BULLS HEAD BOB - JUNE - THE TRAVELING PILBURY'S

Howdoo Brummies and my Brummie Muso mates abroad,

"Oh Bollocks" I thought when I heard the name of the featured band here this month, "Another soddin' tribute group". You can imagine my great relief at discovering that this group are a "Proper Band" with a rich musical heritage and a great set list. The following picture nicely depicts the band in action, reminding me of the saying that "If it looks good then it probably is"
THE TRAVELING PILBURY'S

.....and they certainly look good together. All of these guys are very experienced musicians with far too many connections to other 'Name' acts to mention and, not being one of those sort of people who believes that fame by association is relevant, I shall not dwell on that subject other than to say, you have to be good to play at a good level.

In the mid 60's you would have seen vocalist John Kerton fronting The Andicaps, drummer Rob 'The Stick" Moore with Paradox and later, during the colourful, whirlwind days of psychedelia, with Ochre Daydream which also included Pilburys pianist Steph Griffin. Bands of the 60's worked hard

and regularly, in competition with other great bands, honing their musical skills with each performance. That experience is never forgotten.



The Pilburys set-list is a great mixture of songs that embrace their individual musical backgrounds from out-and-out rock and roll to some soulful classics like 'Handbags and Gladrags' with it's beautiful piano intro and the brilliant Ray Charles song "Unchain my Heart". It takes years of experience to play that particular song well and benefits from their mature approach allied to great vocal skills.

Naturally the music of The Beatles feature, giving the band an opportunity to show off their harmonies and the set also includes a couple of tunes of Brummie origin reflecting their associations of the past. A real well rounded show. I want to be entertained when I go to see a band and this set list, played by good musicians delivers in spades.

Their coming together was prompted when Jake Commander, former lead guitarist of The Andicaps visited the UK from his current home in West Virginia 3 years ago for a short stay and some former Andicaps members and other musicians met up to reminisce and to have a bit of a session.

When Jake returned they saw no reason to stop playing together, Bassist Graham Savage says "We sounded good and the lure of playing music together was as strong as ever, the only changes in the line-up since that first session have been with lead guitarist's but once Tony Cook came into the band the sound really gelled".  Tony had given up playing but jumped at the opportunity to play with Rob Moore again, having previously been in the same group, namely Dickie Heart and the Pacemakers. 

They played a couple of gigs for their own amusement but found that the demand was there and since then work has come rolling in, including a Butlins 60's festival. 

John Kerton said "Playing in a band again was the last thing on my mind but when I heard how good we sounded it was just impossible to avoid, it's in the blood".  He's absolutely right, the music these guys play improves with maturity and experience.  

They were all sort of reluctant to get involved with a group again but now the most important thing about this band is that they are really enjoying playing music together and that feeling always conveys itself to an audience. Go and see them or if you're a promoter, get a hold of them now, you won't be disappointed.

To find out where the Pilburys are playing OR to arrange a gig contact Graham Savage at grahamsav@GMail.com or view the band's page at www.myspace.com/travelingpilburys 

I have to admit that I know/knew two or three of these guys, although up to now they didn't know that.

THINGS THAT ANNOY ME - PART 355, TRIBUTE BANDS.
Amongst my many hates, which with every passing year seem to be growing in number, are 'Tribute' bands.  They come in all shapes and sizes and, more often than not, are usually absolutely dreadful. I can't see that playing someone else's songs badly is a form of tribute to anyone or, EVEN WORSE, intimating that they are the rebirth of a band whose name they're a parasite to, by inserting the word 'New".    

Is there a Brumbeat relevance to all this scorn, quite simply "Yes". 
If you wish to amuse yourselves for a short while, why not visit The 'New" Applejacks here: http://youtu.be/SuSTju38USw Always good for a cringe!!


The female bassist who is the 'New' Megan Davies has a real talent for  
"Oo-ing" in the sort of flat dirge vocal style that we only come to expect from  the likes of Bananarama.   The 'New' Al Jackson looks like an old George Melly.  I notice that the comments panel has been disabled, I wonder why? 

We here at Brumbeat Towers seem to have a TRIBUTE WEBSITE too....that's novel eh?  Watch this space for future developments. 

BOLLOCKS TO DENMARK!
To quote that well known Midlander, William Shakespeare:
"Something is rotten in the State of Denmark"
After a million years of importing their bacon and singing Hans Christian Anderson songs the Danes have repaid us in the most underhand manner
by banning MARMITE.....  What!! MARMITE??...Stone me, must be dangerous stuff! - If I'd have known it was THAT dangerous I would have tried to smoke it....I live life on the edge.  

It is less surprising however when you consider that they also banned OVALTINE too.   They don't want their people having a good nights sleep..

GET WELL SOON
Brummie abroad, Graham Ashford (Brumbeats) has recently undergone a less than comfortable spinal operation and is taking it easy for a short while.  I wish him a speedy recovery.

and finally......
THE BLUES BLUES
Well I'm a Villa fan and like all Villa fans, I'm a fair minded sort of guy so it
was quite sad to see the 'other' team get demoted this season but we look forward to drubbing them again in the near future.

