May........ The Force be with you

Hello Brummies,
Well after the snow and the freezing temperatures of April, I am beginning to wonder about the truths of global warming. My 83 year old neighbour, Elsie Gussett, says that she can't remember a colder April except for the ones in 1983, 1976, 1963, 1952, 1948,1947 and all of those during the war years? She also says that under no circumstances will SHE be carrying the olympic torch, if asked, until China frees Tibbles, a cat she owned which disappeared after the opening of a nearby Chinese Take Away! Furthermore she states she has been Pink all her life and doesn't want to be Green like most people do these days and neither does her friend Betty.

BOB INVESTIGATES: THE MUSIC EXCHANGE
SHADES OF CHERRY STREET
To all the muso's of Birmingham's 60's and 70's, Cherry Street will be forever embedded in their memories as the location of Kay Westworths music shop. This tiny little place in the centre of the city was the friendliest of music shops. They had only a small selection of instruments for sale but the ambience was unequalled, it was the sort of place that you could hang around all day just chatting and it was practically guaranteed that whilst there one of your mates would drop in for a chinwag or to swap a few guitar phrases. "That sort of music shop only existed in the past" I said to Nobby, my "Moaning over a pint, companion"..."All the music shops in Brum nowadays are impersonal and only after your money"......."I know one thats not" he said. If you are the sort of person who loves music and want to meet other musicians, there is a tiny nook of civilised and welcoming muso heaven in Stirchley where you can even get a free coffee!!! "Thats Bollocks" came my tart reply. Time for Bob to Investigate:........

I tentatively entered The Music Exchange on the Pershore Road expecting that look you get from shop staff like your'e a prospective thief. I was immediately put off guard when someone smiled and said "Hello..........Blimey its Bob!!, hello Mate, would you like a cup of coffee" - not only was my cover blown straight away but Nobby was right, there are friendly people left in the world AND who give you free coffee. The shop is smallish, but has lots of guitars and amps, some vintage models too. "Thats nice" I said pointing to a rare old thing, "Have a play if you want to, I'll plug in an amp". Well it certainly seems to have that same vibe as Kay Westworths. I probed the staff (not in a physical sense you understand) and discovered that Steve, the shop owner has a long history of guitaristry stretching back to the 70's and his sidekick is none other than 60's Brumbeat hero Bob Styler, vocalist for groups like The Yamps, The Fashion and Traction and who, nowadays, is also a guitarist. We chatted away about old gigs, vans, girls, guitars, stroppy ego's, robbing agents, shitty managers, hair loss, no money - you know, that general chit chat that muso's lapse into immediately upon meeting. The shop has a lovely feel to it, like a comfortable old jumper.

This is one of the last independent music shops left in Brum where no-one is looked down on and where starters can rub shoulders with experienced musicians in Brum who also like the ambience of the place and pop in for picks and strings etc. The staff are great and are not short of music experience, giving advice to those that want to learn the rocky road of how to be a musician. For my money the Music Exchange deserves the 'Bulls Head Bob Seal of Approval' and I urge you all to go there and support this friendly shop. I asked Bob Styler what he liked so much about working there "I just love it when guitarists come here and play Hotel California or Stairway to Heaven repeatedly!!?????????? - Music hasn't dulled that guy's sense of humour.

Bob.
P.S. (I have since, managed to get Bob Styler to send me some yet unpublished photos of The Yamps and the original line up of Traction which are now on the relevant Groups' bio pages).

PUTTING YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS. We, here at the lavish suite of Brumbeat offices, like to think that we are not just the sort of people who talk about music without having had the experience.

To prove this point the above photo shows Brumbeat Editor, John Woodhouse (second from left) with his band PASSPORT during a recent promotional gig at an undisclosed location. Taking in to the streets John!! and Keeping music Live.

See you next month guys n' gals.

copyright: BullsheadBob. Contributions or comments to Bobsbullocks@gmail.com.

Apr 08 Spring is Sprung

Hi Brummies,

ANOTHER SAD FAREWELL

Sad news indeed that old acquaintance Melvin Stanton (The Chucks/Way of Life) recently passed away. Melvin was a stalwart of the Brumbeat scene. Goodbye old friend. My condolences also go out to his family and to all those that knew him.

