FEBRUARY - LOWER THE JOLLY ROGER

Hello Brummies,

MICK GREEN - THE PIRATES
My very first guitar hero has sadly taken his leave of us. As a young guitarist, Mick Green was my inspiration as an attacking guitarist, his style of playing was agressive and effective and I always associate the Telecaster with that man, more than anyone else.

He had been reared as a professional guitarist backing that brilliant showman Johnny Kidd (Shakin' all Over) and to have had him as a theatrical inspiration showed because he was no slouch himself when it came to giving his 'all' on stage during performances when The Pirates reformed in the 70's, to carry on with their attacking style of play.

With those machine-gun like, stabs and chops of telecaster treble, punctuating The Pirates solid rythm section, they blasted through a high energy set to huge crowds who were eager to experience what the beat group phase was all about.

I was fortunate enough to have worked on the same bill with him on a couple of occasions, also when he was with The Dakotas and was backing Billy Fury. The first time we met we were sharing a dressing room, he must have seen my chin hit the floor as I walked in and saw him there - I was face to face with my personal guitar hero. Luckily for me, at that time, I was playing a Gibson TV (pictured in Micks hands)which used to be his guitar of choice whilst in The Pirates so we had a real starting point for a couple of nice conversations. I found him to be extremely generous with his time and advice.

Mick Green was a truly wonderful guitarist and had worked with everybody of importance, including Van Morrison, Bryan Ferry and had latterly featured with Paul McCartney, recording the excellent CD "Run Devil Run" where he was in the line up of McCartney's band alsongside rock hero's David Gilmour and Ian Paice. Mick Green was not out of place in that company, in fact I think David Gilmour would have been daunted by him. This CD of R&R covers took him back to where he really excelled, playing hard Rock and Roll whilst Gilmour almost floundered about noodling.

For me, he will always be the guitarist for The Pirates. Aggresive and inventive. I'm sure that Wilco Johnson and Jimmy Page have a lot to thank him for. A great loss at the age of 65, so Ladies and Gentlemen...a round of applause for our dear departed King of Beat Guitar, the beautiful Mick Green.

BURNS GUITARS. You know, young musicians of the early sixties were always regarded as foolish layabouts by the general public. Electric guitars were seen as a 'fad' that would disappear when the next generation of instruments came along. A click on the following link Burns Guitar 'short' shows quite funnily how pop musicians were regarded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mls08C1ukHM

ACOUSTIC BLUE
A couple of months back I mentioned The Chads and, like magic, a real live 'Chad' emerged in the form of Keith 'Noddy' Harrison, the Chads ex drummer. Noddy had been attending the funeral of Mick Adkins (Chads and Sundowners) and whilst there got into conversation with guitarist and music afficionado Bob Boden. Well you know what musicians are like, a short conversation led to a further meeting for a drink where a 'get together' was arranged just to play a couple of songs in pleasant, likeminded company.

It took no more than that session to convince both of them that there was a possibility to play together as an act and so Acoustic Blue was born. The duo decided to feature the music of Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Clapton, Chris Rea, Gary Moore, Lightnin Hopkins, Dylan etc... as well as some of their own compositions.

Bob Boden had been a folkie for some years but had leanings towards the blues and Noddy had experienced playing all those blues standard, but faster, with The Chads during the R&B phase that swept the nation in the mid sixties. "We seemed to click straight away and it felt natural to get back to playing" said Noddy. They decided to go 'acoustic' with Bob on guitar and Noddy employing Bongos and Tom Toms and also blowing the blues harp.

I remember very well as a really young kid of about fourteen trying to wangle my way into little jazz/blues clubs in the inner city. A lot of the times I had to listen to the music from outside because I would be refused entry owing to my age, occasionally however, I could sneak in when the bouncer went to the toilet or to attend a fight. I saw many of the early blues hero's in those smoky, hot places and was captivated by the sheer rawness and emotion of the performances they delivered.

I believe there is nothing better than purity in music. There are times when technology should be scrapped with it's homogenous and lifeless backing track sound. This outfit's aim is to produce that purity in an acoustic form. They have done a string of successful gigs so if you're in the market for a bit of natural sounding blues music keep a lookout for any of their future performances. Acoustic Blue can be contacted at: kharrisonchaduk@yahoo.co.uk

It's great to see that some of us are still performing the sort of stuff that we excelled at and I wish Acoustic Blue a good future.

