Bulls Head Bob - Dec 2021. Christmas gifts.....Get Back. Bob the Influencer, Tony Iommi smells!! AXYS guitar slide. Brummies Abroad. New CD Set, Once Upon a Time in the West Midlands. Oggies Card. Graham Edge.

Ho ho ho......

Hello Brummies and 60's music lovers of the world.  

Me and Mrs Bob have had our booster shots and flu jab and are all prepared for this festive month despite the worlds attempts to blow itself and us to pieces.    They all need to sit down with a warm mince pie and glass of port and have done with it all.  

In the meantime here's some possible Christmas gifts for you music lovers and particularly those with a leaning towards the panoply of talent that emerged from the great and gritty City of Birmingham during the golden days of Brumbeat..

GET BACK

Let's start with influence of The Beatles as they are the topic of the moment with the release of the 3 part Get Back documentary.   I have watched it and, my friends, it is brilliant!!   A must for Beatle fans and an educational film for Musicians and songwriters with Paul McCartney's dazzling talent writing at least 4 Beatle classics in 7 days and snatches of him working through future songs that appeared on Abbey Road and further songs he and John had worked on.  

The whole thing is riveting and the closeness of Paul and John was plain to see, as was the bitterness of George, fighting against a tide of egos and being sidelined for years.   It is a fascinating insight into a bands dynamics too.    I strongly suggest this in DVD form would be the ideal Christmas Gift. Very bingeworth at 7 and a half hours long.   

BOB the 60's INFLUENCER Strikes again!!  Tony Iommi Smells!  

Although my widely talked about line of skin creams and smellies "Smooth Out Man" appears to have come to a temporary stall in production Tony Iommi the heavy metal lothario has managed to get in there before me by launching his own fragrance for men and women!!

Yes I repeat Fragrance, that's a posh word for perfume!  It's called "Scent of Dark" a clever move by the left hander there, appealing to not only his female following.  

Now this is probably hearsay but I've heard this perfume contains some of his own Brummie testosterone in every bottle?   

Thats probably why its 550 euros for a 50ml bottle.   

Tony has also written a soundtrack to accompany the launch of "Scent of Dark" which is another smart move because it's also called "Scent of Dark".......pure genius.  It brings a new meaning to the phrase, "you smell a bit riffy".   Smellariffic is the word on the street.  Happy Christmas Tony.

It's a limited edition so get buying now for Christmas , if you've got the dosh.  If not you can hang on for my own "Smooth Out Man" range at £5 per Jerry can.  

SLIPPIN AND SLIDIN'  

Now here's a little something that would be a nice gift for the guitarist in your life for under £30 and will have them playing with this useful accessory for a few hours at least.

Playing slide guitar is an art but it's also something that limits what you can do on the fretboard because of having one of your fingers stuffed permanently into a metal or glass tube.  Not now though because this AXYS reversible slide means you can put this half pipe slide onto your finger and spin it around to play slide then spin it back round to enable playing of fretted notes as normal.  Another facet is that it comes with 3 plastic ring inserts for different finger sizes.  I bought this for a guitarist friend last year and he said it works really well.   Shop around for prices however because this is one time I don't recommend you getting it from Thomann who levy a massive €15 postage charge, not good Thomann!!

BRUMMIES ABROAD   

I haven't featured any of the Brumbeat players who have moved to distant shores for a couple of years now so for our first port of call we are winging our way to Hawaii and the home of the cuddly  

GRAHAM ASHFORD.                                                                             

Vocalist for The BRUMBEATS in the 60s, Graham did all the famous Brummie gigs and then as a bit of a brainwave the band rode on The Beatles coat tails into America by releasing an LP of Beatles covers calling themselves the Mersey Boys which got a lot of plays in the USA.  

So it wasn't strange for him to move to the states permanently where he made a good life for himself and now splits his time living in California and Hawaii where he has a band and plays live gigs.     

Graham is also a good artist and has recently  had some success with an exhibition and sale of his artwork which is also in keeping with the Hawaiian land and seascapes.

As if there is no end to his cultural escapades he accompanies his wife Caroline on stage with her Hawaiian dance routines.    Although it has to be said that the Covid situation has had a bit of a negative affect on performances these days there is also the adage "Once a Performer" and Graham embraces any opportunity to get it on.

Melakaliki muka is definitely the thing to say on a bright Hawaiian Christmas Day with these two.

Happy Christmas Graham.

From  Hawaii it's a hop over to The beaches of Ventura, California where the next Ex Brumbeat performer calls home.

JOHN FINCHAM.   

For the past few years the bars of Ventura have been throbbing to the music of good old Brit Rock courtesy of The TOSSERS featuring the delightful John Fincham, bassist and superb vocalist.  

Born and raised in Sparkbrook John had been the bassist for The Chantelles with his Beatlesque appearance and probably one of the best vocalists around. 

He later joined TRICKSTER and toured the US supporting ELO and later with BOSTON then to quote him "I just kind of stayed here" and frankly who wouldn't want to stay in the California sun.

A couple of years back he had to have a quadruple heart by pass but in true Brummie style and with massive support from his lovely partner Debbie, he fought his way back to playing gigs again.    The TOSSERS are playing but due to Covid are restricted to outdoor events only.   However it has not stopped him making a CD of traditional Christmas songs alongside Jerry Breiner, his cohort in the Tossers, which is available to download now on iTunes.  So Gracious is the time.