A BAD MONTH FOR THE BEATLES
NORMAN SMITH - R.I.P.
Not a Brummie, but certainly for my money, one of the people who were on the 'A' list of "most important" in the formation of British recorded music from the sixties onwards. An employee of EMI, Norman (called 'Normal Norman" by John Lennon) was the Beatles Recording Engineer and as such was responsible for developing all those incredible recorded sounds. He worked with the Fabs up to and including Rubber Soul which according to George Harrison was one of the best two LP's they ever made (the other being Revolver). I can't imagine the pressure that he was put under to produce the goods but practically every Brummie muso was brought up listening to the results of his efforts for indeed there haven't been many since who could reproduce those beautiful recordings on a 4 track machine. He was later responsible for the signing to EMI of Pink Floyd.

He later had a couple of hits on his own as "Hurricane Smith", the most well known of the two being "Dont Let it Die".

NEIL ASPINAL

Erstwhile school friend,roadie, companion, close friend, confidant of the Beatles and later becoming the manager of Apple. He was also the man who got the band to do their Anthology which is another reason for us all to be grateful for his existence. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr now seem to be isolated from those that were genuinely close to them and moreover, a person that could be trusted. I am sure they are both in real grief over his passing.

YOKO ONO

Rumours abound that Oh-No! (once referred to by Ringo as Widow Twanky) is about to take Heather Mills to court for stealing her crown as the country's most hated woman. "What does vilified mean, ya nah" said the Geordie bank robber who has stated that she will be giving a lot of her recently acquired money to charity, the main beneficiary being The Heather Mills Gold Prospecting Co Ltd"

See Ya

Bob

copyright: Bullsheadbob

March 08 - From the Ridiculous to the Sublime......

Hiya Brummies and Brumettes!

THE GOOD NEWS AND THE BAD NEWS

There are various street parties being held in my particular neighbourhood on receiving the fabulous news that The Spice Girls have played their last gig on their shortened world tour and have decided not to perform anymore. Whoops and Hollers are being heard everywhere...............but BAD NEWS for Nelson Mandela, great icon and world leader.........the fatuous fivesome have said that they might make an exception and sing for him at his Birthday......."What!!" he said "I thought the world loved me, I'm back off to Robin Island".

Gobby, Talentless, Stroppy, Pointless and Pretty Vacant were unavailable for comment.


THE RETURN OF NOGA

Whilst it appears that everyone else in the UK is planning on leaving the place for foreign shores, Johnny Neal has bucked the trend and 'upped sticks' from South Africa and is in the process of re-settling back in Brum. "I'm hoping to get a residency at The Mermaid on the Stratford Road" says Noga "I was always popular with the crowd there" - house sales in the area have rocketed.

Welcome home Johnny......he'll probably take up permanent residence at St Andrews Football ground along with the other three Blues season ticket holders all complaining about the price of Bovril and Pies.


Which gives us this months competion

'Spot Noga"



The winner will receive sod all.




LONG DISTANCE ONE NIGHT GIG

Well, it seems that some people will do anything to play a gig these days. Bob Styler, ex-vocalist of The Yamps is in the running for the most distance travelled to do a 'one nighter'. Recently Bob hopped on a plane to Brazil to perform with a Beatles tribute band that he likes the sound of. Now thats dedication folks!

IF MUSIC BE THE FOOD OF LOVE...............

On a world political note, I was overwhelmed by the performance of Dvorak's 9 Symphony as played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra in Pyong Yang, N Korea. OK so it's not Rock and Roll but it was played with such passion and had a lot of people in that auditorium in tears. Let's hope that it brings a new beginning to some peoples lives.

On a relative note, this piece of music produced two hit singles in the pop world in the sixties: 1. Skyline Pigeon - 'Smokey Blues Away' and 2. A piece of this symphony was incorporated in the Leonard Bernstein classic "America" by The Nice, which saw them banned from the Albert Hall for burning the American flag at the end of their performance.

Music is not just a bunch of notes.

Take Care

Bob

Contributions and comments to Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

Copyright Bulls Head Bob

February 08 - Spotlight on The Uglys

A SAD VALENTINES KISS FROM BOB

Well, try as I might I can't believe that I have had such a miserable start to a year than this one. The experience of having such a chain of bad news, with the deaths of many of the people that surrounded my life for some years, Nicky James, Bugsy Eastwood, Rod Allen and the lovely Kex Gorin has been hard to take. Not all my experiences with those that have passed recently were nice ones.....but nonetheless they filled a part of my life and 'mind picture' and I can see them all now as I type this .......thanks for your company guys and many kisses to their families and friends

SPOTLIGHT ON - THE UGLYS

VALENTINES DAY - FEBRUARY 14, 1969.
Why The Uglys? well, its the Feb Blog and St Valentines Day features in their story - because it was also the date of recording of one of the most collectable records in the UK by Brumbeat heroes The Uglys.

