Bulls Head Bob Sep 23. 1968, THE MOVE. THE BAND...ROBBIE ROBERTSON.

 Hello My friends,

It might as well rain until September sang the marvellous Carol King so let's hope she was right and we will be in for a beautifully warm month.   

1968

The year of 68 was a time of change, musically speaking, with the charts full of melodic songs and ever-changing chart action.  In September there was only one record by a Brummie band in the singles charts at Number 30.  The Moody Blues with one of their new fangled, poetry songs "Voices in the Sky", goo on ar kid!  music to snooze to.   The heavy psychedelic bands now only recorded LP's leaving the Singles chart altogether. 

For me, it was a happy time socially and musically in Birmingham, there was a party atmosphere with more bands and gigs than you could shake a stick at.  The city centre had a vibe, great clothes shops where the groups would buy all their stage wear for a reasonable amount, great music shops too both as a consumer and for instruments.  The worlds best bands played in the city with regularity and you could see them for the cost of a pint.

For one Brummie band though 1968 was their best year commercially and their worst as a group of musicians and they were;

THE MOVE 

A line up of experienced Birmingham band members came together to form The Move whose purpose it was to "make it" in London. They were dynamic, had Roy Wood as the song writer, brilliant harmonies and stage presence and in 1966 had made it into the charts with "Night of Fear".

The ambition of every band was to have an LP so that was their real achievement  of 1968 and it got to number 15.  The cover artwork was by The Fool, the Dutch artists who had done the psychedelic art for The Beatles.   Their first LP.... MOVE.  

The second reason for it being a successful year was they scored the No 1 spot with Blackberry Way.  I still have this LP in my collection. The next 3 albums failed to make the the charts.

Despite their success,1968 saw them fall to pieces in a toxic atmosphere with bassist Ace Kefford forced out the band after many fights with Trevor Burton.   After achieving great success and headlining tours with Hendrix and Pink Floyd they had become a spent force bereft of energy, enthusiasm and more importantly Kefford.  Bizarrely, they started playing at cabaret clubs.   Burton left the band as Blackberry Way topped the charts followed by Carl Wayne .  The Move limped along until Roy Woods transmogrification to The Electric Light Orchestra.

THE BAND.   ROBBIE ROBERTSON.

As I said, 1968 was a year when music began to change and The Band were one of the reasons why, when they released their first LP, The Big Pink.

The style of music played by The Band was a mixture of bluegrass/country and rock.  It was intelligent, biographical and full of American history.  Each and every member of the group had talent and were as tight as could be after years of working on the road with Ronnie Hawkins and playing with Bob Dylan.  Lots of groups were influenced by them including my band and we did "Long Black Veil" in our set

There was only one great songsmith in the group and that was Robbie Robertson who crafted such wonderful lyrics for songs such as "unfaithful servant", one of my faves featuring the voice of Rick Danko.    

Their follow up to Big Pink was the eponymous THE BAND or the brown album as some call it.  It was just brilliant and is a benchmark, classic recording for others to aspire to.   It was definitely Robertsons best spell of writing and there isn't anything on it I dont like.   It was their greatest success and thereafter things went downhill for them, too much touring and arguments regarding payment of royalties with Robertson being the recipient of all the songwriting credits.  The other members arguing that they had all been responsible for music passages, influences, tweaks, hooks etc so there should have been some financial consideration but to no avail.  The income for them, all bar Robertson, was based on live gigs, clearly not sustainable in the long term.   

The Band called it a day in 1976 after performing The Last Waltz, with Robertson saying he couldn't take playing on the road anymore, he then recorded a new album and went on the road by himself.   That must have really hurt the others, the final indignity.    

The Band reformed in 1983 with guitarist Jim Weider replacing Robertson to play some concerts, touring was their only form of income.   Sadly, pianist Richard Manuel committed suicide after a concert in 1986.  The band folded.  In the following years Rick Danko and Levon Helm passed away and sadly Robbie Robertson passed away a couple of weeks ago leaving Garth Hudson as the sole surviving member of the best musical group there ever was.

