Frank Simms on Stevie Ray Vaughan

This interview focuses on the recollections of backing vocalist Frank Simms regarding guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan being fired from David Bowies Serious Moonlight world tour of 1983. Edited sections of this audio were used in the radio documentary "Down Under The Moonlight", broadcast on Radio Hauraki, New Zealand, November 22nd 2008 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Bowie's most successful album Lets Dance and the subsequent world tour. My thanks to Frank Simms for his generous assistance. Visit; www.franksimms.net

Production by Sam Coley; www.samcoley.com

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bowie
• Frank
• Simms
• Coley
• Moonlight

[ElmoLewiss]

Lenny dont take no shit from nobody including SRV.

[bluesatsun]

Wow...very well said!

[daveburnham]

I saw the Lets Dance tour 4 times with Earl Slick on guitar. He was awesome. Stevie I saw play London his first ever gig in the UK 83 . You can't compare . I loved them both.

I'm not sure I like the way he pass's judgement on SRV's playing or behaviour. Kind of disrespectful to someone who can't answer back.

[bbnatedogg]

Couldn't keep up with the changes? Has this cock holster eve heard Stang's Swang or Chitlins Con Carne? Stevie didn't read music so they would've had to teach him the songs in a different way! What a fucking TOOL!

[byrne7768]

Who the fuck is frank Simms n y is he talk in about SRV lmao

[StevieAndCoryYUMMY]

I HATE THIS GUY! 1, he talks like a mile a minute, 2, he keeps calling Stevie's wife his girlfriend until the ending of the interview, 3, he says that Stevie is an unreliable loose guy, Stevie was a very sweet person, I would've left David Bowie too if he said that to my 'Lover,' Stevie Ray Vaughan, to me, deserves all the respect he can get. HE DESERVS IT!

[dvdgzzrll]

the story I read is that SRV wanted to work on his album ...

[tallpaul521]

You left out Los Calinas studio.

[ivankaramasov]

@THEBIGKOSTRINSKY I am not going to discuss who is better, but "insulting the man's girlflriend"?? Did you understand what Frank Simms said? SRV's girlfriend did something totally disrespectful and stupid. If you listen to a couple of the other interviews with Simms about the tour, you will hear that he describes Bowie as much more laidback and less egoistical than any other rock star he has worked with.

[Parisnight1]

Yo Frank, Stevie later told me that he seriously considered smashing David with his guitar - glad he didn't. I'd never seen him so upset. I think his manager's name was Chesley (or something similar) and I do believe that Stevie was left standing at the door of the bus with his guitar and luggage because he didn't sign the contract, holding out for more money, as you said.

[Zziggi]

@Bodacea1 Well said. I could not agree more.

[5507156693]

Thank you, God, for preventing Stevie from going on that tour...