This most talked about of groups, that danced on the edge of really making it for so many years, visited Advision Studios at 1030 pm on St Valentines night to record "I See the light" and "Mary Colinto". A one-single deal with MGM, the producer was Tony Cox who had been a member of some 'duo type' group and had just finished producing the debut album for Caravan. He had been up to Birmingham prior to that session to see the band live at The Adelphi, West Bromwich and another live gig at Rhodes Hall, just outside of London where The Ugs were supported by Amen Corner (how different things were just a few weeks later with Amen Corner riding high in the charts) -"The Uglys were a very, very tight band and both of the songs to be recorded were delivered with some real force on stage" said Cox.

(The Uglys 69 - with Mary Colinto at the Adelphi)

In 1969 amazingly there were only two, eight track recording desks in the whole of the UK . The Beatles had one to themselves at EMI and the other one was at Advision. The Uglys were constantly 'on the road' like some other bands at that time and had no problem in laying down a good take quickly, probably the 'take' after the engineers balance run through, which is noticeable by the energetic 'live' feel to the recording. The only extra track that was used after that first take was to record a second guitar line - one single note - to harmonise with the opening riff. Because of the luxury of having more recordable tracks to play with than ever before, more use was actually taken in the recording of Mary Colinto and was used to good effect vocally with heavy, punchy harmonies delivered agressively over a guitar rich background and insistent drumming. This was a band on top of their game. Strange then that within two months they had ceased to exist and the recording consigned to the MGM vaults somewhere with no release.

It was many years after that, in the early nineties, that the two tracks began appearing on indie labels, and were immediately picked up by the Progressive/Pyschedelic afficionados where they attracted a cult following. This following led to Sanctuary records issuing a luxuriously packaged CD of the Ugs back catalogue in 2003 "The complete Uglys". It also meant that there was a Ugs Reunion at Dave Morgans house. Left to Right: Steve Gibbons, Jimmy Holden, Dave Morgan, Richard Tandy, Will Hammond

There were no master tapes of the recording available, the single being transferred to digital format at Will's studio and is that recording featured on the CD - the engineers at Sanctuary had to play around with it a bit and that lost some of its feel. Co-incidentally the recording arm of Sanctuary records has now ceased to exist so if you have a copy of the CD keep hold of it because once again it will become a rarity!!
There were only a few advance MGM labelled copies printed of the record. Tony Cox, the producer had already sold his copy on E Bay for around One Thousand Pounds. The only other known MGM copy of this single is in the hands of Will Hammond, the last guitarist of the band - in fact the last Ugly. "I actually didn't posess a copy of the MGM record but Keith Smart gave me his copy some years later, an action that he probably regrets these days" said Will with a wry smile? "Steve Gibbons has a white label acetate and Dave Morgan once had an MGM labelled copy but thinks he gave it away". So with that last guaranteed original record safely in the hands of the last Ugly he looks to have a valuable piece of history of the Brumbeat band that always features amongst the best of the best on the Brumbeat chart of top bands.


Bob

Watch out for another Spotlight On.........

A GUITAR OF IMPORTANCE.

The DALLAS TUXEDO was the first solid body guitar available in Great Britain.
I can't remember ever seeing one in the flesh, as it were, despite being as old as Methusula. I guess it wasn't too great sounding but nonetheless it deserves to be recognised as a guitar of importance. For lovers of simplicity this has it all?

Its the month of love so - look after each other, tomorrow one of you might not be here.

Bob

Copyright: Bulls Head Bob.

THE GREAT 008??

Hello Brummies,


Happy New Year

So 2008 is upon us. Its coming doesn't mean anything significant to me personally, another year nearer getting my pension and the loss of a few million more brain cells. On the other hand I had a nice Christmas and received a host of lovely gifts from the people I love. A few words of thanks to those who have given me some of their time and memories to pass on over the last 12 months. To those who promised something but just couldn't be bothered or perhaps felt themselves too important - we haven't missed anything so Happy New Year to you too.

