Bulls Head Bob Nov 2025. John Lodge RIP...the Moodies. Happy Birthday Pete Townshend. Hank B Marvin. Spinal Tap 2

Good Morning Brummies, chums, musos and all my ex girlfriends.   

LAST OF THE MOODY BLUES BASSISTS

It's a bit miserable to have to start yet another 2025 blog with the announcement of the death of a Brummie Muso of the 60's, that being, Moody Blues bassist John Lodge (82) who played with them from 1967 to the present day.... wow some years!!  I was on the same Bill as them on the night they first played their change of musical approach and I hated it.  From 1968 the bands rise to fame, especially in America, was meteoric.  I was not a fan of their progressive and poetic move forward and never had been but was pleased to see a Brummie band doing so well.

John was the third bass player to feature in the bands lifetime the first being the great Clint Warwick who left the band shortly after their hit Go Now as the band were being starved of money by Tony Secunda and the rest of their London based management.  Warwick was replaced by Rod Clarke who, shortly after, left at the same time as Denny Laine because he said the band were going nowhere without Laine.

In March of this year Rod Clark sadly also passed away.  

DENNY LAINE.   

Just to round things up with the Moodies, in November Denny would have been 81years of age.  He of course experienced world fame as one of the founding members of Wings along with old friend Paul McCartney from back in the days when the Moodies and Beatles toured together and with that tenuous link it is appropriate to say that George Harrison who passed on 2003 would have been 84 this month.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PETE TOWNSHEND  80.

The UK has always been at the forefront of the innovative side of popular music and no one personified that more than Pete Townshend and his music which kick-started a teenage revolution largely based on the epic anthem "My Generation". The band I was in at the time learned the song and I recall us playing it all night and feeling immersed in that rebel call to the youth of the UK. A real Rock hero.   He was probably responsible for the smashing of guitars on stage by any and every band including me.  These days me thinking about smashing up a Gibson makes me cry but that night was the biggest adrenalin rush I ever had, that madness has continued in the make up of this crazy soul.  

THE GREATEST OF THE GREAT  

HANK B MARVIN (84) Happy Birthday.

All of the greatest UK lead guitarists, Jeff Beck, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, David Gilmour and others all had one thing in common.  They all learned from the master of the Stratocaster, the wonderful and effervescent Hank B Marvin who reached the age of 84 years old.  He, like Pete Townshed was an innovator of style and tone, truly unsurpassed.    So happy Birthday Hank, here's hoping for many more.    I imagine that all the bassists mentioned above too would have been influenced by the wonderful Bassist Jet Harris.

SPINAL TAP 2 - THE END CONTINUES

The greatest of spoofs returns.   I know for sure that the majority of musicians can associate themselves with the story line of Spinal Tap 1.  There wasn't a scene or happening in that movie that absolutely rang true in the politics of being in a band.

Well the story continues with the band in their older age looking back over their history.  There are many cameos in Tap 2 from the likes of Elton John and Macca.   If you haven't seen the first movie I suggest you do before thinking of watching this sequel.  The first is definitely the best and some of the scenes in the follow up wont make sense.   That aside, the film is still funny but your overall enjoyment would be enhanced by seeing Tap One.  Could be a nice stocking filler.

Finally

Birmingham is getting dressed up in its finery to welcome the forthcoming Christmas celebrations.    Other side of the coin is....German Christmas Markets.   Outrageous robbery and a complete waste of time.  That being said,  if it suits you I hope you enjoy it.

Love the One you're With

Bob

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Contact      Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

Bulls Head Bob Oct 2025. NORM CRANDLES...... 1965..THE MOVE.

 Hello Brummies, music fans, curvy girls and not so curvy girls.  

Autumn is officially upon us and this year at the Bob household we are preparing for Bonfire Night celebrations on 5 Nov..   Jobs have been allocated.   Naturally, I shall be buying the fireworks and letting them off so I shall be doing the hard work perusing leaflets of available rockets and Catherine wheels etc . One of the Bobettes will be making bonfire toffee and BBQ food and Mrs Bob will be making the actual bonfire .   

