GUITAR GOD
John Fahey Can't Be Killed
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Photo by Melissa Stephenson
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If you have ears and you dont own any John Fahey records, you are making a huge mistake and need to get on the ball right now. He was the greatest guitarist that ever lived. We cant even spend too much time talking about his music (ragtime, blues, fingerpicking, avant-ism, and dexterity of the highest) or his many records (although the best one to start with is 1967s Vol. 2: Death Chants, Breakdowns & Military Waltzes) because hes so good that words alone seem blasphemous.
But John Fahey was an erstwhile writer too, and his second book, Vampire Vultures, is about to come out. It is posthumous, because Fahey died in 2001, but it is ageless.
Vampire Vultures is the culmination of detritus left behind by John, who lived mostly in motels during his final years, writing this mythological and nostalgic prose. Vampire Vultures intersperses personal letters in a blunt language (to a man whose wife hes stolen: I do not want to fight or argue with you. I would prefer to be your friend.) with a dreamy narrative of childhood that takes place in an alternate Maryland. By alternate, I mean that there are half-cat/half-human creatures living in the woods, a life-giving magical well in a neighbors backyard, and a benevolent god named Koonaklaster. The only thing missing is omniscient pegacorns.
Fahey, who had an infamously deranged and lonely upbringing, constructs a story in this book that nimbly combines elements of fables, folk tales, and Leave It to Beaver. The effect is simultaneously otherworldly and comforting. So calming, in fact, that its hard to reconcile it with all the legends of Fahey having been a cantankerous jerk.
Ayal Senior, a friend and collaborator of Faheys and the author of the books foreword, clears it up. Its a misconception that he was a malcontent, he says. John was a sweet guy whod do anything for you if you werent full of shit.
Damian Rogers, the books editor, agrees. I think he did the best he could for as damaged a person as he was. His mistake was that he continually looked outside himself for acceptance. I dont think he ever felt fully at peace about who he was.
You can do your part towards making the ghost of John Fahey feel better about itself. Read Vampire Vultures and then say Thanks, John out loud. Its okay if you feel kind of embarrassed about thanking a dead guy.
ANGEL NELFI
Vampire Vultures is out now from Drag City.
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