HERE'S A NICE PICTURE... THE VICTORS. I publish the attached photo for no other reason than I really like it. Thanks to Ken Reeves for sending me this little gem(pictured on the right). The Victors were formed to back the late Nicky James but Nicky James being Nicky James meant that it was all a fools errand. Nonetheless, the band carried on, on their own.

It's so evocative of the time and fashion. Nice pair of Gibsons there too. I simply LOVE this....Great facial expressions. I'd like to see other photos of your bands if you have them available. Sorry, I can't visit your homes to see them so, if you have a scanner available...

MUST SEE MOVIE

...the cone of shame!! If you only get to see one movie this year at the cinema make sure its 'UP' by Disney (Pixar). It's incredibly funny, full of pathos and its also in amazing 3D!! Even better if you are into herbal 'jazz'.

Hi Luanne.

OK folks thats about all from me this month except to wish all the Villa fans the greatest success at WEMBERLEY for the Carling Cup but please get behind the team AND the absolute best Manager they've had in Martin O'Neill. UTV...

Bob

copyright: (BullsheadBob) Contact: Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

JANUARY - BOB PHOTOGRAPHED!!

Hi de Ho Brummies,

CHRISTMAS SALE MADNESS!!
Aren't the Winter Sales something to look forward to? Idiots elbowing their way through the crowds of normal, everyday people like me just to get socks with 20 percent knocked off. I'm starting a 'Sales Armour' business next year and plan to have, fashion co-ordinated Cricket Boxes, Carbon Fibre Boob protecters and a wide ranging variety of 'Fetching' helmets. Can't fail?? The one thing I do like about the Sales however is, that its the only time you can see groups of women fighting with each other over a pair of cheap knickers without having to go to a porn site!

This year, I got gifts from my loved ones that I actually wanted. I think they all thought I was going to peg out when I was hospitalised so I didn't get those normal 'Dad' gifts - you know, the sort of things that I mean, knee scratchers or musical ties!! I can almost feel someone out there thinking quizzically "Hang on Bob, that's what I got this year?".

BOB PHOTOGRAPHED??
Wow!! we've had oodles of snow which naturally, not everyone likes, but seems to make Christmas that little bit more festive. My daughter and I even found time to play out in the snow blissfully unaware that the long lens, Black Country papparazzi were watching, trying to grab an opportunity to expose my identity. Fortunately I was wearing my 'shades man'. The following photographs however appeared in the Sedgetree Gazette....

This was taken following Christmas dinner, Skippy attends me with sick bag at the ready.
The Gazette also must have been at work with the airbrush, removing my glasses, because they released the following close-up photograph.. skin colour correct, dripping red nose correct, my eyes however are a romantic shade of hazel - phew identity intact.....

BUDDY HOLLY MUST HAVE INVENTED FEEDBACK!!

In the early Fifties Rock music started to rear its ugly head above the parapet of decency and moral correctness. Its hard to believe, these days, that something so innocent could have caused such a commotion and indignation to some people. Below is a Buddy Holly review that I stumbled upon whilst meandering through the cyber world of Rock oddities - this is not made up by me (like the rest of my inane ramblings). The Gang of Four at the pub were in tears when I read them this:

"Artistry has been kicked out of the stage door and performers who can provide ephemeral thrills are taking its place. Audiences are in search of the momentary gimmick, of which they tire whenever another novelty is introduced. At least it would seem so (writes Peter Holdsworth) from the fanatical reception given to a screeching guitar player and his two colleagues when they headed the bill at Bradford last night. They were American Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Unless they had previously read the lyrics or heard them sung by an articulate vocalist, I would have defied anyone in the audience to tell me what 70 per cent of the words which issued from the lips of this foot-stamping, knee falling musician. Where on earth is show business heading? The tragedy often is that many of the performers, like the trio last night, have a basic talent which they distort in order to win an audience's favour. On an elaborate display board at the Gaumont announcing a forthcoming musical contest, is fixed a washboard. What a pitiful symbol it is of present-day entertainment. Like its worshippers, it would be better employed in the dolly-tub!"

