MAY - I'D LOVE A NICE RED ORGAN

Hi Brummies,

Aah how nice, Spring weather out in the garden planting the seedlings under the watchful eye of Lucy, standing over me with a loaded dibber at the ready in case I dare make a mistake. "Careful with that lettuce", "Leave plenty of room in between" "Put that broken egg shell round the plants to stop the slugs from eating them" "Mum's coming for dinner", "Don't forget to plant french marigolds in your salad plot to deter blackfly". So rapid were her orders and statements of fact that I hardly noticed the 'Mum's coming for dinner' information, strategically placed in her stream of conversation like a well camouflaged hideout. It's a skill women have developed over many years and one that is a standard in their armoury of womanly wiles.

Lucy's Mum has one of those ride along invalid buggies. She doesn't have mobility problems but loves the fact that she can be a public nuisance whenever she wants. Her imminent arrival is always heralded by the sound of pedestrians swearing as she careers down the pavement.
'Born to be an Interfering Sod' tattooed across her forehead, she ploughs through them uttering her high pitched war cry, "Cooooo EEeeeeee" that makes her sound like a black country red neck at a pig roast.


Nonetheless, she keeps Lucy happy and we all sit in a corner of the garden with a mug of tea. It's at this point that I realise that I am totally invisible, "Have you told him about marigolds" "Have you told him to do this....that...the other....". I sneak a look at the window to check if my reflection is still there, yep, I start to rise and walk down the path "Where are you going?, Mum's talking to you!" "He never listens to me Lucy" says Hildergard the Horrible, whisps of green smoke now curling up from her scaly nostrils. "Gotta do the Blog, I'm behind schedule" - so here I am in the safety and sanity of the Bloggery watching volcanic ash pile up on top of her head.

I'D LOVE A NICE RED ORGAN
Sounds like a phrase you might have heard in the back of many a van but of course I'm referring to the mighty VOX Continental. This piece of equipment enhanced the sound of popular music in the early to mid sixties. Keyboards were a great thing to have in a band but unless the venue you were playing at had a piano on stage you were sunk.
In Brum the electric organ first started with bands like Johnny Neal and the Starliners in the very capable hands of Ian 'Monk" Mutch and were huge cumbersome things built by Bird that had speakers built-in to the organ's sides. They kind of resembled an overstuffed armchair and needed an army of blokes to shift them about.

When VOX launched their truly portable organ in 1962 they were riding on the soundwave of success that the Selmer Clavioline had given to the worldwide instrumental hit 'Telstar' by the Tornadoes that year, it had also been used prior to that on Del Shannons 1961 hit 'Runaway'.
On a BRUMBEAT note, the clavioline was used by geeky Brum band, Second City Sound during 65/66 who recorded upbeat classical music instrumentals, Tchaikovsky One being their best known recording.







The Vox Continental's reedy and bluesy sound suited pop and R&B music down to the ground and most importantly it could fit in the back of a van and be carried up flights of stairs without giving the whole band a joint hernia! Unlike other organs it didn't have a built-in or attached speaker, it could simply be plugged into any amplifier. Even today this is quite a stylish piece of kit, it's 'Z' shape chrome stand was a nice aesthetic feature and enhanced its modernistic red and black colour scheme ('color' for you north americans). VOX had cleverly also reversed the key colours with the white keys now black and vice versa. Fully transistorised meant no broken valves to deal with unlike the Hammond Organ

After it's launch it seemed that every band had one of these things, particularly after the Animals 'House of the Rising Sun' was such a success featuring Alan Price's astounding solo. Farfisa produced a portable organ too which did an equally good job but was ugly compared to the VOX, so it's easy to see why the Continental was the first choice. The sound of The Doors was down to this instrument too.

