The night we got to talk with Bonnie Raitt after all these years

Bonnie was playing at the Orpheum in Boston and some charity had arranged a meet afterwards at the new Nine Zero hotel. We were the first in the line (after a lengthy wait with drinks) and had a lot of time to talk.

I first had seen her at a rally on the Boston Common. Yes, she said, the Vietnam Vets Against the War (1971) rally! Her memory’s still there. I was disappointed that she then took up with a photographer from the Boston Phoenix. You should have stuck around she said, he took off on me. I told her Nan was picking up her guitar again and Bonnie said, play slide; you don’t have to worry about fingering.

Bonnie Raitt on the Boston Common, 1971.

Bonnie Raitt on the Boston Common, 1971.