John far Right and Debbie 3rd right.   Jerry Breiner (left).  John was, for a couple of weeks, a member of The Uglys while Steve Gibbons was hospitalised and now we head off to Europe, Spain to be precise, where we re-unite him with ex Uglys playing mate:

WILLIE HAMMOND.   

Born and raised in Hall Green, Willie was a Brumbeat guitarist who did his first gig at 12 years old and within a couple of years had been the founder member of R&B outfit The YAMPS followed by a short time forming and playing with TRACTION till he was lured away by The UGLY'S with who he played till the bands eventual break up in 69.   

He played some gigs with other bands before , joining the RAF, toured the world, got involved in a couple of wars and a secondment with the Foreign Office where he worked behind the Iron Curtain in Soviet occupied Poland as a member of The British Embassy in Warsaw.   

Willie and his wife Linda moved to the interior of Spain in 2003 following an appearance on "A Place in the Sun" where he rekindled his passion for live performances and got a hard rockin band together again successfully getting onto the club and festival scene with a good following.   With the covid in Spain rearing its head the music scene came to a dead stop, all bars and music halls were closed down and although there was a steady improvement and gradual easing of restrictions for music events it has not got back on its feet again and even now I read that the Govt are imposing anew, the restrictions to protect against the recent Variant.   "Its not the best situation but I am hopeful of getting back on stage as soon as possible".   

Happy Christmas Will, Fingers crossed for the New Year.

However it's not all doom and gloom for Willie or for the fans of Brumbeat as this very week has seen the release of a CD box set from Cherry Red records called "Once Upon a Time in the West Midlands".  With CDs of all the best Bands from the W Midlands  and DISC ONE of the set is my favourite especially the artwork

So that's another Christmas gift for the lovers of Brumbeat and Brum Rock too.

OGGIES CARD

I have hardly missed a year when I have sent a blog Christmas card to old mate Oggie, it has tended to be girls with little clothing on but this year I thought it more appropriate to include a photo of Oggie himself.   He lived in America for more years than I can remember and then lived in Thailand for a few years too where he played in a Thai band and here is the man resplendent with his Levinson Blade strat having a great time........that's what playing music is about. 

Happy Christmas Oggie, even though he hates Christmas.  Keep breathing mate.

GRAHAM EDGE RIP.

It's a sad thing to announce the passing of Graham Edge, drummer for The Moody Blues.    Graham gave some real power and force to the best R&B group I saw live in the early to mid sixties before their radical change of musical direction that took them forward to their zenith in popularity during the latter part of the decade.   

My condolences go out to his family and friends.

FINALLY

Happy Christmas to all you readers and especially to John at BRUMBEAT.NET who has put in so much work to keep the History of Brumbeat alive, Bob Styler for his help with several things over the year and to the Skiffle King who helped start all this Rock and Roll.

Bob

Copyright: BullsheadBob

Contact: Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob - Nov 2021. "Thats the Rub". Swissonic Monitors. Beatles Get Back. Tony Iommi Rock Fossil.

 Howdoo Brummies,

I bet you are waiting to hear how my new career as a major INFLUENCER of the 60's is coming along?   Well so far I have had no interest whatsoever from TV companies for my proposed moisturiser challenge show "That's the Rub".    To be frank, I'm quite disappointed, however, on the positive side I could have found myself being rubbed with unctions by Gloria hunniford or Janet Street Fackin Porter.......ah sweet relief!!  Bring back the wrinkles.

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING FOR THE BUDGET HOME STUDIO

I traditionally utilise the month of November to pass on some ideas for the perfect gifts for musicians and lovers of music alike or maybe even some to avoid.  Not only that but hopefully put you in the right direction of kit that's reasonably priced and does the job well. 

So for musicians who like to record  your own songs, or create backing tracks to play over either in clubs and pubs or even for you "Hankies" to play The Shadows instrumentals in the privacy of their Man Cave or Ladies Lounge you need a good recorder and Last year I focused  on the Tascam 24SD recorder as a good budget, 24 track digital recording studio with everything built in and up to date technology.   The one thing that isn't built in though is a good amplifier to hear yourself through at some volume.   You could use the headphone socket or for club work connect it to your PA system but to listen to recordings at a reasonable volume you would have to buy an amplifier and speakers which means more cables and connections.  However, to keep space to a minimum I recommend that powered studio monitors are the way to go.  

You could spend a fortune on Monitors but the watchword here is budget. Do not buy monitors with anything less than a 5 inch woofer to give the bass and deep tones some resonance.   I thought I'd recommend something in the £150 range which would be a nice partner for the studio and be able to hear the recordings in good quality playback.

After much research and trials I have to say that I opted for a pair of monitors that I know will suit the needs of you writers out there and definitely gives the most "Bang for your buck" and that choice is 

SWISSONIC ASM 5

 

These stylish pair of monitors are powered by AB amplifiers rated at 60 watts which is more than enough for you to listen back and/or play over at a comfortable volume with some nice bottom end.   They weigh in at 4.5 kilos per monitor, and are sized at 185 x278x200 mms.   They really look nice!!

Monitors are more critical sound-wise than ordinary speakers and are perfect for acoustic players searching out clear, airy sounds but these babies also give plenty of oomph for you heavier types.   Thomann are the suppliers and these Swissonics sell, per pair, for about £150 which is an incredibly good price for quality.    Funnily enough I was watching a used pair of these for sale on EBay and the winning bid was £220 !! So either they were bought by someone with little knowledge of their price or was more influenced by their style or reputation!    

The Beatles Get Back.

