Bulls Head Bob - Dec 2023. Happy Xmas. The Shadows. Christmas shopping. Salvation Army.

 Hello my Chickadees!!   

Happy Christmas to all of the world-wide readers of the blog.  I really appreciate your correspondence telling me your experiences....we are family.

Once again I'm full of the Spirit of Christmas and looking for appropriate gifts for Mrs Bob and the Bobettes.   The Christmas tree has been ordered to display in the bay window and I've got loads of dangly things to decorate the ceiling with.  

First things first, I would like to wish belated birthday greetings to two people who changed my life over 60 years ago, in fact they changed the whole face of guitar music for the Brits, ergo, the world!! and they are:

HANK AND BRUCE

The Shadows were the most influential group in the UK and every aspiring guitarist learned their tunes religiously.  That first sound of a Stratocaster in the hands of Hank B Marvin opened our ears and its beauty was undeniable.  

Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck, Pete Townsend and Tony Iommi were

amongst those who worshipped at the church of Hank but it was not only the tunes that attracted us, it was the technique that inspired us all and particularly the rythm guitar patterns of Bruce Welch were outstanding.   

They started at the 2i's coffee bar in Soho at the age of 15 and they have now reached the ripe old age of 81 and are still both active in showbiz.   So happy birthday to our home grown heroes and thanks for the inspiration.  One of the first records I was gifted at Christmas 1961 was this wonderful Extended Play record for less than £1.

My favourite Shads tune ever was The Savage!!  which featured in the film The Young Ones.    

They were such a great band to see Live too. 

CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

As usual at this time of year I like to proffer suggestions for Christmas gifts from cheap gifts like my Shadows EP to the ridiculously expensive to balance things out.  The first is a CD recorded by some pretty dedicated musicians who make the sound and create the Dickensian feel of Christmas as they stand outside in all weathers, in most towns and cities, making us feel all jolly as we go about our shopping.

THE SALVATION ARMY

Not only do we get to listen to some fine brass bands but any profit from sales does wonders to help the less fortunate get a bed for a night or a hot meal in the freezing cold of the winter nights.

It's less than a tenner, it's a marvellous cause to support, so do yourself and those who need help a favour by buying a CD or dropping a couple of quid into one of their collection tins and you will get the nice gift of feeling Good that you did something charitable at this time of year.   Thanks!

Now then for those who have loads of dosh how about this Christmas offering from Fender to help drain your bank balance.

I give you the

FENDER TONE MASTER PRO PEDAL BOARD 

For you guys who are hungry for more gadgets and effects pedals Fender have this pedal board on sale for a numbing price of £1.500 pounds....wtf!

I'm staggered by the cost and astounded that it comes in two pieces, the pedal board and it's own dedicated powered speaker cabinet which will set you back another £500.  It's almost like a deconstructed Fender Mustang with the inbuilt computerised effects taken out and put into a separate container but much, much more expensive.  However if you have the dosh and it makes you feel good then it's all about choice.  Happy Christmas.   

BOBS CHRISTMAS LOCATION

As this blog is published I shall be travelling North to spend the Festive Season in Manchester with the family.  I love it in Birmingham but you have to be where the kids are as you get older and your priorities change.  When I was playing in the 60's there was no finer feeling than gigging on Christmas Eve to a full dance hall, watching everyone getting into that wonderful Christmas feeling with loads of girls giving me a festive kiss or two after we played the last song and then arriving back home to a nice coal fire in the hearth and the tree glinting with its adornments.  

My Mum always stayed up till I got back home so we could drink a Whisky Mac toast together and wish each other a peaceful Christmas and a prosperous new year which is what I wish for you lovely blog readers too, it's nice to share our memories.   

I haven't got my traditional card for Oggie this year, he's never been one for celebrations and this Christmas he's not too well but I will say that I love the guy, we met when we were both 11 years old and both learned the guitar together, all of The Shadows stuff, right through to the Merseybeat days, one afternoon that stays in my head was when we learned "Sweets for my Sweet" and our practicing of the Bruce Welch rythm style made the job so much easier.   

Happy Christmas Oggie and keep breathing my friend xxx.

Be kind to each other.   Peace and Love.

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact :   Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob Nov 2023. The 60's Generation, Free Love. Streaming your own Music. Now and Then Shocker.

 Hi you Brummie chums

Do you remember all those years of over expectation then getting that weekly disappointment as Villa lost in the last minute? I thought that, my being a fan was a punishment from a greater force, for the bad things I must have done in the past.  Well I dont want to put the kibosh on their present form but it's amazing to see this performance level.   UTV!!!!

