August CARL WAYNE

CARL WAYNE





This month sees the third anniversary of Carl Waynes death. A tribute to Carl from many of his old friends will feature later this month on Six of The Best.


Carl Wayne had a long, successful and prolific stage career but I am not interested about how many performances of Blood Brothers that Charlie appeared in, I'm not really interested that he was the front man for The Hollies for some years either. I was disappointed that he saw himself as a cabaret artist. I remember him as the front man for what was probably one of THE bands of the 60's.

Brumbeat was what it was all about then and Charlie shared centre stage with the rest of The Move as an act rather than Carl Wayne and the........? He had tons of experience with The Vikings but he never really shook off that 'singing ballads to girls in the audience' routine that was almost 'de rigeur' for bands with front men in those earlier days. Before the Move were thought about I recall Charlie telling me he was thinking of re-naming Carl Wayne and The Vikings - 'Sweet and The Lovelies' or 'The Sweet and Lovelies', he of course being "Sweet" which was quite indicative of how he saw himself, image wise.

The Move were destined to fall apart. Once they had got over their 'honeymoon' period and had achieved their aim of success it wasn't long before discontent began to creep in and the personality backstabbing began. It isn't enough just to put together a collection of musicians and expect it to work well. The difference in tastes of music and sizes of ego were a factor right from the start.
It was an amazement to me that for a group who had the reputation for being so 'edgy' would include such material in their set i.e. "Zing go the Strings of my Heart" which some years earlier would have been a 'feature' number in a stage set at the Springfield Ballroom. They could have sat quite comfortably for many years in the company of The Grateful Dead, Jefferson Airplane etc had their recorded material been more in the vein of 'Night of Fear' and 'I Can Hear the Grass Grow' with its thundering, descending bass riff but ended up opting for the 'poppy' side of the musical fence, i.e. 'Curly'.

It was obvious that Charlie didn't feel happy being relegated to singing bit parts in Roy's songs, the worst example being his token 'Ooh' contribution in Fire Brigade.

Still, what happens, happens. It was amazing to see The Move going from No 2 on the Bill touring with Jimi Hendrix to playing 'scampi and chips in a basket' cabaret venues. Charlie saw his future in the latter environment and that would be where he ended up for many years of his career 'singing songs to women in the audience'. I dont believe he ever knew what an incredible Rock n Roll voice and image he had because he saw himself as the driver of another musical vehicle. The B side of Blackberry Way -'Something' was a song that was written by Uglys bassist Dave Morgan, the original version was a much faster song full of gritty loud chord changes like the Small Faces, not the ballad that Charlie had changed it to at a recording session in the city, great song but wrong choice for a psychedelic group of the Move's standing. At least he didn't feel so trapped into recording Roy's stuff and being tossed a line to sing. He felt a litle more in control.

He had also seen an opportunity in TV and with his then actor girlfreind (later to be his wife) Sue Hanson, he made one appearance with a 'one liner' in the Brummie soap opera Crossroads as a milkman, I believe the character name being Colin strangely enough.
Although, following his exit from The Move, he disappeared off the popular music scene for many a year it was always possible to hear his unmistakable voice singing commercial jingles on TV and the opening song to 'Search for a Star', an early TV talent show. He also made some TV appearances on the Emu's Pink Windmill Show with Rod Hull and Emu show as the character 'Odd Job John' playing opposite the witch 'Grotbags' (Carol Lee Scott). Not very Rock n Roll you say but it made me laugh.

I was pleased to hear that he had joined mainstream music again with The Hollies, it formed some sort of compromise between Rock and cabaret and although I never went to see him with the group at least he was where he should have been all along - Centre Stage. Fronting the band, taking the lead vocal.

I was really upset to get an e-mail saying that he had passed away. I can see him in my mind now, 1968 in the Rum Runner in his psychedelic clothes surrounded by girls - Charlie the Star.

Bob

DON ARDEN

This month also saw the passing of Don Arden, music agent. He represented several Brumbeat bands and probably took most of their money too. I dont wish to speak ill of the dead so that's that.

BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL ROCK OPENING NIGHT:

The opening night for the newly refurbished Birmingham Town Hall in October will be rockin' with an already sold out show featuring The Brum Rock "EXTRA" review. Joining the band on stage will be Robert Plant, Jasper Carrot, John Lodge, Rod Allen, Geoff Turton and Raymond Froggatt to name but a few. If you are lucky enough to have a ticket you are in for a great night of Brummie music.

THE MOVE TOUR DATES

Want to catch some upcoming Move tour dates? September sees the band with special guest Steve Gibbons at The Marquee, London Sep 5 2007. The Marquee, of course, features strongly in the Move story (also for Gibbo). Other September dates: 20 Sep Royal Spa Leamington and 27 Sep, Huntingdon Hall Worcester.

HOT GOSSIP!!! I have been whispered to that The Move will be playing a small venue gig at The Barfly in Brum on Aug 26! The place holds only 200 with the ticket price at only 12 pounds. Get yours quick.............

Contributions or comments to:

Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

July - OZZY! OZZY! OZZY!

WELL STUFF ME!!!

It appears that Birmingham City Council are pinching my ideas. After reading June's blog what did they do? They dumped 65 tons of sand in the Bull Ring and called it a beach - but now their world of 'borrowing ideas' has finally gone into whacky orbit. In their pursuit of even more gimmicky trendiness they have now come up with yet another BRAND NEW, third-hand idea. Just the opportunity to form another 'quango' led by someone who can't quite get enough expenses racked up on their 'necessary council duties' to buy their holiday home on the Costa del Fortunato!


Ladies and Gentlemen, we kindly give you - The Birmingham Walk of Fame.


Gold stars embedded in the pavement of Broad Street with the names of famous Brummies engraved into them - yahoo, I can hardly contain me'self!! We have certainly, had the great fortune to have had some of the worlds best at one time or another including, Tony Hancock for enduring blissful comedy, Alec Issigonis for designing the Mini, JRR Tolkein for some book or other!, John Wyndham (Day of the Triffids), Nigel Mansell for goo'in really fast round and round a piece of road until he was world champion at it and George Cadbury for all that chocolate. Of the above mentioned six, three lived close to my house and only one is alive but after a short conversation with him you may think otherwise....