The long awaited Peter Jackson remake of The Beatles "Let it The" sessions has been confirmed as a three part series on Disney Channel Premiering in the UK and USA starting on 25 November  2021.    There is a Get Back Book and variety of Get Back record packs. 

The DVD Is released on the same day by Disney so it could well find itself in someone's Christmas stocking this Christmas if you dont have Disney Channel like me.

A panoply of other Beatle related books and even a range of signature Dhani Harrison Ukeleles have found their way onto the market, I will have to remind myself of Dhanis Uke Hits or his expertise too.      

It's a shame that gifting music to people at Christmas has become less personal these days.  I loved to see Vynil LPs wrapped under the tree.  Downloads aren't that attractive are they?

Even though this docu film is about the end of the days of The Beatles which always saddens me, I shall watch it with fond memories of those wonderful times when the nation was a happier place to live.  It was vibrant and there was none of this Woke sense of self importance nonsense, it really is quite tiring.

TONY IOMMI - Rock Fossil 

We have had Rock Gods, Rock Monsters and Rock Dinosaurs but now Tony Iommi, the Brummy Left hander is an official Fossil.   Drepanoistodus Iommii is a recently discovered fossil of an eel like creature who last slithered across the river bed about  469 million years ago!   The fossil was discovered by a Swedish heavy metal freak and he decided to name it after "Our Tony".  

Here's a picture of it, if you look carefully you can see the likeness, obviously its moustache has disappeared over the millions of years since it existed and there's little information about its musical ability or its guitar preference but I believe it used to hunt for riffs.

FINALLY.    

The colder weather will be upon us soon and we will be settling down in the evening in front of a warm fire with our feet up.   That won't be happening to a lot of other homeless folk so if you have a couple of quid to donate please make it The Salvation Army that gets it,  they're are a wonderful organisation.    

So, until next month, take care and be kind to the one you love.  

BOB  

Copyright: BullsheadBob 

Contact: Bobsbullocks@GMail.com

Head Bob Oct 2021 - Bulls Head Bob the 60'S INFLUENCER. Famous intro ...She's Leaving Home Harpist.

Hello Playmates!!  

Here we are, October already, hopefully starting the downslope on the charts for Mister Covid and The Variants and looking forward to autumnal weather and brushing off the old Barbour Jacket to take some long walks, taking in the fresh air and, no doubt get some more rain as it's the year of the La Niña weather phenomenon. 

BOB - "INFLUENCER OF THE GOLDEN FEW GENERATION?"

I always thought that the new-fangled title of Influencer which seems to attract a fair amount of cash was reserved solely for girls with big tits who are famous for sod all or young effeminate boys stinking of moisturiser who giggle a lot into a camera.  They all have a skin care range.

I was thinking I believe I could be an Influencer of our generation.    I'm as ugly as a bat with a leathery, well worn exterior, looking for a TV  "Moisturiser Challenge" Sponsor".  If moisturiser works on me it will truly influence a whole older generation.  I've got the name Copyrighted "That's the Rub" a kind of homage to Shakespeare and Vicks vapour rub which will give it a touch of class and mentally ease your breathing at night.  Each week they will send a group of more mature celebrities to come and lather me in creams and unguents till I 'Smooth Out Man'.   If it catches the public's imagination, that will be the name of my Signature range of personal fragrances.   It's the show thats got it all.  Mrs Bob says I sometimes have natural fragrances that could take down a Baboon in a close quarters situation, she hasn't lost her way with a compliment.  

My Influencer thoughts, occurred following last months blog, where I exposed the ticket prices of Elton Johns tour exceeding £1000.00 per head, so could it have been that I subliminally Influenced his decision to cancel his 2021 tour until 2023? I read that he had reportedly tripped over something, probably his ego if you ask me, and has sustained an injury to his hip needing two years to recover, ooh dear me!.   I, being a cynical old bastard think there maybe some logic in the 2 year delay.... to give the punters more time to save up??   Who knows in this wild and whacky corporate world or, as His ELOness the Royal Jeff said in his song about himself "When I was a Boy"....."Take me back when there was no money"........I don't believe he really meant it? 

I imagine the TV world will be making contact by the end of the day.  Smooth Out Man!!   

FAMOUS MUSICAL INTROS 

SHE'S LEAVING HOME.    

What Sergeant Pepper or should I say The Beatles and George Martin bought to the world of music was the enormous leap from a 4 piece Dance Band to introducing a musical and technical soundscape that had never been heard before, every single aspect of every song was honed at Abbey Road. Many of todays effects were invented during the recording process too.   Every kind of instrument had been used including a Concert Harp for the intro to the gorgeous She's Leaving Home.    

I recall first hearing the beautiful intro of the Harp melody line, as it flew like a musical butterfly from bar to bar, preparing us for the melancholy to follow.   Sheila Bromberg was the Harpist on the recording and said she had been booked for a 4 hour session but didn't know for who until Paul appeared, she was very pleased to be on a Beatles recording.  The session was endless repetition which angered some of those present.   As is oft the case they used the first take but double tracked it with a tad of delay later on.

This timeless melody, played probably a Zillion times earned Sheila £9 pounds.

That's a little over £2 pounds per hour.

Sheila sadly passed away in August 2021 but her legacy will live on forever.   

FINALLY.   I'm busy, up a ladder renovating some old stonework while the idiot Toilet Roll buyers and Petrol hoarders go mad.  I feel like that in this generation we have created a monster. 