It seems that the desire to make great music and gain fame as a band was never enough for either The Move or The Band.   They both had their moments and opportunities but it always comes down to money or the lack of it or jealousy and mistrust.  

I have to say on a personal level that Chris Kefford was a good bassist, singer and performer with great looks and I always found him to be a nice guy.   The well known phrase " The reason why certain people continually say bad things about you is because they dont want others to know how badly they treated you"

Chris Kefford.

So be careful what you wish for, someone always gets the shit end of the stick!!! And there is ALWAYS one person who wrecks bands for their own purposes.

All of the above aside, 1968 wasn't all doom and gloom though because that year saw the arrival of the incredibly gorgeous songbird Mary Hopkin with her release on the new Apple label at No 2 in the charts "Those were the Days"

FINALLY

Well today has been declared Mexican Food and Mojito Day in the Bob Household and I shall be doing my best to enjoy every scrap.  I wish you all a pleasant weekend.  Where's me Sombrero?

Peace and Love.  

Bob  

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob 

Contact:      Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

Bulls Head Bob Aug 2023. A Bit more Ringway Music. Some Brumbeat bands 1965

 Hello you Brummie Musos,

It's hot, Hot, Hot my friends but it is the holiday season so we shouldn't really complain.  

A BIT MORE RINGWAY MUSIC.  

Its 1965, Ringway Music has opened, only a small shop but as it is run by musicians we all flock there, I buy my first Gibson from there. It has since been consigned to the Brum history vaults as one of the greatest shops there was and us Brumbeat musos look back on it with great affection.  One of those aficionados, namely Bill Lovegrove, has kindly sent me a picture of that very boutique to refresh our memories and make us feel good inside.  

1965

The year of 1965 was one of mega activity for Birmingham bands and this is what was happening with just a few  Birmingham bands at that time starting appropriately with.

THE SPENCER DAVIS GROUP

The Spencer Davis group have had their first hit with 'Keep on Running' and are doing some promotion leading up to their second chart success "Somebody Help Me'.  I guess they are promoting the shop or the new Burns "Fully Transistorised" Orbit amplifier as Spencer is sat on one although I can't remember them using it on stage.  

I guess Steve Winwood is inside getting a free coffee.  At the time several bands tried this amp, I've even seen a picture of Clapton using one on stage.  I used one for one night and it was a lifeless pile of poo!

On the music side of the coin this was, hands down, the best Rythmn and Blues outfit in the country and a very young Steve Winwood was a teenage heartthrob, as well as being brilliant at everything else he did.

Dont you just love the way Spencer has a couple of pens in his top jacket pocket, he did work at Aston University prior to the bands success so it was a funny way of looking important back then.  Anyway just another peek at this much loved shop at the best of times.

THE APPLEJACKS

The Applejacks had been the first Brummie band to get a chart hit in 1964 getting to Number 7 in the charts with 'Tell me When' and had a good follow up with the Lennon and McCartney penned 'Like Dreamers Do' and their final single 'Three Little Words', the latter 2 both getting to the 20's in the charts.    Record companies in those days were wankers and would try and foist some inapropriate song or other on bands who had scored a hit and The Applejacks were no exception.  DECCA wanted them to record 'Chim Chim Cheree' from Mary Poppins for their next release, the band argued that it wasn't  a song they should be doing and basically refused to record it.  They found themselves put on the back burner by DECCA for a further 6 months and it was 1965 before they released another single, by which time, interest in the band had flagged and they returned to playing local gigs in Birmingham before getting a lucrative deal to play on the cruise ships....for years and years.

THE MOODY BLUES

The Moody Blues scored the second chart entry of a Brummie Band with the classic  "Go Now" reaching No 1 in 1964.  Their light shone bright for a short period as an R and B band, touring with The Beatles but they were royally robbed of any earnings by Tony Secunda and their production company.  In 1965 two of the band left, namely Denny Laine and Clint Warwick.  The Moodies found themselves doing local gigs back in Birmingham before resurrecting themselves in the psychedelic progressive rock genre achieving phenomenal success.

