 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! |
 The amazing Larry Miller, surely recognised as the UK’s no. 1 rockin’ blues guitarist? |
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The guitar collection of Guy Mackenzie
Ian Siegal & Larry Miller, Falmouth 7th and 8th October 2011
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 |
 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 |
 Peter Barron (drums), Brian Hodgson (bass), Albert Lee, Guy Mackenzie, Gavin Povey (piano) and Gerry Hogan |
Posted in Albert Lee, Hogan's Heroes
Saxon, Falmouth 21st April 2011
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Saxon, playing it loud (of course!) and I love those guitars!
Posted in Saxon