Stevie Ray Vaughan - Best Guitar Player - Sound Check - What?!

"Stevie just waking up then warming up also featuring Ron J?" .......................................................................................................

This was filmed at Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, January 24, 1986 by Greg Savage of Savage Guitar Design and was used with his permission. Greg was a roadie / tech at the time and knew Stevie well, I had an email conversation back then with Greg and he told me the background story. He was happy to share the video here.

I remastered in 2012 to remove VHS degradation for greatly improved sound and video quality. It was was posted here first in 2013 unfortunately it has been duplicated by a few other users without permission and to the detriment of sound quality.

Either way it has had a huge impact and as a life long fan I'm happy to present this video to help keep Stevie's memory alive and to introduce his great work to younger generations.   I have had many great messages from young people who are just now discovering this legend of modern blues.

[mickeef]

Met Stevie personally 3 times, all in DFW, once backstage at Will Rogers Auditorium, then at a record company party for the "Live Alive" release and then him and Lenny at a personal residence, each time he was more graceful, humble and polite than the first. Other so called guitar gods take notes please.
R.I.P SRV

[jaysing]

This band was so tight, doesn't say a word, no 1..2..3..4, then proceeds to rip into a tornado of a song and the whole band drops in without missing a beat, my hats off to the pros who make it look so easy....RIP SRV

[SpecialDetermence]

When your soundcheck in the 80s has 20+ mil views on youtube you know hes a legend

[cjcal]

My dad saw Stevie in Manchester, UK in 88. He told me that at about two songs into the gig there was a power cut that lasted for a good few hours. When power eventually came back on Stevie came on stage and said “We came to play for you and we’re not leaving until we’re finished”. They finished the set and it went on until about 2am. He was one of the good guys. RIP

[raymondlong]

Everybody fails to mention. One of the best blues vocalists of all time.

[Luiz-diyf]

Almost 21 million views for a guitarist who passed away on August 27, 1990.
He is a legend that will still be remembered for at least another 200 years.

[jpmiska]

Congress needs to pass a law prohibiting ads in the middle of live performances, punishable by death if they interrupt Stevie in particular

[dvl]

When his soundcheck is better than most concerts these days 😳😳

[trailryder]

I'm just thankful that someone had the foresight to record this sound check so we can all just hear the true magnificence that was SRV in a setting where there was no audience to impress.

[kittypigeon]

granted SRV is amazing....but imagine that band for a minute. When he goes, they go, no hesitation, from yawn to full throttle. What a crew!!!

[johnunkerman]

👍 This “sound check” blows 90% of todays music completely out of the water! A true master.

[kurtgeisinger]

I love how he plays that opening riff almost like he's trying to surprise the band, but they're all so good too that they're like "Nice try you pimp lookin wizard. Not today."

[omegaseamaster]

I never get tired of this sound check...
RIP SRV, you are missed

[pts]

SRV makes me simultaneously want to play my guitar and quit playing altogether. Inspirational and intimidating.

[ginger-bread_man]

Strolls around, yawns, scratches his nose and then just goes 0 to 100 on that guitar ... amazing.

[laurelwood]

2024....and still we seek, listen to, appreciate and sit in wonderment the talent, the sound, the energy....the master. SRV... ..there is Only One. You are missed sir. You've been gone now almost as long as you were here on the planet. What a crime your passing was to us left behind.

[erictorngren]

SRV was my dads favorite my dad love to listen to this guitar god all day long my dad died 2 months ago and i can see why my dad loved this guy dam i am missing my dad big time but playing stevie ray for my dad makes me smile like he right here with me having a beer. Love u dad miss u everyday

[sbnqy]

I'm from England and my uncle taught me to play guitar and he was a huge SRV fan once id heard his music I was hooked. I even ended up travelling to Dallas to put flowers on his memorial just to thank him for showing us what's possible. LEGEND

[deweycoggins]

How could anyone not give this a thumbs down is beyond me. The man was a guitar god. If you don’t like this you don’t understand what a gift he was.

[frank]

Had the privilege to see Stevie live in Seattle 1983. They were the opener for Men at Work. I was 15, Stevie who? Two songs in my love of Blues guitar was set in my soul. Seems the good ones always leave us to soon, but they will be remembered forever.