In the Brumbeat days, Birmingham's Jimmy O'Neil was probably the best organist around for some time and could make his VOX sing, he used it to good effect as the fourth member of the Walker Brothers to play the orchestrations to their hits, before they had the luxury of a touring band to back them. These days of course a good keyboard can emulate most other instruments but I don't believe that emulation is a replacement for a great looking and wonderful sounding piece of kit like this. I am only amateurish as a keyboard player but would genuinely like to own one of these. Are you listening Santa!!

THE CHADS. John has been busying himself at his end of the office and has just completed a brilliant updated bio of The Chads. This can be accessed via the Pie Stand or the Bio pages. This 'special' bio is dedicated to the memory of Mick Adkins and, for the first time at BRUMBEAT.Net, you can now listen to a soundclip of Mick chatting and the band in action.

BOB'S BITS. Thanks to everyone for your correspondence, it's an important asset to the running of this site because there's no story without you guys. It doesn't matter if you weren't successful. Every group that played in the midlands during that phase in the 60's was a contributor to the scene, so if you feel you have something to say or you have a nice photo you'd like to see in print, the door is always open and you can make contact at the address at the end of this blog.

WORLD CUP NEWS. Wayne Bridge has said that he will never play football for England again as long as John Terry is in the squad, following the scandal surrounding Terry's affair with Bridges girlfriend. England fans are hoping Terry makes a move on Emile Heskeys wife soon!!

ELECTION FEVER HITS SEDGETREE.

Well I don't know about you guys, but I'm stuck between which bunch of thieving, corrupt, self serving, irresponsible tossers to put in charge of the country next. Tony Blair ran off to the middle east to hide before the shit hit the fan, with his puppy face antics and his dodgy property-dealing, 'ball juggling' wife. "Who Me?" "Iraq War? Definitely no deceit". To make himself look better he put Gordon Brown in charge of the shop - "There will be no Boom and Bust under Labour" said Big Gord ??
Reports are coming in that the WAMPS (Wives and Mistresses of Politicians) are holding a 'Shag In' to raise a few quid for John Prescott's pie allowance during the election campaign and Harriet Harperson is starting a "Be Nice to Men Fortnight", unfortunately though, owing to the pressure of electioneering to her feminist fanclub, she has 'regrettably' had to reduce that to 3 minutes. No surprises there then from the Equality Minister!!

On a local note I and the Boogie Band have been playing some fund raising gigs for Sedgetree's Independent choice, Mrs Gertrude Silent-Fart MBE, "GO Gertie, GO Gertie.......". (Note): Mrs G S-F MBE is sponsored by "Bobs Pork Sausages and Black Puddings, truly the Black Country's Best, Go on, Get one down yer Gob"

Bob
copyright Bullsheadbob.
E Mail Contact Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

APRIL - GIGGING AT THE WING WAH?

Watcha Brummies, Ow yer Gooin',

Hooray, Spring has sprung!! Oh the sun, aint it bostin', I can feel the vitamin D coursing its way through my delapidated frame making me feel like a frisky young thing again.
Spring in the Black Country, kind of evocative. Sedgetree experiences the aroma of the local glue factory mixed in with the background sounds of the council road works going on, priceless British pleasure. Giggin at the Wing Wah? well thats the name of the Chinese restaurant that used to be the Hen and Chickens, Langley, on the Wolverhampton Road. Normal gig for all the Brumbeat bands. When The Overlanders were at No 1 in the charts with 'Michelle' they played there for ten quid owing to bad management in not negotiating a contract that covered the likelihood of them entering the charts.

ACOUSTIC BLUE
Acoustic Blue, who I mentioned a couple of months back, appear to be getting a string of gigs together and last month played at a whole load of places, unfortunately I wasn't aware of the dates but if you fancy a gander at this blues orientated duo they will playing at The Boat Inn, Cathriene de Barnes, Solihull on 4th of April 8.30 -10.30. So why not go along, support live music but more importantly support the survivors of Brumbeat.