OK you guys, take it easy and be nice to each other.

Bob.

Contact:  Bobsbullocks@GMail.com
Copyright:  BullsHeadBob.

BULLS HEAD BOB - MAY - THE GRETSCH CORVETTE, THE ACEMEN, MADE IN BIRMINGHAM

LITTLE GRETSCH CORVETTE

The best things are uncomplicated. If that is a statement of fact then the Gretsch Corvette fits the bill perfectly and this beautiful 1964 model would look fantastic in my hands! 

I was always the 'Anti-Gretsch'.  Their large guitars left me cold and for some reason I always thought of Duane Eddy when I saw one. For me though, the "Twang wasn't The Thang", I wanted something that was dirty, something that would rip your head apart and then go and shag your sister.  

This guitar was a serious attempt to take on the Gibson Les Pauls and SG's.   It's body contours and shape are so reminiscent of a mixture of the Gibson double cutaway, that I used for some years, combined with the contoured SG body, even the translucent red colour of the Gretsch was almost identical to that used by Gibson.  

It wasn't a clone as such, but Gretsch's way of being a little more modern thinking and I liked the idea, the guitar appealed to me in a simplistic manner.  It was very light and I loved the nifty cut-out at the tail to accommodate the strap button and trapeze bridge assembly, one volume and one tone control and sod all else, bliss!. 

The headstock from 64, was quirky with it's 4 + 2 tuner arrangement, no makers name emblazoned across it either. The only hint was the engraved 'G' on the controls, classy... not something that the Gretsch design staff had been bunging out before. 

I tried out a Corvette, at Ringway Music in Birmingham I think, and was quite impressed but too short of funds to really consider buying one.  I didn't think it better than a Gibson so wasn't tempted to trade in one of my other guitars, however I think it held it's own but with a cleaner, brighter sound, almost like a Rickenbacker. 

In the end NOT buying one turned out to be a good idea.  'You are what you are" and my Anti-Gretsch feelings were soon proved to be correct when this stuck-in-the-mud company bought out "Girls Versions" called the Princess or the Twist, covered in purple sparkle and padding on the back.
Stone me! just what were they thinking?? Not only that, they started adding frippery and Bigsby's, wrecking what was a lovely, simple, serious guitar.  Talk about suicidal. 

These days that same guitar body shape has been re-issued and is now known as the Gretsch G5135CVT - just like a vehicle number plate - or why not try the top of the range 'Stump-o-Matic!!' model that comes in British Racing Green with all the buttons and bells and even has a white "racing Stripe' down the length of the  body. It would seem that Gretsch have adopted 'car accessory' guitars, truly mind boggling, perhaps they got their ideas from Halfords or another car parts supplier. "Yeah go on, strap that bit on but leave room for another set of unnecessary switches".
"Does it make the guitar better?" - "Are you serious!!?"

Gretsch and Guild were the two companies that were the fuddy-duddies of Rock music, both had their feet firmly in the C and W market and never really were contenders in the solid-body rock stakes, but just for a moment there had been a glimmer of light, a ray of hope......the lovely Red Corvette nearly made them legitimate but they threw it all away and gave it to the girls.

THE ACEMEN
It’s common knowledge that I don’t like sterile cabaret groups. Slightly refreshing then for me to bring to your attention The Acemen. They’re not Brummies but Tom Lane, their drummer, has been resident in several Brummie bands during the 60's including Luddy Samms.  Tom is also the skin basher for Tuxedo Junction and he and vocalist/guitarist Murph of that same band, were  joined by manic saxophonist Glenmill, who along with the previous two, had been a member of the Leicester based, Tiger John Blues Band many years back. To round up the line-up they recruited Bassist 'Smokey'.

All old stalwarts of the music scene in the Leicester area, they got together in 2008 to do a favour for a friend and play at his silver wedding party. We’ve all done things like that, just got a few musical mates together and knock out a few songs for a party. No set list but just a quick rehearsal to agree what songs you know between you.  Tom decided on the name The Acemen as something uncomplicated, Glenmill however wanted to call the band 'The Skeleton Blaggards' or something more evil!  I have no idea how evil a Skeleton Blaggard is but he makes me slightly worried!

Three years later they are still together and that same playing principle applies to The Acemen, except they've completely abandoned the rehearsal part.  Turn up and start playing....."Shuffle in E, 1-2-3-4".........now I'm not really too sure if this attitude is something to be wholly recommended to musicians of a nervous disposition but their way of looking at it is, "We are enjoying playing this way and have no plans to change the format" which is great if you are good enough to play in that style and they certainly have many years of experience behind them.  "We are a jamming pub band and PROUD of it" said Tom.  Well hallelujah to that brothers and pass the pipe. The idea appeals to me.

It is said that if you are having a good time on stage then that enthusiasm  rubs off on the audience and they'll have a good time too.  If this is the case then I'm sure they'll be very popular with people "looking for a good time"!!  Wait a mo', haven't I heard that phrase before??

