The Eric Gales Band WINS the Battle of the Bands in Memphis 1989

You see Eric and Eugene's Mom as they roll in to set up.
www.ericgalesband.com

[@futureprimitive]

This was Eric's first big public appearance at a city-wide band contest. They won. He was 14. I was a judge along with Mike Glenn (New Daisy), Ringo Jukes (Rock City Angels), Steve Ebe (Human Radio), and Paul Ebersold (Ardent producer who got him signed and did his first album). He rolled up in leopard tights and a purple kimono, with one guitar in a plastic bag. We were all like WTF is this?! They showed us. I will never forget it. Also note Anthony Corder of Tora Tora behind the judge table.

[@austinmonroe3894]

❤️❤️❤️

[@austinmonroe3894]

Can’t teach talent like this.

[@christopherwhippy3181]

Awesome story 14 yrs old!.😁👍👍

[@claybenjamin1429]

I lived in Memphis from 1980 to 1994 and was amazed at that time of how well this kid Eric was playing at such a young age! I’m also a professional guitarist, Former rhythm guitarist of AL Green and met Eric and watch him perform at a Gospel event back in 1992 and I believe he was 18 years old. He also made me 2 cassette tapes of him just practicing in his room and I still have those cassette tapes

[@MotorcityBart]

Thanks for your beautiful comment.

[@scubadude72060]

I'm proud to say I was the person behind this camera and I'm delighted to have captured Eric so young, not to mention his mom ! Rock on Eric, I knew back then you were gonna be a badass guitarist ! Most folks may not know it but Eric was 14 I think in this video !

[@siepip]

Bob Thank you for doing what you do this is history

[@harryohharry13]

Lol you couldn't resist zooming in on that butt Bob?

[@jeffkatt]

Beautiful butt shot as well! 😋😍

[@pattygq]

9:26 you da man haha

[@josealmeida2780]

@IPSECMERLIN Merlin What kind of question is that? He was 14 for gods sake.

[@oliviahall6252]

Omg I’m about to cry. I see my granddad and great aunt (Eric’s mom) in this video! They’ve passed away. Eric is still doing his thing. I’m a proud cousin!

[@chriskrueger8225]

To be this good, and have such control at 14 is just incredible! Eric has always been musically mature beyond his years. Also Eugene is an amazing bassist, guitarist and vocalist.

[@jamiebutler7370]

My god time to get my Guitar out again. It’s been hard with debilitating mental health issues but Eric your such an Inspiration on and off stage . Never change brother

[@jimihendrix1117]

THAT DAMN VIBRATO!!!!!! One of the best EVER. *Peace and Happiness*

[@TheGg2211]

I'll tell you that I am 48 yrs old and I think that this is the most amazing performance I have ever seen. This should have made national news!

[@kevinallison2227]

I wholeheartedly agree 100%

[@keisi1574]

@@kevinallison2227 Please add my 100%.

[@samuelcantley5500]

Amen I'm 64 take me back when Hendricks

[@samuelcantley5500]

Yacht my hundred percent Andover

[@NickFje]

It is very clear that Eric was born to rock this world. Some people are just born with that amazing passion and feel for music. Eric is one of my biggest inspirations and he is one of the main reasons why I still pick up my guitar and practise.

[@PutItAway101]

Man I feel sorry for anyone else trying to win. This was not their day. Eric is devastating!

[@kevinallison2227]

WoW Hands down the best version of this song ever. The best tribute to Hendrix ever. 🔥👍💯 Straight outta Memphis!!! 🎸🔥

[@jamescarter5153]

The band that got 2nd was still pretty good. Man he was on fire way back then!! Killer.

[@EricGalesBand]

Who came in 2nd? And Thanks James! #BOOM

[@valentin80]

Thank you for existing Mr. Gales... you have the music in your blood... no one can beat that.

[@marcoleung8130]

(Sorry for my English , I am from Hong Kong )After watching I feel both excited and frustrated. I am really excited by the music that Eric play .As usual , magnificent. But I am frustrated by I can’t play as good as Eric (and he is 14 at that time) I just past my 19 birthday a month ago, but I am still feel like being lost on my guitar playing.

