There was a lovely tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughan in the Fort Worth Star Telegram today on the tenth anniversary of Stevie Ray's death in a helicopter crash. The writer had some great thoughts on how Stevie "had turned the cliche of the drunk/stoned/troubled bluesman on its head and showed us that inspiration does not come from a bottle or a vial . . . (and) we miss him . . . because of his warmth of spirit, because of his mix of passion and technique, because he transcended the musical and social cliches of the blues. And, finally, because those qualities seem to be shorter supply these days. Which is why the best way to honor Vaughan's memory is to make a point of not sounding like him. Don't copy the licks. Don't buy the Fender Stratocaster and try to get his tone. And, for heaven's sake, don't wear the hats. Learn from him, but learn more about yourself and what you want to express and how you want to express it. Find out who you are and put your own spin on his music, and the music of Muddy Waters and Jimi Hendrix and B.B. King and whoever else you love. That's how Stevie Ray Vaughan did it, and that's why so many people are marking the decade he's been gone.

And I couldn't agree more.

-- Áine