So just where will Tolkein's star be then - Nowhere!!!.......the Council have decided that to be a famous Brummie you have to be alive. (or bizarrely you can also be a non-Brummie, foreign visitor who's just passing through the city). I find it ludicrously fascinating that people would want to spend part of their valuable time on this earth, walking through the centre of Brum just to read someones name on the pavement. Why not just get the graffiti artists to spray the names on the Job Centre walls whilst they're waiting to get their benefits? It would save a fortune and keep them occupied.

So then who will be the first awardee of this prestigious Star - Brumbeat favourite - Ozzy Osbourne - Hooray said the crowd. He will be attending the ceremony on 6 July.

This comes hot on the heels of receiving the Mojo 'Icon' award. I believe that Ozzy deserves every bit of fame and recognition he gets. It has been a long hard road since his early days with Black Sabbath at the Bear or the Arts Centre at Edgbaston and now he is one of the few celebrities who people know just by their christian name. The council have'nt said where they think it appropriate to put his star but, for me, the Hall of Memories is probably right out of the question! I thought they should put it down a white line in the centre of the pavement (it may be ironic that at the very same time Ozzy is having praise and adulation heaped on him by the Mayor whilst unveiling the said Star, a young musician is being arrested for having a bit of weed in his pocket!! ??

Other nominees include Lenny Henry - good Brummie, Frank Skinner - brilliantly funny, great Brummie, West Brom supporter and Elvis fan, Duran Duran - whose star is planned to be outside the old location of The Rum Runner where they were the resident band for some time, UB40, Robert Plant, Sir Simon Rattle and the fantabulous Julie Walters ( Macaroons Miss Babs?)- one of the greatest Brummies ever.


The organiser has said that he is also in touch with three other people, two who are from Birmingham and one from Hollywood?!! - Oopsy daisy, I almost forgot to include another 'nominee' - TV presenter Cat Deeley who is famous for being pretty! - so there we have it, pretty girl = yes, world literary genius = No. This whole commerical idea is a bit like a tabloid franchise that started off in London - the pre-condition of their particular 'Star Walk" was that you had to be a Londoner - so just where in London was Nicole Kidman born then?


This project is proposed to last for fifty years - Yes!!! FIFTY YEARS??? - with gold stars all around the City. I wonder if there is a family connection between the council and the manufacturer of gold celebrity stars?

Well if there's a chance to earn a bit of money, I'm not backwards in looking forwards and for my part I've already put in a bid to have a commercial outlet adjacent to Ozzy's star. I'm going to change my name a bit, to be more 'Ozzy freindly' that's the Politically Correct way to say sort of stealing his name but mis-spelling it to avoid street prosecution by the Trading Standards W**kers - sorry, the letters 'o' and 'r' dont appear to work on my keyboard.

WHAT A GORGEOUS GUITAR!!

Right then, you retro freaks.

EKO Dallas V400.

Dallas were the producers of the very first solid body guitar available in the UK. This Dallas/Eko is an Italian designed beauty that probably sounded pretty average for its time but its looks are simply stunning, with a cream silver sparkle finish to the body and nice, stylish inlays set into the fretboard. The bottom cutaway starts at the 15th fret so you could have played practically all of its 22 fret neck. Its lines are almost art deco and the body shape very reminiscent of the later Fender Jaguar/Jazzmaster range. Strangely, the headstock is marked as Dallas with the body bearing the Eko emblem. I would love to have this guitar, even if it was just to look at. My thanks to Frets Guitar Centre for the pictures.

UGLY GIRLS?

No, I dont mean girls who liked The Uglys. I read that in the recent Miss Great Britain competition, the Birmingham entrant was represented by a girl from Stoke- on-Trent because the organisers couldn't find any girls pretty enough to represent the City!! A 'spokesperson' for the Miss GB organisation said "We were desperately looking for a Miss GB entrant from Birmingham but in truth, there was no-one suitable who entered" . I am only reporting this story - Dont shoot the messenger!

OK y'all - keep tuned in.

Bob

Contributions/comments to bobsbullocks@gmail

June - Back to the Bullocks

JUNE - BACK TO THE BULLOCKS


Aah, Flaming June hath arrived. My Darling wife Lucy, the Maharishi of Mirth has decided that, as it's that time of year when I should be lying outside in the sun, it would be the perfect opportunity to do some home building projects. "Start on that new kitchen" she says I've been promising to install. "But my little stocking top" said I thinking quickly "what about the sproglets holidays by the sea?" - now I'm not saying I'm devious in any way but the prospect of spending a couple of days sawing and bashing things with large hammers crushing my artistic fingers was immediately replaced by a stroke of genius. I sensed I had a hit a winner when her face illuminated and she praised me for being so considerate, "Always thinking of others" said she, now gently massaging my temples whilst mentally picturing the smiles on the sproglets faces, "Just for that, I'll make you your favourite meal for dinner tonight". "Yes Siree Bob, you haven't lost it son"

Retiring to the living room to watch the mighty Villa on the TV, the thought of how much it would cost me to take them away suddenly became an issue too. I sat tapping away at my calculator for hotel accommodation,meals,petrol, drinks etc, etc until I found that there were'nt enough digits available on the screen to cope with the mounting costs. "Well, stuff me" I thought, "At one time, I could have a bought a whole street in Sparkhill for that amount". Suddenly the thought of fitting a new kitchen became more attractive. I decided that I would talk about it with 'her highness' tomorrow or at least till after dinner!




On occasion fate takes a hand to resolve simmering issues and on this particular occasion it arrived in the form of a telephone call from the Dragons lair - or to give it it's latin name, from the cave of Motherinlawus Horribilis.





It appears that she is experiencing what she calls a 'floating sensation' and needs the attention of her offspring. "I'll have to go over there in the morning but never mind" said her highness. "I'll get your armour ready" I thought. Then she dropped the bomb, "Its a shame really because the Sproglets (Lou and Ann) will be dropped off here in the morning, you can take them to the sea like you said"............!! My wallet started trembling in my back pocket.

Next morning Lucy was up early and was in the process of covering herself in fire-retardent gel when she announced that she would be at the cave all day and if her matriarch wasn't any better she would stay overnight. My Daughters car duly arrived to pick up the Maharanee and in exchange, deposit the terrible duo into my loving care. They were armed to the teeth with seaside paraphenalia, Buckets, spades, flags etc.. "Are we leaving now? Are we leaving now? are we leaving now? - "Oh, Sod it" I thought "she's set them on repeat". "Where are we going, where are we going?" ......................think,think,think..............SHAZAM!

