STREWTH SHEILA! IT'S THE 100th AUSTRALIAN ANNIVERSARY
BOB'S AMAZING AUSTRALIAN FACT FILE!!
FACT 1. Just to give you, the BHB bloggies, a sneaky peek into the status of my international music success, I can disclose right here that I'm actually known in Alice Springs!! "Well blow me down!" you must be saying, "that famous eh?".
So, if you visit Alice Springs, you could always ask around for me, I probably won't be there but I am known there, it's just a matter of physical substance that makes the difference. You could still bathe in the ambience.
You just try asking anyone you meet there "Excuse me, have you seen Bob?", I bet you that practically all of them will either say Bob? or by the other name I'm affectionately known as, 'Boboo'.
FACT 2. BRUMBEAT FACT. Any mention of Brummie success in Aus has to include Birmingham's own The Ugly's who had a
FACT 3. My Uncle Bill drowned on Bondi Beach. Sad but true.
No worries though, he could have been eaten by sharks or crocodiles, bitten by spiders or snakes, infested with mice or any of the other hundred ways to die, only to be found in Australia.....life's for living right?
FACT 4. Not everyone who lives there is called Sheila or Bruce..... Kylie's a thing of the past too...evolution.
Back to the West Midlands.
FAIRFIELD SKI
It was only when they were joined by Bill Bonham did they change their name to Fairfield Ski.
They appear to have also been known as Fairfield 'Sky' but just to set the record straight, they got their 'Ski' name from their ex-managers wife Ellen, who spoke fluent Russian so they called her Ellenski and eventually simply 'ski'.
I don't want any smart alec out there pestering me for "why Fairfield then Bob?"
So anyway, the CD release is imminent and will be released sometime in July on the European label 'Guersen', I can't actually give you precise details of the release but please let me direct all you fans of Fairfield Ski to visit their Facebook Page
www.facebook.com/FairfieldSki.
...where you can find all the news about the band's CD release, see the artwork, hear a track or two and explore the gory details of how much it costs and things like that. I sincerely wish you guys good luck! and am pleased to see that this previously planned release has at last become a reality. Great to have a bit of good news to announce.
THE STONES VS THE BEATLES
If you were there during the sixties, there was always that basic music question of which of the two bands you preferred? That sounds simplistic when referring to the two biggest bands ever. Weren't we lucky?
I'm a Beatles man, no denying it, through and through, and at the last poll, 80% of the public agreed with me.
Like all bands though, there were off-stage friendships and on-stage rivalries at every level including these two mammoths of rock. This competitive band rivalry was re-visited and re-ignited in the 90's by the media, in their carbon-copy hype of the 60's, re-badged as 'Britpop' during the Blur/Oasis days. Blur declaring themselves the reincarnation of The Kinks, during their psychedelic whimsical period and Oasis dressing exactly the same as the cover of The Beatles Rubber Soul LP and imitating the Beatles guitar sound of that period......they certainly were not The Beatles but there was some good music made by both of those bands during Britpop.
That inter-band rivalry situation was captured so perfectly in the legendary film, Spinal Tap when David St Hubbins was talking about another band's singer.
"He was so crap, the crowd were still booing him, while we were playing!"
Here's something though. If you want to hear John Lennon's opinion on Mick Jagger and the Stones? click on the link below and listen to a very short, but very interesting, interview with John Lennon. His biting assessment of Jagger is so harsh and although, in truth, I agree with everything he says, he seemed to me to have some kind of preoccupation about Jagger.
Lennon also wrote "And Your Bird Can Sing" about Mick Jagger with the 'Bird' in the title referring to Marianne Faithful..........."but you don't get me!".
Worth a visit:
Click Here : http://youtu.be/E-b3fRisu50GREAT BRUMBEAT GIGS
THE MORGUE,
THE KINGS HEAD, BEARWOOD
THE UGLY'S
Given this blog's Australian theme, I have had the pleasure to recently have this just drop into my lap, a previously unpublished, photo of The Ugly's, taken by the bands manager, John Singer, well that is Steve Gibbons, Willie Hammond and Dave Morgan sat having a beer. One of the best vocal front-line's of all the Brummie 60's bands, brilliant harmonies from these three. Some of you, along with me will recognise the Brumbeat Gig location too, it's The Kings Head at Bearwood, situated at the end of the Hagley Road that had a dance Club named The Morgue where groups like The Uglys, The Moody Blues and The Spencer Davis Group among many others played in the cellars of this large boozer which had been painted black and had skeletons hanging on the wall and things. This pictured seating area was above The Morgue and was a great venue to play at particularly during the summer months, the venue was promoted by John Singer. I was last there in 2005 and they were still having bands then. it's probably a franchise joint by now.
 |
| (L-R The Uglys, Gibbo, Willie and Dave. copyright: The Uglys)
Fantastically, all of these three guys are still playing live, great eh?? Never stop playing is the message here.
THE SALOPIAN DUDES Talking about never stopping playing. As notified in the last blog, ex-Redcaps Mickey Walker and Alan Morley with new guitarist Steve Field aka The Salopian Dudes are pictured here in action at their first gig at Worfield Cricket Club back in May. I'm always tempted to crack a joke about falling off the back of a lorry but I imagine that Mickey would have used that line already!! Great to see you two guys back in action. I notice that Mick had borrowed Popeye's right forearm to get a bit more bottom out of his bass. "Go on mate". Seriously great voice and bassist....really one of the very best and along with Alan these pair were a serious part of the Brummie early 60's music scene, one of the most musically respected bands, so do try and get to see them or if you're a promoter book them for some gigs.  ROCK LEGENDS  to reform their original line up of The Pirates.... I'd be there myself but am gigging elsewhere at the same time. FEMINIST NEWS |
Just when you thought you'd reached the top of the 'Men are to Blame' heap!!
FOOTBALL ROUND UP
Well with the new football season on the horizon and despite their best efforts, Birmingham City remained in the Championship. The Baggies did remarkably well and the mighty Villa showed their strength and determination
in the latter third of the season and battled through to stay up in the Premiership. I'm pretty sure that we will, as Brummies and most certainly if you're a Villa supporter, enjoy the fortunes of our teams this year.
Finally....
'Her indoors' is coming back from a family visit this weekend so I'm eradicating the smell of fish and chips, curries, Pizzas, you know anything you don't have to cook for yourself when you've been busy all week slaying aliens on 'Halo' 1, 2 and 3, having a Beer and Beatles Day which entailed getting up, allowing myself a civilised cup of tea then it was the whole of the Beatles LP's in chronological order at a staggering volume, accompanied by copious amounts of beer.....pure art. No matter how many times I listen to it, their catalogue of songs is monumental, their instinctive insight as to what was innovative and quality is simply breathtaking. The recordings themselves are vibrant with energy and enthusiasm right from their first LP. It really pisses me off when I hear them referred to as the first 'Boy Band'??
If you've watched 'Searchin for Sugarman' and enjoyed it
then you should really watch 'The Story of Anvil', both great DVD's. They both go well with a large bowl of hot Chili con Carne,Rice, Fajitas and naturally, copious amounts of beer!!.
Bob
Copyright: BullsHeadBob
contact: Bobsbullocks@GMail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment