Just wondering.

Usually associate RJohnsons songs/ picking with finger style, and dobro too. There are exceptions and this is one. And no, I'm not an "authentic" freak. Never heard this guy before. It is a life's work to try to replicate RJs playing and that's a fact, like trying to "learn" to play Andalusian gypsy music on guitar- tough run.

[SupremoHumberto]

I have seen him play without a regular pick before but I dont' think he does it very often. which is amazing for his style, it's much easier to play like he does finger style

[vatonaught]

Plays with a flatpick and fingers all together and he may have a third hand...

[krookedscrewdriver]

woooooh! this fella plays a mean guitar, god damn.

[Nofuture91]

i know! when i first heard him talk i was like "who is this joker" but once he started playing my jaw hit the floor.

[biswasmd]

I like this guy - analytical, cerebral, and tons of soul.

[svetadvipa22]

If you ever get to see this guy live - drop everything and run. I saw him at the east coast blues fest in Byron Bay Australia like 15 years ago with Norton Buffalo. What you see here is " NOTHING" see him live or you ain't seen nothing yet

[musicjunkie1221]

i know what you mean, i saw him at the Mississippi Valley Blues Fest in davenport iowa, and he was amazing.

[MortenBoHansen]

saw this guy in Randers, Denmark..he really really reeeeeally kicks ass:D

[Morpheusneon]

whhaa!

le mec a tout compris...

this guy had all understand....

[louiscfc93]

who is this guy

[beethovenbix]

Wow ! I think All those old Blues masters

have taken over this guys body.

Unbelievable.

[bluesmaen]

HuHu man :-)

Awesome.........

[Bluzer86]

When he plays it sounds like delta blues on a higher level.

[AKUSTIKJAZZ]

anyone,guys..what's the tuning of that guitar?

[joebrassmonkey]

I'd assume open E on the 12 string, Open G for the first.

[maxzaxe217]

@AKUSTIKJAZZ Open D on Ramblin on my Mind.

[AKUSTIKJAZZ]

roy is good!..it's like robert johnson in white guy reincarnation..why didnt i came across him before? totally a waste of my life not knowing him before!

[trikerider55]

Never seen a white guy play the blues like that, that was wonderful.

[StrappedGypsy]

@trikerider55 you haven't seen a LOT of great white blues guitarists then.

[WhatUsee00]

Roy is amazing.

[jackjls]

i met this guy. hes savage.

[roxstarj]

where do u think he got it from jim lad the devil himself i bet

[marianadelviento]

THanks for  this !

[neebzilla]

oh my god, amazing

[OriginalShirker]

Man id love to be able to play some mean licks like that....

[greenbuddhaha]

Thanks for the video, Roy Rogers.

I learned something!

You're keeping the tradition alive!

[martinaxman]

He is outstanding. Nobody on drugs plays like that. Too much to think about. If you like Robert Johnson stuff you should check out Rory Block's stuff. She's heavy into RJ and is an amazing artist.

THanks for sharing this clip! Excellent stuff.

[DiRTMP]

Fuckin'badass crazy player! He plays like he's tripping sum' drug!

Maybe one of those that plays and sings near perfect Robert Johnson style.

[conarym9]

1:33-1:47 is just mind blowing! what energy and soul. I can't wait to see him at yoshi's

[dieannadior618]

god robert johnson is amazing

[gatemouthbrown]

pause at 3:21 the guy looks like jack nicholson...roy rogers is a badass!!!

[Igmula74]

cool playing*****

[AmosNomore]

Traditional blues repository of inestimable value. John Hammond Jr. is another.

[loadedsixx]

this guy is f$#King incredible, I've never heard ANYONE play Robert Johnson so properly, or close to it. Any idea what key he's in???

[QuanYin71]

probably standard tuning :)

and then the capo he uses :)

[planetogo]

Could be open G, a Johnson favourite.

[jtyoss]

Ramblin' on My Mind is in open E.

[DangerRifai]

Amazing.

Just wish there were videos of Robert Johnson himself playing it as well!

[jonasbacklund]

i wish that someone would do a new recording of all robert johnson songs, but only if they're as amazing as this....

[williestratton]

2:04, answer, the devil

[jnt32001]

agreed, he sold his soul

[williestratton]

yeah man, he sure did. and i believe it too, i swear he did, i mean, to be that good? seriously man.

[Remingtoncity]

or he was Lucifer himself

[Lotrfan99]

i kinda like that idea aswell... the devil came down to show the mortals how to play blues

[fearfultom]

In my book Roy takes it to that special place all us blues players look for. Roy is a special player for sure.

[colemckelvie]

i like that 12 string about half way through

[curzmg]

Wow that is actually quite a good impression of Robert Johnson xXx

[hogie1525]

damn first time i watched this, this guy is unreal. which in turn makes robert johnson unreal too. i need to listen to more of that old stuff

[Numenorietis]

Where this interview come from? Is it from some tv show?

[conarym9]

man that guy realy has great energy and soul. robert would be proud

[Gagagrr]

That's some aggresive seriously virturios playing right there..

[strangedaysuk]

simply breathtaking

[mikedh9]

I watch this video at least 5 times a day. Glorious.

[bluegoose555]

A national treasure..pure pleasure

[MrSmiths1]

The devil, thats were he got it from.

[melman]

Please point me in the direction of this devil.

[strangedaysuk]

Just look for a woman lol

[fearfultom]

LOL

[ben1988uk]

that's some baaaaaadass playing there... nice stuff

[davidcormn1]

R.J.'s step brother...Roy Rogers. Brilliant!

[RonnieCoffman]

very impresive i thank he sold his soul to the devil and "Robert Johnson"was there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[blogward]

Not bad at all! The cut to the guy nodding made me LOL.

[ruotze]

i got ramblin on my mind too!

[luciano1977]

Roy's fuckin killer!!!!!!! 100% blues. he does justice to robert johnson. amazing vid.

[dralq]

robert johnson is genius.

[thejunkyardbear]

hey forgetting the capo issue thats was some decent robert johnson stuff there

[jessupar]

your telling me 32-20 was in (more or less) standard? shit... well back to the drawing board lol.

[yasi13]

awesome :)

[oldphoque]

That`s cool! Not doubting your Knowlege or experience at all. I just figured the capo was a more recent and widely used tool. Improvisions like wire or rubber bands would seem more likely back then if at all. Great info. Thanks

[bestafilmes]

agrred

[oldphoque]

That was awesome and Roy can play like a demon! But I don`t think RJ ever used a capo.

[GuitarJoeKat]

You're wrong. RJ used the capo extensively, as follows:

"Kind Hearted Woman Blues". Tune down half step; capo 2nd fret.

"Sweet Home Chicago". Tune down half step; capo 2nd fret.

"Ramblin' on my mind". Open E tuning. Tune down half step; capo 2nd fret.

continued...

[tough0crowd0eh9]

Burn.

[maxzaxe217]

@oldphoque RJ used a capo just look at the old photograph tuned slack keyed then capo up a whole step thats the sound of RJ

[maxzaxe217]

@oldphoque RJ used a capo look at the photo our listen he's slacked keyed and capoed up one step, from Open D or Open G then capoed up to E or A.

[spacemonkeyrocketing]

that was great!

[mungo911]

Amen! Finally someone who has it!

[WillBakerMorrison]

yes indeed!

[holvila]

This is what its all about. Roy got Robert in his nervs, right? Fjellis was a swedish singer/songer/slider who got it.. But I beleive the time aint long enough. So... Live that life! All you Freddies out there!

[MadHataa]

Now that guy can play the blues, unlike that barry c davison chap not saying now he's not a good guitar player, he just dont have the blues

[Norrmannen1]

WOW, i wish i could handle my guitar that way.

[Ishmael932]

Roy used to play my high school dances in the late 60's/early 70's with his first band Four Way Stop. The wife and I saw him years ago at Slims in SF on his 40th birthday.

[4x12]

THIS IS AWESOME!!

[ZeeFerKooL]

ffs!! love this blues old stuff...wish i knew how to play that kind,never really worked on it though ^^

[ASDEW1880]

Actually seeing how rj played through roy is amazing. I think seeing how difficult it is to play in rj's style still to this day only adds to rj's legend. When I hear rj and notice how fluid and raw his playing is compared to rogers I am simply amazed.

Truly the greatest bvlues player in my mind.

[dalesdecks]

What about Charlie Patton. His music was so special, you only hear a waterfall on the background.

[MaverickFilms44]

that was awesome

[LizzyDouglas]

Well, this is it !!

[bluesman5931]

Great!!

[pattnich]

when he says this whole style was just robert johnson i totally agree. playin blues ran through rj's veins!

[mea67]

hommie nail's it keep the blues alive

[LamenameRodriguez]

NOW THAT IS THE BLUES MAN!

[Doginthefog]

Great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I REALLY LIKE THAT!

[daviemcf]

Roy certainly is the master!!

[kingofmercy]

great job!

[oaklandsam]

good for pepole to know. r.johnson the king "blues are blue" OaklandSam

[Philo68]

He really adds his own flavour to already great music and does it with seemingly no effort! The good guys ALWAYS make it look easy...

Thanks for a great clip!

[tommorellorules]

that guy is insane, its like its been put in fast motion

[rottenhubert]

Never seen Roy play before - does he always flatpick this stuff?

[080481]

yepp. i've seen Roy two mothns ago in Poland on Rawa Bluea - uhhh.. man rocks - when he played I couldn't even see his slide movin' - it was so fast ... uhhh gotta see him live !

[tymjar]

Thanks for that clip, VERY enlightening.

[karmanameless]

i've never been so proud to have the first name roy than right now!

[Hubertblues]

I agree that Roy is incredible live. I have to say that even thought he is widely recognized as the front-runner with blues slide guitar, he is also a very talented vocalist.

[motchka]

Roy's one of the best when it comes to interpreting RJ, and I've never seen anyone faster with a bottleneck. Best experienced live.

[helmutfrosch]

Roy rocks the slide!