Back in the 80s I was at a guitar show in Dallas and was butchering one of Eric's tunes. My buddy tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around, and Eric was standing behind me. I was so embarrassed, but he was really nice, great guy. I met him a few times after and he was always fantastic. One of my favorite players too.
You really can feel the love and respect Eric had for Les here. Eric played just enough to make a good showing but not so much as to outplay Les. Two great players, from different eras, doing it right by each other.
Man, looking at Les's swollen knuckles from arthritis, and hearing him keep playing... Eric was such a gracious guest. Really nice jam, from both of them. RIP, Les.
Damn Les's timing and note diction is incredible, especially for a man his age..truly a legend. And Eric Johnson was of course great as always. Two masters side by side.
@@d.wilson1402 don't say bulshit man. You obviously don't know a thing about music. A lotta guitar players can produce noise, but only a few can make real music.
Eric is a class guy. I saw him play in Orlando, and he is an incredible player. Eric understands the historical significance of being on stage with Les and was no doubt super happy to do a tune with him. Les Paul was a legend.
love how les is mouthing every note like he's singing through the guitar, knowing exactly what tone he'll make next. i need to start practicing that too, it probably helps to express intent.
First of all les Paul… Absolute legend. Started listening to those early Mary ford and les paul albums and I have been blown away. Not only the chops for the time but also the amazing taste and innovation. And then u have Eric… I am truly amazed at his touch. The attack on his notes is nothing short of beautiful. Brings the best out of any instrument he plays. What An awesome video
So bittersweet, good to see, yet tough. If you see Les's fingers, looks, to me, pretty arthritic, could not have been easy but I am SOOOO Thankful! Thanks for sharing. Les Paul will live forever...and such a cool dude...w o w
Wow!! EJ does such an amazing job of blending with the trio.. just the perfect amount of flair and feel to really help the session groove.. too cool.. and LP at 90+yrs here.. unbelievable.
It's as if Eric played a Gibson every day of the week! I know a guitar's a guitar but a Strat and a Les Paul almost demand to be played differently. Really shows Eric's versatility.
David Greenwell Great point. Only seen Eric live a couple of times and he played a Strat. The late Gary Moore was a Les Paul player but played a Strat more than I use to think and he said in an interview he has a slightly different approach when on a Strat.
So true... I have a Les Paul, Strat and a Telecaster... the Les Paul has a shorter scale length and has less tension on the strings when tuned to standard tuning than the Strat and Tele. I probably play the Strat the most but have always felt you needed to learn " how " to play a Strat. Les Pauls almost play themselves the action is so easy. Amazing guitars all 3 are and for the most part, every other guitar ever made, with the exception of semi-hollow body guitars, is sort of a variance of those three.
I saw Eric a few years back, never been a rabid "fan," but as a guitar player, obviously I have enormous respect...Anyway, he was playing a Strat, naturally, & I just couldn't get over his tone. It was, simply gorgeous. But then, he put on a Les Paul with humbuckers, it sounded even better. So, syrupy sweet, ironic as most players at first thought humbuckers to be "too sweet" sounding. It was unbelievable. Eric is a ridiculously talented player.
Mr. Paul has my total respect, I just discovered this show and will do a binge to catch them all. Super nice!!! My favorite guitarists Steve Howe has a jam with Les, i'm watching that one next.
how can a guy at that age play so simply but still sound friucking amazing? alos I love E.J. been a fan for years, very nice jazzzzzzzzy stuff going on there.
I absolutely love That LP studio II that Les is using here and used quite a bit throughout his career. Incredibly elaborate electronics but it’s such an interesting and unique piece of electric guitar history.
My god.. It's the first time I see Mr. Les Paul the creator of my old Les Paul Deluxe ( Sunburst mini-humbucker ), i bought in Italy from an american soldier in '70s.................
No wonder he has the respect of the greatest. Les wasn’t only an great inventor but in his prime he could probably wipe the floor with most of nowadays guys.
I've watched about four or five of these tonight. Why does Les always shake hands with his left hand? It's obvious his right one works. Tons of respect for a legend for a man who invented the electric guitar and double track recording around 70 years ago. Amazing durability.