OK, you folks. I would like to say many thanks to all those who have sent me their Christmas and New Year greetings and in return, here's wishing you all a prosperous, warm and peaceful New Year and "Tune in again next month folks for more hilarious, rip roaring, side splitting humour from your man on the street"

Bob

Copyright BullsHeadBob. contact Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

DECEMBER - The Queens Peach

Ho Ho Ho - Ar Kid,

BRUMBEAT CHRISTMAS PARTY
Sadly, the annual BRUMBEAT Christmas party has had to be cancelled this year as John is in the process of moving house,
he'll do anything to avoid buying me a drink. Perhaps he's related to Danny King, Dave Morgan or Johnny Neal - great artists in the conservation of their wallets! While all us plebs will be freezing our assets off in the UK over the Christmas period, Mr Neal will be sunning himself on the shores of the Cape of South Africa, he says that the cost of sherry there is much cheaper?


MICK ADKINS
Last month I was doing a bit of web surfing and thought I would trawl through the music sites that interested me to see if any updating had been done. I headed first for Mick Adkins website only to find the page unavailable, now my computer isn't the most modern in the world and often 'hiccups' with speed faults etc so I moved on, meaning to return a little later. In conversation with John he tried to find it too. It came as a real shock for John and I to find out, through a Health and Safety document, published on the web, that Mick had died from asbestosis in 2007. It's such a shame that no-one had contacted us about Micks passing. We both wish to say how sad we are at the news and send our thoughts to Judy Adkins and the members of Micks family and friends.

Of the many contributors to the BRUMBEAT website Mick was one of the best. His e mails to us were witty and informative and indeed, his own website was a great read about his 60's days as lead guitarist of The Sundowners, The Chads and his time as one of Robbie Hoods Merry Men!! Self deprecating, as is the case for most Brummies, and full of humour it made a great read. Micks musical history is a long one, spending many years after the sixties, playing the clubs with the brilliant Brenda Bosworth through the 70's and 80's. Micks wife Judy informed me that his funeral was attended well and included a couple of the Idle Race guys, Roger Spencer and Greg Masters. I'm sure Mick would have appreciated the company some of his muso mates, we all appreciated his company back then.

ALEX WHARTON - THE MOODY BLUES. Visit the Pie Stand page to read the exclusive interview with the great Alex Wharton

CHRISTMAS GREETINGS
Both John and I would like to wish a very Happy Christmas and Peaceful New Year to you all and thank you for visiting the site and keeping people's memories alive. This little community of the Survivors of Brumbeat are getting thinner each year and its brilliant that we can share our passion for the music with those who were not fortunate enough to have been around to have experienced it first hand - from the days before you could buy a solid body electric guitar to the psychedelic summer of love when even The Applejacks wore kaftans!! (I think they wore them to conceal their woggles!!). It maybe hackneyed to say this but there will never be another time like the BRUMBEAT days, when there were hundreds of venues or bars featuring 'live' music, two or three times a week....... even in Tipton. You could walk down Broad Street without being kicked to the ground. Best of all, us happy band of muso's meeting at Alex's, The Cedar Club, Elbow Room and The Rum Runner after gigging somewhere, were lucky to have had each others company and to have shared loads of good times together. I think of you all with great affection (well not ALL of you)......have a good one.

AND FINALLY.......
It's days away from the festive holiday and so being a pal I thought it best to remind you all, especially the tight fisted ones amongst you, that its a nice gesture to give someone you love a little token of your affection whether you 'Do Christmas" or not. We're not here forever.

Thats for you Oggie..

Bob
copyright BullsHeadBob. Contact: Bobsbullocks@GMail.com

NOVEMBER - Autumn Leaves.........