She's out at the moment dragging discarded pallets back to the house.   Her wheelbarrow is useless for the task because the pallets are too big so I invested 80 pence for a piece of sturdy rope.   It's big enough to lash 4 pallets together along with enough left to form a loop to fit around her shoulders for dragging purposes.   These days, at the age of 74, her strength is fading so she can only manage to drag 2 at a time.  However I'm hoping that within a week she might have built up her muscles to attain the 4 pallet standard she obviously longs for.   

NORM CRANDLES - Canada.

Well I haven't received any news yet of Norm Crandles who has lived in Canada since the mid 60's and was previously known as Lee Stevens on the Birmingham 60's music scene. So, just to repeat my last blog.  If you live in Canada and happen to know Norm who is a massive Aston Villa fan, please get him to drop me a line.  He was latterly employed in the education system there.  Thanks.  UTV.

THE MOVE.

1965.  Bands in Brum were playing at full throttle at the hundreds of pubs and clubs in and around the city it was an exciting time for musicians for sure.  The Applehacks had had a UK chart hit, The Uglys had just had a hit in Australia and recording companies were opening up for bands playing the gritty Brummie sound. 

Some guys wanted more and Trevor Burton and Chris Kefford were the two teenagers that formed The Move after a chat with David Bowie who they had seen at The Cedar Club.   They added Roy Wood, Bev Bevan and Carl Wayne.   The band played on the Brum scene for a while doing Beach Boys and Byrds material.  The band attracted Tony Secunda as a manager who exposed them to the British press acting out stunts for more publicity.  Their first record Night of Fear was well received with its Beethoven riff from lifted from the1812 overture.  Just one of the various riffs artistically stolen by Roy Wood.

With fame comes the unwanted egos and envy and it wasn't too long before cracks began forming in the band and bad blood spilt resulting in the dismissal of Ace Kefford and it was all downhill from then on leading to them going back to playing cabaret.  The band was basically finished. I was amazed, what a come down.   Roy,  being the songwriter was the only one getting royalties.  Carl Wayne formed his own publishing company and signed Dave Morgan of the Uglys resulting in Morgans song as the B Side to BlackBerry Way.   Wayne had the lions share of the publishing money.  He left shortly after to follow a solo career, yet another failure!

Roy recruited Jeff Lynne and he Jeff and Bev became the first incarnation of ELO.

The Move were great in 65 and 66 when they were surging up the charts.  After the thrill had gone they were a spent force.  A real shame.

FINALLY.    

Remember when we used to look up to America.?

Love the one your with.

Bob

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Contact       Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

  

Bulls Head Bob Sep 2025. KEITH SMART RIP. BOB STYLER ...Survivor.

 Hello Brummies,  

KEITH SMART. RIP

I'ts with a very heavy heart that I have to announce, by way of Andy Fairweather Low, the death of my favourite Brummie Drummer of the 60's and beyond, the wonderful Keith Smart.

Keith was a stalwart of the sixties playing with many local small bands and then playing with class acts such as Danny King, The Uglys, Wizzard, The Rockin Berries, Clifford T Ward, Jive Bunny, Freddie and the Dreamers etc etc.   The list is really too long to also include the "one offs" he did.

The Uglys.  Keith bottom right. 

WIZZARD.   Keith top left.

Rockin Berries.  Keith played for 28 years with them.

Keith was a tremendous person to be with and we had some barrels of fun along the way.   I wrote a blog on the best Drummers that Birmingham produced which has been a very popular blog to visit with, I imagine, the ones I mentioned feeling special and the ones I didn't being pissed off but you can't  please them all.   I started in the 2016 BRUMMIE DRUMMERS blog that of all the drummers, he was probably the most accomplished and best drummer to come out the best City in the world.   Not only was Keith a great drummer but was one of the only two drummers I ever played with who read music and did sessions.

God Bless you Keith may you now be playing golf on some cloud tops as I write this.   My condolences go to his wife Coletta and family.  I'm sure he will be deeply missed by everyone. 

BOB STYLER.

Bob with The Yamps far right.

Of all the folk I mention in the blog Bob Styler ex vocalist of 60s bands The Yamps, The Fashion and Traction gets a lot of mentions.  He often helps me remember things worth remembering and, furthermore is a guitar expert and has been buying and selling guitars and amps for as long as I can remember.  Not only that but he promotes open mic nights.

His attitude towards living his life to the full is worth commending especially with an age of 77.  Bob beat cancer a while ago and only recently has managed to beat it a SECOND TIME!!  Throughout these terrible episodes he adopted a strong will to win whilst helping out friends who were experiencing their own difficulties.   He is real example of a true fighter and friend.

