ChasingA Devil’s Tale

A quest to solve the mysteries behind STEVE VAI’s enigmatic Crossroads Jackson guitar — the most famous guitar that was never heard

THE 1986 BLUES-fantasy film Crossroads artfully intertwined the Robert Johnson legend with the story of a gifted young guitarist in search of a lost song. But by the time the film reached its crescendo blues-metal guitar duel, the unintended stars of the film were really the timeless musical performances and instruments themselves. In particular, the sparkling, blood-red Jackson wielded by Steve Vai as the Devil’s guitarist, Jack Butler, ignited fans’ imaginations with the millennia-old suggestion that an object may be imbued with dark, supernatural powers.

The guitar’s origin was unknown. Vai has little recollection of the instrument, and it has only been seen on the internet a few times since filming concluded, sparking 35 years of fervent speculation and debate. Adding to its mysterious aura, and sometimes overlooked by fans, the guitar has never — and will likely never — be heard. According to Vai, all of his parts in Crossroads were recorded on his Green Meanie, and no recordings of the Jackson exist. Regardless, its presence in the minds of players has remained so strong that Jackson Guitars recently released the Limited-Edition San Dimas SD22 JB, a longtime-coming replica that celebrates the original guitar.

For me, what began as a casual side project to discover a little more about this curious guitar turned into a personal journey, an obsession, really, that crisscrossed the globe and spanned 20 years. It became my mission to find the real Jack Butler Jackson, unlock its secrets and ultimately build a period-correct replica with the same luthiers who created the original, iconic axe. With the gracious help of Vai, Arlen Roth, Ralph Macchio, Walter Hill, Ry Cooder, Billy “Two Stacks” Tucker, the Hard Rock Cafe and so many artists, luthiers, artisans, collectors, historians and photographers, we finally have the guitar’s history, the answers to fans’ questions and the first-ever high-res photographs of the sinister Jack Butler Jackson.

One of the original Jackson guitars Steve Vai played — and dropped — in Crossroads, the 1986 film starring Ralph Macchio, Joe Seneca, Jamie Gertz and Vai. It’s signed, “Steve Vai at the Crossroads 85”