Bob  

copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

Bulls Head Bob Sep 2021 - Turning Professional in the 60's. Playing in Europe - Its a Jungle. DON EVERLY. ROBERT PLANT.

 Hello Brummies,

Especially to all the Musicians, and Ladies of the Night, of whom I knew a few.   

I am incredibly lucky to still be in touch with the members of the first band I played with from 14 to 17 when we were semi pro and had our greatest fun.  Had our share of screaming girls too!!!  I treasure those days.  Turning professional was always a desire but it came at a price and to think of it as a job was difficult at a tender age

So,  .....  17 almost 18 years old, turned professional.  Rest of the band 7 years older than me.  Music, music, music...strict rehearsals, more rehearsals, new clothes, photographers, acting like a pro..... First gig in 7 days..  Bigger stages with lots more Girls, Screaming, Robbers and thieves, car salesmen, Girls, agents, musicians, Music, music, clothes, parties, crooks for company.   Recording studios, Wide eyed 18... still whizzing along having a ball, loving life, living fast, brilliant tight band dedicated to music, music, Girls, vodka, vodka and lime, Brandy and lime, Scotch and Coke with a slice of lemon for breakfast. Night Club owners, dubious bastards, Red Wine, Jug of Pimms with added Vodka, hohoho! Then on to some small exotic hideaway. Then I did it all again the day after, with occasional food.  It might not have been everybody's lifestyle but mine just happened that way.  I  sure had fun!! Completely irresponsible, naive, easily lead, looking for affection wherever I could find it.  Just One amazing real friend.  Then I woke one day to find I was 21, injured and alone.   

Thousands of musicians have had that same story in the world of Music, others don't, so the message is enjoy it to the full while you can, keeping one eye on your horizons and the other on your back.

I have a friend of many years who I have great respect for.  We haven't physically met but his music life events mirror mine, with minor differences, including being blighted by the same people.  So I know that the description I just gave was true because it happened to him too, although he "enjoyed" life a little more than I.  We are good therapy for each other. 

Tony Iommi joined Jethro Tull for a short while, even appearing on the Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus show.  He left Tull for those same 'work like' reasons that turning pro brings, and with that particular band, but he took the work ethic back to play with the people he loved to play with, Black Sabbath and it worked.   

TOURING IN EUROPE.

There has been a great deal of moaning and groaning about playing in Europe and its added expense for Visas since Brexit.   The good news is, since Brexit, 19 of the 26 countries in the European Union that pay the Brussels wages have changed their stance and will once again allow Visa free tours of British musicians.   If you have to buy an individual euro Visa it is £6 and it lasts 3 years which isn't a great strain

The majority of complaining came from Elton John but he wasn't speaking for the small bands, he was spouting off on his Political Euro Remainer platform which I believe was his only motive.  He is not a poor suffering musician, eaking out the takings on the road.   I looked at his 2023 tour which is being booked now and for Me and Mrs Bob to sit 25 rows back from the stage we would have to pay £1002.00 pounds EACH!!!  Meanwhile the majority of his road crew and techies are on minimum wage, I'm sure he can squeeze a little more money for them, even if it's just refunding the £6 fee.

The REAL problem for the many British semi pro bands, holding down a 9 to 5 job, who spend the year finding gigs in European countries and pile into a camper van with their kit and do a "European tour" for a week during their annual holidays is that they will only be gaining experience, they will never come back with dosh, it doesn't happen.  

The French are a real problem, "Ooo what a surprise!!"......because if you arrive off the ferry in France enroute to your final destination the French customs demand that a customs seal is placed on your van to stop you unloading and playing gigs in France.  Its 500€.  In 1966 The Uglys spent a night in a French jail for not doing that very thing whilst en route to Finland.  Two of them, Dave Pegg and Roger Hill, left shortly after they got back.

I imagine that everyone knows about the Beatles Hamburg days sleeping in a broom closet with hardly any money, George being thrown out of Germany for being underage followed by the rest of the band being thrown out too for setting fire to a Durex pinned to a wall and the club owner reported them to the Police for not having a work permit.

Touring abroad always has, and will always be, fraught with difficulty. It's all a rite of passage, so not much has changed in reality.

Booking dates financially in Europe are normally based on ticket sales or "on the door" takings.    So when your mate says "we're playing at a festival with 12 other bands in Portugal" whilst on their European tour, this is often the reality:

With, as shown here, only handfuls of people attending gigs.   Another band I know advertised on their social platform a "3 date Spanish tour"., the first one was inside an all-day breakfast cafe, the next playing outside a furniture store and the last at the holiday home of one of the band members.   

"What's five eighths of fuck all"???

If you want to see European touring in action I recommend you watch the DVD "The Story of Anvil".  You see the ugly side of Euro touring on top of the Song Contest being Shit!

DON EVERLY.  

Don Everly was the last living member of The Everly Brothers who, along with his brother Phil conquered the world with their beautiful harmonies and well honed pop songs of the late 50's through to the end of the 60's, he passed away recently and were it not for the death of Charlie Watts it would have been bigger news.  The Everly Brothers were an institution with a bench mark vocal sound. 

Before the advent of The Everly Brothers harmony wasn't a feature with early British duos singing in unison.  However once you locked yourself into their songs and enjoyed their familial 2 part vocal harmonies you were hooked.   I recall singing the high harmony to "When will I be loved" for the first time at a gig at The Mermaid , Sparkbrook on the Stratford Road and I loved the sound.  I felt like I had made a step forward as I had only concentrated on playing guitar

They had hit after hit and we learned most of them.  They weren't averse to playing

some good rock and roll too with the truly great song "The Price of Love" which was later wrecked by Brian Ferry.  Being brothers there was tension between them and they split up for a few years but got back together.  They recorded a Paul McCartney song "On the Wings of a Nightingale" for their reunion LP in 1984 and did some dates but were never the same before their falling out.

