Did you ever know somebody so talented you just think, why are you not the most successful person I know? Michael Williams is that friend. Michael’s father was Junior Medlow Williams, the singer and rhythm guitarist for the Cobras. Stevie Ray Vaughan was a member of the Cobras but left just before Junior joined, though he opened for many of their shows. Michael grew up around so many great musicians it seemed his destiny to be one of them. When I met Michael he had just moved to Seattle after Hawaii (just like me) but I had no idea he was a great guitarist. Then we went on a snowboard overnight trip with a bunch of friends and he showed up with his board and a guitar. He played most of the night and I was just amazed. After that trip my buddies would tell me he was playing at the local ski resort for free lift tickets and drinks. One of our mutual friends was like the mother of our group and anytime anyone was in trouble they turned to him. Michael was a regular at this friend’s house. Always borrowing money, his car, begging for pot and beers. He pushed Michael to pursue his dream and do something with his talent and at times he would. He played Hemp Festival (where I shot this picture) and it seemed that every stoner in Seattle was there cheering him on. He blew some minds and gained some opportunities but he always seemed to flake out or get stoned and just not follow through. His band mate Ryan seems to be the most put together and able to keep him in line and I have lost touch with him but his career seems to have stalled again. Last time I heard about him, he borrowed that same buddies car and just abandoned it somewhere when he was done. Really pissed off my buddy when he got a call from the cops about his abandoned car. It seemed like Michael finally was going to make it big when he teamed up with Eddie Kramer who had produced records for Michael’s idol Jimi Hendrix. They did a pretty cool album together but major success still seems to escape him. I haven’t seen or heard anything about Michael for a long time. I hope he finds the consistent success he deserves and has finally got his life together. I hope you enjoy the diversity of his talent as a guitarist, slide guitarist, songwriter, singer and performer in these tracks.
and here’s a little promo for Eddie Kramer producing the Fire Red album
Thanks for your support of Dead Splinter!
Yeah, it always hurts to see or hear about those guys.
“A friend in need’s a friend indeed /
A friend with weed is better …”
im beginning to think you know every musician in the world personally and have stories about all of them :p
mr williams there sure is easy to listen to tho…cheers for that *adds to playlist*
some people really are their own worst enemy
I’ve been a photographer for a long time & avid music fan which has put me in a bunch of situations to meet musicians.
righto…that explains a thing or two
aaand reminded me of a song i completely forgot about…
been forever since i heard that anywhere come to think of it
Albert King – I’ll Play the Blues for You
Talented guy, I hope he manages to pull it together.
Garrett Lebeau – Broke Down Dream
BB King – How Blue Can You Get
This is one of the best live albums ever. The audience is 100% connected to BB and the music, and the band is super tight.
Did you ever get to see him live? Amazing shows.
Sorry, I thought I had sent this, but clearly I didn’t. I’ve seen him twice actually. The first time was an outdoor show with Jimmie Vaughan, Etta James and (believe it or not) Jay Geils. I spent literally the last money I had had the time to see that show. The second time was in one of his clubs. A former client of mine was a drummer and got to sit in with BB the night before we went, so the next night Billy was there again and BB spotted him and called up “his” drummer to play a set. It was a fun night.
Wow, he does have tremendous talent. I hope he works it out.
Reminds me a bit of my friend Tim who used to have this L.A. indie band The Movies. He had the talent to do any number of things but not the personality to take something over the finish line. Although, bizarrely the band got a nice following in Spain for some reason.
The Movies – The Right Equipment
…always surprised this one doesn’t seem to have a you tube clip but after that tale I’ll be honest…this is hands down the first place my mind went
As well it should! Perfect!
Father’s Child by Michael Kiwanuka:
I also had a very talented, very good friend, way back in the day in Chicago. It was the 80s and we were playing experimental post-punk electronic music with sidemen that would go on to become Ministry and some other reasonably successful groups. We owned shit for a brief moment, but heroin blew it all up. We didn’t see each other for a few months after a huge fight amidst all the chaos, and the next thing I heard, he had died of an overdose on Christmas Eve. I’d like to say that shocked me into turning my own life around, but it would still be some years until I found my way back to the surface. I think of him a lot. I don’t know why I survived and he didn’t, but thankfully I’ve stopped asking the question.
Glad you made it. I’m sure you have some crazy stories from those days.
My best stories are from when I was doing studio synth work on House records. Now THAT was a wild scene. Before I could tell some of those stories, I’d have to check some statutes of limitation.