"We are going to the Isle of Diy" I said "Wheres that?, never heard of it" came the reply in unison. "Its a secret place, like in Harry Potter" said I. A few minutes later we were in the car driving through the Brum metropolis singing the words to 'Summer Holiday', we barely had time to finish the first verse when I said "Right guys, we're here" as the car pulled into Arbuthnotts DIY Store and Builders Merchants. We quickly walked around to the back of the store building and, after having said the magic phrase "Travel through time to the Isle of Diy" then turned around twice with our eyes closed, we entered through the small gate into the deserted builders yard - mountains of sand, piles of stones and gravel - "We're here, Oh what a shame" I said "The tide has gone out, never mind though look at all that sand - just right for a sand castle competition!" - a suggestion, thats all it took for the two sproglets to leap onto the pile and start their demolishing job. "I'm going for ice creams - back in a minute". "Hooray - we love Bob, we love Bob" said the sandy duo. I had time to casually roam around the " Aisles of DIY" looking at flat pack kitchens and attachments at my leisure. Half an hour later whilst purchasing ice creams from the check-out counter I noticed some Garden Twine on a display stand, "Just the thing I need to 'tie in' some herbs to supporting stakes'.

'Bing-Bong', there was a crackling on the in-store Tannoy - 'Store Announcement..... Code 31 Builders yard. Code 31 Builders Yard' - we all know what that means of course! Having paid, I scampered out the door to the back of the building just in time to see the store security man heading towards 'the beach', I managed to get there before him. "We've gotta run Sproglets, the tides coming in", I would have met with resistance normally but the sight of the ice creams was a bigger lure and we left for the car park. "So then, did you enjoy going to Blackpool?" I asked as we pulled away, using a bit of suggestive psychology. "It was great, it was great, we've been to Blackpool, we've been to Blackpool" I knew that they would say they'd been there when questioned about their day and I would be in the clear.

We sang 'Summer Holiday' again on the 3 minute journey back home

With the Sproglets having a nap after their day at the 'magic' Isle of Diy, I got the Garden Twine and looked at the packaging ....... 'Made in China'......... Aah, good old Blighty, the Midlands, the heart of British Industry and Manufacturing - You can't buy a soddin' thing that's made in the country anymore.

Now I know that one of the oldest and greatest civilisations is Chinese and they have much wise knowledge to impart to us thick Brummies and I also know that 'Necessity is the mother of invention' as the saying goes...... I would have loved to have been in China with the bloke whose 'necessity' provoked the idea of what other application could be used for this green twine..........

Not much use to me of course but I know a Scotsman who could use one of those!

The smell of sulphur announced Lucy's return where she found the sand covered, sleeping sproglets tucked up in bed in the spare room, "Been to Blackpool" I whispered "They're tired out". "Oh Bob you're such a wonderful man - forget about that kitchen thingy, I'm going to fix us a drink and slip into something more comfortable". In my mind the closing 24 bars of the 1812 Symphony rang out loud. "Lucy I'm thinking about buying a new guitar" .........................

..........................

THE BAGGIES LAMENT.

I am sure that every Brummie football supporter shed a small tear for West Brom as they came second in the Premier League play off against Derby at Wembley. Hard luck guys, it would have been great to have had all three Birmingham clubs battling it out in the same league again, coming third of course behind the mighty Villa and the 'other' team.

BO DIDDLEY.
Alongside Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley was responsible for putting the beat into Brumbeat. His famous Bo Diddley rythmn has been copied by everyone in some form or other from Buddy Holly through to Springsteen and Oasis and even now is still heavily used, so it was sad news that 78 year old Rock Legend, Bo Diddley suffered a stroke whilst performing on stage in the USA. He has recently been moved from intensive care but may not perform again. Reportedly, his first comments when he came out of unconsciousness were to ask where the money from the gig was!!







AMP OF THE MONTH

Selmer Little Giant

What a corker! This tiny little 4 watt amp is simply gorgeous. It is unusual to find a starter amp that has had so much effort put into its design and build.



I used to look in the Selmer catalogue and wish I could have one of these when I first started playing (albeit the red and white earlier model). It is a beautifully constructed amplifier and it was appropriately named 'Little Giant' because it gave a good sound for what was essentially a 'parlour amplifier'. I had to settle for a Radio Spares equivalent and although mine was louder and had a tremelo footswitch, I simply loved the look of this well designed and manufactured little beauty.


SIX OF THE BEST.

Coming in July - the unique and great Megan Davies of The Applejacks talks about her choice of guitars throughout her playing career.


OK, until next month

See Ya,

Bob


Contributions and comments to
bobsbullocks@gmail

May - The Rise of Rythmn n' Blues

Hi lovers of Brumbeat, all Brummies wherever you may be, and all those who are not either of the former!?

Well we've had a couple of months worth of lunacy and without wanting to be a boring fart, I think I'll take the opportunity to give my sanity a rest this month and talk from a personal perspective about the birth of Rythmn and Blues groups in Birmingham that was such a feature of the early to mid sixties music. A little bit of Headstock fun too for the guitarists out there......... but first.........




On behalf of the Alex's Pie Stand Musicians Gourmet Association I would like to wish a fond farewell to Birminghams own - HP Sauce factory - What's a Fleur de Lyse pie without HP?


Another blow to employment to support an increase in conglomerate profits. I imagine the Deputy Prime Minister will be moving to Holland, where the work is going, so the freshly made sauce can be nearer to his enormous collection of very large pies. For those who dont know, HP stood for Harry Palmer - not the Houses of Parliament.






THE RISE OF RYTHMN AND BLUES GROUPS


Most people know that the title "Brumbeat" was only accorded in 1964 as an advertising medium for Birmingham bands at the time of the "Mersey Sound" which also never existed as a sole entity. The real "Beat" part did exist though, throughout the UK. For two or three years from sometime in late 1963 through to about 1966 was the time for Beat groups, or more properly, Rythmn and Blues groups - a cross-over period from pure Rock and Roll to a sound which incorporated the music of the blues as a major influence. The Beat Boom.


A LITTLE BACKGROUND UNDERSTANDING.

