Editor’s note: In The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to ZuZu, author and rocker Debra Devi explores the meaning of a word or phrase from a blues song. The award-winning book includes a foreword by Dr. John and is blurbed by Bonnie Raitt and Joe Bonamassa.
Axe is slang for a guitar. According to New Orleans-born R&B artist and street slang aficionado Dr. John, musicians lifted “axe” from the illegal lottery business to give themselves a little anti-hero flair.
“A lot of the terminology of the blues came from the lottery business,” Dr. John explains in his foreword for The Language of the Blues: From Alcorub to Zuzu. “An axe was a gun or a piece, they [gangsters] used to traditionally carry it in a bag. Musicians picked that shit up–like ‘coming out of a bag’ and calling a guitar an ‘axe.’”
The Thomson Submachine Gun, or “Tommy gun,” was long, lean, and a favorite of gambling’s lethal gangsters. In its bag, the Tommy gun had a similar shape to the solid-body electric guitar developed by Slingerland in 1939. It’s easy to see why musicians who were looking to heist a little street-cred and attitude from some dashing crooks starting nicknaming their guitars ‘axes.’
The intense Chicago blues guitarist Frank “Son” Seals was nicknamed “Bad Axe” for his undeniable prowess on the guitar and his fierce demeanor on stage. Born in Osceola, Arkansas, Seals grew up around his father’s juke joint, the Dipsy Doodle, soaking up sets by Albert King and Earl Hooker.
Seals hit the road with King and Hooker when he was eighteen, and soon moved to Chicago, where he developed into one of the great powerhouses of the electric blues, frequently accompanying singer Koko Taylor.
Seals released eleven powerful blues albums, including 1984’s Bad Axe on Alligator Records before succumbing to complications from diabetes on Dec. 20, 2004 at sixty-two.
“What a great resource, as fascinating as it is informative. Debra’s passion for the blues shines through.” – Bonnie Raitt
“Debra’s book will teach you what you really need to know about blues history and where the blues are coming from.” – Joe Bonamassa
“Finally one can understand the mechanics behind the overwhelming viscera of the Blues. Debra Devi’s work is a true guide book to the soul.” – Al Jourgensen (Ministry)
“This book is fascinating! Take it to the bathroom and don’t come out until you’re done reading it.” – Jimmy Vivino
“This is a beautiful book. Upon receiving The Language of the Blues I discovered my knowledge only scratched the surface. Debra Devi has written an invaluable reference book. And it’s also great fun to read.” – Hal Willner
“Don’t think that The Language of the Blues might read like a dictionary or reference book. There’s no plot, but you can open it up at random and fall into the world of your favorite Blues songs, and find out more about the lyrics than you would be guessing from context. I learned a lot more about the Blues music I already loved.” – Bob Margolin
