Bulls Head Bob Mar 2025. Jimmy Holden RIP.

 Hi you Brummies, Brummies Abroad.   

My apologies for the absence of the February blog but with one of the Bobettes being taken into hospital at the end of Jan my focus has been on her recovery.  

JIM HOLDEN  RIP 

On the 29th of January, Jimmy Holden, ex Uglys drummer and founder of the band was laid to rest at the Lodge Hill Crematorium,  his funeral was attended by the many friends Jim had.    He had the nicest of personalities and was loved by all the Brummie Musicians of the day.  

Jim had formed The Dominettes who had then become The Uglys in 64, named after some hideous looking bouncers at a nightclub.   The name struck a chord with the public and the band took off in a big way scoring a Pye Records deal in 1965 with a self penned song "Wake up My Mind" which, although getting plenty of airplay was not a hit in the UK, amazingly however it became a Number 1 hit in Australia.  The band were being lined up to go there on The Rolling Stones tour of the same year, however the Aussie Musicians Union wouldn't permit another British band on the Bill.  The song would become famous as being the first "Socially Conscious" piece of music and its lyrics featured as part of the curriculum of Newcastle University sociology degree course.

Jim was one of the nicest guys you could meet, always interested in others peoples lives and good at lending an ear to others problems.    He was also a great group drummer, he wasn't the most technical but was the glue that held the Uglys together in the same manner that Ringo did in The Beatles, simple but effective.  Always smiling and never happier than when he was sat behind his drum kit.    He especially loved his contribution on "The Quiet Explosion" which saw him playing the Bass line with his drumsticks.   I met him in 1965 when the band had their gear stolen and we loaned them all our kit till they got sorted out.  They were brilliant.  It doesn't  seem like it was 60 years ago that I was chatting with him at The Carlton.

He could talk the hind legs off a donkey and had a million stories to regale you with and all of them hilarious.   

After his departure from The Uglys he formed his own printing business and continued playing semi pro as a member of the House Band at the Rum Runner for a number of years.

Jim far right.

2024 saw the release of The "Complete" Uglys CD and the band reunited socially for the first time since 69 at a get together to celebrate the occasion although there was no commitment or agreement to them playing live again.

I loved his company along with his many friends both in the music biz and with his social group at the Black Horse 

in Northfield. 

I shall think often of him.   RIP old friend.

There is a more comprehensive write up on the pie stand page at Brumbeat.NET. as well as a host of interesting and informative articles regarding all the Brumbeat bands during the 1960's for you to enjoy.

I'm pleased to say that my daughter is well and truly on the mend so everything should be back on track for next months blog, irreverence, mirth, the continuing saga of Mrs Bob, Brummies Abroad and a host of other stuff to get your interest.  

Thanks to you all for visiting the blog.  Why not drop me a line if you have anything interesting or otherwise to say.

Much Love 

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact: Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob Supplement Jan 25. JIMMY HOLDEN. RIP

 Hello Folks,

JIMMY HOLDEN. RIP  

Some sad news filtered through after the Christmas season that Jimmy Holden, 83, ex Uglys drummer sadly passed away at home on or about 7 December.   His funeral date is 29 Jan and will be held at Lodge Hill Cemetry at 1.45 PM.  Should you wish to attend you can email his neice, Lynne Holden, at the following email address,  lynneholden@ntlworld.com or by phone WhatsApp  +44 7930 685244. Condolences can be left at Jim's Facebook page  JAMES A HOLDEN.  

Jim was a fabulous guy and it was he who formed The Uglys a real benchmark group who competed with the best bands of the day nationally and famously scored a Number 1 in Australia.

The last time they were together was for the CD release in 2004 picture below:

The Uglys (l to r).  Steve Gibbons, Jim Holden, Dave Morgan, Richard Tandy, Will Hammond.

He will be missed by his many friends.

Bob.

Bulls Head Bob Jan 2025. Dream Guitar 1954 Strat.

Happy New Year all you Brummies Abroad, brummie musicians of the 60's and fans of the 60's.  

The gift giving and the hullabaloo of the family Christmas Dinner have passed and me and Mrs Bob are taking it easy recovering from the party and home invasion by the Bobettes so accordingly this will be a shorter version than normal of the blog.

I was thinking about the Stratocaster piece I did in the November blog and specifically the part about saying that real aficionados would prefer to have an original Strat and not the Ultra models that have all the bells and whistles.    Well, slap me down with a piece of wet cod, Fender have the answer to fulfill your desires, and mine.

FENDER STRATOCASTER 1954. 70th ANNIVERSARY.

I was 8 years old when I first saw my first Strat in real life at Woodruffes guitar store in the centre of Birmingham.   I stood there for what seemed hours admiring its space age looks and the wonderment of its Sunburst paint job.   I've never forgotten that feeling, so it came as a big surprise when I clapped my eyes on the recently released 1954 Anniversary  Stratocaster that I 

felt overcome by the same experience.  This guitar is a thing of real beauty.

It is expensive, around the £2,500 pounds mark, so you know you are buying a guitar of quality build. 

The depth of colour over the wood grain is impressive, the smell is incredible, reminiscent of the old days.  The included tweed case is luxurient lined with red crushed velvet and the 70th Anniversary logo is emblazoned on the interior and full of case candy.

I would love to own this guitar, not necessarily as a stage instrument, but one to play on rare occasions at home for my sole enjoyment because I really believe that this will be a really collectible guitar and its value should increase exponentially even in the short term. 

I have seen it demoed and its sound and tone without pedals is perfect, no, it's better than that!  It's probably the closest thing I have heard to that early 50's sound that made it the most popular guitar in the world at the time.   I honestly keep thinking about buying one then just as quickly dismiss the thought, it's a dilemma so ...... Watch this space........

What a beauty!!  There is also a Custom Shop version for an extra 400 hundred quid but this one does it for me.

Way back in the day, the first Strat I saw in someones hands was white and belonged to Bob Hanson, lead guitarist of The Dextones, being played at The English Martyrs School youth club and funnily enough there is Partscaster on it's way to me that was constructed by Bob and has recently been gifted to me by its owner and my oldest musical mate, the lovely Cliff "Oggie" Ogden who unfortunately can't play it any longer.   I look forward to giving you the run down on how this baby performs once I get it out of the box and cranked up.    So Happy New Year Cliff and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for thinking of me.

FINALLY

I really hope you have a great 2025.  Above everything I wish you a life full of peace and love.  I wish Ukraine a speedy resolve in deposing the Russian Thug and getting their beautiful country back in their own hands.

Love the ones you're with,

Bob

Copyright  Bullsheadbob

Contact  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com