[@stephencurry2157]

Maaan your playing has flipped my world crazily. Eric’s songs have moved me in such a way that I can not describe, so much so that even as a broke 16 year old who has been playing guitar for 2 years, I spent all my money on a left handed guitar (I’m right handed) and proceeding to learn it upside down because of this dude, he has inspired me to a level that I can’t even describe in words. My idol man

[@donnadboyata3989]

Can you playing now #2022

[@phildale8451]

Amazing talent even at that age.

[@nickp440]

still killing it to the day. keep rockin eric. hell yeah

[@davemaid6741]

Imagine how the other contestants felt

[@davemaid6741]

Memphis loves Eric Gales!

[@SpaceAce2022]

Would have loved to have seen this live. Being from Memphis myself, I have always been a Gales fan and love his career!

[@roomfullofmirrors50]

Being raised in Memphis I finally got to meet Eric in Knoxville,TN. during an Hendrix Experience Tour hanging out in the front lobby,This Raw Dog is bad to the Bone !

[@chriskrueger8225]

I met him in the lobby on the Hendrix tour in Cleveland. He was eating a hot dog. I have been a fan since his first album. I was beyond in shock seeing him. I waited until he finished his hot dog, and went over to talk to him and his then girlfriend Ladonna. Amazing people!

[@SDPickups]

Jeez, I was 39 back then and doing all Shrapnel's album art, had no idea Eric was so YOUNG! ;-)

[@renwickconolly2839]

Jimi..re-incarnated... the dance, the sounds, the purple kimono, the guitar torture...damn.!

[@jameswyre6480]

Brilliant gem, Eric on a piece that has a touch and feel hard to nail! Solid drumming as well as very good vocals by the bass player.

[@richtedesco2456]

Bass player and vocals i believe is Eric's brother... pretty sure his name is Eugene

[@carlosgaspar8447]

@@richtedesco2456 great vocals

[@BassByTheBay]

9:25 - Eric, a 14-year-old guitar phenom, just tearin' it up... but we know what was on the videographer's mind. 😄

[@jinjalord]

🤣🤣😂

[@bodd66]

Oh my! I just got Eric's new album with dUg Pinnick & T Pridgen - it's unreal good. Man, this guy had IT even back then at only 14. Incredible Eric.

[@jimiprice6182]

One hell of a guitar player!!

[@kentroberts6164]

So cool to see these old vids with Eric and Eugene. I got to see him on his 16th birthday at the old Boston Gardens. They sent the poor kid on stage with the curtail closed with a stool and an acoustic. Meanwhile, behind the curtail Peter Wolf, who was still a Boston icon at the time was warming up and being very noisy and shitting all over the kid. I was so angry I walked out of the rest of the show. It was the only time in my life that I was ashamed to be a Bostonian. Rock on Eric! You're still a genius and a prodigy bro.

[@davetrent8612]

First of all, I did like and scribed. When I was about 13 and our family was living just outside Wash D.C. FM and Underground radio had just showed it's face and I was all over it. My father & I connected closely with music. He turned me on to Jazz (Ramsey Lewis) & I turned him on to Rock (Jimi Hendrix). You can imagine my shock (shat n da pants) when he comes home with Electric Ladyland because he liked All Along The Watchtower~! Enough about me. This is all about YOU and how long it takes me to get up to speed on ALL of your productions. I am feeling positive I'll be in awe just like right now. All the best my friend & God Blessed You. Please never let the devil kill it for You~!

[@kevinkiso2475]

Thank God he's grown immensely as a musician...

[@davidflexer565]

My band Thrust played next.. I remember Eric's guitars were in plastic bags and his guitars seemed almost to big for him to play.. Then Eric did what Eric does and that melting everyone's face off... when he finished everyone looked at me and said,Wow!! Did you see that !! That kid was amazing!!" I was like yeah I saw that!! Thinking to myself while I was setting up my pedals, oh my god what the **** .. that was insane... Eric and I became friends that day and still are...

[@benyork9382]

Hey Dave! Ben here. I was there that day standing next to you. I saw this video and as soon as it started playing I saw me with blonde hair...lol I think I was your guitar tech that day.

