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

OCTOBER - Winter's on its Way!!

Hi Brummies and Associates,

The end of the year approaches, and what a year it has been! Mr Blaiiirrrgh!! and his fat henchman have left the hallowed halls of parliament.
The catering statistics for the year have shown an immediate drop in the demand for extra fattening pies.

SIX OF THE BEST

My thanks go out to all my mates who contributed articles to the Six Of The Best series.........the last one this month from Dave Morgan rounds off the run of articles. There are probably some great stories still to be told out there, if you have something then why not drop me a line....!!! You dont have to be that famous to feature, just interesting stories about your Brumbeat days.......

Great to see Steve Winwood back in action this year with a few UK concerts especially his set at Highclere Castle in May. If you missed it, there are some parts of the concert on You Tube with Mr Clapton. Steve's voice is just as great as ever and his many talents just as prevalent - long may he reign.

The Brum Rockers are on tour and will be featuring their extended line up this month at the Town Hall with very special guests. (see Alex's Pie Stand).

As reported on the Reviews page of the main site, The Move have reformed and are on the road. Roy Wood is pissed off. Still I wouldn't worry Roy, Trevor will no doubt, cause upsets in that line up until he's on his own yet again.
The remastered series of The Move CD's are on release and should sound quite fresh to those who have not got the CDs in their collection. Naturally Roy will be saying thanks a lot for the royalties (so he can't be that annoyed).

The Solitaires

I have received a 'goldmine' of information about The Solitaires, including their gig book and it makes for fascinating viewing. Look for a feature article soon on these "Brumbeat LP' greats soon.......

HOUSE FOR SALE

Johnny Neal's South Arican house is up for sale for anyone who's interested. So far he has been approached by an agent representing three Holy men !!!

I JUST LOVE TO BE DOMINATED!!!!!

No, I'm not refering to the lovely 'Miss Katrina' in her leather clad outfits but to the world beating Watkins Dominator amplifier. This amp was the one piece of equipment that EVERY guitarist wanted to own when it first made its appearance. Not only was it the biggest British amplifier available but was the loudest, with the wind behind it, it would subject your ears to 17 watts of gut wrenching sound!!....

Anyone who was around in those Brumbeat days wanted to own this amplifier including Megan Davies who stated in her Six of the Best article, "When Martin Baggot bought a Watkins Dominator we thought we'd arrived!!"

It's styling was so unconventional from the normal 'square box' amps that were available or the wire cage Linear Conchord and it was so pretty as well. Its chevron fronted shape was meant to enhance the output sound distribution though the accuracy of that statement was very doubtful. It was avaiable in blue, maroon and some say, black and white too.

Sporting four inputs, it meant that the whole group could plug into it, as was sometines the case. It was such an icon of an amplifier, I longed to own one but never did. A couple of years back, I visited a music shop one day in Mansfield and saw one tucked away in a corner amongst some new equipment and thought to myself "I'm sure it was much bigger than that". It would be superceded quite quickly with much more powerful amps from Selmer and Vox but at the time it was THE amp.

There was of course the in-built tremolo effect, with plug-in footswitch control. If you were extremely lucky you could have had bought the Copicat echo chamber to go with it and then you could have been assured that every other guitarist would look at you with much envy as you set up your gear for the night. Preparing your echo setting for 'Apache' or 'Twenty Flight Rock'.

Watkins as a brand name then changed to WEM and Charlie Watkins amplifiers were used by many many groups during the sixties including The Move.

These days Charlie Watkins sells accordians but there is a 'Potted History' page about Watkins gear written by him at http://www.wemwatkins.co.uk/. ,should you be interested and of course there is a dedicated Watkins guitar site run by the very nice Reg Godwin (see Brumbeat Links). He has a wealth of knowledge about all things Watkins.

OK youse guys (oops, been watching too much Sopranos) thats it for this month.

Take Care and keep the information pouring in.........its your history.

Bob

Contributions and/or comments to Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com.