Before Rock and Roll there was really NOTHING for the youth of the country. The UK was still recovering from the financially crippling effects of the post war years when Rock and Roll raised its ugly head above the 'decency' parapet. Although "Rocket 88" had been released in 1952, "Rock around the Clock" recorded some two years later is still regarded as the first RnR song (presumably because it was sung by a white guy). The youth music culture had been driven by the all american, clean living USA balladeers dressed in their cardigans and immaculate hairstyles, singing love torn laments about high school sweethearts. There were later British equivalents too like Mark Wynter (Venus in Blue Jeans) or Jess Conrad (Mystery Girl) who, halfway through singing a 'hip' song might just work up their energy levels enough to click a finger. The audience all duly clapped politely and Mums in Britain could see them taking out their daughters. "Such a nice boy".


SING THAT FUNKY MUSIC WHITE BOY

The former US college boy 'crooners' had jumped on the Rock and Roll bandwagon when it arrived, ably assisted by record companies, to cover the songs of those black artists who were arguably, the real originators of Rock and Roll music but these kids never really 'cut the mustard' and were just a watered down version of the real thing. After having sung songs about "swell days in college, I hope she wears my ring" they now had to sing songs that were definitely not college girl material of the day

The songs they now sung were loaded with sexual innuendo but misunderstood by the censors i.e. Jesse Stone's lyrics in Shake Rattle and Roll - "I'm just a one eyed cat peeping in a seafood store" is most certainly not about a one eyed cat and even less about a shop that sells fish!! Still, the censors were not alone in their naive knowledge of "jive" and the whole country regaled in the worst cover version of them all - being the very christian white boy, Pat Boone's, recording of Little Richard's "Tutti Frutti". As the youth demand for Rock and Roll increased the record companies were left with no choice but to promote the black artists, so in the end a few of them won. A lot more didn't. The college boys generally disappeared. Jess Conrad's 'Mystery Girl' has won the worst ever song a few times since then. Of course there were the great white artists too Jerry Lee Lewis (The Killer), Karl Perkins and naturally Elvis Presley who (pre army) was the 'real' gift to Rock and Roll above all others of the time. Black or white.


In the US, girl group The Marvellettes scored a Number One, million seller with 'Please Mr Postman'. Later to be a regular number in The Beatles early R and B stage show. Their first LP release had no picture of the girls on the cover so that reportedly, people wouldn't know they were black.

In the UK, the class war and social structure was such that it suffocated rebeliousness or open minded attitudes and it was armed with moral codes, standards of behaviour and stiff upper lips that had to be maintained. Hypocrisy was rife. Young people who went to jazz clubs were to be avoided at all costs, these were the original 'Beatniks' who had funny dances and shared cigarettes. A female friend of my sisters' was a 'jazzer' and my Father told them that they were not to associate with her because of the manner of her dress - she wore bright blue woolen stockings. Mind you he also said that Cliff Richard was a danger and should be Locked Up!!!!! These days he might well be right.

It was against this sort of stifling moral backdrop that the youth of my Birmingham grew up, really without expectations, leave school - factory job 8 till 5 every day looking for some way to burst free of the system. Live "electrified" rock music was in its infancy but there were already some great Rock n Roll acts in town; Johnny Neal, Danny King, Pat Wayne and the Beachcombers, Gerry Levene, Nicky James with Denny Laine and the Diplomats - the list goes on......

I have taken the time to explain the social structure so much to try to give some perspective on the dynamic impact that the radical changes in music of the 1960' s had on the population - no, the world. It was the spearhead of revolution and open mindedness in the fields of the arts and fashion. Possessing free movement, it changed like a chameleon with new types of music competing for a place in the dance halls. It was like stepping out of a black and white drawing into HDTV full blown colour with lots of channels. The music of Rock and Roll and commercial 'pop-tastic gimmick filled hits' had had its run for a few years and the time for another change was on the cards - duck!!! - the blues sound cometh!

MEANWHILE BACK AT MY HOUSE......

I can't really remember how I first found interest in playing the music of the Blues but I found that I couldn't let go of it again. I must have heard it first at someones house who was related to a 'Beatnik', on their Dansette record player or, if they were posh, their Stereogram (they would have called it "A lovely piece of furniture") - with speakers. I certainly wouldn't have heard blues on the radio because they never played that type of music. It would only be a short matter of time though before I started meeting other young musicians who also had the same depth of passion and interest and we all learned from each other. About a year earlier, Pete Oliver had taught me the rudiments of finger picking when I was interested in playing Chet Atkins stuff,
so I could play along, primitively at first, with those old time blues pickers like Ma Rainey. Willie Dixon, although a bassist, was a hero and his songs were amongst the very best, Hoochie Coochie Man, Spoonfull etc. A lot of my musical friends were still into Cliff and The Shadows or The Ventures type instrumental stuff which had been OK for a while but was now stale, predictable and played without any feeling or innovation. The blues, on the other hand lent itself to creative application, Lightnin' Hopkins, Muddy Waters, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Big Bill Broonzy, Howlin' Wolf, Jimmy Reed and Robert Johnson amongst others, soon became familiar names to me and became the musicians to learn from. Dimples, My Babe, Smokestack Lightnin', Baby Please Dont Go and a host of other numbers would emanate from my bedroom practice sessions normally accompanied by the parental comments of "What the hell is that stuff your'e playing, its not natural" - it was completely natural for me and I felt at home with the honesty of the recordings and the great repetitive, insistent riffs, as in Rufus Thomas' "Walkin the Dog" for example.
The music of the blues could be re-arranged and played a lot faster (i.e. Rythmn and Blues) which fitted in nicely with those Buddy Holly and Chuck Berry Rock and Roll classics like Not Fade Away, Carol and Johnny B Goode.

Cliff and The Shads, were now the property of the Mums and Dads who saw them on the London Palladium Sunday night TV show, Rock and Roll was no longer fresh and the kids were looking for something new on the horizon to replace that professional, polished approach. Youth fashion was also finding its own niche and there were the beginnings of clothes shops just for teenagers opening.


A telling moment of perceptible change in music, fashion and attitude for me, was one night at The Ritz in Kings Heath. The Modernaires, who were a benchmark group and had been the resident band there for what seemed like an eternity played their set, they were very polished and professional, all good musicians, well dressed and well groomed and playing the hits of the day.