HOORAY IT'S OLD KIT!!
HARMONY.
The Harmony H75 to 78. Harmony were once the biggest guitar maker in the world and produced many a model but the H75 to 78 model was their flagship instrument. Twin cutaway Gibson 335 style guitar finished in a nice natural honey sunburst (H75) - the H76 was identical but had a Bigsby trem arm. This was followed by the H77, the only difference from the 75/76 being the colour - red sunburst with the H78 having the Bigsby. OK, the fact is, it's not a Gibson and doesn't have powerful pick ups but it sounded just beautiful and mellow and was probably one of the best guitars for a good rythm sound that I ever came across, there were lots of buttons and bells to hone the type of sound you wanted from it. This guitar was extremely light and comfortable to play
In America you could even buy it in Kit form with the guitar body itself prebuilt and you did the rest, mounting the pick ups, tremeloe etc. For some reason this make of guitar never really got the sort of credit I believe it deserved as an all rounder. These days, if you see one for sale, buy it my friend, it's the guitar to have. I can think of three Brummie bands who used this here geetar'. Another BRUMBEAT band who also used it were The Fugitives pictured below.

Thanks to John Parish (second left) for sending me yet another great photo. The Fugitives were from the Solihull area, formed during 67/68 and played many a gig at the Solihull Civic Hall even once supporting Gene Vincent. They were also a band that worked for Ma Regan. Sporting their tailor made suits from Jacksons at 12 quid each they must have looked the Biz on stage. This picture tells a story or two, though you may not think so at first glance. There were two more members of the group who were not in the shot!! the other two being a guy and girl singers. It makes you wonder, why take a photo without them? Well I'm sure there was a perfectly reasonable answer to that. The photographer did the usual trick of glueing them all together in that well practiced group pose.

This picture also belies a certain resentment of one member within the group to conform. Close examination reveals that they had great gear and wore nice suits but there was obviously some disagreement about the suede winklepickers (that could have had your eye out). A closer look reveals that the guy at the back, I imagine the drummer, was making his own statement by wearing black chisel toes. There's always one!!

BULLS HEAD BOB SEAL OF APPROVAL - AND THE WINNER IS:

Outside of the Gang of Four at the pub, I have a couple of friends who I speak to regularly about music and through conversation, give me food for projects. One who was a key player in the Brumbeat days and knows everybody, the other, a likeable music guru who lives on the edge of a forest and shall be known as The Skiffle King. It was he who asked me what I thought about the Bob Dylan Theme Time Radio Hour, broadcast by XM Satellite in the States and good old Blighty by Radio 6. "Are you bonkers?" I asked, "Bob Dylan DJ-ing!!, Do me a favour". Well he did me a favour and now I'm going to do one for you.

I have not been so impressed by a radio programme for years and years. I have been glued to the contents of this radio show and really recommend it for you guys out there, if you haven't heard it already. It's a real gem and the show revolves around a theme every week i.e. Girls Names, Cars etc.. featuring some incredible tracks from way back until today.

Dylan himself entertains between tracks with an engaging and informative air that has you fascinated with this archive of music history. He is often comical and of course his own knowledge of the music business is to the fore. The show aired from 2006 to 2009 and features 100 hour-long shows. This is a serious collection of music that, for those who love the music business, should listen to. The stories of how some of these songs were written are eye opening and there is no doubt that this show has the BHB Seal of Approval. Listen Now!!! Should you not be able to find this anywhere contact me at the usual address and I will assist.

AND FINALLY.....
Ricky Martin announces he's Gay. I never would have known arf, arf.

I'm sure that, like me, you have been reading the papers which feature the sex scandal surrounding the Catholic Church. Not amusing in any sense but I would have thought the Editor of The TIMES would have thought twice before giving the 'by line' of the story to reporter "Roger Boyes??"

It's coming up to Easter so buy an extra bit of chocolate for the lady in your life. Lucy is getting my donation first thing Easter Sunday, back ache permitting!!

