25 Years Ago: The Tragic Death of Eddy Shaver on New Years
New Years Eve is a joyous time for many, but it always comes with a pinch of sorrow for those proud to call themselves country music fans who know of the tragedy this time of year has wrought on the music. When Hank Williams passed away in the back of his power blue Cadillac at some point on this night in 1952/1953, it left a gaping hole in the soul of country music that perhaps has never been filled again properly. Passing at the age of 29, it was arguably American music’s first real overdose death.
In songwriting circles, the legacy of Townes Van Zandt is similarly towering, and tragedy befell the Texas native when he passed away in the wee hours of New Years Day, 1997, officially of a “heart attack,” but after years of heroin addiction, alcoholism, and numerous stints to rehab facilities. Just like Hank, the demons were too much for Townes, and took their toll.
Rick Nelson also died on New Years Eve. Though his death was not due to drugs or alcohol, it was just as tragic. Nelson was on his way to Dallas, TX for a New Years performance when the Douglas DC-3 he was in became stricken by a cabin fire, crash landing in a field. Rick Nelson was 45 years old.
Perhaps just as tragic of a loss for country music, but seeming never to given as much attention or gravity is the New Years Eve death of Eddy Shaver. He was the son of Outlaw country songwriting legend Billy Joe Shaver. But similar to Hank Williams and Townes Van Zandt, he was a supremely gifted but troubled soul, and considered a behemoth in his discipline. And just like Hank and Townes, he was taken from us way too soon.
Eddy Shaver was regarded as one of the greatest guitar players of any genre in his day. Tutored by the legendary Dickey Betts of The Allman Brothers Band, Betts gave Eddy his first two guitars, including one once owned by the late Duane Allman. By the age of 13, Eddy Shaver was playing with his father professionally, and it wasn’t due to nepotism. He was recognized early on as a prodigy of the lead guitar position.
Eddy Shaver grew up in the business of music, with his dad regularly saying, “If he wasn’t my kid, I couldn’t afford him.” Nonetheless, Eddy would remain loyal to pops throughout his career, though he regularly performed in the studio and on tour with others. Eddy would go on to play for the likes of Guy Clark, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and also famously played in Dwight Yoakam’s band in 1987 and 1989—the only guy who could fill in for the legendary Pete Anderson.
Even today, Eddy Shaver’s legacy and influence as a guitar player lingers throughout country, and into the blues and rock world as well. Folks study his various appearances with Dwight Yoakam, with Billy Joe, on the Austin City Limits stage where numerous performances were captured, and are astounded at the boldness and talent Eddy Shaver possessed. And even though Eddy’s playing was out front and often threatened to steal the show from whoever he was playing with, he was famous for not using effects or pedals, but just plugging into the amplifier and making magic.
Though his guitar talents were always in high demand, some of Eddy Shaver’s most legendary work was still with his father. Along with playing on many of this dad’s albums from the late ’80s into the early ’90s, Eddy and Billy Joe had a duo together aptly named “Shaver.” The super duo officially released five albums: Tramp On Your Street (1993), Highway of Life (1996), Victory (1998), Electric Shaver (1999), and The Earth Rolls On (2001).
But Eddy Shaver would not be there to see the final album release. On New year’s Eve in 2000, his wife found him in a hotel in Waco unresponsive. An ambulance was called and took Shaver to the local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The official cause of death was later determined to be a heroin overdose. Eddy Shaver was 38 years old.
Along with being a renowned guitar player, Eddy Shaver was also a respected songwriter, and also worked as a producer. At the time of his death, Eddy was a week away from going into the studio to record his first solo album. On the Shaver super duo’s first album from 1993 was a song called “Live Forever,” co-written by Billy Joe and Eddy. Billy Joe would go on to make it one of his signature songs and record it numerous times. It took on special meaning after Eddy’s death.
In 2022, Willie Nelson recorded a version of the song for a Billy Joe Shaver tribute album. “Live Forever” went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Country Solo Performance in 2023. In 1997, Eddy Shaver, Billy Joe Shaver, and Willie Nelson all performed the song together as part of an Austin City Limits songwriting round.
Poignantly, it was Todd Snider—who recently passed away too soon himself—who paid tribute to Eddy Shaver after his passing with the song “Waco Moon.” Snider was another person who recruited Eddy Shaver for his band whenever he could, and the two became close. Though the lyrics cut deep, Billy Joe demanded Todd Snider play it at a tribute to Eddy.
I can’t say I felt so sad
The truth is, I think I’m mad
At the selfish way you left your dad
When you know what a hard-luck time he’s had
Sleeping through
A dream come true
You just threw all that talent away
I never will get over what I heard about you
The first thing New Year’s Day
Side players always seem to be remembered second to primary singers and performers in music. But when it came to the guitar talents of Eddy Shaver, they were singular in the instrumental realm. Extremely respected and revered by his peers—if not feared by other guitar players for his formidable prowess—Eddy Shaver’s legacy deserves to be remembered as fondly as anyone’s each New Years as we turn a new leaf on the calendar, and remember the country music tragedies that took numerous heroes from us too early.
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December 31, 2025 @ 10:33 am
I had the fortune of seeing Shaver open for Sammy Kershaw in ’94 or early ’95 on Long Island. We went to see Sammy, but left thinking how does Shaver open for Sammy Kershaw?
There may be a better 1990s album than Tramp on Your Street but I can’t think of one in any genre. If you are a fan of 1990s Austin country check out the video for the Hottest Thing in Town and you’ll see many legends beyond the Shaver family.