I’m a very proud owner of a genuine 100% American made les paul traditional I don’t know about all the shit Gibson is getting these days but my guitar is an absolute beauty and plays like a dream I’m into thin lizzy in a major way so I’m playing all scott gorhams licks which of course my baby is made for.......thankyou les you gave me a dream as a kid and when I started to earn serious money I bought my baby and she never fails to make me smile.
I had an Epiphone Les Paul (I play lefty, so finding a Gibson LP isn't as easy as it is for everyone else) and I always did all of the work on it myself, not a shop. I've probably played 50 Gibson Les Pauls, and never found one that compared to the Epiphone I had. It may have been that I just got an exceptionally well made Epi, or only played poorly made Gibsons, but at least half of those Gibsons were over $2000, so at that price point they should be fairly playable. Or maybe it's just something with the lefty models, though I doubt it. I have gotten guff over the years over my support of Epiphone over "the real deal" Gibsons, but experience has never showed me otherwise. Unfortunately, being lefty I've never been able to let someone really play my instrument to prove them wrong, as they can play a few little things but not truly "play" it to get the real feel. I've never been able to have the pleasure of playing a vintage lefty Gibson Les Paul (do those truly exist??? 😂) But the consensus I've heard from most righty players seems to be that since the late 80's the quality has been slightly going downhill (this would be the opinion in MY particular circle, I'm sure others have 1990's+ LPs that they absolutely love).
A lot of great footage of many great players with Les at this event...but Eric seems to be the only one who showed up prepared to play something that fit with the style of Les' group
Everyone is calling him the inventor however what did he invent? Rickenbacker invented tge first electric and even the telecaster predates the les paul
The ‘quality’ of the soulful treatment Eric reserved to Les Paul is noticeable just hearin Les phrases, he played his best ones that night. Eric gived him some of best chords to improve over to
THIS is how you behave and treat the Elderly people, kids. Eric actually treated Les like he was his own Grandpa. By the way, I didn't know that Eric was from Texas. I'm really glad that he had overcome all the Stereotypes.
Back in the 80s I was at a guitar show in Dallas and was butchering one of Eric's tunes. My buddy tapped me on the shoulder and I turned around, and Eric was standing behind me. I was so embarrassed, but he was really nice, great guy. I met him a few times after and he was always fantastic. One of my favorite players too.
You really can feel the love and respect Eric had for Les here. Eric played just enough to make a good showing but not so much as to outplay Les. Two great players, from different eras, doing it right by each other.
Fuck yeah, well said
Yeah it's very nice....although I admit I would've had a little laugh if he broke out into Cliffs of Dover or something...
Eric's one of the great gentlemen of music. His folks raised him right.
in Texas of course!
Lawrence Genereux
Totally agree
My english is bad
I can't express myself like you did...
2 legends, the world is a poorer place without Les Paul
This is great. Two legacy guitarists just playing around and having fun. Eric adapts so well to the musicians he’s jamming with. Amazing. So humble.
Eric Johnson, the real deal. Can play any style.
Man, looking at Les's swollen knuckles from arthritis, and hearing him keep playing... Eric was such a gracious guest. Really nice jam, from both of them. RIP, Les.
Eric could plug a tennis racket into a toaster and sound better than I could.
Hahaha
Does that actually work ? I'm gunna try it I'll letcha know😉
....tennis racket sounds complicated....too many strings
Oh my, that just made my week..hehe
Rob Scallon:
Hold my beer.
Damn Les's timing and note diction is incredible, especially for a man his age..truly a legend. And Eric Johnson was of course great as always. Two masters side by side.
All ten of his well timed notes? Hahaha
@@d.wilson1402 don't say bulshit man. You obviously don't know a thing about music. A lotta guitar players can produce noise, but only a few can make real music.
@@TheLizardskin don’t get your cheeks sore over it. At this point LP was pretty old and couldn’t play like the old days. Still an absolute legend…
Eric is a class guy. I saw him play in Orlando, and he is an incredible player. Eric understands the historical significance of being on stage with Les and was no doubt super happy to do a tune with him. Les Paul was a legend.
do you know this video was worth watching ten million times just to see Johnson & Les Paul together.