THE UGLY'S

The Uglys got a record deal with PYE and in 1965 released their self penned single "Wake up my Mind" which didn't do too well in the British Charts but bizarrely got to Number 1 in Australia and Number 10 in New Zealand in August of 1965.  The same year they released "Its Alright" and got lots of pirate radio plays of Tony Blackburn and Simon Dee and touring and headlining all the best venues.   The record was selling 750 copies per day and the band featured on Ready Steady Go, it looked as if they were going to chart but fell foul of greater success owing to a strike by the record distribution industry so, with no records available at the point of sale, other music had replaced yesterdays favourites when the strike finished.

They were lined up to tour Australia with The Rolling Stones in early 66 but the Australian Musicians Union wouldn't permit another British Group on the tour despite them having hits there.  This band got some really bad breaks in 1965 and beyond.

FINALLY  

In 1965 I was playing some of the usual places like the Hen and Chickens and The Mermaid and venturing out to Stratford on Avon and a great nights at Walsall Town Hall having the best days of my life with a great group and a great group of friends too.

In 1964 there were two BRUM BEAT LP's issued.  The first was released on the Dial label that comprised of the bands managed by the Reagans who ran a lot of venues in the city, notably The Ritz in Kings Heath and a second LP on DECCA featuring bands on the Decca label at that time.  These are still around on Ebay.

I heard that there was a reunion planned for those who were on the Reagan bands version organised by Keith Powell (and the Valets) saying that members of five of those bands would be present. Sadly I received the news too late to publicise it.

So anyway if you're holidaying this month, enjoy yourselves and put on lots of tanning lotion.

Take care

Bob

Copyright Bullsheadbob 

Contact  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

Bulls Head Bob July 2023. Glastonbury 2023. MACCAS New Book. Rock Birthdays. Where and how it all Started

 Hello My Lovelies,

GLASTONBURY 23

Well that was another great Glastonbury Festival.   The weather

lifted everyone's spirits and it was a party atmosphere.   There were great highlights with the Foo Fighters appearing as the surprise act on the opening night and just how great were they?

The world of music is a better place thanks to Dave Grohl with his unending dedication to his craft and as an all round champion for supporting all music.  But let's get back to the 60's.

CAT STEVENS

I don't know whether Cat Steven's spot on the Legends stage on the Sunday afternoon was a blessing or not.  His set was pretty lifeless and the crowd became subdued or bored and, although he tried, he just didnt seem to have any connection with the crowd and when someone shouted "Let's Go!!" he kinda lost his temper and replied "What do you mean "Let's Go", "what do you think I'm doing?". 

I knew what he meant though.  Cat Stevens wrote some great songs but it was a pretty boring set.  As an aside, back in the 60s when he was a little more animated, he was backed by a Brummie band called ZEUS featuring Sprike Hopkins and the Canadian Pilling Brothers.

The positive side to his act was that we all couldn't wait for Elton John, who by contrast set the place on fire, always the consumate performer, he got down to business straight away and had the crowd in his hands, the place thundered and roared their approval to the man who stole the whole show.  

The size of the crowd to see Elton was F*****g staggering, I'd never seen the like. It was reported that there were 120,000 people just watching him.  He announced that it was definitely his final performance but he's done that before a couple of times already so it's not necessarily so.

DANGER RED ALERT!   After the event, whilst reading about the festival in the national press, I came across a piece of news that I feel obliged to share with the world of the BHB Blog, in order to give you plenty of time to make holiday plans for next year during the festival dates.   

And it came to pass that one Mel C, the 'almost a singer' of the Spice Girls had been doing a set at Glastonbury too.  She was on the Avalon Stage,  generally known for folk acts.   She said  "All the Spice Girls are up for a gig here next year on the Legends Stage".    Since that announcement I've read that Ryanair flight bookings for the Sunday of next years event have completely sold out and that the biggest auto tune desk is being manufactured as we speak.

PAUL McCARTNEY NEW BOOK.