So, if you're in the market for a rockin band, then drop Tom 'Ace' a line at
www.theacemen@virginmedia

WOLVERHAMPTON

I expected some fall out about the Wolverhampton 'cabaret groups' blog last month, well maybe from those who might know how to write!  Surprisingly, I didn't get one single complaint from any Strollers fans but we did get an email of complaint from someone from a Wolverhampton band I'd forgot to include in my 'tribute', THE CALIFORNIANS.   
Every picture tells a story. 


I got a letter from a Bishop too!!  Below is the letter from the Bishop of Sedgetree.

From: Arthur Yowm-Loopy,

Lord Bishop of Sedgetree
Ammonia Mansions
Ammonia Drive
Sedgetree
10 April 2011


Dear Kindly Bob,
WOLVERHAMPTON CABARET BANDS

Have pity on those from Wolverhampton,
for they shall be the Cabaret Bands.

If you happen to be in the area this weekend,
some friends of mine want to know if you fancy a beating pint
at the Cleveland Arms?


Arthur,
The Bish

I'd gladly go along but as many of you know, I don't go out for pint's with musicians I chat about on the site,  I don't want to be seen to favour someone just because he got me arseholed.

"Oh wait a minute, if it's at the Cleveland Arms there won't be any proper muso's there"....

"See you Sunday Bish,
warm Brown and Mild if you please!!" 


 IN CONCLUSION
Just to set the record absolutely straight, there was a good band from Wolverhampton, however, I Googled "Famous or Great Bands from Wolverhampton" to get someone else's opinion, here is the list
http://www.knowhere.co.uk/Wolverhampton/West-Midlands/Midlands/info/celebs 
This site appears to be compiled by someone from Wolverhampton or it's environs so reflects a 'local's' point of view.

I would like to remind them though that Noddy Holder is from Walsall, Roy Wood is from Birmingham, as were ELO.  Robert Plant was born in West Bromwich and raised in Worcestershire.   I do love the reference to the band who split in 2003 after playing IN EXCESS of 12 Gigs though!!!  wow...A WHOLE DOZEN!! ...they must still be exhausted poor little things. 


MADE IN BIRMINGHAM - SUPPORT THIS SITE
You may recall my March blog about Alex's Pie Stand and the bikers that used to frequent that very piece of pavement, as well as the rest of the
night-people of Birmingham.

Our Brummie history is something that I am very proud of.   I love being a Brummie and hate to see our heritage being abandoned or destroyed in the name of 'progress'.   Our city once boasted a mass of vehicle and motorcycle factories, we were industrious and above all had a unique sense of working men's fun.   It was colonial style, lack-lustre management combined with 70's union greed that saw the vehicle industries collapse under the weight of Japanese imports.   
  

www.madeinbirmingham.org/ is a site well worth contacting if you are interested in the industrial history of Birmingham and specifically Motorcycles.   Today some of those very same Pie Stand bikers organise  charitable motorbike runs and recently conducted an outing from the site of the original Alex's.  So if you're an old biker or even a new one, with a sense of pride in our industrial heritage and have a stomach large enough to accommodate a fair amount of Meat and Potatoe pies, you'll certainly be made welcome by JP and his Gang!!  

There are some beautiful bikes at these meets and we Brummies made em' all, well not me personally - not with my delicate fingers.

The site is also actively and physically lobbying for an Industrial Museum to be set up in Brum and I for one, wholeheartedly support this venture.

The picture above shows the gathering for the BSA memorial run in 2004.
So go and get your bike cleaned up and contact JP today!   Brrrrrm-beat.

MIDLAND BEAT
Memorabilia collectors would have been watching E Bay recently when a whole collection of Midland Beat newspapers were being auctioned.  The papers featuring all west midlands bands sold in the region of 10 to 20 pounds each issue with the top price of 69 pounds being paid for the issue featuring The Uglys/Yamps.   Wish I'd saved my Midland Beats now!!

AND FINALLY....BOB'S ROCK BAND CONSULTANCY TIP
I've just been thinking about what Acemen Sax player Glenmill said about calling the band something more evil than a Skeleton Blaggard. I have an idea!!!.   Of course they can reject this suggestion but a slight alteration of their current name to "The Ass Men" will probably bring evil to them!... like I said, it's just a thought.   Peace and happiness be with you brothers and sisters...oh and get well soon Gerard, Up The Villa.

Bob

copyright: Bullsheadbob
contact:   Bobsbullocks@GMail.com

BULLS HEAD BOB - APRIL - HAS A MIRACLE HAPPENED?? - STROLL ON!!

Oh Dear, Dear Me, Brummies,

I'm not going to start with my usual bright greeting. "Why not Bob?" you say.

I'm gonna say "Evenin' All" - in a voice that reminds you of Sgt Joe Friday (Dragnet) well, one with a Brummie accent! - yes, "BOB'S' INVESTIGATING" again.

I'm on a serious mission to get to the bottom of a scandal that will hit the world of Brummie music like a bloomin' number 29A bus gooin' full speed down the Stratford Road -

SCENE OF THE CRIME
- BRUMBEAT TOWERS
"Hey John", I said "Has a soddin' Miracle happened?".