See the Eric Johnson respect with master Les Paul. Today is not have this... in the new guitarrist to older guitar.
I really enjoyed this one. Eric shows so much respect for the legendary Les Paul. Wow! I'm in tears! Awesome guitar playing too.
There were 4 Les Pauls on the stage...
On laisse Paul tranquille lol
despite his own style, eric is such a well rounded musician.
looks pretty slim to me.
Are you 'avin a laugh? Is he 'avin a laugh? Nah
Supa 4ys Lol Extras.
Eric Johnson : I'm from Texas …. which is just south, of the United States' ... ;)
Les Paul : 'Hah, I'll do the funny stuff !'
tonelocrian got em
I'm from Texas, and the 49 lesser states, and I agree with Eric.
the Texas stuff with SRV
TH-cam: *contains speech*
This guy: *repeats speech in text form*
Other viewers: *thumbs up*
Bro you`re the man. Well, LES WAS THE MAN, but you are too.
love how les is mouthing every note like he's singing through the guitar, knowing exactly what tone he'll make next.
i need to start practicing that too, it probably helps to express intent.
First of all les Paul… Absolute legend. Started listening to those early Mary ford and les paul albums and I have been blown away. Not only the chops for the time but also the amazing taste and innovation. And then u have Eric… I am truly amazed at his touch. The attack on his notes is nothing short of beautiful. Brings the best out of any instrument he plays. What An awesome video
Tons of respect to eric johnson. For the humality he showed and the choice of a jazz standard. very will done
Everytime I see this I fell how nice EJ is as a person, even more then how he's good at guitar, and yes, he's crazy crazy good
I got to see The Eric Johnson Band open for Molly Hatchett in Tallahassee in 1979. Eric was 16! He blew me completely away!!
So bittersweet, good to see, yet tough. If you see Les's fingers, looks, to me, pretty arthritic, could not have been easy but I am SOOOO Thankful! Thanks for sharing. Les Paul will live forever...and such a cool dude...w o w
Who on earth doesn't like Eric Johnson?
42 persons, apparently. And I use the term "persons" in its broadest sense here..
@@hazze3010 Agreed. I don't get the whole "thumbs down" thing. If this isn't someone's thing, they should watch something else.
@@budgetguitarist yes that, or kill themselves
probably idiots who think that Rap and Techno is actually music
Facebook guitar group member said he was too boring
Les throwing shade was hilarious.
I'd never seen Eric joking around! Love this man!!
Wow!! I saw Johnny Staats do that song and was also awestruck. Great freakin' job. I'm years away from even attempting it.
I love Les's sense of humor that's from living in Mahwah most of his life. It's a great town
Absolutely love it. Great genre of music! Great to see these 2 wonderful guitarist musicians together. A real audiophilic treat.
Eric Johnson is the best guitarist ever.
not even close
chris rocco not even close?
I do love Eric Johnson but the first time I saw a Alexandr Misko video, my jaw dropped .
@@rubberband9570 Yes, and he'd agree. But he's the best I've ever seen in person and he was a very nice person to talk to.
Eric has chops for days but knows how to pull back and play tasty stuff in the pocket. A really well-rounded musician.
Wow!! EJ does such an amazing job of blending with the trio.. just the perfect amount of flair and feel to really help the session groove.. too cool.. and LP at 90+yrs here.. unbelievable.
Les never lost his chops on that guitar even at his age. Rest In Peace
It's as if Eric played a Gibson every day of the week! I know a guitar's a guitar but a Strat and a Les Paul almost demand to be played differently. Really shows Eric's versatility.
David Greenwell Great point. Only seen Eric live a couple of times and he played a Strat. The late Gary Moore was a Les Paul player but played a Strat more than I use to think and he said in an interview he has a slightly different approach when on a Strat.
So true... I have a Les Paul, Strat and a Telecaster... the Les Paul has a shorter scale length and has less tension on the strings when tuned to standard tuning than the Strat and Tele. I probably play the Strat the most but have always felt you needed to learn " how " to play a Strat. Les Pauls almost play themselves the action is so easy. Amazing guitars all 3 are and for the most part, every other guitar ever made, with the exception of semi-hollow body guitars, is sort of a variance of those three.
