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
