Frankfurt, Germany, May 2, 1996: The now last of the Highwaymen performs at the Alte Oper in Frankfurt in 1996. In his two-hour show Willie Nelson kept defying the rules, according to Stars and Stripes’ Mark Kincade. Although he played many of his hits, he played them “a few beats faster than ... usual.” “Here was this old country singer playing speed metal western songs on acoustic guitar.”

Nelson is the last living member of country music group The Highwaymen who pioneered the outlaw country genre in both songs and attitude. The early 2000s saw the deaths of fellow members Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings; Kris Kristofferson died in 2024.

Check out Kincade’s 1996 article on Nelson’s Frankfurt show here.

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• Willie Nelson keeps defying the rules