OGGIES TRAVELS

Had a two week visit from my old cohort Oggie, who had made his way here via California, Vietnam, Laos and Thailand - I told him he should have just stayed on the A38 (but taken the back road through Lozells), he w0uld have saved himself 13,800 miles.

He and I (at an early age) made our first faltering steps towards learning the guitar, so we had a boozy fortnight full of reminiscences and playing. He played in a couple of bands around the Shirley area ( The Spotlights - mainly a Shadows type group and The Trekkers - a good little R and B outfit). He was also a member of the short lived group The Fashion before falling in bed with a certain girl and falling out with agent Arthur Smith. Oggie bought his ukelele with him and we went through a catalogue of really bizarre numbers that had us in peals of laughter. Nice to see you buddy, come back soon and bring a fiddle player with you next time.

KEX GORIN - MAGNUM

December saw the departure of yet another of my old friends from the 60's, Kex Gorin. I knew Kex as a great mate in those days and he was always a laugh and brilliant company. We would always meet up at the Cedar club or the Rum Runner, in fact, latterly, he was the drummer for Paradox who had become the Rum Runners resident band for a while.

Like other clubs at the time, various musicians would get up occasionally and play a couple of tunes and probably the last time I remember anything specific about him was one of those sessions when myself and ex Redcaps brothers Dave and Mickey Walker got up on stage with Kex and played for fifteen minutes or so. It was a great 'blow' and Kex was great too, with his solid, effective drumming that made a band. About a week after that session, Mickey asked me if I would consider forming a permanent group with that line up. I declined but at times have thought that it would have been a good move......anyway......... Bye Kex, it was a pleasure to have known you and to have played with you too.


ROBERT PLANT

Just when you thought there were no more awards that could be bestowed on the Band of Joy, Zep man, along comes another.

He has just been voted best beard wearer by The Beard Liberation Front - what rubbish!! (do you think the BLF let beards go from uncaring owners during the night ? - watch out Woody!!). Whatever next for Plantman? - best greasy hair, heaviest downpour of dandruff in one shake of his hairy head.

It's so pathetic. No doubt I will be receiving letters of complaint from the Dandruff Protection League for giving away their intentions to honour him as well! Personally, I think he has fabulous earlobes - don't go changing Plantman.


VOX GUITAR ORGAN

Remember this? The first attempt at a synthesizer guitar. VOX had the brill idea of combining the Continental organ into its lozenge shaped guitar (which I hated as a design concept). It was a real button pushers and knob twiddlers delight though!

I've got a mate who spends about two hours just tuning his guitar to his satisfaction only to find that after playing one number he has to start again - goodness knows what he would do with this, it would probably drive him out his mind trying to find a particular sound he wanted me to hear.

"So there you have it..........too many knobs"

1962 VOX AC15 TWEED

Still up for sale if anyone's interested? Just drop me an e mail for more info.

OK everyone, take care, look after each other and see you soon.

BOB

copyright Bullsheadbob. Contact: Bobsbullocks@GMail

December - Now's the Season to be Jolly!!

Ho! Ho! Ho! you Brummies,

I thought, as its December, I would firstly like send out a special Christmas 'word of thanks' to all those who have spent their long, moronic days, sending me spam messages throughout the year. I am very grateful to them for their consideration in thinking that I needed to have a 4 inch penis enlargement. So this is just to inform you all that I have had three of these miracle treatments and now have a massive thing on which to strap my fake Rolex watches which, according to the other batch of (non-penis enlargement) Spammers are the perfect Christmas gift!! Aren't I lucky to have such generous minded contacts?

TONY IOMMI - HAS HE GOT A DAY JOB???

Recently, whilst visiting a mate in Spain I saw a TV show called DAC. I couldn't believe me soddin' eyes, you can imagine how surprised I was to see that the presenter was the Brummie 'left hander's' double - or was it the man himself? Has the big guy got a job outside of the country and found a new TV persona like Ozzy? I can see a great future for you Tony - Des O'Connor can't last forever. Perhaps 3-2-1 could make a comeback......... or how about BLACKETY BLACK ??

THE MOODY BLUES - A RETRIAL

It has been pointed out to me that I may have been too cruel to the Moody Blues in last months blog where I intimated that they were only half the band they used to be when fronted by the great Denny Laine and his supercharged R and B voice. I have an open mind though and am always willing to be persuaded that I could have been wrong so I'll try and give a more balanced view of the latter line-up of the group .......OK then, "Nights in White... Zzzzzzzzzzzzz!