Phil died in 2014 and Don had made his only solo LP which I have but was never knocked out by it.

Graham Nash relates in his book how he and Allan Clarke of The Hollies, pre fame, were well into the Everlys harmony sound and hung around a hotel in Manchester following an early Everlys concert and got to chat to the guys, remarking how nice they had been to them.

Let it be Me, Cathy's Clown, Ebony Eyes, Wake up Little Susie, the list of gorgeous songs with uplifting harmonies was long and taught us all a lesson in the beauty of simplicity.   A lesson well learned by this grateful recipient.

ROBERT PLANT.   

Wishing Planty a happy birthday, 20 Aug. 

He is still out gigging with his band Saving Grace.    Every one of those lines and wrinkles tells a story.  

I knew him when he was pretty!!

Mrs Bob has told me that the Adam's Apple is just an enlarged larynx that all men have.   Robert Plant keeps his in a barn and takes it out for gigs....true! 

So, take care you lovely people, us Brumbeat survivors have had the best of times and it was a pleasure to be in your company.  Well, with a couple of exceptions.

Take Care, be Careful, be Kind.  

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob

Contact: Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob - Aug 2021. Hofner Club the rythmn sound of 63 JOHN MCNALLY. Vintage Hofners. Brumbeat Birthdays. JOHNNY NEAL, STEVE GIBBONS

Hello you Guys!  

Summer truly arrived with some heat this year, who needs to fly to France and Spain when we have this beautiful weather and no Euro-Hassle at the other end!!  Taking the Bobettes to the park for a picnic and family fun is surely the best antidote to a miserable year locked down in the house.  Family is what the good life is all about, not saving your money all year just to experience some snotty waiter in Paris refusing to take your order because you dont speak good French!    Well, to be honest, I got 5% in my French exam in the final year at school and that was for filling in my name on the exam paper, so he might have had a point?  I was trying to impress a girl so I pointed at things and then just spoke some French 'sounds', full well knowing they weren't words at all, in between pointy gestures and, carried away by my success, I added a closing phrase about the wine..???  OK that's enough of that, time to return to 1963 when wine was exotic and only entered the house at Christmas.

HOFNER CLUB - THE SOUND OF 63

The range of Hofner guitars in the early sixties included the Hofner Club, a small bodied, semi acoustic guitar that I had no affection for at all.  For a start it wasn't a solid body or red and, if that was enough, IT WASN'T RED!   All my musical friends excepting Kevin Sanders, who had a Blonde Club, had either Hofner "Strat-alikes" or the Watkins Rapier equivalent...in Red.  Hofners were for playing the clean sound of the day.    It has to be said though that the Hofner Club's crisp and clean sound was the "sound of 63" with the early recordings of The Searchers, starting with "Sweets for my Sweet" in the hands of ace rythmn guitarist, John Mcnally, and on that first hit he was playing 5 rhythm strokes to each beat and it soared to the Number 1 spot on the charts.    I think he was known as "the fastest rythmn guitarist in Liverpool"..

The song was a cover, originally released by The Drifters as an album track and in a samba rythmn, which meant it was lacking in "bite" and the Searchers revved it up in 4/4.    The Searchers follow up track "Sugar and Spice" was given the McNally treatment as well and for probably the first time the dominant instrument on the two top ten hits was the rythmn guitar and more specifically the sound of the Hofner Club 60.  The song was written by Tony Hatch and in effect was a re-write of their first hit.  That too raced up the charts to No 2.  Meanwhile in Burmingham Me and Oggie, still at school, him more than me, learned them both at his house, stood round the Dansette with our electric guitars unplugged and swapping who played the lead and who played THAT rythmn!

Given that The Searchers and The Beatles were both Liverpool bands and had played many times on the same bill before achieving fame makes me think that The Beatles "All my Loving" rhythm guitar might have been adopted and adapted from McNallys style and on their 63 Lp "With The Beatles" 

John Lennon and George Harrison both had a Hofner Club 40 (the single pick up model) from the infant days of The Quarrymen and McCartney used Lennons "hand me down" during their early days in Hamburg when his Rosetti Lucky 7 fell to bits, as they all did and prior to him moving onto bass guitar.  He bought the Hofner violin bass as it was cheap and had a design that meant it looked the same played left or right handed.

The violin bass went on to be a favourite with bands as it was lightweight and more than effective in the thumping bass sound. It is an iconic instrument.  The future of the Hofner Club model stopped dead in its tracks really until the 90s when some Hofner models were back in the shops as re-issues even including a "John Lennon" Club 40 which says more about corporate greed than fact, given that he gave it away and didn't record anything with it! It wasn't special and maybe it was the one he stole?

There was a John McNally special though, of which I know little about, other than to say that it was a "signature" model fully deserving of that tag attribution and if you wanted that authentic sound there could be no one more worthy.   The Searchers sound after those first two hits was mainly dominated by the Rickenbacker 12 string.  

As a band The Searchers had been at odds with each other from the beginning with Tony Jackson leaving the band after their first 2 hits followed by drummer Chris Curtis.   Over the years they all had variants of the band touring around.  I believe The Searchers are now defunct and for sure, the great John McNally has retired.

