Joe Bonamassa Plays The Beatles' "Taxman" at the Cavern
On October 7, the Howard Stern Show celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Beatles' Revolver album with an all-star musical tribute.
The event's lineup included James Taylor performing "Here, There and Everywhere," Cheap Trick playing "She Said She Said," Gov't Mule putting their spin on "And Your Bird Can Sing" and—as you'll see below—Joe Bonamassa blowing the doors off "Taxman," one of three George Harrison compositions on Revolver.
Best of all, Bonamassa performed the song at Liverpool's Cavern Club, which is right across the street from a very important landmark in Beatles history. The original Cavern Club was so famous and important that city officials allowed it to be closed and demolished in 1973.
Bonamassa's performance was shot in late June.
"The music of the Beatles has withstood over half a century and still surpasses any followers' attempts of recreating those sounds, and especially those songs," Bonamassa said. "'Taxman' was a blast to play live at the Cavern, the place where it all started."
It should be noted that Bonamassa's version of "Taxman" is very similar to the version Stevie Ray Vaughan recorded late in his career—which makes perfect "blues guy covering a Beatles song" sense. We think you'll approve.
Check out Bonamassa's performance of "Taxman"—and Vaughan's recording of the tune—below.
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Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.