Hello Chums, Pals, Boys and Gals,

Just two months till Christmas!! Now I absolutely love the Christmas festivities, in fact I probably enjoy the lead-up to Christmas rather than the event itself, although these days I don't get the obligatory 'knee trembler in the cupboard' during the works party or, in fact, the Works Party either.
As I missed that sort of thing, last year Lucy and I decided to have an 'adult' Christmas role-playing game, we spent the afternoon getting absolutely ratted on cheap champagne, scoffing vol au vents and mince pies. I had suggested we dress appropriately for the occasion but unfortunately Lucy, lacking a little imagination, dressed as the office cleaner, not the eager little strumpet that one normally finds at Christmas parties. For added authenticity she had smeared herself with Johnsons Lavender Wax Polish to give that ambience of bonking in a dark space. A laddered and wrinkled stocking was fetchingly draped around one of her ankles like a flacid brown eel, a half smoked ciggie accentuating her diseased left ear took your eye to her hair tucked teasingly under a headscarf covering a couple of rollers that peeped out from the sides of her head like torpedo tubes on a Motor Launch. She suddenly leered at me.... and said the magic words "See you in the cupboard Tiger". I was off...to the cupboard under the stairs.

There's one consequence of getting older that never entered my head when planning the event and that is the problem of memory loss. From the living room to the hall cupboard is less than 10 seconds away but more than enough time for me to have forgotten what I was going there for in the first place. On entering the door I spent the next three hours happily sorting out a jar of nails and screws into sizes. Likewise, back in the living room, Lucy had checked her appearance in the mirror, saw that she was dressed as a cleaner and started washing down the paintwork...

EXCLUSIVE - I LOVE THE MOODY BLUES??

Over the past couple of years I have to admit to being less than friendly towards the Moody Blues. However that wasn't always the case. I loved the first line up of that band, as an R&B group, with Denny Laine and Clint Warwick. They really were BRUMBEAT in every sense.
So as a form of Christmas present to our faithful readers and especially to my fellow lovers of The (R&B) Moody Blues, we are really excited to bring you yet another BRUMBEAT EXCLUSIVE and let you know that, after some gentle persuasion, I have recently interviewed the great Alex Wharton, Manager and Record Producer of the Moodies. He popped into 'the snug' for a pint of loosening juice and then we talked at length about the recording session that produced one of Birminghams best records of all time, the epic "Go Now". Alex sheds light on his particular difficulties of the recording process and touches on a couple of other subjects too. You read it here first...... The interview will be appearing on the main site in December - this is too good to miss!!

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COIN!!
For those of you who didn't know, the (after R&B) Moodies have a 'Ride' named after them at an American theme park, how grandiose!

Although I haven't been on the ride myself, I imagine that you enter the ride, then they strap you tightly into a chair and play Nights in White Satin at you until you fall asleep. I suppose they could get through 10,000 people an hour...........the upside is you come out feeling refreshed but not remembering the ride at all. What a trip!!

ANOTHER SURVIVOR FOUND ALIVE AND WELL!!
Last months mention of the reunion of J Neal Esq and Norm Crandles, has brought another BRUMBEAT muso out of the woodwork, in the shape of Paul Brunt who played lead guitar with both of the aforementioned Brummie vocalists and also played with Ace Kefford, Nicky James, Jimmy Powell and others. Nice to hear from you Paul - he's still playing if anyone wondered.

GET LISTED
Were you a member of one of the following bands?
If so, Chris Smith would really like to hear from you in his quest to complete his book Brumbeat and Beyond. Some of the names of the group members are included where known. Chris would be very happy to have any information about any of these acts even if you weren't a member of the band itself. Chris can be contacted at http://www.smithc711@aol.com

BIRMINGHAM ( BIRMINGHAM )
DAVE PEACE - VOCALS / PIANO

BOYS BLUE THE ( COVENTRY )

BRAND THE
ROY EVERETT( TAYLOR ) - LEAD VOCALS / HARMONICA
HONRI EDOUARDE - BASS

BUBBLEGUM ( LEICESTER )

CINNAMON QUILL

CONGRESSMEN THE

CONVENTIONS THE

CRAWDADDIES ( BIRMINGHAM )
DAVE PEGG - LEAD GUITAR / VOCALS

DAVE & THE EMERALDS ( BIRMINGHAM )
DAVE PEGG - LEAD GUITAR / VOCALS

DUCE COUPE ( LEICESTER )

FOUR SQUARES THE

HUSH THE BIRMINGHAM )

ILLUSIVE DREAM
CHRISTINE PERFECT - ORGAN / VOCALS

INTER-MISSIO
GIORGIO UCELLINI ( MARODER )

KATZ THE ( BIRMINGHAM )

KINGBEES THE ( RUGBY )