A book by Paul McCartney has been released featuring many "never before seen" photos he took during 1964, coincidentally the year I left school, and the year The Beatles rose to mega stardom.   All the teachers at the school must have known I was destined for fame because they all cheered as I walked out of the school gate, they really loved me.

Anyway for Beatles fans it's a must.  It is Number 1 on Waterstones book charts and retails at £45 pounds. 

It would be a great gift as a 'buy early' present for christmas.

Paul has recently celebrated his 81st birthday.   Who'd have thought that The Beatles would have lasted so long?

ROCK BIRTHDAYS 

Other significant 1960's rock star birthdays in June/July include.  BRIAN WILSON, Beach Boys. RAY DAVIES , The Kinks.  GEORGIE FAME.  RONNIE WOOD and CHARLIE WATTS, The Rolling Stones.  RONNIE LAINE, The Small Faces. IAN PAICE, Deep Purple. 

RINGO STAR and MICK JAGGER.    Luckily for me I got to see all these old timers when they were young studs, giving it LARGE!!!!

WHERE AND HOW IT ALL STARTED.  It didn't start with the Beatles or the Stones but their popularity has carried the music till today.  But, who were their influences?  It was the first Rockers who started at the 2i's coffee bar in London.

We all copied these acts on their first Rock and Roll tour.  There are still some of these guys around today, some of whom I have the pleasure and honour of knowing.

FIRST ELECTRIC GUITAR WITH 'BALLS'

Here we have a picture of the absolute first real rock guitar going through development with its creator, the incredible and ground breaking Mister Les Paul When he bolted two halves of an acoustic guitar body to a single slab of wood fitted with pick ups.

His genius was not only producing an electric guitar, it was producing a guitar with sustain, something that growled when it was powered up.

He then further engineered it to be used in recording studios with in built effects.  Something that Brian May and his father latched onto when building May's own individual guitar many, many years later.

Some of you may have been misled by the sub title when I referred to the 'first electric guitar with BALLS'.  I was not referring to the self proclaimed Birmingham Supergroup who got together, never played a gig, never released any recordings and all but one of the line up were sacked by its leader within 3 months, what a joke.  What a waste.

FINALLY

So there we are, the present day with its mega festivals from the first days of Rock in variety theatres in one go.  Long may it reign.   So lets keep music live, never say die.  It doesn't matter how old you are, you only have to please yourself so

KEEP PLAYING!!

Take care of yourself and the ones you love and they will take care of you.

Bob

Copyright: Bulls Head Bob

Contact:    Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob - June 2023. THE MIGHTY VILLA! GUILD SCORE AN OWN GOAL. HERE COMES THE NIGHT - BERT BERNS

 Howdoo You Brummies

Its June,  it's sunny and I'm feeling Happy which, given the state of the world, is surprising but what can be the cause of this nice feeling??

I'll tell you what, it's THE MIGHTY ASTON VILLA!!   Being a Villa

fan has been very difficult to live with for all these years but now we stand proud.  At the beginning of the season we were truly on a downward spiral with nothing to look forward to except an impending exit from the Premier League. 

A lacklustre attitude with bad results week after week and then we got a Proper Manager with discipline, vision, dreams and expectations.   Unai (pronounced Oonaye) (for my friends in foreign climes) Emery has turned my frown upside down alright! and we will be playing in Europe next year.  

Mrs Bob who has no idea about the Villa or football in general thought his name was 'One Eye'.  That hilarious supposition had me and the gang in stitches when she tried to join in the celebratory conversation at the pub!  I love her, she's the the girl for me!! UTV....

NAMM 2023.  GUILD GUITARS SCORE OWN GOAL.

Up till a few years ago the blog readers were treated to a report

from The NAMM music show by our old mate and US resident Bill Bonham.    Sadly Bill passed away but every year when its announced it reminds me of Bill and what a loss to the music world he was but on the positive side it serves to remind me of happier Brumbeat Days when he was on the scene with his Hammond B2 growling away.