Oxford English Doctionary definition of MIRACLE: Marvellous event due to some supposed supernatural agency...

THE STROLLERS -  VOTED FEB'S BRUMBEAT NUMBER 1. BAND!!!!!

"It's a mystery to me" he said "The Stats don't lie". "Of course Stats don't lie" I said, they're inanimate figures, it's the dickhead with his finger on the button that does the lyin' part".  So either a MIRACLE has occurred here at Brumbeat or it's:

VOTE RIGGING!!!

It's NOT PRETTY and it's written in red so it must be important.

John and I had/have been discussing admitting bands from outside Birmingham.  Well he opened the door to bands from Wolverhampton and now our hallowed pages are sullied by cabaret groups, armed with smart suits and polished acts, a far cry from the antics of 'proper' bands playing RandB to sweaty crowds.  Let me clarify one thing here, I don't include Walsall bands in that 'Wolverhampton' category. 

Not only have we been infiltrated but it would appear that they have come armed with their schoolboy antics of vote rigging, like teenage groups did to win the Midland Beat "Group of the year" title back in the early sixties, like The Talismen from Cheltenham for example.

Well we're older than 15 and you're fooling no-one!!

"Can you prove it" some guilty bastard is thinking now.... "I don't have to matey" - it's Trial by Peers!.  Now I have a little experience in the world of "being in a band' and have played the length and breadth of the Black Country but never did I come across a band that was anywhere near as good as Traffic.   
The Strollers must have been SOME act for the short time they existed (62-63)


Steve Winwood was between 12 and 14 during that time and just coming to his RandB pinnacle with his voice sounding as soulful as Ray Charles and as powerful as any I have ever heard, his piano skills already legendary, he was one of the best guitarists around, and gigging with Spencer Davis. - Just as a comparison to The Strollers or any Wolverhampton band.  I was between 12 and 14 at the same time, in Brum, playing guitar too but that's where any similarity ends. 

I still wanted to give them the benefit of the doubt though, so considered other options.  Including someone 'inadvertantly' pressing the Enter key a couple of hundred times.

THE INVESTIGATION COMMENCES.
I first went to Wikipedia to see if a Miracle had occurred recently - Nothing!

A Google entry revealed four references to The Strollers, "Ah, now we're getting somewhere" I thought.  My hopes faded however when I discovered that the four entries were in fact all the same article!  Their Brumbeat.Net bio, copyrighted to John Woodhouse and Brian Nicholls  but placed on different sites.  At least it was a lead, so I investigated those inferior Brummie music sites further and yes, the article was there, there were no comments on the Forum pages from admiring fans but at least I had two more suspects!!
(Rattish smell beginning to get up yer nose yet?). 

Now I believe that the readers of Bulls Head Bob are bright as a shiny new silver sixpence and won't be fooled into thinking a miracle had actually occurred.  Well a couple of you probably DO think a Miracle has happened and you would be writing about it yourself if only the authorities hadn't removed all your sharp objects.

I thought I'd approach it from another angle.  I took to the streets of Sedgely with a placard asking "Did you Vote for The Strollers?"  I have to report that almost immediately, I found a person who said he had and was not the only one!. 

He said that his brother had their music sung to him by a Klingon at his wedding too!

I thought he, or his 'brother' might not make credible witnesses but still not wanting to make rash accusasions, I considered that their 'back catalogue' had just been released and these votes are as a result of their current stardom?".  
I traipsed, metaphorically speaking, across to record company sites and entered their name - It would appear the closest they ever got to recording was in someone's front room - could have been in Tipton though, the home of Black Country recordings, a bit like Nashville without the pickers, or the good music.

I see from their bio that two of them have fled the country!!

By chance, I was talking with Brummie guitarist
Dave Ball who knows the other 50 percent of things I don't. As we know he has been in bands as diverse as 'The Little People", "Big Bertha" through to Procul Harum.

He had this reaction to The Strollers news and then applied the face that conveyed to me this statement!!
"When I was working out the guitar solo for Conquistador I often thought, if only the Strollers were about to help me with the tricky bits"
So it appears he might have some knowledge of their past?

Poor man, he looks green with envy, having to physically force that smile on his face.

WITNESS FOR THE DEFENCE

I considered, halfheartedly, interviewing comedian, Ian 'Sludge' Lees.   He had been the vocalist at one time or another for the following Wolverhampton bands - Finders Keepers, The Montanas, Light Fantastic and The Strollers themselves! but after seeing his publicity photo I thought he might be a bit too biased!! 

It'd be a bit like leaning into a punch..

Of course it could be someone trying, badly, to promote a book....who knows?

Myself and the other members of the gang of 4 have been pissing ourselves, except for Crazy Malc, who confuses The Strollers with Flanagan and Allen's nostalgic war time song 'When I'm Strollin, just Strollin' and says it deserves to be No 1 in the Brummie top ten??

someone is........THE GUILTY BASTARD.  

