Bo Diddley

[Andiamo1]

I saw on the news that  Bo Diddley died today and it brought back great memories of the first time I saw him play a live performance.  I went to a Rock and Roll show in the late 50s at the Brooklyn Fox. At that time, music was just starting to transition from the low energy songs of Frankie Lyman and James Cook to the music that eventually provided the energy of the 60s.

I never heard of Bo Diddley, so I had no expectations of his music.  There were a few acts that preceded him and they were typical of the 50s: a couple of a cappella groups and then the drifters.  Then out came Bo Diddley; he had a square guitar that he had designed himself and commanding presence.  On the first note, I knew this was something great.  Within a minute the entire audience was standing on its feet screaming in delight.  He went on to become one of the great influences of the music of the 60s.  He had a blend of country, jazz and blues that was strictly his own.

In his own words "I play the guitar as if it was a drum."  The music reached into your soul and with delight.  It was impossible to listen to without having fun.

The music speaks for itself:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=zBAJXyF1HVc

[scratchinghead]

The Ramones where cool. Never saw them but they had a profound influence on the music scene at the time. There is a great movie about them, can't remember the name.

[meki]

"But the best one --- was at the Bachanal in San Diego --- where I wasn't working... "

Not where --- WHEN...

Sigh --- I was off that night because I BEGGED it off...

And I BEGGED for Front row seats!

[meki]

OK - I'm startin' to feel young here... My first concert was THE KNACK in Virginia Beach at the Dome... I snuck in.

Then Rush -- then The Cars... Then The Ramones... Something about "THE" bands... LOL!

Then --- I had the pleasure of working at The Bacchanal in San Diego when I was 21 - 23... I saw a LOT of GREAT bands...

Boston, Nina Hagen, Peter Frampton, Styx, Christopher Cross, Steely Dan, Gordon Lightfoot, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Joey Fender, Bruce Springsteen, 38 special, Air Supply, Prince, THE ROLLING STONES (not once - but several times), ZZ Top, White Zombie, Metallica, Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Billy Idol,  (not all of these folks played at the Bacchanal - but because I worked there I got a LOTTA tickies elsewhere).

I went to a LOT of concerts when I was 18 - 25...

Man --- I'm telling you --- there are a lot that I don't even remember.

But the best one --- was at the Bachanal in San Diego --- where I wasn't working...

And The Ramones were up on stage --- And I was in the front row...

I'd been listening to music for so long - that sitting there at the concert --- comfortably swinging my foot in the front row --- while the crowd around me stood on their feet --- I was sooooooo Happy just being there and being able to take it in... That I didn't realize I was being rude until one of the Ramones looked down at me and told me to stand my arse up.

LMAO! --- I was just soooo "wowed" and happy --- I was comfortable... LOL!

Anyhow - they threw a pick down for me... Probably thought I was wasted - but I was the designated driver (never really drank... ) anyhow --- my girlfriend stole the pick from me... Ended our friendship...

But I'll NEVER --- EVER forget that concert.

There are a few concerts that I wish I could see.

One --- I'll never be able to - because he died... But the other one --- I hope to one day.

Jeff Buckley

and

Tori Amos


Anyhow - music is an amazing thing.

And what it does for us --- well - that's amazing too.

Love ya all for bringing up the fond memories.

Meki

[scratchinghead]

The Allman Brother's big paradym shift came after they played several concerts with the Grateful Dead. That is where they got that "diddlyotis" style of lead guitar.

[Marcia2202]

you guys make me soooo jealous. I wish I would have seen Jimi live... You guys are so fortunate, you don't even know

Marcia

[IAmTheWalrus]

You're all giving me flashbacks!

I still listen to Allman Brothers. They were one of my favorites.

[comeagain]

But what a consert the Allman brother band woow Mountain, Lesly West what a speical sound that guy had on his guittar really envy you that consert LOL

those were the days we had many of them visiting sweden in little small clubs aswell,In my home town there was a club cue club ,Johny Winter,
ten years after  rory callagher, cream amoung others they all came there.

but the Allman brothers band thats rare.

grace and peace

ca

[comeagain]

The only incorrection in my correction was that I spelled bass bas.
You have obviosly not read my post above when I saw Hendrix In gotheburg Sweden 1967 and 1970 .

[HectorSF]

CA thanks for the corrections...but 2 out of 3 or your corrections are incorrect.

My recorrections:

1. Billy Cox on Bass & Mitch Mitchell on drums...uh that's what I wrote in my post.
See for yourself
youtube.com/watch?v=8wqfDQc8aj0

2. Atlanta International Pop Festival (1970)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The second Atlanta International Pop Festival was a music festival held at the Middle Georgia Raceway in Byron, Georgia. Originally scheduled for July 3 to July 5, 1970, it did not finish until near dawn on the 6th.[1] It was the only successor to the first Atlanta International Pop Festival 1969. The event was promoted by Alex Cooley, who had organised the same event the previous year, as well as the Texas International Pop Festival
Like the Woodstock festival the previous summer, the event was promoted as "three days of peace, love and music." Tickets for the festival were priced at $14. Also like Woodstock, it became an "open event" when the promoter threw open the gates.[1] An estimated 350,000 to 500,000,[2] and possibly 600,000[1] people attended.
Performers included the The Allman Brothers Band, Jethro Tull, Terry Reid,B.B. King, Procol Harum, Jimi Hendrix (just ten weeks before his death), Captain Beefheart, Ravi Shankar, 10 Years After, Johnny Winter, John Sebastian, Mountain, and Spirit. Jimi Hendrix played his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner for the fireworks around midnight on the 4th of July.