On with Motley:

Blog Comments.

Thanks for the comments on the last blog about a guitars connection to ex King Bees guitarist Geoff Brown.   I must apologise to someone who left a nice comment, he had been at school with Geoff I think?,  and hasn't seen it published.  I was reading it and in only what can be described as a Senior Moment and almost as an involuntary action, I pressed Delete!  I'm extremely sorry because once you press the 'D' button you can't get it back but do feel free to contact me anew my friend.  I'm sure that Geoff and the blog readers would be appreciative of your comments.

THE SWINGING 60's GENERATION'S REBIRTH. 

What was it that made the 60's Swing?   It was Sex...the "Pill"  arrived in 1961 the girls were now freed from the danger of pregnancy and like Bunnies we humped our way through the decade of free love and psychedelia.  That was 60 years ago so what happened to all those young free spirits, they grew up, had a bunch of kids and a mortgage, lived through amazing days, got a pension then got even older and moved into a retirement home where, like their predecessors, they live a less energetic lifestyle playing Crib or Scrabble for the rest of their days.  Well those perceptions are being obliterated by the 60's generation.

The older gals no longer need to take the Pill but now it Is the guys turn to start taking the Blue Pill and other "perk me ups" that are now freely available courtesy of Boots over the counter medications, what a dream situation we have in the UK.   

Long queues of white haired lotharios outside Boots have become common place.  Women too, buying it for 'a friend' for Christmas.

I have been reading that Care homes and Residencies have become hotbeds of sexual activity with STDs becoming more commonplace and are predicted to reach epidemic proportions in the next 12 months.    Ho Ho Ho....Merry Christmas.

STREAMING YOUR OWN MUSIC?

Your band has just invested some money to record 4 songs and release their first EP.  What a moment indeed, bursting with pride you tell everyone you know that you are now Recording Artists.  Thoughts of selling mountains of downloads fill your head and you start looking for your dream car and waiting for the invite to play at Glastonbury.   It all sounds too easy doesn't it?  

There are companies who you can register your songs with and they take a percentage of your sales for getting your music onto all the biggest Streaming Platforms like Amazon and Spotify and YouTube Music and with your quality goods, success is surely just around the corner.    Hold Hard my friends, reality is also awaiting to shatter your illusions of success because you may not know just how much you will make for each play of your music.   Here is a small chart which will help you realise your potential income:

Let's say you paid 250 dollars for the recording, another 150 to have some CD copies reproduced for sale.  To simply recover that outlay from Streaming on Spotify you would need to register 3140 streams for each 10 dollars or 125,600 plays to get your 400 bucks back less the commission you have to pay the company who has put them on Spotify.    You will have bragging rights that your material is available on line but financial rewards will be hard earned.   So perhaps you will think again if it is worth it?   Nobody said that being a musician is easy and being knocked back is par for the course but on the optimistic side of things, it only takes one self penned song to change your fate forever, so good luck to you all.

NOW AND THEN  - THE BEATLES

When the Fabs released "Free as a Bird" I was moved to tears for a week or so everytime I heard it.   Then came Real Love which wasn't that great.   It was said that the remaining Beatles had actually recorded 3 tracks recovered from a cassette of John Lennons but George Harrison had said he would NOT be a party to releasing the third song which he considered inferior material.  Well George has passed on and Macca and Ringo have now taken the opportunity to release that third track "Now and Then" and how George must be turning in his grave at this piece of Poo, it really is a shocker and so disappointing to listen to.  I strongly recommend you NOT to buy it.    What happened to their strict policy of only releasing quality?? Not impressed at all.

So that's not a very uplifting way to end this months blog but next month it's the Christmas special so something better to look forward to.

Take Care of yourselves and the ones you hold dear.

Bob

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob 

Contact:     Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob Oct 2023 - The Story of one special YAMAHA SA2200. The King Bees. Pete Oliver. Geoff Brown. The Craig. Richard Seymore

Hello Brummies, Musos of the 60s, Brummies Abroad and lovers of the greatest time in live music.

My Friends, I am full of joy, because today I reunited a beautiful baby with it's birth father.  It was an emotional moment without the need of a midwife or nappies.

THE BEE'S KNEES

There is a pulsing heart between a chosen instrument and its musician as they meld with each others vibrations, attributing each other with the sound that that combination produces.  Those instruments become cherished 'keepers' or family.

