Bulls Head Bob Sep 2022. JONI MITCHELLS LIVE GIG. CARL WAYNE. BRUMBEAT.Net Up and running. DEJA VU...THE UGLYS, We have all been here before.

 

Hello Brummies,

Ain't it great to be a Brummie?  Everyone loves us after we showed the country what REAL hospitality is like during The Commonwealth Games.  It's a  bonus for the greatest city on the planet and we should all be justifiably proud of our heritage.  Built on our gritty industrial past, which was my and maybe your reality, those times are now consigned to history superceded by hi-tech. However the charm of Brummies is embedded in the richness of our life in a multi racial society built on hard work since the 1950s and our self-effacing humour is enchanting and infectious too.  I have often remarked during my blog years that the City was a real role model of social integration.  I'm very proud of being a Brummie.... long may she reign.

JONI MITCHELL.   NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL.   

In 1967, Joni played at The Jug O' Punch, Digbeth, Birmingham for £10.00.   A couple of years later she achieved her first UK chart success with the release of her 2nd LP "Ladies of the Canyon" which peaked at Number 18.  From then on her light shone bright, going supernova in 1971 with her outstanding musical and autobiographical LP, "Blue" and it was a masterclass in songwriting, pouring out her soul for the world to hear, I was hooked on her voice and musicality, not only as an exceptional songwriter but also as a guitarist with a radical variety of guitar tunings and a great pianist where she floated on a gentle musical breeze.  A string of releases followed with Joni being at the forefront of the singer/songwriter genre regaling us with her musical journey from folk to jazz from then on.   She was exceptional in every sense.

In 2015 she suffered an aneurysm which left her with no mobility, speech or the ability to play music.   I won't dwell on that right now, suffice to say, it was a battle for Joni to even get to the most basic of mobility and ability.  Then along came Brandi Carlile who took on the mantle of helping her hero get back on her feet again.    She organised, at Joni's house, a monthly "Joni Jam" where people would gather and sing Joni songs to her and with her giving a critique or a nod of approval.

Last month at the Newport Folk Festival Joni surprised the world and got back on stage!   The Joni Jam players were assembled on stage before the Queen made her appearance to the roar from the crowd, real heartrending emotion flooded the air with people spontaneously bursting into tears as she came onto the stage, a tad unsteady on her feet and assisted by her daughter.  Joni was back!!!  Now 78 dressed in Jazzy Joni style she sat down and the magic started, Brandi was her right hand, high-note vocalist, giving Joni little hints of lyrics in the nicest way.  The high register of Joni's voice has now been superceded by a rich and mellow tone but still with her lovely tremelo.    

She sang several songs and played some guitar too but the most poignant song for me was "Both sides Now" because she wrote it at 22 I think and now, 56 years later, the meaning becomes more real for her because she had indeed seen a whole lotta stuff from both sides in her life.   That sentiment was certainly felt by Wynnona Judd, who was sat behind her with tears streaming down her face.    She also sang a couple from "Court and Spark" another 'must have' for songwriters to lean on for inspiration with Joni rockin' on her Throne of Gold.   Her music has and will always be played in this house.   

When the Beatles released "Free as a Bird" I cried for days, never expecting to hear them again and I shed several tears seeing and hearing the amazing JONI MITCHELL this time around too.  There are some YouTube clips of her appearance including the very moving "Both Sides Now".   It would be great to have a DVD release of the gig 

CARL WAYNE

It is now eight years since Charlie's demise although it doesn't feel like it.    Carl Wayne and The Vikings, The Move, the West End Musicals and ending his career with The Hollies is testament to the greatness of his vocal quality.   There is not a lot more left to write about him, that isnt available to read already on the Brumbeat page.    I was a bit shocked to learn of his death but he is still in my memories of those 60's days in his company.  God Bless you Charlie...   

THE UGLYS - DEJA VU

A group of Spanish teachers were visiting the Guggeheim Art Museum in Amsterdam looking at some old masters, they entered the Rembrandt gallery and came face to face with someone's face they knew very well.... "Its Will Hammond" one of them said.  They were all amazed at the likeness, burst into laughter and sent him the foto.  The Painting is by Rembrandt and is called "The Noble Slav" painted in 1632.

"When I received it I thought they had photoshopped my face onto it as a joke so I disregarded it till we met up at a gig and they said it was a real portrait.  My good lady bought me a print of it one Christmas.  I've got it framed on the wall and people always ask why I had my portrait painted wearing golden Arabic robes? That's when the fun starts".

If that wasn't strange enough,  I popped into a music shop last month and bumped into the younger double of my "Uglys" bandmate, drummer Keith Smart.  "It was amazing,  I was staring at him, and he must have thought I was trying to pick him up or something".                            

The likeness was staggering.

Spanish musician Nu above and the great Keith Smart below whilst with Wizzard. 

We have all been here before!

BRUMBEAT.NET    

Good news!  

John Woodhouse is now overcoming the cyber glitches that had occurred on the BRUMBEAT.Net website and is up and running again and this month features Robert Plants journey from Walsall to Led Zeppelin on the Pie Stand page.  

It's always a good read and a font of information on most every Brumbeat band that ever there was.   The best period for guitar bands....the 60's.