If you are a Hofner fan then please visit the lovely Steve Russell's Vintage Hofner web page at www.vintagehofner.co.uk where there is so much more information on these classic oldsters.

Here is one that is currently on sale at Vintage and Rare if you have an appetite to own it and have 2,500 Euros to spare.

It was only as I was writing this article that I realised that the band never had any self penned hits?  I did a couple of gigs on the same bill with them, one of those at The Belfry and they were a really polished act.  Like The Hollies and Rockin Berries they had become more accustomed to playing on the cabaret circuit.   BOB FACT:  The Byrds based their 12 string sound on that of The Searchers not The Beatles.

RECENT BRUMBEAT BIRTHDAYS

The Brumbeat generation are getting fewer and older but are still active.    So in the latter half of July two significant Birthdays were celebrated by.

JOHNNY NEAL

Johnny Neal and The Starliners were ever present on the scene during the 60s and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that John was the First of the Rockers in Birmingham.  He went on to have a stunning success in South Africa where he lived for many years before returning home to Brum some years back.   A song he recorded with ex Starliners keyboard player Geoff Nicholls titled "Ever seen a Man Cry" is currently riding the airwaves in Brazil and has been covered by several bands.  Geoff had graduated from the Starliners to being the keyboard player for Black Sabbath for many years but sadly passed away in 2017.  I'm sorry he didn't get to know about this success.

STEVE GIBBONS

Steve Gibbons celebrated his 80th Birthday 2 weeks ago.   Steve has a long history as vocalist for brilliant Brummie band The Uglys and having a chart hit with a Chuck Berry cover of "Tulane" way back in 1977 with his own band.  Steve continues his musical journey gigging around the country and long may he continue to do so.  

FINALLY   

Its good to see folk getting back on their feet, on the way forward to winning the battle against the virus and discovering normality for a while.   Lets remember though, it's still about and although we have been told it's not obligatory to wear a mask, it's your choice.  They have been wearing them in Japan for years and years.  

UTV!!!

Bob.

Copyright:   Bullsheadbob

Contact:   Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bob

BULLS HEAD BOB JULY 21 UPDATE! READ THIS TODAY...ACT NOW...NOW...YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE IT!! MUSICIANS OVER 65

 Hello my Friends 

My good mate Tom Lane sent me THIS.  It is open to musicians OVER 65....

NOW IS YOUR CHANCE TO BE A STAR

ACT NOW!!

BULLS HEAD BOB JULY 2021 - BOX SET RELEASE MADNESS! GEORGE HARRISON. ERIC CLAPTON.THE SUNDAY MERCURY. NOGA..

Hello Brummies, mates, ex girlfriends of which there are too many to mention, all mates abroad and of course Pluki my Japanese loft-boy friend.....

I haven't played a gig yet but the house smells of fresh paint, there's 'newly sawn' wood smell emanating from a recent and challenging floorboard repair job and a different wall covering in the dining room for when we open the house again.  I don't know how Mrs Bob fits it all in to her weeks busy schedule?   I'm glad I bought her the Dremmel mini drill for our wedding anniversary, helped her a lot.  For my part I'm pleased to say that my finger tips are in tip top shape, lovely and smooth, ready for some geetar action And I've been practising a new autograph signature!!  Being an artiste is all about presentation, don't want to let the public down.

BOX SET RELEASES.  HAS THE WORLD GONE MAD?

Now theres one thing about box sets these days that get my goat and that is the amount of unnecessary garbage that gets included, failed takes, different mixes and things like that.  I have a few box sets, that is, more than one LP in a box, amongst them, Woodstock, Concert for Bangladesh - George Harrison, and the truly lovely Gift from a Flower to a Garden by Donovan.  Of course I have The Beatles anthology but hardly play any of it, to me it is/was a useful tool for songwriting purposes, hearing the same kind of mistakes I would make and then hearing how they got around problems or their inspirations.

So now there are some new Box Sets on the way that are quite staggering. The first being The 50th Anniversary of the release of 'All Things Must Pass' by the late but delightful George Harrison.   I have admired George for many a year and whilst he would not be rated by most guitarists as a top flight guitarist in the technical or speedy sense he had the greatest quality of playing just the right tasteful thing at the right time to suit the song as a whole entity, his slide playing was gorgeous and individualistic and knew some beautiful chords at an early age.  Paul McCartney said that George's four note introductory phrase to  'And I Love Her' which repeats throughout the song, IS the most important facet, it introduces melancholy from the first note and carries the sentiment without a word being sung.   It would be a couple of years after gaining their fame that George put together some nice songs of his own but I think I could really count his great stuff on two hands.   "Isn't it a Pity" has always been my fave and I often wonder what it would have been like had The Beatles worked together to hone it to perfection, this song would have sat well on Abbey Road, along with the Lennon and McCartney songs about themselves breaking up.

There are clips of them jamming All Things must Pass whilst filming Let it Be but John Lennon couldn't have been less interested, it was all over for him besotted with Joko and heroin.  That aside, you can buy the re-issued Double CD for £21 then there are a plethora of other options and packages to purchase until you reach the zenith of the treasure chest..........