The 60's Brummie guitarist that impressed me most was Pete Oliver he knew everything and could play anything, plus the fact that he was such a nice guy.  He worked for many years working in and owning music shops.  His guitar of choice, his keeper, in the later years of his playing was his blonde Yamaha SA2000 first manufactured in 1978 and although Pete sadly passed away a few years back, his guitar can be found still sounding great in the hands of his son, Rob Oliver.  I too bought a Yamaha and I still have it.

1960's 

THE KING BEES.

GEOFF BROWN meets MRS BROWN

In 1992 YAMAHA released a new model, the SA2200 as a result of legal action with Gibson about the 2000.   The new 2200 had thinner cowhorns than its predecessor I believe, but there was little difference between the two models.   It was in this year that former, The King Bees guitarist Geoff Brown, a 1960's Brummie blues/R&B band of good repute, walked into Jack Woodroffes music emporium, loved the look and feel of the new Yamaha.  It must have been love at first sight.    Geoff then decided to make their relationship special by cutting out a brass truss rod cover, having his name engraved on it and fitting it to the guitar.  Mr and Mrs Brown were one.   After a whirlwind romance they sadly went there separate ways in 1996 when Geoffs eyes were drawn to a younger looking ARP Odyssey Synth to move to and broaden his musical horizons.    

1996.  RICHARD SEYMORE, Birmingham.

"I was out shopping in Birmingham for a guitar, I had £300 and was sure of finding a new or good, second hand guitar for that. I always liked the Back to the Future 'Johnny B Goode' Gibson" . At the guitar shop there were a variety of guitars. Richard spotted and fell in love with the wine red Yamaha but it was double the price of his budget.    A friend said "buy the Yamaha and you'll never need another guitar".   "I called my Dad and he agreed to give me the extra 300 to buy it.  

On close inspection of the guitar I noticed the brass engraved, truss rod cover plate but was too busy admiring the craftsmanship of the guitars construction. I loved it.  Neither I, nor my friends knew who Geoff Brown was.  The shop couldn't tell me either when I went back to pay for the guitar and with the internet in its infancy there wasn't much information available.  

I used it to learn the guitar, countless hours playing along to backing tapes and tabs always wandering who Geoff Brown was?.  When my fingers started to hurt I would put down Mrs Brown and unknowingly play Mr Brown's computer games!".

Some years later.....

After discovering who Geoff Brown was by way of an article written by John Woodhouse on the Brumbeat.net website, Richard was left with the quandary of where to look to find him to see if he had been the guitars previous owner.   He tried a link to Geoffs Myspace page but, alas, some time had passed since the article and Myspace had become defunct.  

In mid September Richard sent an email which plopped into my inbox as I was writing the Oct blog asking if I could help put him in contact with Geoff and I was immediately sucked into this challenge and abandoned what I was writing to concentrate my efforts in trying to resolve his "Guy meets Guitar" story but I only had 12 days to get the whole job done before publishing day.   

John W checked back on his 2019 emails and discovered

another contact address to try, so I fired off a quick email explaining the story not knowing if this was still current and Bingo!    Geoff sent an immediate reply to Richard who was overjoyed to finally find that it was the Geoff Brown who had been the original owner and to answer his questions about the guitars use in other projects that Geoff had been involved in.   (To read the article that Richard read, go to BRUMBEAT.NET, List of Bands and click on the Craig entry.  Geoff has had a remarkable life and is well worth the read.)   

These days Geoff can be found living in Mexico where he is enjoying playing gigs to full houses with his Blues outfit  FROG CITY BLUES.  He said "I played that guitar for several years and I loved it" adding "I hope it still plays well". 

Richard Seymore is currently working and living in China where he still plays occasional gigs but unfortunately Mrs Brown didn't fancy life in the Orient and has remained at home in her Case at Halesowen in the UK awaiting his return.

 A very happy Richard's reply to Geoffs email stated...

"Playing the guitar has connected me to so many amazing people around the world but I didnt think I'd end up connected to you in Mexico via the guitar I learned to play on".

FINALLY.  

This story is remarkable in that it has taken 12 days to communicate with all parties over 4 countries, Mexico, China, Canada and finally bring it all together here in the Bloggery where I added the final words at 0600 this morning, 1 Oct 2023.  It has been made possible by the enthusiasm of the participants to get this story out there and their communal love of music.  Long may it continue.   

Yamaha guitars are brilliant, for some reason the name doesn't have the kudos that Gibson and Fender have but those people who know guitars know better!!

So the blog publishes in 10 minutes when I shall be fast asleep.  I hope you enjoyed it and many thanks for your continued support for the Bulls Head Bob blogspot.

Take care of the one you love.

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

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