Stevie Ray Vaughan: Caught in the Crossfire [Hardcover]

Joe Nick Patoski (Author), Bill Crawford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1993

A biography of Stevie Ray Vaughan. It traces his life, music and career from his early days until his death in a helicopter accident following an appearance at an Eric Clapton concert.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Austin-based journalists Patoski and Crawford pen a rousing account of Texas blues guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan, who died at age 35 in a 1990 helicopter crash. The Dallas-born Vaughan began playing electric guitar in imitation of older brother Jimmie, who founded the Fabulous Thunderbirds. Both brothers were fixtures of the 1960s and '70s Austin scene, which spawned such rock acts as ZZ Top and allowed Stevie Ray to form his own band, Double Trouble. Vaughan's biggest break was playing on David Bowie's 1983 Let's Dance album; when he brazenly rejected Bowie's offer to tour, he garnered music-industry notice. Later, as his career skyrocketed, Vaughan abused cocaine and whiskey. He underwent treatment in 1986, a process which sealed his friendship with guitarist and recovered heroin addict Eric Clapton. Afterward, Vaughan became a preachy proponent of AA's 12-step program; he is reverently portrayed here as an inspiration to troubled fans. Backed up by plenty of blues history, this enthusiastic tribute ably succeeds as a narrative, adopting the down-home colloquialisms of its subject. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The authors provide a penetrating first biography of blues/rock guitar virtuoso Vaughn (1954-90). Through the use of extensive interviews, they succeed particularly well in describing Vaughan's childhood relationships with his abusive father and his older brother, who served as a role model. The authors chart Vaughan's initial interest in music, his emergence on the Texas music scene, his 1983 breakthrough, and his continued rise to superstardom until his untimely death in a helicopter crash. Writing in a breezy, engaging style, they offer an intimate look at the insecurities and abilities of Vaughan to explain his sometimes tortured, drug-dominated life and his fiery, powerful music. Highly recommended for general music collections.
- David Szatmary, Univ. of Washington, Seattle
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown & Co (T); 1st edition (May 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316160687
• ISBN-13: 978-0316160681
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #742,998 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An extremely in-depth synopsis. Well researched., April 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Stevie Ray Vaughan : Caught in the Crossfire (Paperback)

I received Caught in the Crossfire as a gift, and I must admit I was skeptical at first. The ominous black cover featuring SRV's silouette seemed to serve as a warning of its content. I feared that the book would only undermine what every fan, indeed everyone who has ever heard of Stevie Ray Vaughan, already knows. That he was, for so long "caught" in a world of reckless drug abuse and alcoholism, but somehow managed to make it to the top. What I found was a biography, mostly matter-of-fact, which left no stone unturned in its research. Every friend, colleague, artist; famous or infamous, who impacted Stevie's career and tragically short life finds their way onto the pages of this work. The bibliography of interviews, while not necessarily reading as a "who's who" in the world of blues, includes individuals who were closest to the guitar legend throughout his life. Paramount of these is his own brother Jimmy. Though not mentioned in the list of exclusive interviews conducted for the book, Jimmy Lee Vaughan's influential guidance in the life of his younger brother is well documented by Patosky. As SRV's hero and kin, we learn where much of Stevie's love for blues music and guitar is rooted. Stevie's mentors in music, from blues legends Albert King and Albert Collins, to Jimi Hendrix and Bonnie Rait are uniquely enveloped in the carnival of ups and downs, triumphs and tragedys of his life. Though at times it tries to unnecessarily re-enact moments in an almost movie script-like format, Caught in the Crossfire is without question the most in depth biography to date of the life of one of the greatest guitar players of our time. It is very well written, and a must for any fan of Stevie Ray Vaughan's music.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book that will stay with me......, May 30, 2006

By 

Blind Mello Jelly (Welcome, NC USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Stevie Ray Vaughan : Caught in the Crossfire (Paperback)

I'm a guitar player and a huge fan of music and the blues specifically. Although I never had a lot of SRV's records, his playing blew me away, as it did most folks. Many years after his death I thought I'd read this and I absolutely couldn't put it down. Patoski transports you back to SRV's beginnings - his family, his famous brother, the bars and dives he played while paying his dues. I've never had a better overview of the Texas music scene spanning over 20 years. But most of all, this book made me love the man. Stevie overcame great obstacles. He conquered his addictions and became a living example of a survivor, only to die tragically in a helicopter crash. It truly broke my heart after reading this book and learning the details of his life. Not only for music fans, but also for anyone wanting to read about recovery and redemption. This story would make a great movie.....but it would be a tear-jerker.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pedal to the Metal, July 10, 2005

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D. MILLS (Manassas, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Stevie Ray Vaughan : Caught in the Crossfire (Paperback)

Very detailed. The author conducted what must have been hundreds of interviews with friends, acquaintances and family. He consulted as many newspaper and magazine articles and no doubt walked the streets of Austin and Oak Cliff. The result is a detailed description of his subject and the environment. Yet it's not a forest for the trees situation. The details do not drown out the overall story. Sometimes excessive details can make a book boring or hard to follow. Not in this case.

The author begins the story with the Vaughan's migration to Texas from Kentucky. He also describes the evolution of Dallas as a music town starting as early as Blind Lemon Jefferson. Stevie's years as a school boy in Dallas, his years playing small clubs in Austin, and his nonpublic life are described in as much detail perhaps more indepthly than his life as a famous blues superstar.

SRV lived his entire life the same way he played guitar: pedal to the metal. Drugs, girls, partying, jamming were all done fast and hard until he passed out from exhaustion. After 18 hours or more of sleep, it would start all over again.

After decades of life pedal to the metal it is amazing that he survivied. But he didn't just survive. He cleaned himself up and became a better person. It seems like he was a nice person. He spent a lot of effort helping other musicians especially underappreciated blues musicians. He insisted that his Double Trouble bandmates received the same salary as he even though clearly SRV was the only reason people came to see Double Trouble.

The book also explores the mystery of the 1982 Montreaux Jazz Festival performance where the band was booed. Besides a couple of freaked out hippies dancing in front, the rest of the crowd (probably arthouse goons) sat and watched the performance in contempt and booed enthusiastically in between songs. The book offers an explanation, but perhaps in some minds the crowd's behavior at that event will remain an enigma.

Summary: good book, well written. If you like SRV, then you won't regret having gotten this book.