UBER DELUXE VERSION....TAKE A DEEP BREATH

So here is the most expensive box set to date the Uber Deluxe Box set comes in a wooden crate and contains 8 vinyl LPs, 5 CDs in 3 different mixes plus Bluray, a large scrap book, small book about the recording, a book mark and beads.   There is also a Klaus Voorman print a miniature set of gnomes and George, as per the original cover photo.  The latter will be the main attraction to the collectors out there.  There are another 70 audio tracks too but these are alternative takes, jam sessions etc which, as previously stated are, in my humble opinion, package fillers.   This set commands the price of.....£859.00.  Available through selected outlets   The blurb about the release says it is a limited edition but fails to state how many of these will be available or if it is a "one time release" which is important if you are laying out some serious moolah for a collectible item.  I would be happier if it was a numbered item i.e. 1 of 2000 etc.

It's a fact that limited editions of Beatles stuff rises in price but I'm not convinced that this, apart from the George and gnomes box will be in that category.  You pay your money you take your chance.  

ERIC CLAPTON - AFTER MIDNIGHT

No stranger to box set releases, Eric Clapton has an autumnal release box set too! 

It's a re-release of his first solo offering all those years ago "After Midnight" it comes as a four CD set which are four different mixes similar to George Harrisons format,  plus a book.  It was a great LP and showed how he had changed his style after his stint with Bonnie and Delaney, alongside Harrison.  He will be releasing another deluxe set of the same LP but as a 7 vynil LP Set later this year with this set selling  for close to £400.

I can understand a re-release of an old recording that has been given the treatment but just why would I want a host of alternative mixes? It just really leaves me cold to be honest and it's a trend that I wish would end right now.

Sunday Mercury Delivering

Birminghams Music History

During the past few years it has become more noticeable that The Sunday Mercury, a newspaper that I used to get for my Dad on a Sunday Morning so we could read about the Villa, has been offering up some wonderful articles on the History of Brummie music and musicians thanks to reporter Mike Lockley and in the last week of June featured my article on the "Recording of Go Now", the single best recorded song made by the Moody Blues original line up featuring the supercharged voice of the great Denny Laine.   Why not pick up a copy this weekend to see who might be featuring from your music past.   Not since the demise of Midland Beat has Brum had a paper that features so many great midlands musicians.

JOHNNY 'Noga' NEAL .  

Those of us who have known Johnny Neal, former Brumbeat and Rock and Roll star, for some time will know he had the nickname of "Noga" from an era when youths would gather together on street corners and sing songs a capella. 

It is still pretty commonplace for old 60s stars to be a big name in "foreign parts" but you have to be a real star to have a building named after you.  I came across this Edifice whilst walking around Seville.

So much bigger than a paving stone with your name on.  

FINALLY    

Summer is on the way so do enjoy yourselves after the lockdown and well done for fighting the fight.  Take care of each other and most of all, be kind and understanding.  Great to see Super Jack light up the England team...UTV.

Bob

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob

Contact  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob May 2021. Just When did the 60's Begin to Swing in Great Britain??

 Hello you Groovy Kids, the Wimpey Bar generation, when a burger was cooked in front of you and tasted nice.   A special Hello to all of you guys n' gals who lived in Birmingham during the 60's through the greatest age of live music ever known.  I often refer to us as The Golden Few.

I was thinking about that defining moment when things went meteoric in the legendary Swingin' 60's musically.  

In 1960 we had had the first proper home grown British Rock song "Move it" by Cliff and The Shadows and shortly after the globally iconic, Shakin' All Over and for the first time we had rock and roll Riffs and dynamic openings of our own, the Shakin' opening riff was an adaptation of Hank Marvin's opening on Move It so that's where it started in the 60's, it had to start somewhere but it still took a couple of more years before it went into hyperdrive.  It was the best of days for live music for the younger generation played by the youth of the day but was largely based on the R&B output of Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and a smattering of Cliff and The Shads. An expected set list from all the fledgling groups to copy.  We all did the same songs, only the faces changed. It still wasn't swingin' though.

Jazz clubs closed in their hundreds and even thinking about folk music was declared illegal.  Bearded men smoking pipes and wearing chunky knitted sweaters were driven underground where they could lament the "Cold North winds blowing up their Bonnie Wee Kilts" in private. 

It was now a new Rock and Roll but slightly more aggressive and louder, there were amplifiers that generated power and the kids loved it, it was anti establishment, every kid that has ever been has heard the shouted phrase "Turn that music down" identifying immediately as the moment of the generational split in every child/adult relationship.   Elvis and Jerry Lee Lewis  were still going strong until October 1962 but girls didn't want to jive anymore, there were other dance crazes and fashions changes and early British rock was incredibly important but very short lived, which was the very moment Englands music pendulum started its first swing cycle and was the day someone mentioned to me, The Beatles and "Love me Do".  

That was 59 years ago, more than a lifetime for many and I've done a million other things in my life since then and had many experiences so why is it I remember it like it was yesterday? To be precise it is the actual moment that some kid asked me if I'd heard of The Beatles that I remember, I can even hear the traffic noise on Stratford Road, Sparkhill under a cloudy evening sky.  He told me they were French. At that time The Tornadoes were at No 1 with "Telstar" and were the ONLY Group in the pop charts.  Things were about to change.

We all know what happened from then but even after that memory moment it was probably 1963 when it really started going "Ape" and Great Britain specifically rode the crest of the musical wave for years, producing the worlds greatest influencing groups and fashions.  It swung alright, it screamed in like a hurricane and London was a magnet to the worlds trendy elite.    That is not to say that was where the best bands were but it was the centre of the entertainment industry so that's where you had to be, to be seen at the right places.   John Lennon said that was the time he loved the most "We were kings".

John Lennon died 40 years ago. 

George Harrison died 20 years ago.