They were followed onto the stage by The Cheetahs, dressed in their animal print outfits, who were also a good act for their time. I had gone specially that night though because unusually for a dance hall, Sonny Boy Williamson was performing there. He was backed by Gary Farr and The T Bones, who visibly dawdled onto the stage, dressed in jeans and old sweaters, carrying a beer in their hands and smoking.

From their opening number I was hooked on the whole anti-establishment attitude.



The kids in the audience found the music hard to dance to but you could tell that there was some interest in the rawness of what they were hearing, probably for the first time. This was R and B (not Chuck Berry RnR) - hard driving blues music powered along by insistent bass playing that thumped into your gut, no echo chamber to ponce up the vocals or guitar solo, very loud, crass, crashing drums. To me, at that moment, the previous two bands seemed like yesterdays news in an instant - image wise and their choice of music.

The group suited the brilliant Sonny Boy Williamson well and his harmonica playing was stunning. You certainly wouldn't take these lot home to meet your folks - in honesty they didn't come across as a great group, musically speaking, they were just the first group I'd seen playing with that attitude and rawness. I was laughing with excitement. There was a definite feeling of "thats what I want to do"... It must have been the same sort of feeling in the mid-seventies when Punk came along to replace the over produced bands who relied on technology and pre-recorded backing tracks to make them sound good. It all comes back to honesty and excitement in the end.


It wasn't long before groups in Brum started changing their style, their choice of material and their volume levels and became great R&B acts but a lot of other "Cliff" type bands with "Hank" type guitarists just faded away or moved onto the cabaret circuit or working mens clubs. There was always plenty of work around for groups then but not for all of them at the cutting edge. Groups that had no immediacy or energy for the music by having spent too many years trying to be perfect didn't fit in and nothing that they could do could save them from the fate of changing fashion trends. Groups with names that ended in -aires or -ettes changed them pretty quickly too. The Modernaires became The Mods, The Dominettes became The Uglys etc....plus, established acts were getting older - a crime in burgeoning youth music. Another surprising thing occurred too, Fender Stratocasters became remarkably unfashionable and sales plummeted with most guitarists switching to Gibsons or Epiphones which gave a harsher sound and better sustain. It was also the end of the road for Hofners and Watkins and the Burns 'Marvin'. Those other guitars that had copied the Stratocaster and had been the mainstay of groups for so many years were now consigned to the garage or loft space. Second hand shops were full of Watkins Copycat echo chambers going cheap.... cheap.... cheap (sorry - I promise to behave!).

It was a time of fantastic excitement, The Beatles were an out-and-out R&B group, The Rolling Stones at their R&B zenith with massive Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley influence, playing Chuck Berry covers, The Animals 1964(House of the Rising Sun), Them - with the revamped 1936 Blues classic "Baby Please dont Go". Along side these were the incredible new numbers coming from groups like The Kinks "You Really Got Me" and "All day and All of the Night" (1964) they were such milestones in music and as a guitarist, were a thrill to play. Later in 1965 came The Small Faces (What' ya gonna do about it) and The Who with their youth anthem "My Generation". It was just improving all the time. All of those acts from that short period went on to be enduring, giant names in the memory of Rock music and you could have seen them all at The Ritz, week after week! By now there was a proper dedicated youth music show on TV, "Ready Steady Go" which went out on Friday evening with their clarion call - the weekend starts here! There was a vitality emerging on the streets and everyone was up for it!!

Birmingham had its fair share of great energetic R&B groups. Denny Laine, at full throttle with The Moody Blues was a sight to see (unlike the latter years armchair variant), the immaculate Steve Winwood with the Spencer Davis group took your breath away with the sheer soul and volume of his voice combined with mature blues musicality. The jive and The Twist disappeared overnight and were replaced by more energentic hip wiggling antics called "The Twitch", in addition the clothes got brighter and more individual. Guys didn't have to wear a suit to go out dancing on a Friday night and things started to get Hairy!! - in a lot of different respects. There were plenty of midlands Beat groups of great note but other than the two mentioned above I will keep my personal preferences to myself so as not to offend anyone by not including them. All of this change in musical style and street fashion happened very quickly. The youth of the country were rearing up and the Mods and Rockers scene emerged at about the same time creating a sense of tension. This was the era of the screaming audiences, it could get very intense at times and you would be urged on more and more to throw yourself into what you were playing. Small, smoke-filled venues would have sweat dripping off the walls it was so hot with the energy that was expelled both on and off stage - sometimes I felt like I was running out of breath. There was so much adrenalin flowing that you didnt want to stop playing and it would take hours for you to "come down" from the rush after a good night with a great audience.


The only guitar foot pedal available then was a volume/tone control that had been used to beautiful effect by Big Jim Sullivan on Dave Berrys hit "The Cryin Game". Guitar strings came in one thickness. To get a better, bluesier sound I replaced the G string with a B and the B with a top E. There were no mixing desks or fold back speakers. It was only hours of practice, technique and enthusiasm that sorted out the good from the mediocre. Groups were springing up from everywhere and you fought for your place on the music scene by being better than your peers - not by the use of 'kit' technology. That healthy competition was the thing that generated great 'energy filled' live acts and gave the UK worldwide musical kudos. There was not an act in the US that could match up to that current batch of British bands - they were all still pussy cats. In turn, that period of R&B music had its day and was swallowed up by the music that was now becoming more melodic and "Summery" like stuff from the Lovin Spoonful etc. The Beatles and Brian Wilson launched themselves into their competitive creativity phase and the world followed but for a short couple of years when R&B ruled it was just the best time of all to be a young musician and it was head down, on yer' toes R and B that was the original 1960's Brumbeat. Anything that came after that should be called something else. These days some Brummie DJs annoyingly categorise themselves as being Brumbeat - think of at least one thing thats original, 'Kin Tossers!


No Old Rockers were intentionally harmed during the writing of this article!

Keep music, played by real musicians, live!!!!

Bob has left the Blog.......

R.I.P.

A sad farewell to Bobby Pickett (The Monster Mash) - I'm afraid he wont be working late in the lab anymore...........

'EQUIPMENT FREAK' TIME AGAIN.......

HEADSTOCKS.

Just for a bit of fun, here are some guitar headstocks from models used during the Brumbeat years but photographed from the back. Answers below:1.

This early solid body guitar was quite a favourite of the group scene and was regarded as being years ahead of its rivals electronically. It had many admirers of note.

2.

