Love, love his songwriting. Some of the most fun and some of the more beautiful songs ever written. Some hysterically funny, some sad...most just perfect.
Waylon, Billy-Joe, Cash, Kristofferson, Willie, all these guys did not go out there to cultivate an image like so many artists today. They simply went out and lived, and man did they LIVE!! They all went through soooo much stuff ( some self inflicted but that's what's so cool) and have such strength of character, how can it not reflect in their music? If you have never seen the DVD Outlaw Country I highly recommend it. Only John is missing but he was not really part of the outlaw movement as strange as that may seem. Waylon, Kris, and John (that should be a song title!) are my heroes but Shaver's songs were a HUGE part of that movement. Some might even say the catalyst. Regardless I love his stories. Try and find the post where he talks about Waylon and dynamite! God that sounds funny all on it's own!
M. Garrison your son is obviously a "chip off the middle aged block"! Sadly he is the minority. Most of the young people I work with LOVE the " country " sound and almost resent the old stuff. I try to explain to them it's not "old stuff" it's simply "real" stuff! The country music of today is okay I guess ( I'm really trying here!) but it is NOT county music, it is pop. Guys like Waylon and Billy Joe were also criticized for not being country at the time of the outlaw explosion. They were country through and through, it's just Nashville resented them esp. for having the nerve to want to have control over their music. Sadly Nashville never truly forgave Waylon for that. Keep finding great stuff like this, we'll show em yet!!
Join me Friday the 17th of April at the Grey Eagle in Asheville to hear Billy Joe live. Old Five and Dimers is one of my favorite of Billy Joe's songs.
One of the most genuine, underrated core of the "Country Outlaw" movement. Mostly, behind the scenes. Willie still covers "Georgia On A Fast Train" in his show!
Allman Brothers Band Dr Hook Marshall Tucker Band Willie Nelson Johnny Cash (Waylon kicks WALK THE LINE right in the ass) Stevie Nicks Tom Paul Glaser Billie Joe Shaver Kris Kristofferson Neil Young Bob Seger Duane Eddy Bob Wills Hank Williams Gerry Rafferty ....I gave a girl, a ride in my wagon...? ......and soooo many more
i'd have to disagree with you as far as the allman brothers and stevie nicks but all the rest of them and yes even bjs for sure.and johnny cash is so overrated.he really built his whole career on like 3 or 4 songs.and he could be so corny.every asshole under the age of 40 that thinks they know old school country always has to pull johnny cash or wiilie nelson or hank jr. out of their ass.waylon was the king.it's a close race between him and elvis as to who was the greatest singer of all time.oh and btw you forgot to mention the once great steve earl.the devil's right hand was one song by steve earle that i never liked until i heard waylon's version!
I met him in later years. I had the chance to work at a venue where he played for a few days. A great pleasure to be close by and be pleasant with him.
This interviewer is terrible, he tries to answer Billy Joe's questions (which most are stupid) and doesn't let him hardly answer.It obvious he didn't do his research and interjects incorrect assumption. I've played shows with this legend and he is wonderfully gracious and a down home a person you'll ever meet.
Thank you for Billy Joe's moving story about his mom's struggle and his conversion to Christ. I've always loved Billy Joe's songs as much as Kristoferson's, Mr. Shaver makes no bones about how destructive it was to be drug addled. You got to love him.
There was talk a while back of an HBO biography of Billy Joe Shaver. It was supposedly in the works. Did this ever happen and what was the program called?
Billy Joe Shaver is a honest-to-God national treasure. "... have you paid your dues, can you moan the blues, can you bend them guitar strings...) yup, he sure the heck did. On a side note though, it always irks me when some wet-behind-the-ears reporter interviews a living legend and tries to "talk the talk" as if he'd lived through hard times himself. I wish Billy Joe had busted him on it.