[@SiriusSam]

I saw you guys early in career at Blue Note Jazz Club in NYC. Totally smokin' show just like this performance. You guys were totally on fire

[@cyclistman6358]

EG is great but he should have won just for getting on stage with that outfit on.

[@brandonterzic]

ha ha funny as hell

[@dezionlion]

kimono and stretchy pants?

[@mrsimpson2022]

Brother definitely skipped leg day....but he can thrash a guitar

[@timporter6775]

That boy got stretchy pants!

[@EricGalesBand]

:-P #BOOM

[@gordiannot77]

Blazing amazing behind the head phrasing❤

[@kevinkiso4579]

The Spanish Castle was a thousand seat little club here in Seattle in the early/ mid sixties. My mom and dad used to "court" one another there... The Sonics, The Kingsmen, The Ventures, and Jimi's early bands used to play there.

[@aaronbrown0417]

I'm 39 and Eric was like 13 at this time... In my 16 years of playing i couldn't play this good..... Eric you were made to play guitar... great stuff

[@angrybuzzy]

I couldn't stop smiling watching this!

[@oxfuzz]

You must`ve blown their minds EG. peace

[@TigerHighaf]

KZbin suggestions on point with this one 🤘🏻

[@rocinstruments]

i'm speechless and that doesn't happen often, much like when i first heard the "Picture of a Thousand Faces" album.

[@ZENSIBLE]

SWEET JESUS ERIC !!!! Always being your fan since I heard you and eugene @ arsenio's hall THANKS for this INCREDIBLE VIDEO ! If you ever come to hong kong lets jam :-) Stay blessed bro.

[@Avatar7x7]

His picking technique was ridiculous way back then - Straight crazy !

[@dsnider4296]

So, you've been a badass for a long time then.

[@Gvecchi]

Amazing! I saw him in Sao Paulo many years ago and I'm trying figure out what was that! An insane guitar player!

[@dreambig7081]

Saw him in Tampa when he was 16.. The first min of this song was really rough, but sooo amazing the rest.. love it!...lol

[@cristianarocatriomusic]

wow what a debut. I wish i was that tallented at 14! I played like an animal when i was 14!! Now i must say that Eric is one of my favourite guitar players and an influence to make some music. PLease come to Chile!! Someday!!

[@RobertFairweatherMusic]

Good luck on your tour!

[@dayuhanspace]

what a real talent!

[@dancraddock2222]

I was there!! Skinny White Boys lost to Eric Gales by 1 point... But honestly we deserve to be on the same stage. What a legend.

[@frabber321]

You guys were soooo young!! Took me a while to figure out you was actually wearing some sort of pants though.

[@EmotionalShredd]

hahahahahah check out 09:30, thats my man

[@Dwoed]

Such confidence \m/

[@christopherwhippy3181]

Excellent work cameraman Excellent....😁😁😍😍😆😆😆😆👏👏👏👏

[@FloridaManMatty]

The next Jimi Hendrix? No. The FIRST Eric Gales! I know guitars are inanimate objects, but I can’t help but feel like they still appreciate it when someone with skill and/or true passion picks them up and plays them as they were meant to be played.

[@infowazz]

has that jimi freestyle feel. ok now u are shooting off damnnnnnnnnnn face meltingggggg

[@Really_Its_Me]

That baby at the very end went into another dimension n back 🤘🏻🤘🏼🤘🏽🤘🏾🤘🏿

[@anthonygoines1466]

Man I really enjoyed you guy in Indianapolis

[@porkbelly0713]

damn Dog, my first time seeing this and it is amazing .................... Big Daddy and Arthur in Birmingham say hey

[@savoybrown001]

yup..i have not changed my mind...you are one of the best...and i don't care they are wrong... and the best means you and your family...have the tunes and you do... this is a very good vid...you do not even have to see it...the abstract sounds like a kid...wow... and they won..this is amazing...eric no longer has too i don't know... instrumentalist...yes...yes.yes...and as he matures...

[@Staziish]

Awesome .....!!!

[@bigcatjakeserna630]

What a BADASS!!!

[@jeffreylammering3506]

That's was awesome Eric you are amazing whawww!! ,I am a Hendrix fan and i know the univers language of the music he killing the floor🔥🤘

[@DougErapps]

Jeez Eric, did you ever not absolutely RULE!!???

