Concert Details

Show Notes:

The Johnny Cash Show was a music variety program that aired on ABC-TV from June 7, 1969, to March 31, 1971. Hosted by American singer-songwriter Johnny Cash, the show was recorded at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium, then home to the Grand Ole Opry. Derek and the Dominos’ appearance, taped on November 5, 1970, was broadcast on January 6, 1971 (Season 2, Episode 14).

Film from the TV show only exists for It’s Too Late and Take 3 of Matchbox, which were used in the show. Cameras did not roll during Gotta Get Better In A Lttle While and Blues Power.

More importantly, it was during this trip to Nashville that Eric purchased several Stratocasters at Sho-Bud Guitars on Lower Broadway, near the Ryman Auditorium. From the parts of three of these guitars, he assembled his most famous instrument—Blackie.

In an interview with Christie’s for the 2004 Guitar Auction, where Blackie was sold, Eric recalled:

“It is such a personal thing—I almost made this guitar myself from different components, and I’ve never done that before or since. I bought six or seven Strats at Sho-Bud in Nashville. They had them all displayed in the back room when Stratocasters were out of fashion. I got them for 100 bucks each… I brought them back to England. I gave three to friends—George [Harrison], Steve [Winwood], and Pete [Townshend]—and kept two or three for myself. I built [Blackie] out of those, using pickups from one, a scratchplate from another, and the neck from yet another. I played it until it was time to retire. It’s still immensely playable, but I was concerned that taking it out on the road was doing more harm than good. I had so much affection for that guitar that I didn’t want to wear it out anymore. The neck was starting to wear down… But having said that, it would still come out for special occasions and be played on albums.”

Today, the former site of Sho-Bud Guitars is home to Robert’s Western World, a well-known country music honky-tonk.