I had a cyber check on this years show and particularly Guild Guitars where they displayed their latest offerings and, as usual, their acoustic models are gorgeous and the Solid body offerings look like Russian pieces of crap, devoid of design ethics as shown in this picture of their Surfliner selling at  £475.00.  There is also a Surfliner deluxe with a Tremelo for £725. 00.  Pictured below.

I think "clunky and unattractive" and "could do better" is my take for this retro looking guitar.  

It reminds me of the pre 60's days looking in guitar shops and this would be the one  hanging on the wall that nobody wanted to try.  Guild should have studied the sleek, sensuous lines of the gorgeous looking METEORA from Fender, or perhaps they did and decided that Clunky was the way forward in filling their retro niche for those who have no style.   I am sure it's built well but, really?

Fenton Weil were one of the worst guitars built in the late 50's.  Bits would drop off them and the fret wire wasn't even inset into the neck but at least they looked good.   Dear me Guild are certainly consistent.

CLASSIC 60'S HIT.   HERE COMES THE NIGHT.  BERT BERNS

I just love this song and remember playing it with my first band at those 60's gigs in Brum.  I believe that the public think that 'Here Comes the Night', the 1965 hit by Them was written by Van Morrison.  Well not only was it written by another guy, namely Bert Berns, but had been previously released in 1964 by Lulu with a slushy, soulless arrangement full of strings courtesy of Mike Leander that did nothing on the charts.  The recording, released a year later by 'Them' was a different kettle of fish and Morrisons gravelly, earthy voice gave it some urgency which was offset by some melodic guitar phrases supplied by Jimmy Page.

Bert Berns, also known as Bert Russell was a contracted songwriter in the famous Brill Building in New York.   He famously co wrote "Twist and Shout" with Bill Medley of the Righteous Brothers who released Twist and Shout prior to The Beatles famous rendition and wrote 'Baby Let me take you Home' by the Animals  and later co wrote 'Hang on Sloopy'by the McCoys.

He wrote many more hits but didnt achieve any success as an artist himself.

 

A double DVD about Bert Berns was released. Called "BANG, the Bert Berns story". I  haven't seen it myself but imagine it is interesting.  I'm not sure if it's still available but probably worth a view.

Ok guys, thanks for dropping in to the blog.  Its music history with a touch of irreverent humour, always worth a visit.

Take Care of the Ones you Love. 

Bob

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob 

Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

  

Bulls Head Bob May 2023. NEW VANS FOR OLD. PASSPORT. WEE WILLIE HARRIS RIP.

Good Day Brummies, Brummies Abroad, Brummie musicians and mates.

IT'S A NEW DAWN, IT'S A NEW DAY, 

 IT'S A NEW, OLD VAN!

What goes around comes around they say but I never imagined that, in these days of high tech and design innovation, the British motor industry would revert to producing a van that, in the 60's had become a van that a band could buy, second hand, for around £15.00 at the car auctions once the post Office had finished with them and drive it till the engine fell out or simply rotted away.   This van wasn't pretty, in fact if you were in a band you'd probably have felt embarrassed pulling up at a venue in it.  With a registered, unloaded, top speed of 53 mph and fuel consumption of 22 miles to the gallon, it would have taken 2 hours to drive the 16 miles in a fully loaded group van to a gig in Wolverhampton from my house in Birmingham avoiding steep hills on the way.    

Here is a photo of the original vehicle, this one being the top of

the range model with windows and ONE windscreen wiper.  The Van is a MORRIS J type and I wouldn't have been seen dead in one of them.   

However I wrote a 'special' blog about group Vans back in August 2014 and do have photographic evidence of one in action with the group THE INCAS who must have been a bit strapped for cash, moreover I find it hard to believe that the band would have wanted to be seen in or on it!! and here it is.  Look away if you're squeamish!!

There we are, absolutely dreadful, just the rust holding it together.   Production of this van ceased in 1961.