If John is having these type of groups on the site he should put them on a page where they can't harm any sane person interested in proper music.  You know, 'Child Friendly', maybe password protected - when you Enter you're guaranteed a corny joke in between songs, "Something to tap your feet to between Bingo sessions" and the odd shaving foam 'pie'.....   He could get one of them to do a Masterclass on the intricate chord structure to "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" or "Simon Says". 

By the way, it seems appropriate at this time to inform you that The Montanas are now receiving a load of votes!?!?!?  I imagine I'll never get another 10 quid gig at Sedgeley Parish Hall after this, but this is just nonsense!!
Does anybody serious out there want me to write for them?????   

Bob

PS.
Steve Winwood, all round cool dude, Master of All  Brummie Musicians is reported to have said "Drat! you pesky Strollers. I knew one day you'd come along and topple my crown, with your smart suits and cabaret act routine. I'm off now to learn how to be a proper musician before The Montanas teach me another Strollers lesson" - "Honey, Mmmmm sugar-sugar"

STOP PRESS:  John Woodhouse says "It was nothing to do with me, nobody has paid me anything"

JET HARRIS - Bulls Head Bob

Hello Brumies,

I don't usually have the time to write blogs outside of the normal monthly one but I simply couldn't let the passing of Jet Harris go without writing some sort of tribute to him.  It feels as though a small part of my life has gone, that part I remember oh so well, whilst learning how to play the guitar, sore fingertips but with the ambition to try and play like my heroes.

I must have spent every moment of my young days staring at this LP cover:

I saved up my pocket money for this and I still have it in my record collection, although I wore out the original and had to scour car boot sales before I came across another one, luckily in nice conditon for a quid.   If I close my eyes I could tell you every detail on that cover, front and back!.  It was The Shadows very first LP.  I can also tell you that my Mum knitted me every one of those jumpers too.  I knew and played every track note for note, lead and rythmn parts. 

However Track 3 of the LP would be the only time I ever bothered to learn a bass part, the track was 'Nivram' and featured probably the first bass solo in modern pop music, the bassist, the great Jet Harris.   We would have to wait till The Who's 'My Generation' before another came along.

Called 'Jet' because of his ability as a fast runner in school, he was the icon of bass players during the early 60's.  He was one of the best and had an image as strong as his temper.  Jet joined the Drifters after a Moss Empire tour of the UK as the bassist for The Most Brothers, on the same bill as Cliff Richard and The Drifters.   Jet suggested The Shadows as the name for the band, necessary so as not to be confused with the American Drifters.  All of the members of the Shadows had worked or were part of the scenery at the iconic '2i's' Coffee Bar in Soho, where rock music began.   Jet swept up and served coffee at the bar to supplement his money earned playing Rock and Roll in the cellar whilst Hank and Bruce served coffee and things.

The rest of Cliff and The Shadows rise to fame has been documented well enough.  The Shadows became THE group to emulate in the UK and us young British guitarists were fortunate to have all those instrumental hits to use as a launch pad in the art of playing the electric guitar and for the first time bassists had a brilliant role model. 

Jet's time in the Shadows was cut short by him becoming "fed up with being cooped up with the same people every day and night".   He left the band and for a short time forged a successful solo career for himself and later with ex Shads drummer Tony Meehan.   During this time he had an affair with Brum's Billie Davis of "Tell Him' fame.   Jet and Billie had a serious car crash which saw him having operations to his head.  A traumatic accident like that leaves deep wounds and he took to the bottle with style, he stopped playing and in the 70's was a photographer (of some note it appears.  Brian Gregg has some of his photos) and during his darker days a hotel porter , garage hand....anything to earn a crust.

Jet got back onto the music circuit again playing with The Rapiers and other "Shadows type' bands.   Where he made a good living from that time on but nothing will ever replace him in my thoughts as the blonde guy in The Shadows, a great bassist, a great personality and most of all a great loss to British music.   

Bob

MARCH - BULLS HEAD BOB - GET A LIFE YOU SAD GIT. I LOVE CHICAGO.

Watcha ar' Kid,

ALEX'S PIE STAND - NOTHING TO GET EXCITED ABOUT
There are a couple of sad git's who were musicians during the 60's in Birmingham whose personalities were such that one of the highlights of their musical lives was to buy a meat pie from Alex's Pie Stand after a gig.

I used to go there too but extolling it's virtues in a radio or newspaper interview, like it held a special place of significance in the Birmingham music scene, is simply bollocks... The hours must fly-by at his gaff!!

Alex's was just a place to get hot food in the City Centre, there was nothing else open at that time. Curry houses had not yet started to open, there was no chinese food, no Hamburgers no fish and chip shops either in the City Centre.   There were always loads of bikers there who had formed a club (including my brother in law).   Apart from the bikers, there were partygoers, louts, drunks, ne'er-do-wells, hookers, crooks, thieves and wino's - as well as visiting groups and other bands who had been playing in the city that night .  They went there for the same reason as everybody else - there was nowhere else to get something to eat after a gig and only the better known bands were granted free access at the nightclubs.