In 2003, The Allman Brothers Band released a recording of their festival opening and closing performances, Live at the Atlanta International Pop Festival: July 3 & 5, 1970.

Like I said, a few months before Hendrix died.

3. You were right about 1970.

"Two otta three ain't bad" as Meatloaf once said in a song.
My memory is better than I thought.

Peace
Hector

[comeagain]

My own correction is it was not buddy miles on drums when I saw Hendrix it was the same set that Hector saw even if Hector saw ghosts . Billy cox on bas Mitch Mitchel on drums.

And listen now Hector it was the 1st of septemper 1970 and he died 18september 1970 so can you imagen it was just 17 days before he sailed on.!

Hector how stoned were you at the Atlanta Pop festival on juli  4, 1971 ?

ca

ps I would have loved that it would have been Buddy instead of Mitch because i loved that constellation.

[Deb_c430]

Oh i love John Lee Hooker! I been trying to remember his name, since I started reading this post!


thanks!

[Deb_c430]

Clapton has a book out now,  apparently he wrote it himself,  he had hired someone and fired them, because it didn't sound like him.  He didn't want to make it pretty, pulled no punches.

he is an artist, moody and interesting. Can he play?OH YEAH!

hendrix and Clapton now that would be cool,  slow hand and reverb!

[Andiamo1]

WMNF in the Tampa area is playing a tribute to Bo Diddley today.  The included a little history:  Bo was trained to be a classical violinist.  He went to a John Lee Hooker concert and decided to switch to the guitar.

[scratchinghead]

You da man!

[Andiamo1]

I used to know a guy pretty well that was the sound engineer for all the Hendrix records.  He was a partner in the Electric Lady in the East Village in NY.  Hendrix made most of his recordings there.  He had lots of photos that he took during the recording sessions and I think he published them in a book about Hendrix.

[scratchinghead]

Best book I ever read about Hendrix:"Room Full of Mirrors" by Charles R. Cross.
http://tinyurl.com/4n883m

So much stuff about his childhood.

Before his dad ever bought him a guitar he used to practice with a broom.

[scratchinghead]

Chase Chandler, Eric Burdon's bass player and soon to be Jimi Hendrix's manager, finally convinced Hendrix to go to England by telling him he would introduce him to Eric Clapton.

Poor Hendrix. Worshipped everyone, was in every known american band, but couldn't make it until he went to England. Thank you England for Hendrix and Clapton.

[Deb_c430]

Jealous!    I have seen Clapton twice, once early and once not so long ago.  Love how he plays!  

I think he has always lived the blues, so sad.   I love that cd also Riding with the King!
and Eric Clapton unplugged!  

I can not imagine loosing a child, not at all.    breaks my heart to even think of it,  

[comeagain]

Ive seen him twice 1970 also just before hed died with buddy miles drums and noel redding  bas instead of billy cox in the band of gypsys.
I´ve seen your favorit clapton also with blind faith  his my favorit also , after that tragic story with his son i think hes really got the blues, best blues record ever in my opinion riding with the king.

ca

ps i was listen at youtube before and find one with Bo Diddley, Eric C and Ny girls favorit aerosmith Steve whats his name also, it was in a reward for Eric C

[Deb_c430]

oh geesh you saw Hendrix? WOW! that must of rocked!  
The first concert I saw was van morrison. he was so trashed!  Was fun tho, yes was good also live.
Saw the who at angel stadium, the eagles there also,  

deb

[comeagain]

You convinced me got to lissen in this guy Diddley more,
sometimes you got take the drug for a while to get whats it  about.

BTW my first concert ever was Country Joe and the fish , Fletwood mac and Chicken Shack was playing there to.

GIVE ME aaaaaaaaaaaan F, feel like I`m fixing to die rag
ca

[scratchinghead]

There are only so many good beats that can be permutated from the basic boom-chuck. Bo Diddley dedicated his life to the best one. He never moved on to other styles to inhance record sales or keep from becoming stale. He owned the beat of all beats and made sure everyone knew he was king. And that is what we wanted when we showed up to dance or get stoned we didn't want to be sold on some new drug. We wanted that guaranteed  fix in our arm bang bang bang and we didn't care what anyone thought because whatever they thought couldn't touch the feeling that Bo Diddley hooked on us.

[scratchinghead]

Ah, 1967. Parents sent me away to boarding school in the US. Said I was becoming un-american and I wouldn't be able to get into college (lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).

So where did they send me? Menlo School for Boys, 20 miles outside of Haight-Ashbury after the summer of love. Yeah, I became American all-right. Janis Joplin and Big Brother played at our Senior prom that year (I was a junior). sigh. Bo Diddly trumps anyone for live performances, however.

[comeagain]

Yea but I think i can imagen the felling  you  Andiamo has for this guy.

It could have been like the feeling Ivè got when I was 13 years of age, and somebody said come to night theres a guitarist from the US gonna play and he is suposed to be good.

And i went, 1967 it was, and there he where this black guy playing a tune called Hey Joe and another the Wind cryes merry and how he played the guitar shocked me totaly, never heard anything like it.

There is nothing compared with those live music experience you had when you were young and openminded.