LOOSE ENDS THE
ALAN MARSHALL - DRUMS

MARKLEW ALISON BAND
ALISON MARKLEW - LEAD VOCALS

MUSIC BOX ( COVENTRY )

POLIPHONY
MARTIN BERRY - BASS / VOCALS
DAVE BRISTOW - KEYBOARDS

PSYCHOTIC REACTION ( COVENTRY )

THE SHAKES

SINNERS THE

STORME ROBB & ( THE WHISPERS ) ( BIRMINGHAM )

STRINGBEATS THE

THREE HEADED DOG

UK BONDS

XCALIBURS

COMING SOON. Look out for forthcoming 'In the Snug' interviews with some past stars of BRUMBEAT. We only bring you the best.

Till Next time,

Bob.

Copyright BullsHeadBob. Contact: www.Bobsbullocks@GMail.com

October - Home Sweet Home

Hello Brummies, Friends, Brummies Abroad, Muso's, Afficionados

BACK HOME AGAIN

Well here I am back at the old house, tucked up in bed after my summer long hospital stay. I'm still convalescing, so once again I'm afraid that this will be quite a short blog. I thought that I could lie in bed and shout down the stairs to Lucy "I'd love a cup of tea" or other reasonable requests, given my delicate state, but she seems to have developed a bad case of deafness and a sharp increase in the usage of the word Bollocks!! A quick word of thanks to all those lovely NHS people who nursed me through my month long ordeal and also my thanks go out to some of you kind folk who sent me e mails wishing me a speedy recovery. Alex, my special on-line metaphysical physiotherapist, assigned to improving my positive mental attitiude, has sent me a leaflet outlining a few simple Yoga exercises to make me supple again so, being a sharing type of person I thought I would pass them onto you in case you wanted to try them out for yourselves:

I'm sure we've all been well practised in some of those positions in the past!!

SIMON DEE

Farewell to DJ Simon Dee who recently passed on. OK, so he wasn't a Brummie or had no connection with Brumbeat but he was a certainly a great influence on the British pop scene through his Radio Caroline days, when all we had was Radio Luxembourg which famously faded in and out on the airwaves. He rose to meteoric stardom hosting his own Saturday Night TV show 'Dee Time' which attracted an audience of 22 million!! An 'E type' driving DJ surrounded by hordes of young women and living the high life of London during the sixties. He was unfortunately a victim of his own popularity and over- inflated ego so the British, as usual, turned on him and his career plummeted alarmingly overnight and within months he was bankrupt, drawing dole money of 6 pounds a week. He also did some jail time for assaulting a bailiff. Some say that he was the model for Austin Powers

ITS A REUNION OF TWO HALFS
It's great when you can reunite some BRUMBEAT muso mates. Norm Crandles, formerley Lee Stevens (and The Satellites), pictured on the left, flew across the pond from Canada for a reunion with old buddie Johnny Neal, co-incidentally, their respective wives are both called Maggie! No doubt there were some 'War stories' flying about, broken down vans, crap agents, "I was always much better than people said" etc etc... Johnny is an avid Birmingham City supporter and Norm a Villa fanatic so Johnny must have been gutted when the Mighty Villa trounced the Blues the day this picture was taken, Norm's smile says it all really!! I hear that another get together is planned for the future. Good on you guys, its nice to know that the ties that bind us are still strong.

Bob

copyright BullsHeadBob, Contact Bobsbullocks@GMail.com

September - Carry On Bob

Hi Brummies,

I greet you from the confines of my hospital bed where I have been for the past couple of weeks, what's that you say? Bob in bed? Ill? Yes folks, I have succumbed to some form of hideous illness brought on by too much Brown and Mild, Pork Scratchings and too few Villa victories at the beginning of the season!! No doubt you Bluenose gits out there will be laughing your socks off at AV's poor start but no doubt it is a part of Martin O'Neils greater plan. So here I am, Ward 7, suffering, but as we say at the luxury BRUMBEAT Towers 'The Blog Must Go On', thats dedication folks. I am surrounded by a pleasant enough bunch of fellow patients and the nurses and Doctors are all very nice folk too and are looking after me with loving care. I'd like to offer my apologies to those of you have written to me and are awaiting an answer but now you know why!

