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far from happy with what he believed was the total lack of artistic freedom being
given to him, as a result of which he quit recording in 1981, with a vow that he would

never go back into a studio unless he was given complete control of the process.

4 years later the blues label Alligator gave him that chance, for which he recorded 3
albums, and said “since coming to Alligator I’m finally making the albums I always

wanted to make”.

Apparently, Roy was a quiet,
although gracious man, but one
who bottled up his emotions. As

he got older he felt that his
lifestyle meant he was destined
for hell in the afterlife, by which

time he was drinking to excess.
He was financially responsible
for a wife, children and

grandchildren, which meant that,
as fast as the money came in, it
went straight out, and he
therefore struggled to keep

things on an even keel. There was
a failed suicide attempt a couple of years before he died, but by the late 1980s his
agent felt that he was coping a lot better, especially as his drinking appeared to be

more under control.

However, this was not really the case, as on 14th August 1988 he was arrested for
‘public intoxication’ after a domestic dispute. He was placed in a holding cell at Fairfax
County Jail, Virginia, and found hanged, by his own shirt later that night. The verdict

was suicide, which has since been disputed by the family.

Whatever the reason for his death, there is little doubt that Roy Buchanan was a
troubled genius, and the emotional torment of his adult life is illustrated in his unique

guitar technique…

In 1974 Gatton purchased his own 1953 butterscotch Fender Telecaster, apparently
because he had been impressed by seeing or hearing what Roy Buchanan was able

to do with his. He put the Tele through a basic set up of a Fender Bassman amp (with
4 x 10 inch speakers) and an Echoplex, in order to produce his incredible range of
sounds. He was also using all sorts of customised effects and pedals - so much so
that he was sometimes referred to as ‘Danny Gadget’, which he wasn’t too enamoured

with, so he junked the lot and just plugged straight into his amp, without any loss of
tone! He didn’t play his Tele exclusively though, as he still used his Gibson ES350
from time to time (not to mention assorted other Teles).

1975 produced a debut solo album entitled ”American Music”, and he followed it up

with “Redneck Jazz” in 1978. Gatton was pleased by the latter album, stating that