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Crossroads – The Guitar Duel
Crossroads – The Guitar Duel
Available on Region 1 DVD
Crossroads is a part of guitar folklore. It’s a story about the essence of the blues, the downtrodden truth of its emotion. Made in 1986, the film is Directed by tough guy Walter Hill. (The Warriors, Extreme Prejudice, Southern Comfort, Driver).
Starring Daniel son Ralph Macchio as a city kid looking to find a lost song instead he discovers an underground music legend named Willy Brown (Joe Seneca) in a nursing home. Years ago Willy sold his soul to the devil at the crossroads in exchange for musical fame. Childhood cutie Jami Gertz (Star from Lost Boys) also turns up as a love interest.
Jami gertz and Joe Seneca draw the lead
Brown bargains to escape and make his way back down to the New Orleans southern bayou’s where the deal was first struck. Along the way the Karate Kid comes of age experiencing disappointment, heart break and sorrow. It all culminates in an epic guitar battle for Willie’s fate with Steve Vai as Old Nick’s instrument of evil.
“Well well well. Who sent you here? Can't talk little man?...Bet ya can't play none, either!” – Jack Butler
The mythology around the making of the movie has only grown since its release. For the most part slide legend Ry Cooder did all of the picking work of Macchio. For the closing confrontation however Vai’s fingering speed and accuracy exceeded most all guitarist at the time. As the story goes Eddie Van Halen, Angus Young, Eric Clapton and a host of others tried their mettle and failed in the studio.
The crane isn't going to help here
Worth noting that although the fingering is sped up on Ralph’s side, he is in fact playing the correct notes just a little slower than demanded.
Thick in atmosphere, the film could almost be described as electric blues pornography. Exploiting axes and carefully nurturing the genre image, making sure to keep an adult edge.
JD has made you wait long enough so without further ado, turn that volume dial up and soak in the down and dirty, conflicting old school versus new school R&B bliss.
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Just a personal opinion here; playing speed doth not the best musician make. Angus Young and Eddie Van Halen are much more listenable than Steve Vai! (Just my opinion as a musician)
Keeping in with the backstories, Vai was featured on several Frank Zappa albums; Zappa, a perfectionist who knew exactly what he wanted, knew Vai would "go overboard" with the soloing sometimes, so he had a signal: he'd yell, "Spoo!" (which meant, "Quit wanking off on that guitar!")
By the way, I read the attack on you that you'd mentioned on my last post; totally offside and inexcusable.
D.
Source:The Real Frank Zappa Book
by Frank Zappa
with Peter Occiogrosso Originally Published: 1989
Published by: Poseidon Press, New York
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Sure beats Dueling Banjo's mate!
Cheers.
MNG
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ha! awesome clip... Macchio on guitar, fighting the devil?
Film & TV on DVD
I agree that speed alone is not a quotient and I'm not a huge fan of Vai's stuff either.
BUT, this duel is something very special, the notes hit and the accuracy with the variation on a classical riff just leaves me in awe.
Always a pleasure
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Plus you don't have to deal with the pesky inbreeding.
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As I said to D, I'm not a huge Vai fan either but his work on this is unbelievable. The film itself is good value too.
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vai is a great guitar player
and his speed on the notes is waaaaw the things that he do are avesome
Film & TV on DVD
Glad your a fan of the film. I remember when it came out they made a big deal about how good Machio got as a guitarist after intensive training. Still not fast enough to be a master, but i had never heard that "girls hands" rumour before.
There is a commentary on the UK DVD I think that may answer the riddle. I just did a quick check around and according to imdb.com and wickipedia.com it is the karate Kid playing. (Not that either is the end word on "truth")
Thanks for the alternate idea.
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I don't think anyone said Vai wasn't a good guitarist, just not as great as he thinks he is. Most of my respect for him is based solely on the classical fingering at the end of the Crossroads Duel.
In the world of speed he is one of the best, but as has been discussed, speed alone means little its about the emotion and precision of notes played.
Obviously your a big fan of the man and I certainly understand that, personally I'm more of a Joe Satriani fella in this genre.
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The Florida Keys and Everglades
The Black Sheep Chronicles
What constitutes bad manners?
The male mystique
Debate Fan
L.A.M.P.
--Dead on, JD. My thoughts exactly.
Funny how subjective music is, isn't it? I like Muddy Waters, who had so much soul in his playing. Vai challenged him onstage once, ripping through an earsplitting, long, technically perfect avalanche of notes. Waters, when it was his turn, just got this big grin on his face and played a single, pure note. Brought the house down.
(Sorry for going on, JD--I've got as many music stories as you have film reviews
Oh yeah--and "Crossroads" is a good film, too!
Film & TV on DVD
Great story!
I'm a Muddy waters guy for sure, alongside Leadbelly, Howlin Wolf etc.
Did you ever see that movie on Leadbelly's life made in the 1070's? It had an amazing soundtrack (obviously) but teh actinga nd story were also quality.
Thanks for sharing as always.