Photo taken from a Moodies gig in the USA. Soporific man!!! The packed house snored their approval.

BRUMBEAT OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY

What a night! What a host of celebrities! Gifts galore! Free champagne and caviar. These are just a few of the things that didn't feature at the BRUMBEAT annual office Christmas Party.

Hailed by the Sedgetree Gazette as the party of the year, the event was held on the very spot of the old Pie Stand and I swear I could hear the ghostly voice of Bev Bevan saying 'Aint you got any Meat and Potato left mate?"

All was well, that is till we got moved on by the boys in blue. It appears that there is a new bye law that prohibits the gathering of old, long-haired men drinking Bovril and telling musical 'war stories'.

An exclusive photo from the night shows that Raymond Froggatt was the first there!! "Roly's gonna get married boy...."

FOR SALE (WHAT A CHRISTMAS PRESENT)Who would not want to own an original 1962 VOX AC 15?

One of our readers has a lovely old AC 15 for sale like the one above but with a few cosmetic 'dings' and its up for grabs. Come on girls get your old man the amp of his dreams. Just contact Bob for more details but be advised its up for sale now and dont even think about offering anything below 2.500 pounds. Be quick its in demand!!!!!

FOND FAREWELLS

No-one has a ticket to stay on this planet and us Brumbeat veterans are getting fewer by the day. So, although we are in the festive season, we still have to say some recent 'goodbyes' to Nicky James and Bugsy Eastwood. Both these players were an integral part of the scene and my thoughts are with their respective relatives, especially at this time of the year. For more information about these two Brummie characters read the Pie Stand page.

WE HERE AT BRUMBEAT WISH YOU ALL A PEACEFUL CHRISTMAS..

lurve

Bob

Comments to Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com Copyright BullsheadBob.

NOVEMBER - Light Blue Touch Paper and Retire.

Hello Brummies,


There are times when you think to yourself that there is little to say, in my case that is most of the time but - as usual, someone or something comes along to make you change your mind and gives you cause to comment. Now this is not associated with Brumbeat but I have just read that Mancunian Mick Hucknall has decided to end his band - Simply Red. Thats worth a cheer on it's own. Now correct me if I'm wrong but did'nt the yuppie crowd pleasing red head, sack all of the band members anyway, leaving just his own white suited ego? Well he's gone and sacked himself now as well - it would be too much to wish that he would disband himself, you know sort of - a leg here, a hand there, kind of distributed around the UK. Just a thought........!!

UNANSWERED QUESTIONS

Just why is it that Bass Players are the ones who know how to solder jack plugs and things ??

If there are thirty musicians in a room why is it always the drummer that starts an argument?

THE MOODY BLUES

You know, I've just realised that throughout this year I have hardly mentioned The Moody Blues (post Denny Laine) at all. "Flippin' heck what a bloomin' mistake, I better set that record straight right now".

Right then, The Moody Blues "Nights in White Satin".............................Zzzzzzzzzzzzz...Oops sorry, just fell fast asleep.

I promise that I will try harder to write something invigorating about the band next time. I was on the same bill as them, once upon a lifetime ago, at a massive outdoor fireworks event at Sutton Coldfield on the outskirts of Brum and can't remember a single thing about their set except to say that they made excitement a thing of the past. Hey! thats life for you. The fireworks were soddin' excellent. "Ride, ride my see saw".........

CRAP VANS.

Now throughout my time as a member of "various" groups I have been a passenger in a range of some crap relics of vans but I dont think that anyone can claim to better the fabulous automobile used by The Incas. Unless you know better?



Sort of makes you green with envy, doesn't it? I can just imagine how professional you might feel as you "Go on Tour" in something that looks like it was left on the beach at Dunkirk. To save on money they cleverly employed the artiest member of the band to do a "smooth paint job" on it depicting a yellow man throwing a lasso over a hedgehog on a log. "It's bound to attract attention". I wonder just how they fitted in their kit as well? Tried to contact your website Arthur but it wouldn't let me in.

Send us YOUR Crap Van photo now. This could be your moment of fame.

Have a good Bonfire Night and be Safe!!

Ta'ra

Bob

Comments or Contributions to: Bobs Bullocks@gmail.com