The Time Townes Van Zandt Dug up Blaze Foley’s Grave for a Guitar

If anyone is familiar with the Austin, Texas folk scene of the ’70s and ’80s, they know it was the epitome of hobo hard living. Names such as Guy Clark, Rodney Crowell, Lightin’ Hopkins, and Jerry Jeff Walker proved that living dangerously led to a good time and good inspiration. Although, two names seemingly wear the crowns of that list—Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley.

The two byronic Texan heroes were longtime friends and often played at the same clubs, hung out with the same people, and never were too fond of success. It was this lack of ambition between the two that led to both artists’ early demise and the wayward legacy of both their personas and their music. Regarding legacy, Foley didn’t need his name on the marquee, instead, he just wanted his guitar to go to one of his best friends.

One of Blaze Foley’s Final Wishes

Throughout their entire relationship Foley expressed that if he died before Van Zandt, he should be the one to receive his guitar. Van Zandt, being the steadfast friend he was, followed up on this promise in a rather extreme fashion. When Van Zandt discovered Foley’s guitar in a pawn shop, he expressed that it was meant to be left to him. However, without the pawn ticket, the shop’s manager refused to give it to him.

It was then that Van Zandt and company went through all of Blaze Foley’s belongings looking for that ticket. But, when they couldn’t find it, they then dug up Foley, went through his jacket pockets, and found the ticket. Van Zandt then headed to the pawn shop and picked up the guitar left to him by his late friend. According to the Duct Tape Messiah documentary, Van Zandt kept the guitar until the day that he died.

Folkloric Hearsay

Like many of the stories told in folk music, they are hard to prove as true. Regardless of the tale’s legitimacy, it still is authentic, and it’s authentic because given these musicians’ track record it’s not out of the realm of possibilities.

In addition to just adding to the mythical legacy of both Townes Van Zandt and Blaze Foley, the song also gives fans and historians an insight into their boyish friendship. It is this story along with many others that just makes folks wish they could have been a fly on the wall in a conversation between the two Texas songwriting legends.

Photo by Frans Schellekens/Redferns