Rolling Stone is reporting that pioneering rock guitarist Bo Diddley died this morning at age 79 in Florida because of heart failure. Diddley, born Elias Bates in 1928, had been recovering from a heart attack and stroke that he suffered last year. [Rolling Stone / YouTube]
Bo Diddley R.I.P.
June 2nd, 2008 // 16 Comments
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I really, really am annoyed I can’t just go home and play some of his stuff loud right this second. YouTube will have to do for now.
And, of course, RIP. A full life lived, and then some.
One of the absolute all-time greats, probably did as much for guitar and rhythm as anyone in rock history. The footage of him talking about cooking on the road thanks to Jim Crow in the sadly, seemingly lost Let the Good Times Roll (1973) is priceless in every sense. Will be playing his 2CD Chess Box as soon I type this. R.I.P.
If anyone deserved a Johnny Cash-caliber comeback, it was this man. Anyone who hasn’t heard “The Great Grandfather” yet needs to do so immediately.
I’ll bet he’s referring to himself in the third person to St. Peter right now.
R.I.P., Bo.
New band playing right now: Bo with John Cipollina and Link Wray. Joe Strummer’s sitting in the front row, digging it all.
Bo may be dead, but the beat literally goes on.
Dang. Another legend gone!
Idolators,
I need to tap into your collective knowledge. Can anyone recall an interview with Diddley after his stroke? I’m asking because my newspaper has an unused interview with him that took place days before the stroke. Naturally, we’re trying to figure out if it’s one of his final interviews. Any help is appreciated.
@R. Morast: Not sure when the stroke occurred, but there is a profile in Rolling Stone from about 2005–by Neil Strauss, I believe–that’s pretty great, maybe even definitive. Hope it helps.
!!!!!
I saw Mr. Diddley perform a few years ago, and it was one of the loudest, rawest, most rockin’ shows I’ve ever experienced — especially by a man in his 70s. Bless him.
Agreed on the Strauss piece — it’s right here — and I recommend this 2002 one as well.
Have been playing everything we have of Bo’s on WPRB this afternoon. Right now we’re on “Surfin’ with Bo”. It is not as terrible as I imagined it would be.
Anyway, RIP.
I actually like Elias Bates better than Bo Diddley RIP.
Oh, and ‘Bo Diddley is a Lumberjack’ is the best album title ever.