This headstock belongs to a guitar that was British made and this particular range came in three models. A budget guitar for people who couldn't afford a Stratocaster but wanted to look like they had one.









3.

Not unlike the shape of headstock number one. There was quite a difference between the two guitars though both in price and quality but the two do have something in common. This guitar company invented the magnetic guitar pick up.








4.
This gorgeous guitar went out of production and when re-introduced again was just a shadow of its former glory. A wild ringing sound from this piece of kit, I know - I had one and would love to have it back again!









5.

Strange and ugly headstock shape. There were only a couple of decent playable electric 12 strings and this was the other one. Used by The Move.











AMP OF THE MONTH

Elpico AC 55

This famous little piece of kit was a run of the mill cheap amp until Dave Davies of the Kinks slashed the cone of the speaker with a razor blade and Shazam - the first distorded guitar sound was born, it probably would just have disappeared into oblivion if it were not for the history of "You Really Got Me" I guess it still is a cheap amp in reality. I dont personally remember anyone using this particular model but do remember Elpico more as a PA amp.

Very 50's styling and choice of colour, it resembles a radio from the front.

Sporting 3 inputs (Mic 1, Mic 2 and Gramophone!), chicken head control knobs and boasting an eliptical 6 inch speaker the volume from this this could probably fill the inside of a shoe box. Paul McCartney used one in his Hamburg days reportedly.

I always scan the background of old group photos to see what kit they were using and I dont recall ever seeing one of these things. Probably someone out there owned one and will no doubt let me know about its history. A nice piece of memorabilia though.

HOT OFF THE PRESS

Wow, what a scorcher!!!..Real lovers of early Brumbeat will be pleased to know that I am now in contact with the great TANYA DAY and hope to soon have an article heading your way ... not to be missed!! This really is the biz!!

Dont forget to check out the third article in the 'Six of the Best' series.... coming this month Willie Hammond, guitarist of The Uglys.

Till next time........Could things get any better?

Bulls Head Bob

Headstock answers: 1. Futurama 2. Watkins Rapier 3. Rickenbacker 4. Epiphone Casino 5. Fender 12 string.

Copyright Bullsheadbob

Contributions and/or comments to Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

April - Bulls Head Bob - BRUM ROCK Band - EXPOSED..

BOB INVESTIGATES....
BRUM ROCK Band on Tour..

SEDGETREE COMMUNITY CENTRE
(SOMEWHERE NEAR DUDLEY)

THE 'SIXTIES' HITS SEDGETREE.

Brum Rock 'spokesperson' L Hornsy Esq, Had informed me that I had been wrong to suggest that their exhorbitant backstage 'Rider' requisites had included Sanatogen. He further suggested that they were not guilty of taking "Fortifying liquids" and had only shared the occasional "group laxative". His full statement can be read at Bulls Head Bob Blog for Feb 2007 of this inst.....

Smelling a rat, I went on the 'blag' for a free ticket for the Sedgetree Community Centre gig (somewhere near Dudley), to see if I could throw some light on the truth. Fortunately, I bumped into Susie Farten, (daughter of Recording Magnate and Manager, Ron Farten) who said she would give me a ticket to the gig if she could go along with me. She's not the worlds best "looker" and has an uncanny likeness to Jeff Lynne - without the hair. She says she's "Got a thing" for Steve Gibbons - I dont know what sort of "thing" she'd got but there was a smell like an old piece of hake coming from her handbag. Susie thinks of herself as a sort of Black Country, Paris Hilton without the looks but with the money, calling herself a "Groupies Groupie" - "been with em all" - "Oooh! If I can get me hands on Trevor Burton - I'll give him a 'Night of Fear' alright" ........

Being a hands on investigator, I knew that I would have to "blend in" with my surroundings to thoroughly penetrate the Brum Rock entourage and so I hit the local charity shops to get my outfit. Denim jacket, beads,bells, false droopy moustache and a pair of green Loons, what a perfect disguise. I practiced my dialogue, ending every phrase with Yeah Man! or Far Out, Cosmic... etc.

April 1, 2007.....1800hrs.

Our arrival at Sedgetree was an eye opener, there was a real party atmosphere. Huge banners were hung across the streets, some declaring it 'Sedgetree Sixties Day'. and another saying 'Sedgetree Welcomes Danny King'. I spotted the Mayor, Councillor Gareth Trousers. He told me that the whole population of Sedgetree were very excited and had been inspired by tonights Brum Rock gig, to celebrate a day when all things pertinent to the sixties would be re-enacted by the whole neighbourhood. "Its amazing, just everyone has joined in". The climax to the day's events will be the nights concert.

"We've even named the Park toilets after Bev Bevan and once he's done the Official Opening Ceremony they will be known as the "Bevan Dumperies".
" I think his name will be known long after I've gone" said Mr Trousers.. "Im going to offer him the opportunity to have first go!!".

Local newsagent, Elsie Bottoms, has a large sign above her corner shop advertising a "Book Sighing by Lorry Hornby" "He's signing his new book about clothes-making in the Midlands" said Elsie "Its called Brum Socks". "I really like him, he's got a kind face, he can write and wears glasses, so he must be the intelligent one".

I dropped Susie off at the pub where there was a "60's Arm Wrestling Competition" taking place. Knowing that she would get through to the last round, I went to scout around for the Community Centre to plan my surveillance.....how can I get to see if there's any Sanatogen about? As if by magic, I heard the sound of an approaching large vehicle, I ducked into a doorway just in time to see a van covered in lipstick messages, mainly saying "I love Bev" go by. There must have been some engine problem because I noticed that there was a lot of smoke coming out of the windows, it had a strangely familiar smell?

I quickly jumped in the car and followed the van to the Community Centre. A large welcoming crowd had gathered and as the van pulled up there were cheers and screams from the enthusiastic throng as the varied members of the band fell out of the vehicle. I could tell that the band were "very emotional" by their red eyed expressions.

The Press were thrusting microphones into their faces asking questions about their alleged excessive intake of Fortified Wine and was there any truth in 'Bulls Head Bob's' disclosures. Steve said some words that were totally lost to me but he finished by saying that everything was "really Far Out and Cosmic". I secretly praised myself for having the savvy to practice my wordology earlier that day.