Long may you go on inspiring people Bob.  

FINALLY

So this blog brings some sad news but tinged with an edge of hope.  We can't get younger but we can live our lives to the full regardless.

Take care of those you love.  

Bob.

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Contact     Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob Aug 2025. Johnny Neal. Lee Stevens aka Norm Crandles....WHERE ARE YOU NORM?? OZZY.

 Hello Brummies, Brummies Abroad, 

Well Me and Mrs Bob have returned from our sun soaked holiday with one of the Bobettes and her offspring without leaving good old Blighty.   We are both tanned and feeling good and healthy, but more than a little tired after so much activity.  Now, for transport reasons, we took a domestic flight from Birmingham airport to Manchester. Ooh, how extravagant I can hear you thinking.......yep that's me, Bob, Jet Setter.

JOHNNY NEAL ......90!!

Wishing a very happy birthday to one of the very first rockers in Birmingham.   Who would have thought that at 90 he is still into the music scene although, unfortunately, is not up to the physicality of doing gigs.  He can't help being a Birmingham City supporter either but I forgive him all his sins.   I hope you had a cracking day old friend.

LEE STEVENS AKA NORM CRANDLES.

Another early entrant on the the Birmingham music scene was Norm Crandles whose stage name was Lee Steven's of Lee Steven's and The Satelites, he had been a good friend of Johnny Neal until one day in the mid sixties he upped sticks and moved out to Canada along with many other Brits who had taken advantage of the Canadian recruiting drive at the time.   Norm enjoyed his new found lifestyle and made contact through the blog asking if I could put him in touch with Johnny.  I naturally seized the moment to get him to tell his rock and roll story of his early times in Brum and also obliged with getting him  back in touch with his old mate.   Eventually Norm made the trip back from Canada and the two met up in Birmingham many years after their first meeting way back when and spent some happy days recalling their own "war stories" and having fun.

WHERE ARE YOU NORM??

It has been many years since I or Johnny had any contact with Norm and would like to know if any reader out in Canada knows if he's still around because I have someone else who wants to get in touch with him.

Time rushes past so fast these days and especially for us "more mature" old timers so I know there's a possibility that he may have ascended to the heavens but I have my fingers crossed for a good result in finding him well.   It could be that he's reading this blog so "Norm send me an email... UTV".

TARA A'BIT AR KID!!

Nothing to say that hasn't been said.

RIP OZZY.

Bob

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Contact:   Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob July 25. Steve Winwood. Jeff Lynne. Black Sabbath.

 Hello Gang,  

Welcome to the July blog, me and Mrs Bob are brown as berries  lounging out in the garden, drinking Mojitos and Strawberry daquiris, thanking all the Gods that we are living a peaceful life here at Brumbeat Villas listening to the BBQ hissing and popping to the sound of exploding sausages......Bliss.

What could make me feel happier, has happened. 

STEVE WINWOOD MBE

Stevie boy has got his just and proper reward from the King and has been awarded the MBE for his services to music and it's about time too!!  I couldn't  be happier for him.

From his beginnings with the Spencer Davis Group his class as a musician and vocalist have outshone any other musician to come out of Birmingham and I mean all of them.  The coolest of the cool.

The Spencer Davis Group, Traffic and Blind Faith were the grateful recipients of this mans outstanding musical talent with a voice that was beyond belief for one so young.

Following his departure from the group scene he launched his solo career releasing his first eponymous solo Album which sold well in the UK but without any single successes. He remedied that by releasing his 2nd Album 'Arc of a Diver" which included the single "While you see a chance" which charted in the US and UK.   

He then kind of faded in popularity until his 86 autobiographical single release "Back in the high life" stating that "All the doors that once were closed have opened up again".   His life has been blessed with successes and cursed by the indifference of the record buying public but class will always prevail and he has it by the lorry load.   Congratulations Steve on SIXTY years of musical genius.   

JEFF LYNNE ELO FINAL CONCERT

On Sunday 13 July Jeff Lynne will be leading out the ELO onto the stage in Hyde Park for his final ELO concert ever!   I really liked The Idle Race and they were our main healthy competitors on the Brummie music scene during the 60's.