To suggest it was a place where bands specifically met is untrue - it was the only place open for ANYBODY who was a night person, which of course included the hundreds of groups that were around in those early days. So it was no surprise that we all bumped into each other occasionally with the usual, "Alright guys, where you been playin?" everybody would lie through their teeth about how much they got paid and how they'd gone down a storm, lead guitarists would be sizing each other up like gun-fighters, giving each other cursory nods of the head as some sort of mark of acknowledgement.  

There was a kind of clique of groups though, who were mates and didn't talk to the lesser bands who in turn, had their band of mates who sneered at the freshly formed groups who could only stand looking goggle eyed.  Quite funny really.

You'd buy your pie then all pile back into the van and start talking about the other bands who might be there in the queue, "Fuckin wanker" was quite often the opening phrase followed by, "If his Dad didn't own the van, he wouldn't be in that band", a lot of truth's spoken and a lot of bullshit spread about.   As for "Bands being formed there", there was more chance of that happening at a gig, where there would generally be two or three groups on the bill, or more likely inside one of the music shops that were frequented by all and sundry where one could pass a couple of hours playing some of the instruments off the wall whilst persuading someone to abandon their mates and join your group.  

Just to add to the confusion, there were two pie stands.....and everyone referred to them both as Alex's
the one pictured on the Brumbeat Pie Stand page was situated by the Albany Hotel, the second was located at Snow Hill Station and was a mobile van that used to arrive around 10-ish and stay there till about 2.30 in the morning.  On the side of the van was painted "Hot Snacks" or something similar but we all called it Alex's nonetheless.  I have no idea and in fact have no wish to know, if Alex was the owner of both.   It was just somewhere to eat, not an institution, no magic occurred there.   Some people should get a life! 

SWEET HOME CHICAGO

Some of you eagle eyed warriors may have noticed that the old "Bulls Head' logo has disappeared from the page.   I have replaced it with the Bulls Head on the Coventry road.  When I first started doing this blogging lark I simply added a picture of a bulls head, as a form of decoration for the page. I only became aware of the connection to the Chicago Bulls football squad when I began to get a lot of visitors to the site from the windy city itself. It got even more confusing when I mentioned Hollick and Taylor studios, because it would appear that one of the directors of The Chicago Bulls was called Tom Hollick!! - well I wish them well.

That aside, we owe a huge debt to the black Chicago musicians who provided all of us groups of the day with practically all our music.   The incredible songs of Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters and others being changed and chopped around by groups, generally speeded up and played at breakneck speed to willing audiences of dancing girls, the sales of harmonicas and Marracas soared.

For the more serious, the influence of Elmore James slide guitar and Big Bill Broonzy's guitar work meant lots of hours of practice to get the 'feel' correct.  Probably the very best blues guitarist and performer, Buddy Guy rose through the ranks of Chicago's bluesmen to become an inspiration to Jimi Hendrix, indeed, much of Hendrix' act and performance tricks were taken directly from BG. 

The original, medium paced 'My Babe" became a regular in Brummie groups' set lists but now sounded completely different, certainly louder and faster.  Howlin' Wolf's "Smokestack Lightnin" was also another favourite for lead guitarists.   The adaptation and modification of this wonderful black music by British guitarists was a precursor to the Brits going to America and playing to the largely white audiences the same black music that was practically ignored by them beforehand; the difference now was the UK groups were light years ahead in style, inventiveness and aggresion that had come from the years of playing fast Rock n' Roll.  By the time American bands got into it they sounded like cheap and soul-less copies for years.   

You only have to listen to any of Led Zeppelin's tracks to recognise riffs from the greats of Chicago, now ashamedly credited to Jimmy Page, whole lines of lyrics just 'dropped in' here and there like a modern day 'sample' gave Plant songwriting credibility that belonged to some other guys......brutal copies of the real thing.
Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac always gave credit and royalties to those blues guys who he borrowed phrases from.  Good Man.

THE KING BEES
Now when I was a lad there were only a few groups I would take the time to go and see.  One of those bands was the King Bees, a bit mod-ish in style for my liking but as their name suggested, they were equally influenced by the blues artists and were a pretty tight band to boot.    Why not take a cyber stroll onto the Brumbeat Pie Stand page to link to the story of the King Bees, nice interview by John with founding member and guitarist Geoff Brown (If I remember rightly, he played a Telecaster?).

BOB'S ON THE TOWN
I shall be doing a couple of gigs over the weekend and Monday too....so I look forward to meeting up with some of you.  Oh heck, I finished this blog without telling you where I was playing, never mind, there'll be other times!!

BRUMMIE GIG
Well I'm sure that some of you will remember this place with some affection.  Kinda small but great atmosphere:

Bob
Copyright Bullsheadbob.  Contact:  Bobsbullocks@GMail.com

FEBRUARY - BULLS HEAD BOB - OGGIE'S HOFNER SUPER SOLID 3, PAUL LINCOLN ROCK AND ROLL LEGEND

Watcha Brummies,

YOURS IN CONFUSION?  I get quite a few e mails from people and some of them have unusual first names but you know, I just can't keep up with the bizarre names people give to their offspring these days.