So, someone, presumably a person who has no design ethic, no concerns for aerodynamics and has never read the classic August 2014 Bulls Head Bob Group Van's of the 60's thought it would be a must to produce an up-to-date, electric powered, version starting its production in 2024 and here it is in all its glory.  Now renamed the:

 MORRIS JE VAN

Gone is the split windscreen but still looking like a pile of poo, they've even adopted the colour.  Now here's the really fun part, it's made of carbon fibre!! I'm staggered, perhaps they think it will be a must for F1 drivers wives?  Can you imagine how much it would be to repair?

It's all electric with an option of 3 battery packs giving a driving distance of 150 to 250 miles.    Hang on to your wallet though, this thing costs £60.000 pounds!!.   They obviously dont want poor muso's to own one. 

I do wish the new Morris team every success in their venture but do wonder who has got that sort of cash for a novelty?  I believe that's it's been launched to take on the new VW Buzz van but the VW is a little cheaper and stylish so Morris will have a battle to win the share of the market.

PASSPORT

My friend and owner of the BRUMBEAT.Net website, the worlds

best and most informative website of the 60's Brumbeat musicians, is a Brummie Abroad.  

John Woodhouse lives in Canada, Oshawa to be exact, the same town that gave birth to heavy metal legends ANVIL, famous for not being famous!!

John is a good bass player and over the years has been in bands on an "off and on" basis, one of those bands being Passport.  He has now renewed his musical passion and the band PASSPORT are gigging again but this time with a more  focused drive, energy and business approach.  They have a brand spanking new website which you can visit here  PASSPORT BAND.

I was stunned by the amount of songs in their set list.

So all my friends in Canada, if you live in Oshawa or that neck of the woods keep your eyes open for this band and their BRUMBEAT specialist, John Woodhouse   Go and chat to him,  if you are a follower of the great 60's BRUMBEAT days or simply go and enjoy some good rockin music.

WEE WILLIE HARRIS.  RIP

We've all got to go sometime and that sometime arrived for Rock and Roll legend Wee Willie Harris a couple of days ago.

Here's a link to a blog I did in 2019 about this fabulous performer, one of the stars of the first televised Rock and Roll show, the great 6.5 Special.   God Bless.

WEE WILLIE HARRIS

FINALLY

Its BBQ at the Bob house this week, lots of people coming, the whole family will be there for the first time since Covid.   Really looking forward to the day and getting back to some kind of normality.

So, look after each other and KEEP PLAYING!

BOB

Copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact: Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob Apr 2023. April 1963 Rise of The Beatles. The Merseyboys. Keith Reid RIP. Open Mic Night.

Hello Lovers of the greatest music decade ever, from the Greatest City in the UK.. "Come on you Brummies".

It's Spring!!  the first of April, the smells of Rose, Jasmine and sweet Fresia assailing my memorial olfactory glands with heady aromas.  Flower Power at its finest.

60 YEARS AGO.  

April 1963.  The rise of The Beatles.

The first week of the charts in April 1963 saw Cliff and The Shadows were still the major force in British pop music with

The Shadows 'Foot Tapper' occupying the No 1 slot and Cliff Richard at No 2 with 'Summer Holiday' and the film of the same name doing extremely well in the cinemas.  It was Cliff and The Shads second film.   

The incredible Billy Fury held the Number 3 position with 'Like I've Never Been Gone'.   

It was the last hoorah of the "old guard", that first flush of teenage stars, who brought Rock and Roll to the British public  and although they didn't know it yet they were about to be classified as yesterdays news.  The Beatles had their first chart success with Love me Do in Oct 62 and their second single 'Please Please Me' had reached no 2 in March of 63 and was now heading out of the top 10.   

I was a dedicated Shadows fan and tried to stay loyal to Hank and the boys but The Beatles massive popularity was too much to ignore, they were causing a tidal wave of excitement.  It wasn't just their music that changed things, Liverpool was now seen by the record trade as the epicentre of popular music and scousers Gerry and the Pacemakers were riding up the charts heading to the Number 1 slot with "How do you do", their next 2 singles also went to number 1.   There was a great rush by other artists to record a Beatle song, making Lennon and McCartney a vast amount of cash in a little time.