FINALLY

It's beautiful dog walking weather, so I'm off to the park where, no doubt, I can reflect on how lucky I am to have existed through such great times including these days.   I don't have a dog, I can't keep going through the heartbreak of losing them, so nowadays I go out and make a fuss of other peoples pooches.  It's great, I get my daily "Dog Fix" without the poo or the vets and food bills. 

UPDATE CHARITY EVENT

On 17 Sep there is a charity event at the  Boat and Railway  featuring a clutch of Brummie talent raising money for a great cause, Teenage Cancer Trust.  Ex Brumbeat survivor Bob Styler who featured in The Yamps, The Fashion and Traction will be performing and he's so famous they dont need to put his name on the poster, just a photo!  Show starts at 7.30.   Be there.

Go Bobby Go!!!

  

Take Care my Friends, be Kind to Each Other.

Keep Playing 

Bob

Copyright:   Bullsheadbob 

Contact:   Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

BULLS HEAD BOB Aug 2022. JOHNNY NEAL Rocker of Ages. GEORGE Whatshisname of Ringway Music....GEORGE WATTS.

 Hello you Brummies, Lovers of 60's music, 

"There are places I remember".........the opening line to The Beatles "In My Life" rings true in all of our lives so much so that the song is one of the most played at funerals because it's in the category of "our song" but is also a song that reminds us of all of our past occasions and memories if you get my drift.

GEORGE Whatshisname........RINGWAY MUSIC

There are indeed many places I remember and many people too, who had an impact on my life in the Brumbeat context, and one of those was George .......?

Noel Gordon left

I could never remember his surname, but he was one of the co-owners of Ringway Music along with drummer Lionel Rubin and bassist Ken Ingarfield who were both members of the Jerry Allen quartet who featured on ITV's midday programme, Lunch Box with Noelle Gordon who later starred as the owner of the Crossroads Motel.  George was the brass and flute expert in the shop so, not being a guitarist, he wasn't the focus of my musical intentions and, in fact, the first time I saw him I thought him to be a bit 'professor-like', deserving of respect and only to be spoken to from a safe distance!  That perception was quickly dismissed by his charm and mild enthusiasm for my 15 year old paltry efforts at playing rock and pop.  My Mum liked him because he wore a tie!

Many, many years have passed since those halcyon days of the opening of Ringway Music and during those years I have oft pondered what George's surname was and what he did away from the shop as he wasn't with the Jerry Allen Quartet on a permanent basis but was a member of Jerry's Big Band.   So I was knocked out when I received an email last month from one of his daughters, Carrie Watts.....WATTS!! That's his Name!! mystery solved and not only that but Carrie kindly took the time to find a photo of him inside the shop, a shop many of us remember fondly.

GEORGE WATTS

This photo takes me back to my youth and he is just as I remember him, it must have been a hot day because he has his tie on but his sleeves rolled up.

The 3 owners were a tight knit bunch and when they weren't in the shop together they were in each others houses because they all lived in Hinkley and next door to each other!!  Carrie remembers them all being in and out of each others houses like having an extended family.

I never knew what a brilliant musician he was but he played with Johnny Mathis, Vic Damone, Pat Boone, various orchestras, as the flautist for the Ian Campbell folk group and was a part of Shirley Bassey's touring outfit.  That Shirley connection would surely have impressed my Mum even more than the tie wearing!!

The shop was very successful initially but over time and with tough competition from other city traders it started to lose money at which point George and Ken left the partnership and Lionel carried on, on his own, until he found himself losing far too much and the shop closed forever.  I bought my first Gibson guitar from there, spent more than a few hours playing the guitars in there, chatting with Pete Oliver and meeting up with other musician friends.   It was such a nice ambience and I got to sign the ceiling.

George moved out to Spain, still touring with "Our Shirl" and sadly passed away in 2012 at the age of 83.   He was fondly known as "Gentle George" by his jazz buddies and is missed by all who knew him.   I'm sure he must have influenced many of the brass players in the  great City of Birmingham and I hope they enjoy this photo as much as I do.   Thank you Carrie.

ROCKER OF AGES...... JOHNNY NEAL...87 YEARS YOUNG.

I was 3 year old sproglet when Johnny Neal started gigging at the age of 16 in 1951.  He was the first of the Rock and Rollers in Birmingham with his backing band the HOUND DOGS and I have the greatest delight to feature, again, the photo below as one of the best from those days, bar none.

That's pure rock and roll, everyone plugged in to a 12 watt amp and Johnny looking as cool and dapper as Elvis himself with a generous application of Brylcreme and baggy pants.  In those days drummers were only trusted with a snare and hi-hat.   

As reported a few blogs ago he has recently found fame anew in Brazil so this is his 7th decade rockin' out which is no mean achievement....go Johnny go!!   He is known by his close friends as "Noga" and I'm pleased to be one of those who calls him that.  There are a few years between our ages so I call him Old Nog and he calls me Young Bob.  I've still got a lot to learn to attain that longevity he has deservedly earned but I'm trying. He reached the great age of 87 last month which does make him the well deserved holder of the title of "Rocker of Ages".

HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOGA!!

FINALLY

I'm extremely pleased for the England Womens football team, they were a delight to watch and deserved to win.   Ella Toones goal was real class.       Clapclapclapclap.....

