40 years ago today (2/15/81), guitarist Mike Bloomfield was found dead in his car in San Francisco from an accidental heroin overdose aged 37. One of the greatest guitarists ever, Bloomfield was a member of the Paul Butterfield band and Electric Flag and had played on Bob Dylan’s album Highway 61 Revisited. Bloomfield knew of many of Chicago’s blues musicians and performed with them that added his soulful touch to his fiery electric sound. Bloomfield was ranked No. 22 on Rolling Stone’s list of “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” in 2003. Listen to Bloomfield perform with Al Kooper perform “It’s My Own Fault” from Fillmore East: Al Kooper and Mike Bloomfield – The Lost Concert Tapes 12/13/68.
