John Fahey

In Search of Blind Joe Death: The Saga of John Fahey is a documentary film about the legendary American guitarist, composer and provocateur John Fahey, 1939-2001. Fahey is often considered the godfather of 'American primitive guitar'. This cinematic exploration features Pete Townshend, Chris Funk of The Decemberists and Joey Burns of Calexico. These stellar musicians, along with Fahey associates and friends such as the famous 'Dr. Demento', radio broadcaster Barry Hansen, explore the legacy of this profoundly influential artist. The film was recorded in the Washington D.C. area where John Fahey was born, along the Mississippi Delta from Memphis to New Orleans, in Los Angeles, Toronto, Austin, New York and in Oregon where Fahey spent his last two decades.

Titles include: "Red Pony, Death of the Clayton Peacock, In Christ There Is No East or West, Poor Boy. Medley: "Twilight On Prince George's Avenue and O Holy Night and My Prayer", Who Will Rock The Cradle, Steamboat 'Gwine Round The Bend, The Story of Dorothy Gooch, Part One, Guitar Rag, On The Sunnyside Side Of The Ocean, Medley: "Blueberry and Special Rider", St. Vitus Dance, Dorothy, City of Refuge, Mexico, and Discarded".

In this first DVD lesson, John offers insights to playing seven of his best known instrumentals. Regular and open G (DGDGBD) tunings are featured. A detailed tab/music instructional booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. DVD is region 0, playable worldwide.

John Fahey has created a unique body of guitar compositions and arrangements as well as a distinct approach to fingerstyle guitar. He broke fresh ground in recording guitar music that drew from such diverse sources as Country blues, Old-Time music, Indian ragas, European classical music and Gregorian chants. In this second video lesson John explains and teaches eight of his best known Instrumentals Regular, Open G (DGD GBD) and Open D (D A D F# A D) tunings are featured. 65-minutes. A detailed tab/music booklet is included as a PDF file on the DVD. DVD is region 0, playable worldwide.

First concert is from the TV Show 'Guitar, Guitar' hosted by Laura Weber in 1969. Next is 'In Concert at the Freight & Salvage, 1996'. Last is 'An Informal Interview (1996)'.

"Shot live for TV by the legendary German music show “Rockpalast” this DVD represents the earliest example of a complete Fahey concert performance. The multi-camera filming features detailed close-ups of Fahey’s playing style giving fans a rare insight into what Pete Townsend has called the William Burroughs of the guitar. Fahey’s 1978 visit to Europe saw him in fine wild form performing an 11 track set and as an incredibly rare bonus a short interview with the maverick iconoclast.