The Mayor then took the microphone and said "Ladies and Gentlemen, to celebrate and authenticate the re-arrival of the swingin sixties to Sedgetree (somewhere near Dudley), the local Town Committee has authorised the release of a 'small but significant' toxic cloud from the chimney of the now defunct Ammonia Plant". He pressed a button, his 8 year old daughter Saffron played the opening few bars to ELO's Birmingham Blues on her ocarina whilst the chimney coughed and belched out a kind of green and yellow tinged smoke ring which boiled in the sky for a minute then slowly spread across the town, hovering just short of the community centre. "Oooooooo, said the crowd", "Wow Yeah, Hey, like Smoke, very cool Man " said Steve.


Bev was rushed to a waiting Ford Anglia Limo to take him to the 'Dumperies' and Laurie mounted the pillion seat of a psychedelically painted Honda 50 moped, to whisk him off to his book signing.
The rest of the band signed autographs and posed for photos, Danny obligingly doing some of his Rock n' Roll 'moves' and Trevor did his best "snarling face" routine which, I understand he did for the first time as he exited the womb. It certainly made little Saffron shed a few tears. He did smile at her though, as he crushed her ocarina under his boot heel. I hung around in the car, not wanting to give me'self away. The crowd thinned and departed and the band walked into the venue. The evening sky was darkening as the roadies started off-loading the equipment. I mentally cursed myself for not bringing a camera but found a sketch pad in the glove compartment.

I was about to leave the safety of the car to have a closer look inside the van when the Anglia Limo pulled up and Bev got out saying to the mayor "Groovy Man, thanks a lot for that, flushed first time too, Far Out!". The limo pulled off and Bev made his way towards the venue, pausing for a moment at the side of the van, probably to read some of the fans messages. He was now wearing a badge which read - " I've Pumped at the Dumperies". In my attempts to see more, I accidentally leaned on the car horn which took me and Bev by surprise and he scurried inside. I noticed he had dropped something as he disappeared through the rear entrance of the Community Centre I got out of the car and rushed over to retrieve it.


The roadies returned and carried on emptying the cavernous interior, amps, scenery, lights, guitars and drums. Outside the venue was an old victorian street light which sprung into life as the sky darkened further, casting a beam of light magically into the now practically empty vehicle. There was one red box in the far corner that had some indistinct writing on it. I made the decision to investigate further and hid around the corner, craning my neck to try and get a better look at the writing, hoping that it might say Sanatogen. Luckily for me the roadies were very slow which gave me all the time I needed to get my hands on the box and have a good "furtle" around.

The writing on the box said "AFTER SHOW ACTIVITIES BOX" - and was sealed with a large padlock. Luckily, I had mastered the art of lock picking some years earlier and soon had the lid open. After the removal of some "Adult Toys and Material" which comprised almost 90% of the contents I was left looking at Senapods, Pro-Plus tablets, elasticated bandages, hair tonic but alas no Fortified Wine. Had I been wrong in my assumptions? A box of Fleur de Lyse pies, A Draft copy of an agreement to make a Mr D King (being the first party of the third part.... etc) the new face of Stannah Stairlifts. I imagined the commercial - as he slowly ascended the stairs, his face rising above the bannister rail, he would burst into song. "Fly me to the Moon" or something like that. As a follow up to that they could do one of him descending the stairs and as the chair touches the bottom stair he could sing "I'm Down" by The Beatles.

I was beginning to think that I had made a blunder of blunders, no evidence of fortified wine at all - but 'Lo' in the distance I could hear the tell tale 'Plop" sound of a cork leaving a bottle neck followed by the clink of glasses and cackling laughter. My adrenalin started rushing! I snuck into the back exit, sketch pad ready to do a 'flash' drawing. I opened the dressing room door, a voice shouted out "He's behind you"................Laurie turned round, glass in hand, and there, the tell-tale red ring around his lips, visibly getting younger, the definite sign of................then nothing. I awoke the next morning in the local hospital dazed and confused.

April 2, 2007:

"Where am I, Is this a Dream. Have I been the subject of some April Fools jokery?"

The headlines in the Sedgetree Morning Gazette read. "TOXIC CLOUD SENDS SEDGETREE TO SLEEP" - The Deputy Prime Minister had made a statement to the effect that it was just a piece of "Harmless Toxic Fun" and he would gladly take care of the pies if no-one else wanted them. - "Damn and blast it" I thought, foiled again by those pesky Brum Rockers - " I'll get you next time ". I reached over for my trousers and pulled from my pocket the item that Bev had dropped when I accidentally hit the car horn......................................

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bob.

Check out here: www.brianyeates.co.uk/tours/rocks.htm for forthcoming Brum Rock tour dates 2007. Watch out for the wine!!

REMEMBER. If theres something that needs a good looking into - BOB's On The Case........

AMP OF THE MONTH....... Burns Orbit

The Burns ORBIT guitar amplifier was the first ever transistorised piece of kit.

I tried one out in Ringway Music. It was very light to carry, in comparison to the equivalent Selmers and Vox's which meant you didn't have to do your back in, lugging the thing up five flights of stairs, as was often the case at some venues in the City. You could buy an extension speaker cabinet for this too. The Burns publicity statement for the amp said that to test it, it was thrown from the top of the factory roof onto the road below and when they plugged it in again - Bingo! it worked.



The thing is, it sounded rubbish to start with. The controls were unresponsive and the sound far too clean. Personally, I think they should have kept throwing these amps off the factory roof till it either improved the audio quality or there were no more left to throw. If you own one and think that it does sound good, I would make an appointment with an Audiologist.

It's worth a mention only because it was the first of its kind.

SIX OF THE BEST

Remember to check out the second article in the Six of the Best series. "Walking on Broken Glass" written by Brumbeat musician Danny Gallagher about his beginnings and the recording of the first BRUMBEAT LP.

See Ya Next time

Bob

Copyright all text and illustrations: Bulls Head Bob.

Contributions or comments to: Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

March - 'Bulls Head Bob's' Competition Month

WELL HERE IT IS......DAT-DA-DA-DAAAA...IT'S COMPETITION MONTH
Sharpen up your brains, put on your thinking caps

GUESS THE AMOUNT?

At his Hairiest, how many Smarties, (M&M's for our friends on the American continent)could be hidden in Roy Wood's beard (including Upper lip area)?



ROADIES CONUNDRUM ???

Re-arrange the following letters to form the name of a well known 60's Band
(TRAFFIC)


DRUMMERS BRAIN TEASER??
How many are in a "Pair" - 12, 125, 2 or None at all - its some fruit.

