Perhaps the greatest showman to ever play blues guitar, Buddy Guy was a crucial link between blues and rock 'n' roll. Virtually unknown to the general public for most of his career, Guy was universally hailed by rock musicians from America and Britain. Guitarists Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix cited him as a prime influence, and Eric Clapton stated in Musician Magazine in 1986 that Buddy Guy "is by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive."

The reason for such praise stemmed not just from Guy's technical skill, but also from his astounding and often unpredictable antics on stage. Guy held nothing back in performance, torturing his guitar into sonic oblivion and singing himself into a frenzy. Although others have been known to play with their teeth and parade through audiences, Guy was one of the first to do so. Before...