LES PAUL

So, with a large tear in either eye we bid a farewell to the luminescent Les Paul at the great age of 94. Many folk have spoken about his demise so I don't have much more to say than they. It is, however worth saying that the sound of the rock guitar today is a result of the work he did to produce an instrument of such distinction and it is is fitting that that guitar is commonly known as a 'Les Paul' and not a Gibson. That being a fact, his name will live forever more. As a lighthearted aside, when my daughter was a teenager and was trying to impress one of her guitar playing boyfreinds she said "My Dad has a very nice 'John Paul' at home" - he must have thought that I had the Pope round for dinner!!!

HOW DID YOU DO IT??

I was thinking the other day about how difficult it was to learn new songs way back when, after all there were no portable recording devices, cassettes, CDs etc?
I recall walking four miles just to listen to Karl Perkins "Matchbox" on someones Dansette. I also got to know someone who, in turn, knew someone else who had some LP's from America and we would trog on over to his house to listen to Willie Dixon or Howlin Wolf then it would be a case of writing the words down and trying to copy the melody line on the guitar and then on the long walk home would repeatedly sing the song so as not to forget it, or if I had the bus fare I would go upstairs and play the melody line on my guitar as well. It occurred to me that there must have been hordes of tennagers all doing the same thing at the same time, in the early hours of the morning people would be woken from their beds by the passing by of a grotty, spotty youth singing Smokestack Lightnin'. Later, at dance halls I would hear other groups do those songs as well but everybodys lyrics seemed to be different I guessed that one person probably knew a bit of the guitar part and they would just make up their lyrics and melody to go with the part they actually knew. In the end I dont think anybody really cared because it was all creative fun and got the girls dancing.

REUNION
Nice to hear that Lee Stevens is making the long journey across 'The Pond' to meet up with Johnny Neal and others from the golden age. Have a fab night you guys.

OK, I'm back to my moaning and groaning to get the attention of that crackin brunette "Nurse, nurse - I think I need another bed bath?"

Cheers and Take Care

Bob

Copyright: BullsheadBob Contact: Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com

August - Riders of the Storm

Hello Music Lovers,

Some things in life look how they should look and you just know they mean business, for instance, the Supermarine Spitfire is simply the most sublime looking fighter aircraft ever produced, the iconic Jaguar E Type with its sensuous lines and sleek shape informed you, with one glance, that it was a thing of speed and beauty. A girl called Shirley, who could make the zipper on your trousers undo itself in the anticipation of the greatest shag of your life and lastly, in 1954 one mans vision produced the most iconic of guitars ever made and found a true partnership with:

THE FENDER STRATOCASTER AND HANK MARVIN.

There is one thing for certain, in the early Rock days I, and probably all other guitarists in Brum would gather and stare longingly through the windows of George Clays or Jones and Crosslands at the first Stratocasters on sale in the City, a row of greasy nose prints adorned the shop windows in front of the display, freindships and groups formed at those very spots. Hours of conversation about the finish of the paintwork, which was just the dogs bollocks on those very early Strats. I remember, in particular, a natural sunburst model in a locked glass cabinet at Woodruffe's, it's futuristic shape and its great cutaway cowhorns were a thing of wonderment and you just knew that, if it was yours you would be as good as Hank B Marvin. Every guitarists hero of the day.

1956 Stratocaster.

HANK MARVIN
Cliff Richard asked Hank what kind of guitar he would like to play and as history shows, his choice was the Strat. Cliff purchased one from America and gave it to Hank to use, reportedly the first Fender in the country. The guitar was not available commercially, in the UK, at the time due to an embargo on imports and us poor plebs had to settle for cumbersome semi acoustic things with an excuse for a pick up or some cheap Italian thing. To make matters worse it was almost impossible to buy an amplifier! Hank led us all in the art of the instrumental, the Strat combined with a Meazzi echo chamber and a VOX AC15 produced the 'Shadows Sound'. Hank was also responsible for giving us the AC30 when he asked VOX if they could make him a bigger model with two speakers. Another important factor to The Shadows sound being the marvellous rhythm guitar style of Bruce Welch, the master of chords and lightness of touch. It is easy these days, to forget what an impact The Shadows had on the music scene, yours truly was a member of their Fan Club and possessed all their LP's and EP's. As a matter of fact, every young guitarist who was about during their reign owes something to all those guys and their contribution should never be dismissed. These also include the greats - Clapton, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Mark Knoppfler etc