I have never been a fan of ELO and definitely not a fan of Jeff but cannot deny that he wrote some excellent songs and was a great producer of his own music and latterly The Beatles when he produced "Free as a Bird".  His stage presence however is so wooden that I would be just as happy to listen to a CD.   

My likes and dislikes have no effect whatsoever among the millions of adoring fans ELO have in America and across the world so what do I know?

I am pretty sure that, weather permitting, the show will be fab.  It has sold out already.  Steve Winwood is also on the bill so there you are two outstanding Brummies who have withstood the test of time and are still out there "Giving it some".  

BLACK SABBATH FINAL CONCERT

So the Final Concert theme continues when on 5 July 25 at Villa Park Black Sabbath will also be playing their final "BACK TO THE BEGINNING" gig with their original line up and a supporting bill of world renowned heavy metal stars and also featuring many, many guests too.   This has got to be one of the best line ups outside of a Festival line up that I've seen with all the profits going to Cure Parkinsons, The Birmingham Children's hospital and Acorns Childrens Hospice supported by Aston Villa.   Its fabulous to see that the Sabs have put the money where its needed in the City of their Birth.    

It makes me proud of our wonderful City of Birmingham and its enduring musical legacy.   We have gifted great music to the world from great down to earth people, long may it continue.

Have a wonderful summer my friends.

Bob

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Contact    Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

Bulls Head Bob Jun 2025. BOB DYLAN BIRTHDAY BOY!! A COMPLETE UNKNOWN.

 How doo' you Brummies at home and abroad.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BOB.

Bob Dylan was 84 on 24 May.   

From 1962 onwards America got to hear, for the first time, Bob Dylan, folk singer, protest songs, lingering love songs, songs of hate.  Lyrically inventive, poetic, biting or tender words delivered with a rasping vocal style that challenged convention.  Folk music was not big on the music scene in Birmingham and so it would be 1964 before the UK, that is us Brummies, became

aware of him when he had his first commercial hit as a folk artist with "The Times they are a Changin" flying up the charts.  In 1965 The Byrds  electrified "Hey Mr Tambourine Man" which stormed into the UK charts and introduced his songs to the record buying popsters.  The Byrds then attached themselves to him like a leech releasing song after song from Dylans 2 previous LP's.  The world followed Dylans emergence onto the commercial scene and from then until today every band and artist were recording covers of his musical catalogue of songs.

It has now been 62 years and 40 studio albums since his emergence and he is still writing wonderful songs and still touring.    

It was kind of inevitable that a Biopic would be made about him and I must admit to being ambivalent about just how that may turn out.  With Tim Chalamet portraying him I was looking forward to seeing it whilst having concerns that it could be disappointing.

FILM REVIEW  A COMPLETE UNKNOWN

You don't fuck around with a hero or his story.  So when I watched the movie the first time I didn't like it, well maybe indifferent would be a better description.  However, a week or so later I felt that I might have been a tad over critical so I watched it again and this time I really liked it.   By this time I had read about Chalamets involvement in the part and was impressed by the fact that he played the guitar and sung the 40 songs that featured in the movie.  The only thing that was false was his prosthetic nose!

Bob Dylan himself changed the name of his girlfriend in the movie to give some peace to her family.  A nice move on your part Bob showing some consideration and decency.

Anyway I recommend the movie to you all.   In his youth I doubt if he ever saw himself still performing at the age of 84, but I can only say how grateful I am to be able to hear fresh songs from the man himself.  

God Bless you Bob Dylan.  

What else is there to say about the worlds greatest songsmith.  He also gave the world it's most brilliant group of musicians, The Band who were more than lucky to have such a guiding light for inspiration.

When I first heard, many years ago, the Bob Dylan radio show I was shocked at the depth of his knowledge of all things musical which educates the listener.  I strongly recommend you listen to the whole series if you have the time.  I strongly recommend everything he's written.   Today there are people who copy him but thats all they are, a copy without the genius and anybody can do that.  No talent required.

FINALLY

Mrs Bob and I are looking for a nice holiday resort to visit, we've got loads of holiday brochures that we have ploughed through and are now reaching the argument stage of why one of us doesnt want to go to certain places.  The USA is out of the question, when you enter a once friendly country and are asked by the immigration official if you " have ever said anything bad about Donald Trump" you know it's bad news.   You dont get that sort of crap when you go to Skegness!!!