Toodle-Ooooooo

 Bob

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob 

Contact:   Bobsbullocks@Gmail.Com 

 

Bulls Head Bob July 2022. Communucation Breakdown!! Fender METEORA, The guitar I Can't Buy!!. GRAHAM ASHFORD's Thumb. 1969 WEM SAPPHIRE.

 Hello you Brummies, Brummies Abroad and other assorted chums.

Ah, what a beautiful summer is upon us, BBQs, lounging on a sun bed sipping a cold tequila sunrise and of course the best music festival in the world, Glastonbury on the TV.    Macca did it again, putting on a brilliant show at 80 years old, pure class that only one other musician has matched through his own 80 years and that is the wonderful Brian Wilson with both celebrating their 80th birthdays last month..   Both are huge fans of each other and have been the driving force that inspired the two biggest bands in the world from the UK and USA of the 60's and beyond to better each others Albums.    The songs they individually crafted will be with us for many, many years and I'm so pleased to have experienced hearing them from their first airing, so exciting.  God only knows I need the warmth of the sun to keep having those good vibrations inside......!!

COMMUNICATION BREAKDOWN  

There has been a bit of an ongoing cyber glitch with the

BRUMBEAT.Net website with some of you guys having problems trying to link to the site from the blog or vice versa.  Should you experience any difficulty trying to access the blog from BRUMBEAT or any other link, you can simply Google "Bulls Head Bob" and there I am, at the top of the page, so with one click you will arrive at the blog ready to be amazed by the ramblings of a genuine old git!!

FENDER METEORA. The guitar I can't Buy!!! 

Back in April I wrote about the stylish Fender METEORA and, having written about it, I convinced myself that I should own one right now, with my choice being the stylish 3 colour sunburst with maple neck.   There were good reviews on Youtube from the usual guitar review sites even though the guitar is made solely in Mexico, which meant I would normally avoid buying it because, in the past, it would mean stripping out inferior electrics and putting in something more reliable and potent.  

I logged on and went to the Music Store site, credit card in hand, bursting with anticipation to get my grubby little mitts on it, I hadn't been this excited since the days of perusing the Bells of Surbiton guitar catalogue looking at a Watkins Rapier. 

So, I got to the Fender page and there was the METEORA in all its glory and then I noticed, written in red ink

"Estimated to be in stock April 2023!!!"...."What? Kin Hell" I thought stuffing the credit card back into my wallet, "that can't be right! It must be a typo".   I then proceeded to Thomann with the same result, except the wording was "available between 13 and 19 weeks".     

The next stop was

Andertons, normally very reliable but  their site too was bad news saying "available in 3 months".  I searched other outlets who said they had the guitar but their prices had been inflated by 2 or 3 hundred pounds more which I wasn't willing to pay.     

I am not at all surprised that this sunburst model is so popular but there is also a real downside to buying a guitar in demand and that is Fender rushing to get the product out to the shops which could impair their quality control which, I have to say, has been a Mexico problem in the past.  

So, with that in mind, I shall wait until the situation quietens down before venturing forth.  There doesn't appear to be as big a problem with the Meteora in other colours, although the silver grey Sunburst is in demand too now.

I saw it in action with the brilliant Declan Mckenna at Glastonbury and it looked and sounded great.

GRAHAM ASHFORD

The Brumbeats vocalist Graham Ashford is currently taking a "break" from "right hand activities" after getting a bone replacement and tendon repair to his right hand recently.   There is no truth in the rumour that he broke his hand himself because his wife Caroline had been receiving too much attention from friends after being in plaster herself for 4 months after breaking her left arm in a fall.

We know that the older you get, the longer It takes to heal and Caroline had just got back to her old self in time for Graham to get plastered! 

I hope you recover soon Graham so you can get back to painting.    

It won't interfere with his singing voice though so he and his Hawaian band will still be " giving it some" in the bars.

OLD KIT. 

WEM SAPPHIRE 

It was 1969, the glory days of the Watkins Rapier budget guitar that inspired a nation had passed, Watkins or WEM as it was now known had become one of the leaders in the field of amplification and great PA systems.   In a bit of a last gasp they released the Watkins/WEM  Sapphire guitar.

It had, in fact, been released in 1968 as the Wilson Sapphire, and had been badged accordingly with a different headstock and control knobs.   This rare beauty is really reminiscent of a few Burns models with the shape of the body identical to the Short Scale Jazz, the scratch plate layout just like the Burns Marvin and the controls from the Burns London split sonic.   This particular guitar is currently for sale on EBay from Germany at around £1000.00.  There were not too many of these made so it is a rarity worth buying for keen collectors of old British guitars.    

FINALLY

There's absolute bedlam at British airports.    The Govt gave the airlines a load of dosh to pay furlough wages to staff who were being laid off but they sacked the staff and kept the money and are now blaming the Govt.   What a disaster.

Take Care you Guys, it's a greedy world right now.

Bob

Copyright:  Bulls head Bob

Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob - June 2022. The last of the first - JERRY LEE LEWIS..Country Hall of Fame RICK PRICE - The Move RIP. The Queens Jubilee concert 2022. Us Golden Few.

 Howdoo you Brummies!!

It's summer time here at Brumbeat Villas and I'm busy as a host of bees, immersing myself in the garden and it's definitely the place where I feel removed from the world in turmoil with this lust for power, hatred and greed so prevalent.  OK, enough of that, let's go back to better times when gender issues didn't exist because we had more pressing things to do with our time.

