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2 i’s Reunion at The Borderline, London W1, Sunday January 29th 2012

Cliff Edmunds
Cliff Edmunds opened the show with some great R ‘n’ R and, in particular, outstanding versions of Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent numbers.
The Allisons
The Allisons, who included their No.1 gold disc from 1961 “Are You Sure” (which came 2nd in the Eurovision Song Contest in that year), performed together for the first time in 33 years!
Shirley Ann jiving with her father in law
Jiving with her father in law (how does he do it at 73!!) was former professional dancer, Shirley Ann, who tried unsuccessfully to convince me that she’s really 51 and a mother of 5 … well, OK, sure and I’m not Guy Mackenzie – my real name is Eric … Eric Clapton!
Garry Mills with Amanda and Emma
Garry Mills, pictured here with Amanda and Emma, performed all his hits including “Top Teen Baby” and “Look for a Star” which was, remarkably for a British record in 1961, also a hit in the States!
Garry Mills on stage
Garry Mills, definitely a highlight of the show for me as one of the first records I’d ever bought was “Treasure Island” – a song which was famously featured, along with Garry, in a film by Spike Milligan.
Dave Sampson
Dave Sampson, performing without “The Hunters”, sounded great and included his 1960 hit “Sweet Dreams”.
Danny Rivers
In the audience, on this occasion, was Danny Rivers (pictured with Amanda) …and his wife… who appeared in the film “Summer Holiday”.
Kingsize Taylor
As soon as he came off stage after 2 encores, Kingsize (Ted) Taylor was surrounded by girls – no change there!
Kingsize Taylor on stage
Kingsize Taylor, Merseyside and Star Club, Hamburg legend, gave a storming top of the bill performance and was ably backed by the “Tales from the Woods” houseband featuring, in particular for me, Claire Hamlin on keyboards and Graham Spencely on guitar (“Dizzy Miss Lizzie” was spinetingling!).
Guy Mackenzie and Kingsize Taylor
Guy Mackenzie with Kingsize Taylor who, in 1961, featured a 17 year old Cilla Black in “The Dominoes” and, later, was turned down by Ringo Starr in favour of the Beatles – whatever happened to them?

And finally … mentions must go to Jackie Lynton and MC Rockin’ Ricky Stevens along with my thanks to everyone at “Tales from the Woods” especially the very courteous, Keith Woods, for organising one of the best shows I’ve attended. Roll on 2013 … I’ll be there!

Posted in Cliff Edmunds, Danny Rivers, Dave Sampson, Garry Mills, Kingsize Taylor, Shirley Ann, The Allisons

Ian Siegal & Larry Miller, Falmouth 7th and 8th October 2011

Guy Mackenzie and Ian Siegal
Ian Siegal, great British bluesman, and he’s from the deep south too (the south of England)! But don’t miss him if you love blues and vintage (Harmony) guitars!
Larry Miller
The amazing Larry Miller, surely recognised as the UK’s no. 1 rockin’ blues guitarist?
Posted in Ian Siegal, Larry Miller

Mo Foster’s Book Launch, Dingwalls, London NW1. Tuesday 13th September 2011 “British Rock Guitar”

Mo, definitely one of the nicest guys in the business, pictured with his immaculate Dallas Tuxedo bass. But why did he give me the job of recording his speech? No pressure, right!


Bill Wyman who told me that he bought his own Dallas Tuxedo bass in 1961 and, after he’d bought his Framus Star bass in 1962, cut down the body and refretted it telling me he’d made the “first fretless bass in the UK”. It is now on display in his “Sticky Fingers” restaurant in Kensington.

Frank Allen, looking every bit the star that he is, with Paul Jones, ex vocalist with Manfred Mann, who is still touring today and looking great too!

Paul Day pictured with Colin Green and his delightful wife Christine. Colin was one of the first ever users of a Burns built guitar (the first Burns Weill?) almost the same as my Burns “Ike Isaacs” which he bought in January 1959 after his aunt had lent him the money to purchase it. But his parents wouldn’t let him play it in the house so he played it in the garden shed!

Keith West (and friend), if you are old enough to remember the 60s who can ever forget “Grocer Jack” officially known as “Excerpt from a Teenage Opera”, and it was great to meet him too – almost 4 years after I bought my Fenton Weill Dualmaster bass of him courtesy of ebay!


Last, but certainly not least, The Rapiers now in their 26th year as a top flight R ‘n’ R band and it was great to speak to John Tuck and hear about his collection of drum kits. But I shouldn’t reveal that the “Gretsch” which he uses on stage is actually a Slingerland!

Who else was there? Chas McDevitt – can it really be over 54 years ago (1957) that he appeared with Nancy Whiskey on the Ed Sullivan show? Barry Gibson – who is still so successfully marketing Burns guitars and,luckily, his wife agreed to “babysit” that night! Jason How of Rotosound – did he know that it was his father’s early association with Jim Burns and Ike Isaacs which resulted in Alan Wooton terminating their agreement to build Supersound and Supersound “Ike Isaacs” guitars in December 1958? Bruce Welch – Of course I asked him if he’d ever heard of Supersound guitars (he hadn’t) but he told me that he couldn’t remember what had happened to either his Vega or Grimshaw guitars after he got his first Fender in 1959.

Posted in Bill Wyman, Colin Green, Frank Allen, John Tuck, Keith West, Manfred Mann, Mo Foster, Paul Day, Paul Jones, The Rapiers

Betty Weill, London. Monday 12th September 2011

Betty Weill, who with her husband Henry owned and ran Fenton Weill, is pictured here with Paul Day in the first Fenton Weill factory which was in fact their garage!

The most rare Fenton Weill of all? A promotional ash tray dating from the early 60s – is this the only one still in existence?

Posted in Betty Weill, Paul Day

Albert Lee and Hogan’s Heroes, Falmouth 27th May 2011

Albert Lee - By common consent one of the world's finest (and fastest!) guitar players - on acoustic with Gerry Hogan (pedal steel) on the Albert Lee signature Musicman
Albert Lee – By common consent one of the world’s finest (and fastest!) guitar players – on acoustic with Gerry Hogan (pedal steel) on the Albert Lee signature Musicman
Guy Mackenzie with Albert Lee who told me that his first guitar was a Grazioso Resonet Futurama 3 and he'd love to get hold of another...</td>
Guy Mackenzie with Albert Lee who told me that his first guitar was a Grazioso Resonet Futurama 3 and he’d love to get hold of another…
Albert Lee with Ron and Rosalind ... and my thanks to Rosalind's "trusty" Nikon camera for the photos</td>
Albert Lee with Ron and Rosalind … and my thanks to Rosalind’s “trusty” Nikon camera for the photos
Peter Barron (drums), Brian Hodgson (bass), Albert Lee, Guy Mackenzie, Gavin Povey (piano) and Gerry Hogan</td>
Peter Barron (drums), Brian Hodgson (bass), Albert Lee, Guy Mackenzie, Gavin Povey (piano) and Gerry Hogan
Posted in Albert Lee, Hogan's Heroes