The Blues Vultures chose their name, in a roots based tradition: like vultures picking at the blues, they are picking through decades of rock history. They define themselves as a classic rock band, a decidedly modern term for any band that plays no frills rock ‘n’ roll.
Let's go back: In the Delta of the Mississippi folklore has it, that if an aspiring bluesman waited by the side of a deserted crossroad in the dark of a moonless night, Satan himself might come and tune his guitar, sealing a pact for his soul and in turn giving a life of fame.
In the late 1930’s Robert Johnson, king of the delta blues players embodied the idea of the blues as the devil’s music. His raw guitar style and unique song writing would become the inspiration for rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll and finally lead to rock music.
Chuck Berry and Elvis Presley, along with Eddie Cochran, turned black R&B into rock ‘n’ roll and popularized it with a new generation of suburban white teenagers.
In 1964 The Beatles launched a new age in music with their performance on the Ed Sullivan show. The British Invasion was here! The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Animals, The Kinks, The Yardbirds and The Who would bring a new kind of music: rock, heavily influenced by the blues.
Jimi Hendrix playing with fire and igniting the souls of millions. In England, Mott The Hoople, David Bowie, T. Rex and The Faces played glam rock in the early 70’s. Meanwhile in the United States, Aerosmith, Kiss, Alice Cooper and The New York Dolls put a different twist on rock, along with the roots rock of Creedence Clearwater, Steppenwolf and Johnny Winter. Finally The New York Dolls, who toured with southern rockers Lynyrd Skynyrd, bridged the gap from blues to punk rock.
Led Zeppelin influenced everyone who came after them in rock music. Jimmy Page, who may or may not have sold his soul to the devil, and Zeppelin embodied the new blues influenced rock music. To this day, they are the most heavily played band on rock radio.
The Blues Vultures, led by guitarist Ronnie Younkins, known from the Hagerstown/ Baltimore rock band KIX, play rock ‘n’ roll originals and draw from roots based rock music of the classic rock era.