One glance at this wonderfully styled guitar clearly shows it is designed with the player in mind. Beautifully contoured body that fits neatly into your waist, tremelo arm that was just the right length to enable you to use it comfortably, Hank used this to great effect and developed a playing style whereby he held onto the arm continously. It's three pick ups with a neat, well positioned, selector switch meant you could effortlessly, select different sound combinations. The bottom cutaway also gave comfortable access to the top frets which beforehand were simply unplayable. Even the positioning of the strap button on the uppermost cow horn meant that the guitar was perfectly balanced.

TONY RUSSELL
I was reminded about the virtues of this guitar again by BRUMBEAT veteran and fellow 'Stratocaster Window Watcher' Tony Russell who, like a lot of us served his dues around the clubs and pubs of Brum, including The Bulls Head, Carlton, The Station at Selly Oak etc from 1962 onwards, with The Stormriders, The Exchequers, The Couriers and Shingles. Tony then retired from the game and led a sensible life but, the longing to play again was just too much to resist and Tony now has an aptly named 60's revival group "Shindig"(although at present the group is 'resting' due to illness). As Tony says "When I was young I used to dream about owning a nice guitar and now I find I can afford more than one and some nice amplification to boot". (Tony top right, Brother Chris kneeling).

He and his bass playing brother Chris, are both avid admirers of The Shadows and they attend 'get togethers' with like minded Shads freinds for an occasional session. Tony owns a fine brace of Stratocasters, that is a Fiesta Red Hank Marvin Signature with gold fittings, a standard Strat again in fiesta red and a natural 'Classic Player' sunburst model fitted with 57/62 pick ups. He refers to his sunburst as his Buddy Holly Guitar, for obvious reasons

Tony, like Hank, has an awful memory for names hence the initials.

Tony really admires the talents of Bruce Welch and says "I still regard Bruce's part in The Savage and FBI as a real test of skill" and, of his Brother Chris, "He puts on a classy performance with his rendition of Jet Harris' solo part in 'Nivram'.

Its great to know that there are people who are still passionate for this style of playing with its precise notation and lush sound and I wish to thank Tony, Chris and all you Shadows fans and players out there for keeping that sound and those precious memories alive. Long may you Shadoogie!!

STRAT SNOBBERY. It makes me weep when people start to get 'Nerdy' about guitars, things like "thats a 1962 switch not a 58" like it REALLY makes a difference - "Its a shaggin' guitar so play it and stop gobbin' on". However, its incredible these days to see a 70's Strat described as something collectible. The only true Fender models stopped being made in 1965. To acquire a Strat of comparible quality you have to lash out thousands on a Custom Shop built model and is it a joke that people are forking out 850 pounds to buy a 'Road worn model"? That is, a perfectly ordinary Strat that has been pre-battered and scratched for you - it looks as though they've let some mexican peon loose on it with a soddin' angle grinder - if some people are stupid enough to buy it, they're definitely stupid enough to be conned out of their dough, just sheer lunacy. It is sad, in a way that todays budding guitarists will never experience that 'first sighting feeling' of a good guitar because there's just so many makes available.

If you want an authentic sound but can't afford a Custom Shop or original model Tony says his 'Classic Player' Mexican produced, Sunburst Strat " gives that vintage sound for under 400 quid", that's sound advice from someone who obviously knows his guitar. Thanks Tony.

THE BLACK PIG SAILED INTO THE SUNSET. Well another adios, to the writer of Captain Pugwash who died in July. No more Seaman Stains or Master Bates for us to giggle at!!

NEW STORE OPENING. Dudley, sorry Dudlae' has announced that a new toy megastore is being built there called "TOYS AM WAE"?

UPCOMING. I'm so-ooooo excited because I am currently talking to several Brilliant people from the BRUMBEAT days and can assure you of some exclusive, crackin' articles coming in the next few months, it's just too good to be true....somebody pinch me, Ooh, that reminds me of Shirley again - get down boy!!

Tara for now

Bob

copyright BullsHeadBob. Contact Bobsbullocks@GMail.com