ALL THINGS HAVE A BEGINNING

"How true Bob" you're probably thinking because it all starts somewhere.  My own musical journey started at the birth of

Rock and Roll, albeit being only 8 years old at the time when first subjected to the hissing and popping sound of a scratchy 78 rpm record as the needle hit the lead-in grooves, and I experienced that moment of anticipation before my first listen to rock and roll.   Clunk! ssssssssssst "Well since my new baby left me".... Elvis had arrived, my eyes popped wide open as my elder teenage sisters screamed at the sound and my Father shouted at them to shut up.  It's perhaps, pertinent to note that the output from our wind-up wonder was slightly louder than hitting the top of a boiled egg with a teaspoon, no volume controls, no controls at all!

"Ah" I thought, my own beginning has arrived and with every new 78 that I heard I knew I wanted to play a guitar and sing and get told to shut up by my bully of a father, it was the only way I could fight back..   The instrument arrived quite quickly thanks to my mother followed by the anticipated recriminations from Mr Cruel of Wankerland.

I didn't listen to Elvis much from then on because, in 1957, a bigger rebel in the form of Jerry Lee Lewis  and his "Whole Lotta Shakin" was on the scene and I have been a fan of this devil since then.

'Great Balls of Fire', 'Breathless' and the fabulous 'High School Confidential' followed in quick succession.  I was a bit too young to care or understand about him  marrying his 13 year old cousin, which effectively finished his rock and roll career at the time, it did however give birth to my rebellious nature which is still a part of me.  Everything Mr Cruel hated, I loved, so 1957 was a great year for rebels.  It seemed strange that when in 1959, just 2 years later, Elvis moved 14 year old Priscilla into Graceland and the world just said how pretty she was?

COUNTRY MUSIC HALL OF FAME

So here we are in 2022, 65 years have passed, two of those four songs I still play on stage and 86 year old Jerry Lee is still performing, he is now the sole survivor of that early USA rock and roll music AND what is more, is about to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame.   If ever there was something that would stick in the craw of those "all sweetness and light", Bible bashing Country fans it would be this.  I am a happy man because he is a great artist with a love of Country music and was instrumental in creating that same melting pot of country rockin' styles that influenced The Band years later but Jerry did it first.

How people go on about Hendrix setting fire to his guitar!..well Jerry did it first in 1956 and on a much bigger scale, emptying a petrol filled Coke bottle into his piano and setting it on fire whilst playing Great Balls of Fire on stage to outdo Chuck Berry.  The British population was outraged when the Sex Pistols swore on TV, pretty tame by todays standards but in 56 Jerry Lee shocked, outraged and offended the whole world. 

This guy has been a real Rebel for a lifetime but a hero to me.   Go Jerry Lee!  

The Film of Great Balls of Fire starring Dennis Quaid is a must for fans of Rock and Roll music.  Early Rock and Roll made a brief comeback in 1968 and I got to play Jerry Lees songs which I adored.  That comeback had been championed by Birminghams, The Move copying the Duane Eddy sound for the intro to "Fire Brigade" which leads me to deliver a bit of sad news.....

ALL THINGS MUST PASS.

RICK PRICE - RIP

Another tick of the Brumbeat musicians clock has seen the passing of Rick Price,  ex Sight and Sound, The Move and Wizzard.  Rick had certainly paid his dues on the Brumbeat music scene serving with a few Birmingham bands before being somewhat surprised to be offered the job of bassist for The Move by Roy Wood.  However, at this time The Move were just doing cabaret dates and Rick was wholly suited to those kind of disciplines so he would have been the ideal replacement.

Although I was on the scene at the same time and we were both on the same Bill of shows that my band and his played, I never actually met him, just a nod of the head as we passed each other.   Sight and Sound were basically a cabaret style group and not to my personal liking.  For an in depth background article about Rick, make a visit to www.brumbeat.Net where John Woodhouse details his beginnings on the Sight and Sound band page.    Got to be worth a read for lovers of Birminghams music history at the best time for bands, the 60's.  

When The Move broke up, Rick continued playing with Roy when he formed Wizzard, after his departure from ELO, so enjoyed a few well deserved years in the charts.  My condolences go to his family and friends.   

THE QUEENS PLATINUM JUBILEE CONCERT.

I am pleased to see that those responsible for choosing artists for the 4 June concert at the Palace have heeded my advice and not employed anyone to do with X Factor.   The bill is headed by Diana Ross and they have bought back the immaculate Stevie Wonder, Cliff Richards, Ed Sheeran AND Birmingham's Duran Duran who had been ignored at the last Jubilee as reported by this very blog.  

Guitarist Brian May will be making two appearances, a solo performance, no doubt perched on top of a tall building playing God Save the Queen, personally I would love to see him doing it suspended on a zip line going from Admiralty Arch to the Palace, with rockets strapped to his trainers and his curly white locks of hair flowing behind him, a bit like the dog thing in Neverending Story. He will later be playing as part of Queen with Adam Lambert.  There are also 

a panoply of additional great artists too, not like the 2012 shambles.   

