The Guitar Collection Archive

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

admin — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:46:31 +0000

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, 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!
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, 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, 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, performing without “The Hunters”, sounded great and included his 1960 hit “Sweet Dreams”.
In the audience, on this occasion, was Danny Rivers (pictured with Amanda) …and his wife… who appeared in the film “Summer Holiday”.	As soon as he came off stage after 2 encores, Kingsize (Ted) Taylor was surrounded by girls – no change there!
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 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!

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

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 12:41:47 +0000

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?

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

admin — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 09:23:01 +0000

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.

Betty Weill, London. Monday 12th September 2011

admin — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 09:09:23 +0000

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?

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

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 16:23:14 +0000

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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…" width="186" height="200" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-401" />
Albert Lee with Ron and Rosalind … and my thanks to Rosalind’s “trusty” Nikon camera for the photos" width="291" height="200" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-402" />
Peter Barron (drums), Brian Hodgson (bass), Albert Lee, Guy Mackenzie, Gavin Povey (piano) and Gerry Hogan

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	" title="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...
" title="Albert Lee with Ron and Rosalind ... and my thanks to Rosalind's "trusty" Nikon camera for the photos	" title="Peter Barron (drums), Brian Hodgson (bass), Albert Lee, Guy Mackenzie, Gavin Povey (piano) and Gerry Hogan

Saxon, Falmouth 21st April 2011

admin — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 15:43:43 +0000

Saxon, playing it loud (of course!) and I love those guitars!

born to rock ‘n’ roll show, torquay, 28th october 2010

admin — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 12:47:31 +0000

Meeting Roger Newell (ex-Rick Wakeman) who I last gigged with in the 70s – now a long standing member of the Wildcats, definitely one of the finest bands on the UK circuit!

Guy Mackenzie with Jet Harris, founder member of the Shadows (Drifters), asking him if he’d ever used a Supersound or knew Alan Wootton. Jet’s first electric bass was a Framus Star bass, identical to the example branded “Besson”, in my Collection!

Jet Harris (6th July 1939 – 18th March 2011), probably the UK’s first bass guitarist, a delightful and gentle person and I’m just glad I finally got to meet him. And his music will live on..

adrian withers, mounts bay inn, nr. camborne

admin — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 10:32:52 +0000

Live ‘n Kicking, Saturday 9th October 2010

“My Sharona”

“Freebird”

DNA Monday 30th August 2010

Featuring Dani

solid silver 60′s show, truro. wednesday 6th october 2010

admin — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 10:41:26 +0000

The Searchers

“Needles and Pins” and “Walk in the Room”

Gerry and the Pacemakers

“Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying”

p-a-u-l at the acorn, penzance saturday 19th june 2010

admin — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:11:17 +0000

From Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A., the band takes its name from leader Paul Andrew Ulysses Lamb and delivers Blistering Blues Rock!	Drummer Layla Hall - definitely one of the hardest working and most exciting drummers I’ve ever seen!
The joke? Well maybe this was the moment when I told Paul I was a drummer and guitar collector who couldn’t play guitar!	With Layla, if only I’d been just one tenth as good a drummer as her……….

Last number

featuring….. Layla