Tara a bit,

Bob
copyright Bullsheadbob. contact Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

MARCH - NOBBER FREAKS OUT

Hello Brummies and Overseas Contingent,

So then, February came and went in a trice. St Valentines Day was it's normal occasion, I was swamped, naturally, with card from my horde of admirer, the lovely Lucy. I went down the pub and chatted with the other members of The Gang of Four, Nobber, Crazy Malc and Mick the Plumber about the sad state of the music industry. The rumours of Abbey Road being sold and EMI being a billion pounds in debt brought the normal raft of swearing from Nobber, "F****** downloads have F****** F***** the F****** buisness and all those corporate soul-less F****** B******* like that F****** S***** T*** S**** C***** are responsible and should be deported to some distant S*** Hole".

Personally, I think Nobber is still smarting a bit at not getting a writers job with NME. He constantly fails to believe that his limited F****** vocabulary could be a factor. Added to that is the fact that he is older than 14, doesn't have a Daddy in the City, lacks the child-like mental age of the current writers and worst of all - he is extremely knowledgable about music, a factor which dramatically precluded his selection.

THE BRITS
HIGHLIGHT:

Alicia Keys singing a few notes with Jay Z, the quality and class just oozed from that woman, a true, wonderful vocalist. No gimmicks required.



LOWLIGHT:
Meanwhile, at the gimmick end of the stick was Cheryl Cole's corporate performance. So that's how you do it? Steal Kylie Minogues fashion ideas, the hat from my milkman Stanley, then steal Michael Jackson's trapdoor stage entrance AND dance routines.

The thing is this, when M Jackson made his sprung-trapdoor entrance onto the stage, the crowd went crazy and he stood there motionless, for what seemed an eternity whilst the fans roared their approval, why? because he was a huge star with incredible charisma. When Miss Cole was fired into the air for her entrance, the audience response was more akin to the sound experienced when entering a doctors waiting room - silence with the occasional throat clearing.

It was one of those 'verging on the embarrassing' moments as she stood there waiting for the silence to die down!

Aah, what an individual talent she doesn't have. Never mind Pet, and it's such a pity that the music was crap too.

DAVE BALL
Well here's some hot poop. Brumbeat guitarist Dave Ball is planning a return to the UK from the shores of New Zealand and surprisingly, wishes to return to the life of pain, hardship and misery as a musician! Some people never learn do they?




Dave having a blues snooze!

Watch this space for further news.





YOU GET THE BIGGEST CRABS IN BIRMINGHAM
Or so it would appear from a recent picture in the Birmingham Press:

"It started with a little bit of itching in the Y Front area" said Norman Polethruster.

SPOILED FOR CHOICE. It's a real minefield trying to buy a set of guitar strings these days. I feel quite intimidated when faced with about twenty different Makes of string and even more choices about weight and thickness etc.. I was much happier when there was only one choice:

For the un-initiated, Black Diamond strings were the mainstay of British guitarists and bass players for some years in the sixties. Why? - well, there weren't any other wire wound strings available, its that simple. They came in one thickness - very thick!!

With the advent of the Beat Boom, guitarists found it better to dump the G string provided with the set, using the second string as a third, the first as a second and then you purchased a Banjo string for the top E or in my case, at times, used two E's. Bending of notes was so much easier from then on.

There was a country song written about them too by Guy Clark "Black Diamond Strings are like white flour and grits, you buy Black Diamond strings cos' they're all you can git"

AND FINALLY....
Remember The Bobcats? A group of Brummie schoolboys who were genuinely, a good little band and recorded a single for Pye. They also experienced a level of fame that many groups would never achieve, for a short while. They appeared on TV programmes like Blue Peter, Crackerjack and even David Frost. They were managed by John Singer who promoted a publicity campaign headline stating that they had been given a contract "worth Twenty Thousand Pounds!" - who to? I thought. I know its bad to laugh at your own jokes but I laughed about that one for ages! Some members of that band are still playing....good on you guys.

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob. Contact: Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

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