The British public are lucky to have had this Queen of Queens as the head of our country.  She set the standard of public dignity very high and she is respected throughout the world except by the fat orange racist buffoon who wouldn't know good manners if they were inserted analy with a red hot spoon where, I imagine, he keeps his head most of the time.  .

US GOLDEN FEW 

Us 60's Golden Few Brumbeat musicians are now in our twilight years and time marches on with the inevitable consequence that means we are getting fewer.  We were blessed to have lived through those times of post WW2 peace, where not only did we have the rebirth of a nation, us "Babyboomers", but we had the birth of the electric guitar and organ and homegrown rock and roll.  Charlie Watkins produced a great guitar in the Rapier and launched the best amplifiers available, Beat music thudded away in every sweaty and smokey pub in Birmingham and its environs, it was BRUMBEAT the vibrant 60's and the dance halls were packed.   There was a warm sense of optimism in the air and music was the key to it all.  People liked and respected each other in those days.  

DEAR OLD MUM.    Being a member of a very well known Brummie group was nice and on one summer day I was in the city with my Mother going to Rackhams for Lunch.  We walked along New Street then turned right up Corporation Street which I guess is about half a mile or so.  About every 3 or 4 steps I took, somebody would say "Hello Bob,  how yer gooin? Etc...", I was always polite and said "Hi".  My Mum kept looking at me quizzically as we walked along and as we got to the entrance of the department store she stopped and asked "Bob, does everybody in Birmingham know you"?!!   I just laughed but I could tell she was really proud and I knew she felt that reward was her's too for all the support she gave me and the sacrifices she had made, she was damn right, she was a marvellous person and I would give everything I own to see her again for a day.    

Those young Beat groups gained experience and became exposed to other influences, leading to ground breaking popular music that The Beatles took to its limit in the summer of 1967 with Sgt Pepper.    It was a recording miracle that still impresses the industry to this day when sound engineers are discussing new sounds and effects, the reference "post Beatles" is the benchmark they start from. The fashion industry bloomed too, after making Army uniforms for the previous war years.  We dressed in the brightest of colours and strutted our stuff.  The music of black artists from America, from blues through to Soul music was welcomed in the UK and they loved touring here where there was no racial hatred.  In return their presence gave us diversity and inspiration, their stage shows were stunning and it only cost about ten pence to go and see them, with 2 support bands too. 

We were Brummies and we made everything for everyone, complete with all the motorbikes and the majority of British cars we were a boom town and we had the time of our lives!!   We gave the world some memorable musicians and bands. 

That time has passed into history that only we can appreciate, us Golden Few.    Oh! all of a sudden I feel happy again so on that note, I'm off to tend to my Hibiscus.    Dib dib dib...and take care you survivors......here's a cyber hug!

Slava Ukraine!!

Bob

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob 

Contact:     Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

   

BULLS HEAD BOB - May 2022. ZOOM G1 X4 Update. Bev Bevan Very upset!! EXPOSED Metal Bands and The Dark Arts!! Gibson Theodore

 Hello Brummies,  Musicians, Brummies Abroad and all you wicked blog readers.

 ZOOM G1 X4 UPDATE.    

A couple of blogs ago I promised an update on the ZOOM Multi fx pedal.  Since then things came along that diverted me from that promise but now I shall address that omission.    I have to say right from the off that this piece of kit is very small in size but is a GIANT technically.   I am totally impressed by its capabilities and choices of sound that it affords, so much so that it would be nigh on impossible for me to write an in-depth review covering all the details of its wondrous workings which are many fold!!    At this point I need to re-iterate that I was a "FX Pedal virgin" until buying this and in truth I bought it as an aid to recording rather than for live performances and I am still in the learning process.

There are many, many YouTube clips of "How to" use all its possibilities and, to that end, I suggest that this is the best way for us all to learn, one facet at a time.  I have been a regular viewer.

I DO recommend it as a purchase though if you are thinking about effects, it's cheap and really built well, it occupies a tiny bit of space which is a real bonus and will give you endless hours of fun if you are a "knob twiddler" refining and honing your own preferences. There are installed pre-sets that can make you sound like David Gilmour or Brian May and you can build all your own effects desires outside of the pre-sets that are installed and the pedal will automatically save them for you.  It's a no brainer really, even if you buy one just for fun.

BEV BEVAN is Very Upset!!

Brummie drumming star Bev Bevan has had his Facebook account closed after being accused of breaking 'community standards' by failing to comply with Facebook regulations of account holders in that he failed to renew his associated email account in January.   He said "I'm Very Upset".  His current agent Ashley Yeates stated to Birmingham Live..... 

"What I think happened with Bev's account.  We couldn't get in.  Somebody has either reported it and said it's not a legitimate account or somebody has posted on there.  We dont know what it was.  Bevs email account we had set up linked with the Facebook account had lapsed.   Around the same time the email lapsed, something happened to Bev's Facebook account.  By the time we noticed it we had 48 hours to sort it and get in or it would be switched off".

The account was subsequently deleted.   

COCK UP ON THE ADMIN FRONT    

I Bob, along with millions of others in the New Year, received from GMail notice that unused email accounts would be closed if they had not been used in the past few months.   It is common practice to link email accounts to other applications and not physically use them as channels of communication when the linked account itself has it's own messaging service as part of the application.   Rules are Rules and if you fail to comply with them you are guilty of breaking those rules and you will lose your account accordingly.

