Johnny Shines - Vienna, February 1975

At my home in Vienna, February 1975. Filmed on super 8 on 3-minute-reels with an Eumig camera without sound. "Synchronised" later from acetates (to regulate the speed on a Lenco L75 turntable). Doesn't work all the time - but it took a long time (and tons of cigarettes and a lot of drinks) to fix it this way. Unfortunately also the camera made a lot of noise... I had to fill the time between the 3-minute-clips with footage I took at the train station when Johnny left Salzburg and later near the river Danube in Vienna (no, it is not the delta). For a short time there can be seen a bridge on screen. This was the old "Reichsbruecke", which broke down the next morning.
Finally I have to thank Mr. Johnny Shines, one of the finest persons I ever met in my life, with whom I spent a wonderful week during and between his concerts in Austria (3 concerts at Jazzland Vienna, one each in Linz and Salzburg). Thank you, Johnny, I will never forget this week.
And: No, he gave me no new photo of R.J. ... but it seemed, like he was happy that I didn't ask about...

[@michelfromm9824]

By the end of the 80's I saw Johnny Shines playing in France, I remember thinking "if somebody takes the microphone away, it would change nothing"...After the show we went back stage, pretending we were journalists ... There were two rooms, one full of people drinking and chating, in the other room, Johnny Shines was sitting alone in front of a mirror with a bottle of Jack Daniels. His eyes were so dark, I remember, he was like somewere else. We decided to get back outside and keep him in his thoughs. Outside I bought the Johnny Shines & Co LP (Biograph records). To be franck, I didn't know exactly who was Johnny Shines, my Friend Claude just told me: come with me, this is one of the greatest bluesman alive. I think he was right.

[@z11zappa]

I played with him... If you saw him after he had his stroke, he was probably depressed because he couldn't perform on the guitar like he wanted to.

[@michelfromm9824]

Yes Mike, but his voice, whatever, was really impressive to me; one of my greatest meeting with such a great musician.

[@z11zappa]

@@michelfromm9824 True, his voice was strong always. He played his last gig with my band on a Friday night, went to the Dr on next Monday and he was sent directly to the hospital. Had his left leg amputated about a week later, he was going through rehab and a blood clot to the lungs took him out quickly one night while he was still in the hospital. That last gig he did was great and he was singing strong.

[@jorydillard3766]

@@z11zappa I had the privilege of seeing him playing with him in Alabama with Kent Duchenne. and he was still a musical God! I’m so glad you got to know him as a musician, and play with him…

[@ajcbng8289]

I am so embarrassed. I just discovered this man while watching some obscure 1970s vampire movie. I didn't get past his song in the opening scene. Astonishing. ❤️

[@bass0111]

Lots of people play The Blues well, But Johnny Shines.

[@davisworth5114]

very strong vocals and he's playing the same sweet B-25 Gibson he let me play when he played in Seattle in 1972. Johnny was soft-spoken and kind to all of us white blues nuts. He told me about his times with RJ, he was a very down-to-earth person. RIP Johnny Shines. Thank you Kurt!

[@user-ef7kb4bt7g]

The closest thing to Robert Johnson. Priceless!!!

[@tcovington1578]

Yessss the blues walked in Memphis this morning and found its way to my room🔥

[@johns6095]

You can almost feel Robert standing behind him

[@theraccoon3859]

John Sulli he is

[@burnside9]

What a treasure

[@kathleenbridgestreet4092]

Real nice Kurt. Discovered Johnny Shines (for myself) just lately. Amazing. What a gift you've given everyone. Thanks.

[@bluzzz2u]

Kurt, good ON YOU for taking the time to (1) invite Mr Johnny over and (2) for making the recording and (3) for "smoking and drinking" until it got done! All the best from here!

[@Wanderer123]

Chilling performance...

[@faunoram]

this must be the coolest video on youtube !!!

[@dantastacio5081]

Him a lightnin 🔥

[@johnmitchelljr]

Slide on this. Thanks for sharing.

[@russjalichandra5491]

Thank you very much, danke schon, for sharing this priceless gem of blues.

[@michaelmoss6110]

Johnny Shines: Eternal Greatness and Kindness!

[@taiping194]

Excellent -- thanks for sharing.

[@mikecaldwell4442]

johnny shines was the only modern era person to connect to the way robert johnson really played....i would say these notes and triads were all thing he was taught by him

[@lazchapman584]

I understood the learning between johnson and shines went both ways

[@mikecaldwell4442]

johnny had good reason but ...did not trust white people at all

[@redrossi1704]

A great piece of blues history, thanks a lot for sharing this priceless treasure!

[@natedawg17]

Thank you endlessly. This is priceless.

[@wychwoodmusic]

Imagine being obsessed with Robert Johnson while Johnny Shines was still alive, performing, and kinda neglected.

[@reneC-is9hm]

danke !

[@danielpepper1123]

This ia amazing..Wow!! Thank you so much. You've made an invaluable contribution to music and to America.

[@RobHutten]

Thanks for bringing this footage to light, Kurt!

[@myfriendpete]

Damn your channels full of blues history! Just hit the SUB BUTTON!

[@JavierTijuana]

Simply a treasure.

[@BrainDamageComedy]

awesome - thanks for sharing! what a bluesman he is.

[@12Radius]

Mr. Johnny jams !!!

[@gudkarma1]

Thank you very much for posting this.

[@MrGerardherz]

Excellent.... Thank you very much for sharing those great moments

[@justinbradfield6499]

Thnx brother for posting this!!!! The Blues.... In my opinion the greatest american art form period!!!!! Johnny Shines lives on in my in my playin and every other player that carries this style forward......

[@Deebemc]

Eric Clapton moaning about long it took him to replicate RJs cross rhythms, why the fuck didn't he ask this guy? Or may be even Rory Block.

[@stuartmackinnon3063]

Rory Block! I think the modern expression is " LOL"

[@marionholtzmann6872]

Wow!

[@andrew71ify]

Genius

[@rtblues]

Great!

[@guitarded71]

amazing footage, thanks for sharing!

[@z11zappa]

Really great to see! Thanks so much for sharing it!

[@AvaBrownMysylph]

eat job! Love this (and the cat!)

[@laratiara1]

Nicely done Mr. Kurt. Love it.

[@benwich9430]

great work! Thx for sharing!

[@juanjogalvan]

Absolutely cool!! Thank you for share!!

[@valois89]

"near the river Danube in Vienna (no, it is not the delta)" yeah well, it's called the "blue Danube", coincidence?

[@nelsonmichel108]

excelente gracias por el video legendario amigo Kurt!!!

[@btm240]

thanks so much for posting!!!!

[@bjsmith621]

This is so great. Anybody know what kind of tuning he's playing in here?

[@bflat4378]

Wait, that guy is 60yo ? omg

[@DolphinRiot]

KILLER

[@ThomasDeLello]

Well... if you want to call yourself a "Blues Fan"... Then you'd better know who this man is...

[@jmacvoy2484]

WHAT VERSION OF TERRAPLANE WAS THATT

[@nosmoking2735]

It's Johnny's version "Dynaflow Blues"