The next three 1963 Beatle singles all went to number 1 in the UK.  They were unstoppable. 

In a years time they occupied the top 5 places on the American charts, an unbeaten record and what is more, they were on 4 different record labels too!  

It was only in 2019 that Ariana Grande came close when she held the top three places in the US charts.

BACK IN BRUM 

The Brumbeats aka The Merseyboys.   

Merseybeat became the buzzword for the 60s beat group sound of Liverpool and in Birmingham "Brumbeat" became our own identifier along with the band The Brumbeats.  This band had the foresight to imitate the Fabs and recorded an

LP of Beatles songs and re-released them on the VJ Label under the name of The Merseyboys.    These days there are only two of the Brumbeats still around, saxophonist Paul Carter and vocalist Graham Ashford, now a US resident who is still performing and regular blog contributer too, thanks Graham.  

This vinyl LP can still be found on Ebay etc should you feel the urge.

KEITH REID - RIP.

"We skipped the light fandango, turned cartwheels cross the floor".   I don't believe there can be a music fan alive who doesn't know that opening line to  'A white shade of pale", the song that really defined the psychedelic Summer of Love.  Not only did he write the lyrics to that masterpiece but the rest of Procol Harums output too. The magnificent "Salty Dog", "Homburg" and the inspirational "Grand Hotel" rate highly amongst my top favourites of that time and all time.  Keith passed away on 23 March aged 76.    Just superb to have been around at the same time.

The Moody Blues "Go Now" produced by Alex Wharton also ranks in my top favourites both as a song and it's earthy, soulful production so it's no wonder that Denny Cordell who had been Whartons office boy at that time should have produced Procol Harum with that same magic formula he had learned from his boss.   

OPEN MIC

FRIDAHS HALL 

I told you, last month, about a new open mic night at Fridahs Hall.   The first opening night was unfortunately on St Patrick's day when most people were partying.   So just a reminder that the next night will be on 14th April.  Book yourself a spot.   Its a great venue, great host and a free beer for each performer!!!!

Finally

Easter is on the horizon so get the one you love a nice Easter Egg for a surprise gift, it's only a small gesture but will warm the heart of the recipient.!!

Happy 78th to the wonderful Eric Clapton.

Have a good un'

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact:     Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

 

Bulls Head Bob - March 23. Denny Laine on tour. Oldbury New Open Mike Night. Chas Newby? Tony Iommi at 75, Black Sabbath Ballet?? Wtf!! I Dont Know my KLEMPT from my BINSON!

Hello My Darlings!! Hello Brummies, and especially all the West Midlands bands of the 60's who were a part of that original Brumbeat Sound.

As an aspiring 12/13 year old guitarist with a natural ear for music and a thirst for knowledge I set myself targets to achieve. I had done the whole Shadows and Ventures thing and was looking for inspiration.   I got that from seeing local bands, that's where the real excitement was, that teenage atmosphere and I learned my stagecraft by watching great 'stage moves' and delighted in the effect they had on audiences and one guy who had that musicality and stage "Prescence" aplenty was the great

DENNY LAINE   

Denny was an 'electric' and 'fully wired' performer then with his gritty supercharged voice fronting The Diplomats, a fine example of a Beat Group.  He rose to his best forming the original Moody Blues line up and his performance at The Ritz with Go Now topping the charts was incredible, the place was jammed and the adrenalin was flowing as he and the band blasted out their Rythm n Blues set, I was in awe.    I have admired Denny since those days a lot and still do and am pleased to see that he had a successful one-man acoustic tour in the USA in Feb.    Denny has an Offical Facebook page with links to further information about gigs and Songs.   So "Go Now"...... sorry about that, Dad joke.

OLDBURY NEW OPEN MIKE NIGHT.

As 60's teenagers we had an abundance of youth clubs to go and play at, we played for nothing to begin with whilst we assaulted young audiences ears with our, less than mediocre, attempts at being a band .   You've got to start somewhere!! and playing live is the first step.   These days, what happens for the thousands of adults who love music and have nowhere to play and display their talents?   Open Mic nights are the answer and luckily for those in the Oldbury area a new "Open Mike (sic) Night" is

starting at Fridahs Hall, Dudley Road, Tividale B69 2PJ, where you can arrange a chance to strut your stuff, individually, as duos or bands. 

