In 1983, MTV was probably the single most influential force on the pop charts. If a song had a popular music video, odds were, it was a hit. Exhibit A: Billboard's Top 5 singles of the year were the Police's "Every Breath You Take" (from Synchronicity), Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean," Irene Cara's "Flashdance� What A Feeling," Men At Work's "Down Under" and Jackson's "Beat It." Whether or not you feel 1983 was a great era for music is down to your personal taste, but it certainly didn't look like the time was ripe for a blues revival. Most of the blues-rock icons of the sixties had retired, faded away or evolved in a more pop direction (we're looking at you, Eric Clapton).

And yet, it was in this climate that Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble emerged and turned a new generation on to the blues. Funnily enough, Vaughan benefited from an artist that MTV was giving lots of airtime to: David Bowie. Vaughan had been hired at the guitarist for Bowie's mega-successful comeback album, Let's Dance, which helped to pave the way for his solo career.