Not really played differently, they just feel different
I saw Eric a few years back, never been a rabid "fan," but as a guitar player, obviously I have enormous respect...Anyway, he was playing a Strat, naturally, & I just couldn't get over his tone. It was, simply gorgeous. But then, he put on a Les Paul with humbuckers, it sounded even better. So, syrupy sweet, ironic as most players at first thought humbuckers to be "too sweet" sounding. It was unbelievable. Eric is a ridiculously talented player.
Eric's main recording guitar when not the Strat is a ES-335. MOST of the Cliffs solo is on that guitar
Unlike the rest of the dudes invited to do this, Eric came prepared to play something that worked.
Lespaul.org
I thought Slash had a great showing as well
Zakk Wylde 😬😬😬 he’s a good guy though. Just not a good night
Dickey Betts
Steve Howe was excellent!
Eric Johnson is a total gentleman and a real guitar player’s guitar player. We all know Les is the man.. but dang, Eric is such a class act.
Eric's proof me it's not about the axe, but the man behind it. He play Les Paul guitar as it should. He doesn't use it as Stratocaster.
Eldias Mahdi Sastra eric use to play les paul on the early days :) .
Eric played Les Pauls almost exclusively with the Electromagnets in the 70s
Indeed. His phrasing is indeed depending on the situation, which is the sign of a true master.
Wish Eric would play a les paul from time to time there's nothing like the tone of a les paul and I know "I own one"✌🏼️
Thank you Mr.Les Paul!!!! You create a beautiful and awesome guitar for the World ^^
And....he quietly sneaks in that very cool b5 at the end. All right Eric !
I agree with Les when he said nobody is going to play better guitar. Les adored you i can tell.
Great to see Eric and Les together.
I loved this. Two of my all-time favourites.
Eric is a good sport. It's hard playing somebody else's guitar.
Hope Orville Gibson, Les Paul and Leo Fender have the best seats in Heaven. They empowered the best music the world has ever known.
Eric plays those Wes Montgomery licks as well as Wes Montgomery did! Eric is my favorite.
Eric Groovin with Les. This is the best one I've seen. Eric's playing inspired Les! WOW!
EJ ... pure class and professionalism. A true master.
Eric is definitely one of my top favorite guitarists and influences, but I'd also say he's my #1 favorite person.
Mr. Paul has my total respect, I just discovered this show and will do a binge to catch them all. Super nice!!! My favorite guitarists Steve Howe has a jam with Les, i'm watching that one next.
how can a guy at that age play so simply but still sound friucking amazing? alos I love E.J. been a fan for years, very nice jazzzzzzzzy stuff going on there.
Les is funny man...."I hope you're nervous and you screw up pal !" ...Funny shit.
Sterling Price lespaul.org
lovely to see and to hear everything .. there was a moment for everything .. and it always will be remember .. :)
best thx and love for les Paul.
eric knows how to jam the right way
Just like Neil Peart, Eric Johnson always considered himself a student throught his entire career (and still to this day) and it's quite admirable.
I absolutely love That LP studio II that Les is using here and used quite a bit throughout his career. Incredibly elaborate electronics but it’s such an interesting and unique piece of electric guitar history.
Fantastic. Thank you Chris.
My god.. It's the first time I see Mr. Les Paul the creator of my old Les Paul Deluxe ( Sunburst mini-humbucker ), i bought in Italy from an american soldier in '70s.................
No wonder he has the respect of the greatest. Les wasn’t only an great inventor but in his prime he could probably wipe the floor with most of nowadays guys.
I've watched about four or five of these tonight. Why does Les always shake hands with his left hand? It's obvious his right one works.
Tons of respect for a legend for a man who invented the electric guitar and double track recording around 70 years ago. Amazing durability.
Two masters.
Love that Les Paul Recording model used by Les Paul.
Thank you for posting! I was at this show. What a great night. Thank you.
Les Paul was a national treasure......