I remember it all so well, in fine detail and full colour.  I recognise today, from the outside looking in, people dont even see the old guy with his memories walking down the same street in Birmingham where once, I was told about The Beatles.    I imagine that in these times of uncertainty they could well experience their moment of enlightenment just like I did at some time and maybe 59 years from now will reflect on their greater days with as much affection as I have.

It was such a long time ago, I feel at times that I should let it all go and get on with being an old git but it still has me by the throat, the desire to make music is still strong, occasionally needing a kick start to get me out of the chair but once I'm plugged in and start playing the opening riff to "Little Queenie" I'm back on stage at The Plaza. Feeling like a king too.

It will never, ever be as good as those times we experienced then.

I hope you're now all jabbed up.  Great Britain was lucky to have had a quick thinking, strong government during this pandemic.  Up the Villa!!

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob

Contact.    Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

  

Bulls Head Bob April 2021 - FREE!! 1971 FENDER PRECISION BASS. SHOCKING!! 1960's PHOTO OF MRS BOB!

Howdoo Brummies, Chums, musos, mates overseas, Ex girlfriends and of course, Pluki my Japanese "loft boy" fan.

I know its the first of April but want you to know that everything in this blog is true.  A FREE fender bass AND a SHOCKING photo of Mrs Bob. 

Well last month on TV we were treated to a display of spite, dreadful acting, sulking,  untruths and twisted facts from an American and a puppy, woof woof!  However it proved to be nothing more than an unwanted, unimportant display of greed and self importance a diversion from my daily trudge through life, constantly depressed because I don't live in a mansion, I'm not a Prince, I'll never be a millionaire because I'm a musician and a pensioner and I don't have slaves to bully who fail to attend to my every unreasonable whim.   I'm glad my life isn't as tough as theirs, fancy not knowing where the next million will come from?  I approached the media with my story of a disadvantaged life but strangely there was no interest, not even from FOX news.

FREE 1971 Fender Precision Bass

The most popular bass guitar ever made, it is pure class and its' deep tri-colour Sunburst finish is achieved, in part I'm told, by being caressed for 24 hours by a smokey eyed, dusky maiden from foreign shores.   Whether the latter part of that is true, could just be another myth attributed to the intrigue of this magnificent guitar.  

A lot of bassists insist on that vintage sound available from pre CBS models of this iconic instrument, so much so, that they are willing to lay out around £3000 for one, so it would be a dream to get a free one wouldn't it? Just a dream.    

That dream came true for John Woodhouse though, editor of BRUMBEAT.net, the very person who permits me to lodge myself in his 'cupboard of convenience' for the blog at the world famous Brumbeat Towers.    

He sent me his annual Invoice for my cupboard occupancy and along with it the news that some years ago he received a nice gift

of a 71 Fender Precision bass from an old friend of the family, a certain "Mr Rex"......a former jazz and social cabaret band player for many years around the clubs,

Mr Rex!

and around the world.   For many of those years he had played a double bass so the Fender hadn't been slung around the stage by some drunken rocker or in fact, left the shores of the UK. It had spent a lot of time in its original case and the above picture is how John opened the case all neatly organised with Burns Bison strings and set lists, clubland cards with booking agents phone numbers.  A real treasure chest of provenance and we all know that.......

PROVENANCE IS KING.

These days, the second hand market for guitars is full of copies of classic guitars and having proof of authenticity is everything and it's not just a receipt that counts.  Like us humans, old guitars develop characteristics of their past life.  Buckle rash on the back, cracks in the varnish, pitting of the chromeware where sweat has got into the scratches and formed little spots of oxidation, not pretty but pretty unfakeable.

John said, "What struck me was that unmistakeable musty smell when I first opened the case" (then he gets a little more bass player-ish)........" I sniffed the scratchplate, and it had the right smell, you know? Age and authenticity past gigs, stale beer and cigarette smoke".

One can see the beauty of this guitar in it's original condition, original case, nothing swapped out, just as it was made and has paid its dues and taken some light knocks. However, no matter how beautiful, I might not have given it the scratchplate sniff test but then again, I'm not a bass player?   

And here it is, a thing of beauty, with it's new owner, the very lovely and very lucky John Woodhouse, we all owe him a debt of gratitude for the time and effort he put into the greatest Web Site for bands of the West Midlands of the 60's.  BRUMBEAT.NET.

He says he's not even going to change the strings. That's a nice thing from a great guy.  Its in good hands I think, I say "think" because John confessed to me in a moment of weakness that he had thrown a Selmer 50 watt Crocodile skin amplifier into a SKIP.

I wish I had someone like Mr Rex!!   

SHOCKING 1960's PHOTO OF MRS BOB

During the lockdown I went into the attic looking for old photos, as one does, and came across a photo of Mrs Bob, the woman I love, Mother to the Bobettes and General Builder and Plumber in residence.   I found several including the one below, which is of Mrs Bob and her family on holiday in Blackpool in 1960, the very year of the birth of Brumbeat and the swinging 60's.   Within a year I would be playing my first gig and she would develop a liking for The Bunty, that famous girls comic.  You can tell that she was 'before her time", in a fashion sense, for having John Lennon glasses before he was even famous.  She would have been great in The Shining.

She was from "up t'North" and me from Brum, we met in Newquay, Cornwall where she had spent some years as a bareback rider for Billy Smart.

She looked just the same but with a horse underneath her. It's no wonder I found her so irresistable.  Love the one you're with....

FINALLY

The UK is the greatest place on earth and dont you forget it!!

UTV!!

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob

Contact:    Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com