"Sex Music"

Richard Johnston on Beale Street

Memphis, TN   07.27.05 

 status: Available

Going to see Richard play on Beale Street in front of the Roxy Theater was an almost weekly ritual for me, he was absolutely one of my all time favorite performers. His music just resonated and rumbled me. Late in the season, one night, a preacher was walking up and down that end of Beale St yelling that we were all going to hell for listing to "Sex Music and Fornicating" He seemed to be concentrating his energy on the area where Richard was performing.. he was yelling so loudly that it became hard to concentrate on Richard's music so he struck up a deal with the preacher. If he stands and listens to one song then Richard would allow him to use his mic for 5 minutes to preach his word. The preacher agreed and Richard began to play the loudest and angriest Black Sabbath song while the preacher stood there with his fingers in his ears. I snapped the following photos as the event wore on... the preacher "listening" and Richard giving me the thumbs up as he preached.