Take Care of each other, love and respect dont cost anything.  

Bob

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Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

BULLS HEAD BOB MAY 2025. 1965 THE HARPSICHORD. THE UGLYS, THE YARDBIRDS, THE BEATLES AND THE DOORS. GRAHAM ASHFORD. VE DAY MORE BEER

 Hello Brummies, Brummies Abroad and lovers of 60's music.  

One day late in publishing, Mrs Bob and I took ourselves out for the May Bank Holiday and had a spiffing time but we're back here in The safety of our abode and so.......on with the Motley!

1965 THE YEAR OF THE HARPSICHORD....THE UGLYS.

JIM foreground.

I got an email from David Mann who lives in Australia and he says that he has started to listen to a new radio show playing  hits from the 1960's and he was knocked out by the songs he'd never heard before, including the June 1965 hit "Its Alright" by The Uglys, asking if I thought there was a similarity between the Harpsichord played by Uglys organist Jimmie O'Neil and Ray Manzareks harpsichord sound on The Doors hit "Light my Fire" (1967).   

Celeste

It made me think of other songs with Harpsichord and 1965 seemed to be the year when that sound was used most.   The early 60's recording studios were largely used by bands and orchestras and it was usual to have random instruments available in place such as a grand piano for instance.  I recall there being a Celeste which had the sound of tinkly fairy bells which was used to accent certain notes.  

Harpsichord.

When The Uglys arrived at the PYE studios in London to record 'Its Alright' it was Jim's intention to use his Vox Continental organ, the best portable organ available at the time.  However Jim spotted the harpsichord in the corner under a blanket and being a Classically trained pianist started playing it.  

By this time in the 60's bands were looking for different instrumental sounds and straight away he recognised that its acoustic sound would be a perfect substitute for the reedy sounding VOX and he was right, its multi string plucking sound was perfect.

THE YARDBIRDS

The Yardbirds "For Your Love" March 65 had featured the instrument for the opening chord sequence for this, their first hit.  They didn't have a keyboard player and on stage used a 12 string guitar to emulate the harpsichord sound. Organist Brian Auger had played the harp on the recording itself.   Eric Clapton left the band shortly after because of their pop image.

THE BEATLES

Later on, that same year, the Beatles recorded the wonderful  John Lennon song "In my Life" but didn't have a solo written so whilst they were out to lunch George Martin scored, played and recorded the baroque sounding solo.  I recall folk talking about the harpsichord solo however, it was  manufactured using a double tracked, speeded up piano.  Sounding remarkably alike but not the genuine instrument.

So, now getting back to Ray Manzarek of The Doors.   I researched, quite thoroughly, anything and everything to do with him and his instruments for the year in question then I listened to "Its Alright" and "Light my Fire" back to back and am quite sure that on Light my Fire he didn't play a harpsichord.   I did read that he had drawing pins tapped into the hammers of his Fender Rhodes piano.   This was an old ragtime musician's trick of increasing the rinky-dink treble sound of the piano keys so I can see how you could be convinced into thinking it was another instrument but there is a discernable difference in the sound. I know that there has been much discussion about it but quite understandable given the recording tricks and the know how to achieve.   I do agree that the playing style of the two pianists is similar though.  What do you think?  I'd be happy to hear any comments that might cause me to change my mind, furthermore there have been several remastering of the Doors material so  harpsichord could have been over dubbed at a later date.

BRUMMIE ABROAD BIRTHDAY. 

Heres wishing a happy 81st Birthday to the great Graham Ashford ex singer of the Brumbeats.   He will be enjoying his day in Hawaii where he has a home where he spends the days painting the beautiful surroundings he lives in.   Have a wonderful day Graham and if any readers are interested in purchasing any of his great works please drop me a line and I will put you in touch.

REASON TO CELEBRATE

The 8th of May is a significant date which Mark's the end of the 2nd world war in Europe and to recognise this all pubs in England and Wales will be open for an extra 2 hours.  I'll have a brown and mild please!!

FINALLY

Theres a mild spell of weather so I'm going to forget all this dangerous bullshit going on in the world and count my blessings at having lived through the Golden Years of peace.  It wasn't a hippy dream, it was our reality.

Take Care

Bob

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Contact      Bobsbullocks@ Gmail.com