December 31, 2025 @ 11:21 am
Billy Joe is a true hero of mine. I was able back in 2023 to respects to both of them at their graves. Additionally, I believe Eddy wrote a song that appears on Waylon and Willie’s album, clean shirt. That album is an often overlooked gem. Big fan of all three of the legends we lost over New Years through the years.
December 31, 2025 @ 11:36 am
Tramp on Your Street is legendary. Every aspect of that album, from the songwriting to the arrangements to the obvious time it took in the studio was amazing. That album is outrageously amazing song after song. Billy Joe IS what country is what country is all about for me. Eddie’s magnum opus for me is My Mother’s Name is Victory
December 31, 2025 @ 11:54 am
Great piece Trigger! I still pull out the Austin City Limits DVD of Billy Joe’s ’80s show now and again. Eddie was a master at his craft. Sadly, he wasn’t taken too soon, he chose to gamble with his life and lost. Billy Joe once said Eddie died in a room full of strangers who didn’t give a shit about him.
And while Eddie was amazing when he backed Dwight Yoakum, he was far from being “the only guy who could fill in for the legendary Pete Anderson.” Keith Gattis did a fine job, as did Eddie Perez. In fact, Perez was with Dwight when he played the Ryman in 2005 in what is considered by some to be one of Dwight’s best performances.
Thanks for all the great pieces in 2025; looking forward to seeing what you cook up in 2026!
Happy New Year every one!
RIP Eddie.
December 31, 2025 @ 11:56 am
Yeah, I saw them at the Bottom Line around then, and years later, after Eddy died, I saw Billy Joe at the City Winery. He always did a great show.
He has so many great songs, but “Black Rose” has to be one of the best. When I first heard Billy Joe sing about the “Simple man with a dominecker hen and a rose of a different name…” back in the ’90s, I was wondering what the hell a dominecker hen was, so I Googled it. Google drew a total blank. Had no clue. Now, when you Google “dominecker hen.” Google ignores the word and returns a bunch of results and a wiki page for a “Dominiique Chicken.” I don’t know if “dominecker” was a Billy Joe coinage or if that’s what everybody calls a “Dominiique Chicken” in the dialect where he came from.
January 1, 2026 @ 7:02 am
The Dominique is an american breed of chickens, characterized by black-and-white barred plumage and a rose comb.
Not to be confused with dominatrix, that’s something else.
January 1, 2026 @ 10:19 am
Domenecker/dominecker is simply an easy way to pronounce it in english.
December 31, 2025 @ 1:04 pm
One of the greatest guitar albums would have to be Unshaven- Live At Smith’s Olde Bar. Eddie is on fire and plays so many different styles. I got to get that back in rotation.
December 31, 2025 @ 5:51 pm
Sometime in the early 2000s, I bought that CD for $1 in the bargain bin at Borders. Barely knew who Shaver was. I still feel like a thief.
January 24, 2026 @ 2:35 am
My #1 desert island pick. I used to BLAST Unshaven before I headed to the starting line back when I was off-road motorcycle racing. I had “SHAVER” written in huge letters on the inside of my front number plate and would look at it for inspiration all during the 100mi/6 to 8hr races. Eddie won me two East coast championships in two different classes. “Sweet Mama” (particularly the slide solo at the end) blows my mind to this very day. Somewhere I got it in my head that there is a video of that CD? I would gladly chop off a toe to see it. RIP Billy Joe & Eddie… you will LIVE FOREVER you & I GB
December 31, 2025 @ 7:30 pm
What’s the story with him filling in with Dwight? I didn’t realize that Anderson wasn’t around in 87 and 89.
January 1, 2026 @ 6:46 am
Just that Dwight was impressed by Eddy’s picking, and Eddy had time off in ’87 and ’89 to join Dwight on tours.
Anderson was still Dwight’s to-go guy, until it went to Hades a few years later. Two hard-headed jerks cannot co-exist in the same sphere forever, sadly, one got to go.
January 1, 2026 @ 6:42 am
It’s no wonder Eddy failed miserably at being a normal human, considering how (and around whom) he grew up. It’s not an ideal way of life.
I still remember my own joy as a teen picker when I advanced from Tom Dooley to Mary Had a Little Lamb. It’s a watershed, up there with playing Red River Valley flawlessly. Eddy probably picked RRV flawlessly in his sleep way before he even started in school.
I saw him live with his dad back in the mid-90’s, they performed a short set for us rookies at Fort Benning in Georgia. Eddy did those barre’s and chicken claws effortlessly, from pure folk picking to almost speed-metal shredding on “Georgia on a Fast Train”. It was one hell of a show, Eddy did all the magic and rythm on the Les Paul clone while dad blew the harp during the breaks. That one cheap guitar and a harmonica was all they needed. The songs, Billy Joe’s voice and Eddy’s skills did the rest. From Peter Green and Gary Moore to Merle Travis and Tony Iommi, Eddy could pick it.
They mingled with us afterwards in the chow hall, eating and telling stories. It was a very pleasant experience, Billy Joe was nothing but a southern gentleman, Eddy kept mostly quiet, as far as I remember, sipping RC and puffing cigarettes with the rest of us.
As with so many other greats, Eddy blew his talent and life in favor of drugs and drinks. It’s a damn shame, but I’m grateful for what he left us anyway.
January 5, 2026 @ 8:56 am
I saw Billy Joe and Eddy on a Sunday night show at the Cat’s Cradle way too many years ago to specify a year. I remember during the intermission Eddy came back out on stage to grab his Strat and take it backstage with him, almost like he couldn’t be without it. It was probably something as simple as needing to change a string, but it resonated with me then and clearly has stuck with me.