[@taktseprofit3823]

Thanks for the phone call in 92 my wife didn't know who you were shes still sick about it today.

[@olympiabats4512]

I wanna jam!!!

[@grouperkng1]

Took it to the house, damn

[@daveycameron8539]

He is coming to Pine Hurst May the 1st

[@frankcarpenter9565]

Whats up my friend. I hope you like the photos I dropped by from your Blind Tiger gig. PEACE brother.

[@samuelcantley5500]

All the bands are good man how do you pick just because you didn't win it don't give up everything I heard here just keep on pushing keep on pushin Cabeza borracho boys are dying off

[@samuelcantley5500]

Y'all come on down to Florida the water's fine

[@precbsfender]

Eric kicks ass..

[@RichieMonica]

WORD.

[@nicem8746]

Fuck yeah they did!

[@MrJazzaccord]

FRAZING!!!!!!

[@JaggusBaro]

9:27 DAMN THAT A-- I mean guitar solo

[@ricepaddy]

Who is the band in the beginning of the video? I seem to remember them from my Memphis years (89-93).

[@petestaint8312]

Holy crap! I'm lucky I was able to tie my shoelaces at 14. 😳

[@tsfurlan]

Wow! 14 years old, shows you , your either born with the gift or not, and that singer sounds exactly like Jimmi.

[@boocho1]

..Dj Jazzy Jeff is a mutherfucker on the guitar !!!..

[@dezionlion]

no way, that's Erkel!

[@guitarmainiac80]

Hey Eric. Love your music. I am friends with Branson here in Tampa. I play with the Sebastian Bach Band. If your ever in town and wanna jam, i am down. Keep rockin. Hope to hook up. JohnnyChromatic

[@russbrinn]

great outfit.

[@FloridaManMatty]

Interesting to see that not only did he develop his insane guitar technique early on, but that he had also perfected the “guitar face” before he was even old enough to drive. This is not the kind of genius that can be taught. Either you have it or you don’t. Eric damn sure had it. Still does,too!

[@vivienverdier]

Amazing! If you like the zoom a 9.30 thumbs up! :D

[@kylechristian7232]

That Camera man know he Wrong getting a shot at that womans Cakes 🙄🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@wjhandy]

Where is the Mallard duck I keep hearing?

[@MrJazzaccord]

The same talent!Tone,feeling,just frasing!

[@old-manparker6153]

RAWK!

[@Jamie7-w]

Look at all the HAIR in that building! Hahaha!!,

[@buttholejoe4009]

holy fuck

[@Bluesangel24]

The clothes got me. hahhhahah

[@riblets1968]

Eugene is recognizable in this one, but Eric definitely is not! Very, very nice! Thanks for posting this one.

[@digidrum2003]

As a lefty....I approve!

[@jasonrenaud4745]

What was that at 9:30? Lol!

[@johnthecat2150]

Everybody likes a nice butt.

[@josephbenson4444]

what is that you ask? well, just my new favorite moment on all of youtube.

[@ZENSIBLE]

That's A nice Bubble 🗯

[@boocho1]

jason renaud...i believe thats called, "split tail"...

[@PeekaPeep]

Both brothers are southpaws, just like me! Watching those two onstage makes me wonder what if Jimi Hendrix and Phil Lynott had jammed together (had Jimi lived, of course). One can only wonder, though:::sigh:::

[@timtim-hf3ut]

he's to good

[@sleuth-hb4ht]

9:30

[@jasonlee8497]

two leftys!

[@byronp24]

😲🎸 Lord have mercy on me, EG played like this as a 🚼I will never ever catch up with him & NO 1 ELSE ✌😲👍

[@stepitupandgo67]

I've seen guitar players do the Otis rush thing,...but the bass??? what??....

[@RastaSaiyaman]

Look up a cat named Jimmy Haslip. Or look up some nineties Prince videos when Sonny Thompson was his bass player.

[@sixfoursoul2538]

came here to see E.G. got ass close ups instead... both were great thol!

[@drascusdrewman3032]

Music_360 if that's even considered an ass 😂

[@campfive]

Give'um the business Eric!! Ha!!!Ha!