In the summer of 2002, we found out that Link Wray was going to play some street festival (river festival? light festival? something...) in Providence. We were totally there. We paid our $20 to the festival, and proceeded to get loaded. We finally end up under this large tent and wait for Link to rage.
And Rage he does.
The man's band had to all be in their mid twenties. They came out first. Then came Link. I believe he was in his mid 70's at that point, but he wasn't looking like your grandpa. He came out in a big leather jacket, wraparound shades, and giant mullet/mohawk/pompador thing. He looked fucking badass for such an old dude. And he didn't rock like a dude in his 70's either. His guitar work was fast and furious. He played harder than guys I've seen in their 20's. And after every song (or sometimes in the middle of them) he would shout what sounded like "Kee-taro!" or "Guitar-o" or something like that, and would point to the sky. And we of course in our drunken stupors would raise our fists and shout "Hey-o!" back at him.
And of course, in addition to his many other classics, he played Rumble and it was magical seeing it live.
Link Wray died in 2005, and I was very happy to say that I had a chance to see the man play.
Download "Rumble"
