6 years ago I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the blues legend B.B. King. He had just been awarded a grammy and he seemed to be at the top of his game at the tender age of 79.
Now B is 85, and 6 years later it is evident that time is most definitley catching up with him. But honestly I could care less that he could not remember the lyrics to songs, or that his guitar licks were lacking.
I am sure that most people left the concert dumfounded by the nearly 75 minutes of incoherent ramblings and only one song being played all the way through. However I was thoroughly entertained and I enjoy the fact that B.B. probably has no clue where on earth he even is…or does he?
That being said I have nothing bad to say about a 85 year old bluesman who knows more about trials and tribulations than I’ll never come close to encountering.
As far as my photos of B.B. King, they are lack luster due to the rules of Mr. King’s rider and I quote “You have permission to shoot the first 2 songs” This was completely absurd, because B.B. doesn’t even hit the stage until song 3!
Song 2 ended and my security escort was next to me within seconds to make sure I walked away from the stage. Lord forbid that after all the work CIOM did to get a photo credential for the oldest touring artist IN THE WORLD, I might actually get a shot of King. My escort went as far as the curtain as B.B. took to the stage and the crowd went crazy! I ducked into the curtain and saw that I had lost my tail. So I quickly snuck only the barrel of my camera lens though the curtain and fired a single shot!
Sorry King! I love you man!
