Bill Perry Passes

ts funny how things pound other things into perspective.  I had a falling out with one of my best friends on monday, and I get this email today.  I thought I would send a sort of testimonial about Bill.

In all the time I had been working at Scott Street, and in the Great Northern Blues Society I was really blown away by two guys.  One is obviously my friend Scott Holt, but the other was Bill Perry.  I can't remember when I met Bill, but I am sure it was a thursday night gig, that was booked by Mr. Jay Reil, quite possibly the coolest agent ever.

Bill was on pointblank at the time, and was between GreyCourt Lightning, and what would become his live record.  He showed up at Scott Street with Johnny B. Gayden (sp) on bass, and Chris O'Keefe told me that if Johnny was there that Bill was something, as Johnny had played on the greatest record Blind Pig had put out.  If Cuda thought it was a big deal, I was listening.

There was not one moment of disappointment.  Not one.  Bill was an ornery guy, but he had no idea who I was, and it was a new club, and the road is hard.  He took the stage with a massive sound, a giant voice, and a truly impressive presence.  He was not one of those cool inclusive cats, Bill was holding the stage DOWN.  This was his stage, his band, and dammit he was kicking your ****.

Only two guitar players really hit me like that, Scott and Bill.  From that point on I had one mission, to put Bill and Scott on every bill I had a chance to work on.  And I made a point to work on many shows.  I preached the word of Bill and Scott, and Scott and Bill.  It was my dream to get them both on stage together, and watch the world explode in front of me.  Scott may be one of my best friends and possibly the greatest guitar player I know, but Bill is literally percentage points behind.

I was involved in Bill Bull Falls, and Lance and I agreed to put Bill on the bill.  It was also the year that Howard played, so it was a good deal.  Bill stood on that stage, with his flyin v guitar, his tie dye, and his bib overalls, and kncked the tent and the ten thousand people there back a few feet.

Then Bill got in the van and came to Scott Street Pub.  Where he proceeded to knock the pictures off the walls, and cut heads with Tommy Castro.  Afterwards we all ended up at Gary Peters house, and I think Bill kicked my **** in pool, and took my girl.  Or whatever girl he wanted.

The Great Northern Blues Society got Bill Perry and Magic Slim on the same bill.  that might have been my proudest moment as president.  Once again, Bill killed the whole world.  Slim came and went, and we all ended up at the Pub again.  Bill in those cool **** leather pants, Slim with a bottle of whiskey my mom gave him.  Both got onstage and tore into each other in ways that bring music people to tears.  Once again we ended up at Gary Peters house. 

One of my proudest moments in music is the fact that Melissa got to see Bill and Scott, and she told me I was right about both of them.  She wrote an article about Bill for X-press Magazine, and really showed how right I was.

My friend Tom Jordan bought Bill's Gibson hollow body guitar, to try to sound like Bill.  Years Later Bill tried to buy it back.

One of the greatest blues record in my collection is Live At Manny's Car Wash.

Hey Bill, thanks for being my friend.  Edward thanks for putting out his records.  Greg, thanks for being his friend.