Up Close with Rick Vito

michelej1 · #1 10-11-2011, 01:03 PM

Heather Harris Blog, Rock's Back Pages, October 11, 2011
http://www.rocksbackpagesblogs.com/2...nd-bo-diddley/

Rick Vito, famed smoooooth blues/rock axeman for so many of The Bigs (every time you hear Bob Seger’s “Like A Rock” in those Dodge Ram truck tv adverts that’s Vito’s licks,) when he was guitarist alongside Billy Burnette for Fleetwood Mac circa the ’90s. This was taken with a medium format Rolleiflex in my studio to resemble, at his request, a live stage shot.

He was sporting the greatest rock jacket since Nudie’s bespoke one for Gram Parsons with the nekkid women, pills and weed leaves seen during the Flying Burrito Brothers’ era (my photo of same LINK. I’m partial to Sneeky Pete’s applice’ pterodactyl.) The man has style. The man also has manners, as he remains the only client to date that brought yours truly a little hospitality gift for doing the session (a large plastic tiki head.)(I still have it.)

The man also has quite a career, and an interesting new musical direction of late. From his signature tasty blues a la Peter Green meets Jeff Healey seen in the video below (along with aforementioned fashions and sleek Art Deco-esque “Streamliner” guitar)…

to today’s Rick Vito, below in a video of Mick Fleetwood’s Island Rumours Band, playing his beautiful custom Moore Bettah ukelele (curly koa wood, rope purling and a tiki headstock! I guess he has another signature besides his Reverend Signature guitar) at a gig in Maui, HI.

sjpdg · #2 10-15-2011, 03:03 AM

Unfortunately, "Like A Rock" was used for Chevy trucks, not Dodge.

Rick is still the man though, no matter where his music is used. Dude rocks big time!!!! Never seen anyone else use a Craftsman socket for a slide!! Just awesome!!

chiliD · #3 10-17-2011, 10:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjpdg

Never seen anyone else use a Craftsman socket for a slide!! Just awesome!!

Check out early Little Feat videos...Lowell George would use nothing BUT a Craftsman spark-plug socket as a slide. (probably where Rick got the idea).

sjpdg · #4 10-21-2011, 12:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chiliD

Check out early Little Feat videos...Lowell George would use nothing BUT a Craftsman spark-plug socket as a slide. (probably where Rick got the idea).

Thanks ChiliD!! I'll check it out for sure.