If you do lose your account it doesn't mean that someone had maliciously hijacked the account with mal intent. It means that you had failed in your obligation to maintain your account within the guidelines.  It's no great mystery, it's an administrative blunder that can happen to anyone.   Ashley Yeates further stated that "I and Bev both posted on the account as Bev was "less Tech Savvy' than me". ??? 

Drummers favourite PIN Number......1-2-3-4

HEAVY METAL GROUPS AND THE DARK ARTS EXPOSED!  NONE OF THEM ARE IN LEAGUE WITH THE DEVIL SHOCKER!!

What is it that makes metal fans believe that heavy metal groups are in league with the Devil??  It's no secret at all, it's the groups themselves, if you state something often enough then people believe it.    They all seem to home in on Alastair Crowley, self proclaimed dark wizard and the fact that Jimmy Page bought Crowleys house in London as explicit evidence of the sinister link, I believe that it was simply that Page had lots of dosh and could afford it.  

In a world shattering Bulls Head Bob expose, I can now reveal  that, in fact these Metal heroes are just ordinary people who wear black clothes,  crucifixes and cloaks, apart from when they pop round to their Mums house for tea on Sunday.   Just to be on the safe side however, thank goodness us ordinary mortal souls have Albus Dumbledore and The Shadows back catalogue of melodic tunes to save us all from their "Dark Riffs". No dark arts here thank you.  I'm a Hank Man!

Should you require confirmation just take a gander at the wonderful "Bad News" by Rik Mayal and Ade Edmonson it will explain everything.  

ART FOR ARTS SAKE - GIBSON THEODORE.

I get a bit pissed off with mega companies profiteering from defenceless musicians.  This time its Gibson and their recent offering, the Theodore.   It's a limited edition of a guitar that was never manufactured by them before, although the plans had been drawn up many years ago. It is now on sale for $4999 dollars and there are only 318 guitars.

Why was it not released?  Well I would guess that they thought, at the time, that it wasn't good enough but now in the world of stupid money it seems like a good way to get people to part with it stupidly.  The guitars will be bought by them then stored away until some person with more stupid money than they had will buy them for double the price....and so it goes.

It looks crappy to me, a slab of wood with a couple of P90s but then again I'm neither rich and/or stupid.

FINALLY

Remember, May the Fourth is Star Wars day.

Slava Ukraine!!

Take Care of each other, avoid buying anything Russian. 

Bob

Copyright:  Bullsheadbob 

Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

Bulls Head Bob April 2022. FENDER METEORA SENSATION!! Queens Platinum Jubilee concert. West Side Story 2022

Hello Brummies, Brummies Abroad, and especially Birminghams beat musicians of the 60's.   

FENDER METEORA PLAYER PLUS 

What a beauty! 

I have oft found myself of the opinion that Fender guitar design started very well with two iconic guitars, The Stratocaster and the Telecaster, then had lived on the Fender name because, frankly, their designs from then on were mediocre at best, totally lacking in imagination.   The Jaguar lacked soul, it was too clean sounding which is strange because it had a panoply of controls but no amount of twiddling produced anything other than the same clunky sound.   I played Gibsons at the time and one night one of the tuners broke.  The support band's guitarist kindly gave me his Jaguar to use while our roadie fixed the tuner.    The difference between the warmth and/or aggressive tones of my SG compared to the Jaguar was staggering,  in the negative sense.   

The horrible Mustang and Coronado were just as bad.  Since then, Fender launched many ranges of their two main models with slightly different model names or signature models but nothing really new at all.   

As a very young kid I had stood, open mouthed, staring at the first Stratocaster in Birmingham.  It was inside a glass case at Jones and Crossland music shop and looked like something from outer space with a Sunburst paint  finish that was glorious beyond imagination in those early years.   Since then, Fender had never managed to dedicate the time for great design aesthetics or forward thinking.   It was more profitable to flood the market with cheap versions of the Strat under the Squier or Affinity label.

I was enormously pleased to see and hear Fenders latest mainstream model, the incredibly stylish METEORA!!  I was hooked from the moment I saw it and at last Fender have installed two Fireball Humbuckers as standard and have also adopted a push/ pull pot similar to the Yamaha SG to enable its arsenal of fantastic sounds.  This guitar's design flows, its sexy, its aggressive and growls at you but purrs along nicely with rich clean tones too.  

The guitar comes in various colours but for me the nicest option is the Sunburst Player plus.  Such a beautiful paint job.  You can pre order from Andertons music Store for the sum of £859.00, it comes with a gig bag too.   If I had the money this would soon be in my hands inspiring me to greater heights.  So, thank you Fender I am beginning to drool, I guess I'd better start saving.

PLATINUM JUBILEE CONCERT

Here we go again!  It only seems like yesterday that the Queen held her 2012 jubilee concert outside Buckingham Palace with a panoply of some great artists and some who frankly, stunk.  Well this coming June it's happening again and I thought it timely to republish my last review of that day as an aid to the people whose job it is to assemble the artist line up, just to help prevent repetitive errors and here it is:

THE JUBILEE CONCERT 2012

"It became pretty evident that some of the Jubilee Concert was really the corporate arm of the 'X Factor' franchise on a day out which meant we had to suffer some poo, and didn't we just? But wait a minute.....there were some great people on too weren't there?  Well everybody who was a star in the 60's was still a star of that concert and performed like the REAL performers they are.  But as for today's pop heroes

CHERYL COLE (Nee Tweedy).