Just this week I had a e-mail from a girl in Tipton, she's obviously a fan but too embarassed to write me a message, it simply said.

Dear Bob,

Yowma Saftwat

"Yowma!", I wonder how that name came about?

SET FASERS TO STUN......Well we got over freezing January, amazingly I didn't have to take back any presents this year. Lucy has a great heart but kept buying me clothes that make me look like a Romulan, all bleedin' shoulder pads.  She's Star Trek mad, me and the kids call her Captain Slog but despite her lack of good judgement in her Telly viewing, she's not a bad un'. So anyway, as well as it being St Valentines Day this month, it's our 37th wedding anniversary and I've planned a romantic surprise for her on a Star Trek 'theme' - "Oh Bob you're such a sentimental old thing" I hear you say. "I know...I'm like that" comes my reply.

I've been burning the midnight oil in the studio, plonking on me new Telecaster and have written her a special song that hopefully, shows the depth of my affection for her. I've plumbed the depths of my literary and physical soul to deliver something that I hope she will listen to again and again.....

It's called "I'm Gonna Beam You up the Wormhole".

OGGIE'S HOFNER SUPER SOLID 3. 
A blog that dedicates itself to the sixties music would be drastically incomplete if it didn't include something about Hofner guitars.  Now I'm not gonna go on about all the models that Hofner produced, there are fabulous websites dedicated to Hofner guitars where you can browse away to your hearts content.This is the best one: http://www.vintagehofner.co.uk/ look, enjoy and drool!!

Briefly, Hofner had been making some lovely acoustic guitars for years, with the Committee being it's flagship, a beautiful piece of work.

The transition to semi-acoustic guitars with fitted pick up's soon followed. However, these models aside, I want to talk about one of their best solid body guitars, specifically, the Hofner Super Solid 3. This was the foundation guitar of practically every young group or musician that wanted to emulate Hank Marvin or the Shadows but couldn't afford a Fender. I never owned a Hofner but practically everyone else did....my reasons were economic, otherwise I would have just loved to have had one.

I recall Oggie getting his brand new Hofner Super Solid 3,
I went round to his house the day he got it and was so impressed, it was immaculate. He'd owned it for two hours and had already polished it for one hour fifty minutes. I never heard a tune out of it for eight weeks, he was a bit worried about taking the shine off the strings!

When I eventually heard the strength of the Hofner's pick-up's in comparison to my budget guitar, I realised the difference - I think it was probably the first time I began to appreciate the technical details rather than simply the aesthetics of guitars. Hofner had not only excelled in the pick up's though, the volume and tone controls were a nice modern design and placed correctly and it had the really 'cool' (I thought) pick-up selector switch located on the bottom cow horn. I could just picture myself reaching across the guitar to switch my pick-up, mid-way through a solo. "That'll impress the girls, I'll definitely get a shag tonight" - mind you I remember actually thinking that if I owned a Watkins Dominator, as I walked through a dance hall carrying it, one of the girls would think "Mmm great amp", I was a very sad young man!!

The '3' sported a Stratocaster body design of course
and it was 'built to last', the paint was deep and very glossy. A black scratchplate, adorned with 3 gleaming chrome pick-up's was a visual treat, particularly the red coloured variant. It looked oustanding. The neck was I recall, a little on the 'generous' side - depth-wise and was liberally embellished with pearloid inlays that stretched across the fretboard and kinda' gave it a nice 'look of the times". It was obvious that some real design thought had gone into this guitar.

You could also comfortably play up to the fifteenth fret which was amazing for what was a budget instrument. It knocked the other budget guitars sideways in its quality build and forced the other companies to do better themselves.

All of a sudden nearly all groups were using Hofners fitted with flat wound strings, connected to a Watkins copycat and a Watkins Dominator. Not only could they sound like The Shadows but had guitars that looked every bit as good to an audience who knew nothing about instruments beyond their appearance. These days people are far more informed.

The headstock too was very nice with beautiful sculpted tuners and Hofner nameplate. A substantial tremeloe arm was incorporated, which was quite firm to use, a bit Bigsby-ish I thought. From a personal standpoint, design wise, I think they could have improved the shape of the arm a little, I never understood why it was almost dagger-like with its pointed end. "You could have your eye out on that thing" I could hear me Mum saying. It would have had Jimi's eye out probably if he'd had one, he'd be biting the strings and blinding himself at the same time, 'cor' luv a duck, what a carry on that would have been. Anyway, it had a beautiful clean sound throughout the tonal range and looked stunning for it's day but, with time, music styles changed and it's sound fell out of favour like some other guitar brands.

This guitar though rightly deserves to be treasured, it represents a real milestone in popular music both in terms of its design and it's success. It bought a quality budget guitar to a huge market of would be Hanks and there were thousands of em' - in my street alone.

Sadly, Oggie doesn't have the guitar anymore but still has a 'crackin' duster' and liberal amounts of polish so, "Wax on, Wax off Oggie".

