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Link Wray


LINK WRAY Cathouse, 1996 for Meantime Magazine

With (relatively) young buck bassist and drummer in tow, Link Wray leads a ninety minute up front, full on rock'n'roll assault beyond the capacity of most performers a third his age, Clad in black,behind cool shades, sixty-six year old Wray kicks off with "Rumble.ln 1958 this song was banned in some states on grounds of decency - quite a feat for an instrumental. A vocal "King Creole" follows, the first of several Elvis covers amongst classic Wray instrumentals such as the outlandish "Run Chicken Run" and "Ace of Spades"

During Springsteen's "Fire" Link breaks a string and plays on while replacing it, taking us into surreal Hendrix/­Dinosaur Jr. territory. Calling for "Elvis echo" he delivers Hank Williams' "I Can't Help It" in authentic Sun Records style and brings his wife on stage, dedicating a fine "Young and Beautiful" to her. The mood intensifies with some savage instrumental work and a fast slam through Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild". Wray plays as loud and intensely as his devotee Neil Young on a particularly torrid excursion with Crazy Horse.
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