Tommy Emmanuel recounted a memorable experience with the legendary Les Paul, who playfully called him out for not fully committing during their performance together. After a lackluster first show, the late icon joked about Emmanuel waiting for him to grow “old” to “come and beat [him] up” at the second show.
Throughout his remarkable 94 years, Les Paul achieved numerous milestones, including countless iconic performances. In the later years of his life, he frequently played at Manhattan’s Iridium Jazz Club every Monday night from 1995 until his passing in 2009.
One night, while in town, Emmanuel received an invitation from Paul for a guest appearance. Chet Atkins, whose half-brother Jim had once played with Paul in the late 1930s, cautioned Emmanuel against joining in, fearing he would be “humiliated” by the guitar legend. Undeterred, Emmanuel decided to perform but aimed to ease up on his older counterpart.
During soundcheck, Paul indicated he would bring Emmanuel out after a particular song, but Emmanuel held back during his initial performance.
“I was being very reserved,” he admitted, “not my ‘I’m coming to kill you’ kind of attitude.”
When he stepped onto the stage for the first show, he played a Django-inspired tune and shared solos with Paul, bowing out after the second song without showcasing his usual flair.
However, Paul’s reaction to Emmanuel’s reserved performance was anything but forgiving. After the show, Les burst into the dressing room, visibly upset. “I know what you’re doing,” he exclaimed, urging Emmanuel not to hold back in the future. “When I bring you out, you give it everything you’ve got!”
Determined to heed Paul’s advice, Emmanuel delivered a high-energy performance during the second show.
“I went straight into ‘Classical Gas’ and hosed the hell out of him,” he recalled, igniting the crowd’s enthusiasm. As the audience erupted in applause, Paul joked, “Oh, he waits till I’m old to come and beat me up!”
This experience highlighted not only the playful camaraderie between two guitar legends but also the relentless spirit that defined Les Paul’s enduring legacy.
