"I saw Roy live five times. I was in shock when he died for months. He did all the stuff with no gadgets simply by working the volume control and manipulating the strings. He played off the frets, one hand while drinking a beer, you name it."
I only saw him twice. The most memorable moment was the beginning of the concert I saw in a small (300 seats) room.
The band started playing a slow blues background. Roy came out, wearing plad pants, a polyester shirt and a plaid hat. He picked up his guitar and lit a cigarette while the band continued to play. He smoked about half of the cigarette while the crowd went wild. Then he stuck the cigarette into the strings in the head and started ripping an incredible high-speed solo for about 40 seconds.
He stopped abruptly after 32 bars and took his cigarette out of the strings and proceeded to finish it before he played another note. The crowd was apoplectic.
I think Roy chose not to be a rock star. He seemed at ease in the smaller room with a 4 piece band and a little less volume. I recall at least one Eric Clapton album that was dedicated to Roy. As far as I'm concerned, Roy Buchanan was the best electric blues guitarist who ever lived, followed closely by Johnny Winter and a whole bunch of close thirds.
Roy was THE MAN! He loved to stick that cigarette in the strings on the head of the guitar. And drink beer while he was playing.
Johnny Winters: "Too Much Seconal" from the Still Alive and Well album.