This photo of Roky Erickson was shot at The Roxy in West Hollywood in 2017. It was one of the best shows I’ve ever seen in my life. He played every song I wanted to hear (except my favorite Elevators song “She Lives in a Time of Her Own”). He played all the classics—“Rollercoaster,” “Cold Night,” “Don’t Shake Me Lucifer,” “Reverberation,” “2-Headed Dog,” “Night of the Vampire,” “Levitation,” and Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top came out at the end to play guitar on “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” The band could not have been better—they sounded exactly like The Elevators.
I got there after Death Valley Girls opened the sold-out show (big thanks to Bonnie Bloomgarden for putting me on the guest list). I don’t know how I did it, but I was able to move my ass right up to the front of the stage with ease, right in front of Roky.
His angelic eyes were as blue as Windex. I will never forget those eyes....