I’m a very proud owner of a genuine 100% American made les paul traditional I don’t know about all the shit Gibson is getting these days but my guitar is an absolute beauty and plays like a dream I’m into thin lizzy in a major way so I’m playing all scott gorhams licks which of course my baby is made for.......thankyou les you gave me a dream as a kid and when I started to earn serious money I bought my baby and she never fails to make me smile.
I had an Epiphone Les Paul (I play lefty, so finding a Gibson LP isn't as easy as it is for everyone else) and I always did all of the work on it myself, not a shop. I've probably played 50 Gibson Les Pauls, and never found one that compared to the Epiphone I had. It may have been that I just got an exceptionally well made Epi, or only played poorly made Gibsons, but at least half of those Gibsons were over $2000, so at that price point they should be fairly playable. Or maybe it's just something with the lefty models, though I doubt it. I have gotten guff over the years over my support of Epiphone over "the real deal" Gibsons, but experience has never showed me otherwise. Unfortunately, being lefty I've never been able to let someone really play my instrument to prove them wrong, as they can play a few little things but not truly "play" it to get the real feel. I've never been able to have the pleasure of playing a vintage lefty Gibson Les Paul (do those truly exist??? 😂) But the consensus I've heard from most righty players seems to be that since the late 80's the quality has been slightly going downhill (this would be the opinion in MY particular circle, I'm sure others have 1990's+ LPs that they absolutely love).
@@alphakorean 1 exception is not rule 👍
Two giants sharing the stage, playing and joking/laughing. So nice...
class act, amazing guitarist , and quick witted.
Les Paul is that much important to guitar as much as the oxygen to the earth.
I love how this video starts with old school jokes!
What a sweet old man.
two heroes
Eric sounds great on the les paul👍🏼
Mathew Ryan lespaul.org
great job chris .
Ooh that Gibson tone. Fabulous
When I get old I want to be like this guy. How can someone stay that bloody cool..
Two things. The hands playing the classical parts are Steve 's. Not Ralf miming. Ry Cooder played the slide parts, with an open tuning.
thanks for sharing these !
A lot of great footage of many great players with Les at this event...but Eric seems to be the only one who showed up prepared to play something that fit with the style of Les' group
"What kind of guitar is that?"
Bahahaha, classic :)
Les sang every note ...just like we're s'posed to
Had to come back here after seeing Zakk with Les. 😬
One more with Paul. Try to find all these videos !
Completely AMAZING !!!
Pretty sure I was there, I miss those days
What a hilarious conversation :)
Thanks :)
Eric clearly shows respect for the elder of the working class .. wish everyone could be like this to a hard working man or else
Nobody is better than Zakk and sir Les paul
Man, Eric's so versatile. A great comper, too
Respect the LEGEND LES PAUL.. THE INVENTOR
Everyone is calling him the inventor however what did he invent? Rickenbacker invented tge first electric and even the telecaster predates the les paul
Great respect , love this, legends together
zr24X4ROCKS lespaul.org
Les Paul one of the great older guitarists that never fails to have good time and not embarrass him self
Eric Johnson playing the nice Wes Montgomery octaves, Les Paul was feeling this jam.
Man, this guy is a legend.
man this is so sweet
Les Paul- pride of Wisconsin
I love how you can hear zakk and be like "THAT'S ZAKK WYLDE OMG!!! :D"
The ‘quality’ of the soulful treatment Eric reserved to Les Paul is noticeable just hearin Les phrases, he played his best ones that night. Eric gived him some of best chords to improve over to
THIS is how you behave and treat the Elderly people, kids.
Eric actually treated Les like he was his own Grandpa.
By the way, I didn't know that Eric was from Texas. I'm really glad that he had overcome all the Stereotypes.
dimiaraujo90 i
Stereotypes? Billy Gibbons, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughn, Buddy Holly, Waylon Jennings, etc., etc. from TX. Shove your stereotypes!
Pantera is from Texas!
How old do you think Eric Johnson is? He was over 54 years old when this happened. He's not a kid with his grandpa idiot!
david w Be nice. He was just making a point about what a gentleman Eric was being. You might try it.
It's nice to see Eric brake out of his EJ mold and just play!
Priceless!
Respect and Class.
Really great !!