THERE GOES A PIECE OF HISTORY. PAUL LINCOLN - THE 2i's COFFEE BAR SOHO . I was chatting to my mate, The King of Skiffle, this week. He told me that sadly one of his old friends, Rock and Roll legend Paul Lincoln who had been the owner of the historic 2i's Coffee Bar in Soho, had recently passed away. We musicians and music lovers alike, all owe a small debt to him because the British Rock and Roll scene started there. Cliff Richard, Tommy Steele, Terry Dene, all the various members of The Shadows, Wee Willie Harris, Vince Eager, Billy Fury, Tony Sheridan, The Most Brothers, Adam Faith, Les Hobeaux all started in that tiny basement room and for a while Paul Lincoln managed a lot of those acts and many more after them. Most of them also worked behind the coffee bar or swept up at closing time too for about a quid a week. Co-incidentally, Brian Gregg who I interviewed in December was a member of Les Hobeaux.

Paul Lincoln, an Australian, was a showman through and through. Not only did he own, in partnership, the 2i's but also the All-Nighter bar in Gerrard Street which was considered to be the real centre of Rock n Roll by those 'in the know'. He promoted the first RandR tours of Great Britain and was also a full time Wrestler who went under the name of Dr Death. Bizarrely for me, this was how, unknowingly I would have seen him on some of my outings to the Walford Road Wrestling shows in Sparkhill when I was a sprog.

In the mid sixties, as a musician, I visited the 2i's, as an act of homage I suppose. There was nothing special about it, no vibe really, the coffee was expensive and it was a place where people visited because of it's history. One could only imagine the scene during it's early years when it was considered the centre of British Rock and Roll, much like the Cavern in Liverpool during the Beatles emergence, The Marquee in London during the R and B period or Mothers in Birmingham - you had to have been there at the time to really feel it.  It has a significant place in British rock history though and the building where the 2i's was, now has a blue plaque on the wall noting it's existence for posterity.

Paul Lincoln was an early innovator and entrepeneur, he was loved and respected within the world of Wrestling and the coffee house'/Rock and Roll fraternity. I'm pleased I could have said something about him here, albeit a little too late.

FOOTBALL ROUND UP. It breaks my heart to say this but, congratulations to the Blues for getting to the Carling Cup Final. The mighty Villa have turned the corner and with their new sigining Darren Bent and are in the ascendency, great result on Saturday puts them (along with the Blues) into the fifth round of the FA Cup.  Meanwhile the Baggies are kind of drifting around after an amazing start to the season - what whent wrong there then?

BREAKING NEWS.... RIP John Barry.

So there you have it......Intrigue, music, classic guitars, history and a sports round up. Could a blog get any better I ask myself??

See you in March,

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob. contact: Bobsbullocks@gmail.com

JANUARY - BULLS HEAD BOB - 2011

Hello Brummies and Company,

Well we had a white Christmas which was lovely.  I didn't go to the sales, which was even lovelier and for once this year I didn't have to take back any of my gifts - an absolute rarity!!

It's very quiet in the Bob household after a couple of manic days of visitors and also I find myself hiding from the 'Blues' supporters, ready to pounce on me as I enter the boozer - I have my ready wit poised to counter their jibes though with a few choice phrases passed onto me by Nobber, it is therefore only proper that I withhold them today for fear of offending the whole world - Nobber has cleverly learned every swear word in the world and links them altogether to ensure he can curse a whole football crowd in one go.    I have stopped eating French food too.

Got a nice Christmas present which is worth telling you about.

SQUIER 'CLASSIC VIBE' SERIES GUITARS
Way back in 1985 Squier made a Stratocaster copy that outstripped the 'real thing' and today this model regularly sells for 300 to 400 quid on E Bay.   Fender must have been real annoyed about that and today will be feeling even moreso because it looks like Squier have done it again with the 'Classic Vibe' series of Telecaster and Stratocaster models that are fantastically priced and play really well.  The guitars are available in differing colours and also differentiate between 50's and 60's models:

This is the very nice 50's SquierTelecaster
with Alnico pick ups.  Fabulous build quality
and nice playability.  Those thinking that it
would make a nice 'spare' could very well
find themselves playing this more than they think.

OK it doesnt have the Fender label on the
headstock but it doesn't mean that it doesn't
sound every bit as good as the 'real thing'.
The body however, is made of Pine and will
show up any 'dings'.  That aside, it's fantastic
value for money and I heartily recommend
you to check them out.....

This guitar is already a favourite of mine.



So, for those who may be thinking of taking up the guitar these models are highly recommended, they will give you the Fender sound for a few quid.  Experienced gutarists will still find themselves enjoying this too.  Can't go wrong really.  Check out the Squier site for the different models.

This blog is a short one owing to the excesses of the Festive season that has seen me consume everything drinkable that has truly addled my very small brain, mixed with a depth of despair over the French antics at Villa Park.    Nonetheless, I wish you all a Happy New Year and thank you all for your very kind e mails and support.  Here's hoping for a great 2011.

Take Care

Bob
copyright Bullsheadbob
contact:  Bobsbullocks@gmail.com