It has to be said that Cheryl Cole (nee Tweedy) was in a class of her own for this concert and in some ways it was her re-launch onto the world scene, having been dumped by the Americans a year ago, so she had something to prove.  Her publicity machine had conveniently brushed aside the recent controversy about her miming when appearing on the hit TV Show, 'The Voice", which is a show for singers apparently?

Some people said "She can't sing" and you know what, they're absolutely spot on!! but surely, she must be more than just a pretty little geordie?..... hang on, she was definitely taller than the Queen!!....that's something isnt it?

It's a good job the Queen didn't ask her about her dress either, a calculated publicity grabbing headline would surely have filled the Daily Rags to say she was wearing a dress designed by EWA MINGE..I thought that was a Saturday night game for consenting adults? and as for little Gary Barlow, now this might be a tad critical but "Gary I'd get another tailor" - I mean he must have been pissed out of his head when he went for a fitting cos his jacket had to be held together with a chain!! It didn't even cover his stomach, he was probably thinking "Well I'll slim down into it" and didn't quite make it.

ENTER THE YAK
Anyway, when Cheryl Cole's (nee Tweedy) duet with Gary started, she opened her mouth, and out came the sort of discordant noise that I have only heard once before from a sick Himalayan Yak.   I was moved to comment to Mrs Bob that it could be another one of those Bananarama 'harmonies' but was proved wrong as she continued her 'avoidance of melody' technique.  She wasn't a million miles away from the Bananas but was definitely worse than the sick Yak.  

Gary Barlow's face was magic, there was this fleeting moment of horror as he heard those first notes. He looked in her direction, (probably expecting to see a Yak?) and I bet he was thinking "What the ****?, I was hoping for a Knighthood for this?".  Sir Gazza of Boybandland.

I could clearly hear the sound techie, who by the way was shit all through the concert, piling on the effects board to try and salvage what could only be described as a vocal Kamikaze dive into a sea of useless crap.  As I watched this dire performance I was reminded of the mantra given to me by my old Indian cave-dwelling guru - "You can't polish a turd".

This is the face of music in our times my friends, concocted, orchestrated publicity machine and AUTOTUNE.  It was the only time I can think of being envious of the deaf, she probably sounded OK on sub titles.  Her manager, Will-i-am came to her rescue though with a host of flatties himself during his performance and then pathetically struggling to sing with the incredible Stevie Wonder.    The Queen who wore ear plugs throughout the concert was seen mouthing, - "Is it over yet?, "Right then, I particularly loved the Yak impersonater, how novel! time for tea and Knighthoods" - "Not you Barlow!".     

2022 UPDATE 

Since 2012 Cheryl Cole ( nee Tweedy) has had another two surname changes and has now reverted to being a Tweedy.  Apart from that....who cares?    So organisers, it's now 2022.... I just can't wait.

WEST SIDE STORY 2

In the late 50's/s 60's, the nation was still in love with film musicals and the songs from those movies made it into the British Charts week after week for a certain time.   The absolute cream of those musicals was the phenomenal West Side Story released in Feb 1962 in the UK.  My mum dragged me along to see it, I was 13 and definitely didn't want to go, however, after the viewing I was hooked by the sheer brilliance of the cinematography, musical score and dazzling choreography although I am no dancer.   Everything about it was incredible apart from the awful mis-casting of Richard Beymer as Tony.  

Elvis had been offered the part of Tony but manager Colonel Tom Parker told him not to do it because he didnt want him to be associated with gangs.   I don't think Elvis would have been a good choice either but thought it worth mentioning.    

Two years later, the influence of  musicals gave P J Proby two chart hits from the Film as us Brummies called it when "Gooin' tu the Flicks".  

Anyway the songs "Maria" and "Somewhere" or "Summer Wear" as my great Aunt Gertie sung it, reached number 8 and 6 respectively. As for PJ, he was vilified by the British press for his 'trouser ripping' incidents on stage, he later became a farmer in Derbyshire.  

In 1968 The Nice featuring a young Keith Emerson had a hit with their instrumental hit of "America" which caused a great furore when they burned the American flag at the end of the performance at The Albert Hall.  As a Brumbeat aside, The Uglys did a great guitar version of this in their act too!! Minus the burning thing...or The Albert Hall!!   So, the quality of the music has carried for years.  

Last week I saw Stephen Spielbergs 2022 re-make of the Film and I was left feeling deflated by the whole thing, pure mediocrity.  My daughter, Pretty Bobette was indignant at my criticism and said I couldn't handle the future and was afraid of change!!   I mentally mustered all my wit and wisdom to sally forth with an appropriate and cutting rejoinder, but all that came out was "Piss off". 

It was the same story with which they took liberties, changed scenes and songs around.   In 1961, the intimacy and energy of Rita Moreno oozing sexuality with The Sharks dancing on the roof to "America" is a moment of Cinematic history that can't be bettered and it certainly wasn't.   The new version doesnt have the dance on the roof.