GUITARISTS BRAIN TEASER???
How many drummers are USUALLY in a group? - 1, 3, 452, none - or "Oh, so that's the other bloke we pick up".
-------------------------

THE JEFF LYNNE "LOOK-A-LIKE" CONTEST
(Sponsored, including my expenses, entirely by Farten Record productions)

Its SEMI-FINAL time in the competition and controversy is raising its head again. We don't have FOUR semi-finalists, WE HAVE FIVE!!! Due to overwhelming public demand (yet again!) we have re-called the only female Look-A-Like, Susie Farten to the line up.

WE, the panel, have whittled down the thousands of YOUR entries over the last few weeks and are now at that nail biting moment when YOU the voting public will cast YOUR votes to decide the two ABSOLUTE finalists in the "Jeff Lynne Look-A-Like" Contest.

WE, the judging panel, have based OUR selection of the five semi-finalists on an agreed formula of Headings:

They are as follows:

1. JEFF-NESS. Verbal intonations (pronounced In-turrr-nay-shurns), walk and posture, how to keep goo-in' on about multi-track recording.

2. CHARM. Optional extra.

3. PHYSICAL JEFF-ALIKENESS. A perfect physical resemblance is CRUCIALLY important and we have been MERCILESS in OUR decision making to ensure that only the perfect JEFF-ALIKES get through to the last round.

The Judging panel consisting of me'self -Bulls Head Bob, wit and raconteur. Music impresario Ron Farten and legendary Irish drumming duo, "Sticks" O'Bashem and Pat Mi'Bongos (recent signing to a huge Farten Record deal - (but haven't been paid their large advance just yet), will be making OUR final deliberations to find the two ABSOLUTE finalists following YOUR crucial vote casting.

STOP PRESS: Knowing what a comedian he is, we have been "tipped the wink" that The Lord High Jeffness himself might have entered under a false name. Be cautious when making your choice!

We have put the four same questions to all the finalists. Their answers, alongside their pictures will aid you in your choice of contestants - remember we are looking for TWO finalists.

SO LETS GET ON WITH THE COMPETITION!

CONTESTANT NUMBER ONE:

Name: Kevin "JL" Sweatglands

Fave Jeff Story:
"I'm always getting stopped in the streets by people because they think I'm Jeff. They never say it outright though, they stop me on the pretext of asking directions to places or to ask if I've got some spare change."

Fave Pastimes: Being Jeff, perming my hair and designing eye-patches.

Fave Music: The Cheeky Girls.


CONTESTANT NUMBER TWO:

Name: Horace Wimp-Thompson

Fave Jeff Story: "I changed me' name by deed poll to Horace Wimp-Thompson because I had the feeling that Jeff had me in mind when he wrote "Wild West Hero" due to the fact that I own a donkey."

Fave Pastimes: Licking stamps, washing walls, lookin'at things.

Fave Music: Well Jeff of course -we are brothers cast from the same mould.



CONTESTANT NUMBER THREE:


Name: Geoff Liinn

Fave Jeff Story: "The one about when I, I mean when Jeff left his guitar on top of his Mellotron. Or the one about "I'm staying in bed now - I'm a musician"

Fave Pastimes: Making lots of multi-track recordings. Making shed loads of money. Hanging out with mega stars.


Fave Music: Absolutely everything by Jeff Lynne.



CONTESTANT NUMBER FOUR:

Name: Susie Farten

Fave Jeff Story: "I once told my best friend that I would run a mile just to kiss Jeff's lovely lips. She said that he would probably run a mile too.."

Fave Pastimes: Sticking Photos of Jeff just everywhere! Helping out Daddy and Mummy at the Agency. Brushing my hairs. Tattoos (I have a secret one boys!!).

Fave Music: Nothing really, Oooh yes - Bananaramas



CONTESTANT NUMBER FIVE:



Name: Eric "Arthur of the Britons" Bloodaxe

Fave Jeff Story: My Queen, Hildegarde of Nuneaton, says that Jeff saved our sanity. She likes me to dress up as Jeff and wear that helicopter thing he used to have spinning on his head.

Fave pastimes: Looking at myself. Catching buses, letting them go again.

Fave Music: Soundtrack to Debbie does Dallas.





WOW!!!!....... This is going to be a fierce competition but ONLY YOU can decide which two get through to the final.............This is REALITY BLOG at its realest. It will be surprises all round here though if the "little Cutie" Susie Farten doesn't get the winning votes.....Why its just like having Jeff in the room with you!! VOTE NOW...............................



Bob

OH NO! - REFLECTIONS OF DORIAN GRAY?

Recent denials of Sanatogen 'Rider''demands by the Brum Rock band have fuelled a Press frenzy for the truth! 'Insider' information already suggests that a new black hair has been spotted on Steve Gibbons head prompting questions of dabbling in the dark world of age regression. Sounds like a case for 'BOB INVESTIGATES'! Report expected for April blog.

-----------------------

AAHH! SOMETHING FOR THE EQUIPMENT FREAKS

AMPLIFIER OF THE MONTH:

30 Watt - Linear Conchord.
















Hardly a beauty but most of the early Brumbeat musicians started with this as their first powerful? amp. Manufactured by RSC, its classic bird cage shape showed it as a “no frills” amplifier. It had two inputs, high and low gain, volume and a couple of tone controls. The good thing about this amplifier was its output. Although there were five models in the range, the ones that suited musicians best were those rated at 30 watts and 50 watts respectively (L30, L50). If you wanted to buy an amp that had that amount of output you would have had to buy a VOX AC30 or Selmer at a massive price difference.



This amp is always in the background of all those early group pictures. A clean sound but a real little belter, heavy though as I recall. Once you bought one you had to go looking for a speaker from somewhere. Things just weren’t that easy then. Every guitarist worth their salt had a couple of spare Mullard EL34 valves in their guitar case.
Leak and Grampian also made 'clone' models of this amp.

-------------------------


TERRY WALLACE
Lovely gig at Whitton for early guitar hero Terry Wallace (Carl Wayne & the Vikings) attended by the great and good of the Brummie music community.


SeeYa, look out for BOB INVESTIGATING in your area.

Bob

Ryan. Keep your Dirk in yer sock.

contact and contributions to Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com
Copyright all images and text. Bullsheadbob.