The new venue is being hosted by none other than the great Bob Styler who is well aquainted to gigging in the Black Country and has been playing with Brummie bands since the early sixties, in all sorts of line ups, so not only is he well qualified to run the Open Mike but is also the right man to seek advice from.  All round good guy!!

There is also a licensed bar with one free drink per performer, a back line

of amplifiers, drums, a great PA system and stage lighting is also supplied which is so good in providing  a warm ambience to play in.  So not much kit to take with you, this is a Win - Win situation.  Bring your friends along it's a great social occasion too, make your partners proud.

If you're interested you can make contact with Bob via his Facebook Page 'Frida's Open Mike Night' where a phone number is available for you to book a spot on stage or send him a message.   The next event is 17 March starting at 7.00 PM with the first hour dedicated to Bob's band The Blue Badges.  A splendid time is guaranteed for all.

WHO THE HELL IS CHAS NEWBY?

I'll tell you who he is, he's the bass player who joined The Beatles as bass player for two weeks in 1960 shortly after they had returned from Hamburg leaving Stu Sutcliffe behind.   He played with them for four gigs, before he quit the band to go to university to become a maths teacher.  Pete Best was still the drummer at that time and the world has always kind of sympathised with him by the manner in which he was dismissed before they took the world by storm.  With the release of the Beatles anthology Pete got his long awaited financial reward for which I'm very pleased.

I think that Chas Newby has probably had as many sleepless nights as Best did asking himself "What was I thinking?".  Can you imagine the amount of times he said "I was in The Beatles" to people before getting the normal two word reply "Piss Off!!" 

Coincidentally he is a left handed player like Macca.  These days Chas plays gigs with The Quarrymen who all Beatle fans would have heard of.  I'm glad he's still playing!! 

 SPINAL SABBATH.  

A Happy Birthday to the lovely Tony Iommi, 75 and not a grey hair in sight, he truly must have some real Black magic going on there.   

In 2021 he released his own perfume accompanied by the aroma inspired recording "Scent of Dark" ooh spooky?? That got my thoughts going, picturing sweaty Sabfans at a festival covered in fragrance whilst smoking weed and drinking cider by the gallon.

And now as if from the script of Spinal Tap itself there is going to be a Black Sabbath ballet staged by the Birmingham Royal Ballet Company....."What!!! How Black will that be? "The blackest of Black" that's how much.  

Alright you lads on yer toes.  I'd love to see the line of Sabbath fans queuing up for the event smelling like a Turkish Brothel and kitted up for the night in the above anticipated Merch. 

In all honesty I would love to see this, it will be a fabulous event.  I imagine there will be some balletic fireworks for sure from this incredibly dynamic company.

The event runs from 23 to 30 Sep 23 but is unfortunately already sold out.   Support the Arts.

YOU DONT KNOW YOUR KLEMPT FROM YOUR BINSON BOB!

In march 2017 I wrote a blog about Italian guitars Galantis etc and in that blog, showed a picture of a KLEMPT P.A. System wrongly saying it was a BINSON, which I knew was wrong but was kind of thinking I'd get away with it because I was in a rush to get the blog finished.........WRONG!!   How could I believe I'd get away with that? It even says KLEMPT on the amp and echo? for goodness sake.  I've always meant to correct it on that page but never got around to doing it and would like to thank all those who have contacted me and one day I will correct it.   It's very nice to know you care!  Have a nice day to you all and thanks for your visit here's a cyber hug..

FINALLY

Spring is approaching and we will all feel better emerging from the cold and damp so let's try and be optimistic if we can.

On that note I shall conclude this months fol-de-rol, which I thought informative but brimming with wit and jolly japes, for your delectation.

Toodle Ooooo

Bob

Copyright  Bullsheadbob 

Contact    Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com