I submit to you that the 62 film was full of passion and drive that can't be manufactured, it was pure magic.  It's true that It was devoid of native Puerto Ricans which they have now remedied but that apart, it is devoid of everything else that the original delivered in bucketfuls.    I won't be watching it again.  

FINALLY.

I would like to extend my thanks to Mike Lockley and the Birmingham newspaper The Sunday Mercury for its continued support of the 60's Brumbeat musicians with their two page spread of the March blog remembering the late Dave Hynds.  

A warm Birthday greeting to the wonderful Eric Clapton for 30 March.    

Take Care

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact:    Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com 

 

BULLS HEAD BOB Mar 22. DAVE HYNDS R.I.P TRUE BRUMBEAT HERO. NEVER STOP BELIEVING.

Hello Brummies, Chums, Mates and Brummie Musicians of the 60's.

The whole impetus of the Brum Beat Groups of the 60's was the ambition to succeed, to be heard and to bring hard, gritty rock and roll to the dance halls of, in our case, Birmingham and its environs.  Birmingham, the heart of British industry and the crossroads of the whole British transport network, bred some hard working and determined people.  The factories thundered all week and on Friday night the great mass of employed males applied the Brylcreme, aftershave and a sharp suit and went out in search of beautiful High Heeled girls who danced around a selection of handbags all night to LIVE bands, there were no discos.  There were exceptions to that "going to the dance" rule and that exception was the aspiring young musicians who gathered at the front of the stage to watch the band and learn stuff.    I was one of those and so was a young Drummer

DAVE HYNDS

BRUMBEAT HERO 

  

Pop music was in its infancy, there were no pop shows on our black and white TVs until much later, no pop music Radio Shows except for one hour on Sunday afternoons for the top selling singles.   It was difficult to move on musically as we had only had Cliff Richards and The Shadows as role models to copy.  The premier venue to see music acts was The Ritz at Kings Heath where local groups played as support acts to the Rock and Roll stars of the day.  One of those top local bands was The Cheetahs and they had a recording deal!    Dave Hynds had been a drummer at home until he answered an ad for a drummer with a "local band", it would be his chance to see if he was good enough.  He attended the auditions and got the job......he phoned his wife to tell her that he had not only got the job but that it was as the drummer for The Cheetahs who he had watched at The Ritz !!!..he said when he told her, the phone went silent at the other end, she didn't believe it was true!!   For Dave it was the dream job.

Music started moving at a pace in 63 when The Beatles came along and the media began to take an interest.   Move forward a few years and a thousand gigs later. Fashions changed and so did the music which was now more Psychedelic which prompted The Cheetahs to change their name and music direction, a radical name change was needed and a change in sound so in came Bill Bonham, a fresh keyboard wizard, and The Cheetahs became Fairfield Ski.    The dynamics changed and the bands enthusiasm and self belief rocketed and why not? they felt they were on the cusp of true success, after all they were a cohesive unit who had played together for some years now, they wrote their own songs AND now, they had recorded an album!!  These days you can record an album in your bedroom on a computer but back then it was an expensive undertaking but such an uplifting experience, it was a music plateau that had been just a dream to reach.  Dave Hynds belief in the band was the real driving force.   

No matter how much drive and energy you have it's sometimes not enough and like many others the Fairfield Ski dream didn't materialise.   One might think that there comes a time when you pack up your kit and move it into the attic along with your dreams, I mean, to carry on would be like leaning into a punch wouldn't it?  Not Dave, who had the self belief and love of music to carry him through, real spirit.     In the 2000's he joined the band Critical Mass 

who managed a few gigs but nothing more was forthcoming.  Through it all Dave was still mates with the Skis' and they still had an album that he could promote all those years after because he BELIEVED in its quality and it paid off because in the 2010's Cherry Red records released it on CD.  The band whipped up publicity for the release.  "Come on you Skis'".   It was a great moment for that young lad who had spent years practising at home, joining the band of his dreams and going through all the perils and disappointments as well as moments of pure ecstacy along that musical journey.   He had now been keeping the dream alive for over 50 years and was still not lacking in motivation.    During the past few years Dave had some really serious illness problems and EVEN THEN he kept on pushing forward, believing in "Never stop Playing", never give up hope.    Sadly Dave Hynds passed away on Feb 8 2022.  He had arranged his own funeral, to take place within days straight away so as not to cause a fuss to anyone. 

I have stated, in the past that the music business is the cruelest business in the world. Shit managers and crooked promoters were always there and of course there were musicians who would crush other musicians to get to their next objective only to get bored with it and move onto another group to break up, leaving behind a trail of disillusionment for others who got washed away in the damage.    There were a few all round Mr Nice guys like Dave who stayed true to their beliefs and the loyalty of being in a band of like minded companions.

DAVE HYNDS

There are millions of people who have never heard of Dave Hynds from Birmingham, UK. Drummer, Singer/songwriter, Dreamer and Believer and above all a beautiful person.  It's a shame that he was never a big star because for all that effort and belief he really deserved it.  Maybe the old adage of "The nice guys dont survive" had applied in his case.  Music is a complex profession with a million ways to fail.

All that apart he never gave up and that is his legacy and a lesson to us all.  A true Brumbeat Hero in my eyes.

God Bless you Dave.

Bob

Copyright: Bullsheadbob 

Contact:  Bobsbullocks@Gmail.com