The Rock Relic

Why It Wuz/Iz Fab (+News, Vids, etc.)

by Chuck Hinson on June 30th, 2008

WHY THE MUSIC WUZ FAB (& STILL IZ!)

A simple question posed to me over the weekend:
“Why wuz the beatles and british and now fore so poplar?”
Well, besides winnin’ our special prize of a 2008 Merriam-Webster© Dictionary (and please use it!), you’ve asked a ? that’s popped up pretty often in the RelicMail. And the answer’s simpler than the question.

But, first, how ’bout we get it straight and callin’ ‘em what they so proudly are? (Hey … I’ve been just as guilty as you in this): Whether Beatles, Fore, Yardbirds (capital “Y”), Ron, Jane or whoever: they’re English! From the mighty musical mothercountry of ‘Merica! To say Britain includes Scotland, Ireland, Wales, etc.
Let’s give the mates their proper due, okay??

Now … on to the answer (huh?? No, I didn’t yell!!):

The bands and acts of the Sixties — especially those in ENGLAND — didn’t have internet, ipods, iphones, idunnos, youtubes or youfoolins to get their music out! They had to work hard at it. No synths, no computerized backing loops, either: Just old, hard-to-fret guitars and a determination to be heard … even if it meant shouting the music over a wild crowd!
From streetsides to rowdy pubs, clubs and dance halls, they played wherever they could find an audience! Meanwhile, they’d beat the streets to find record labels that’d be interested in their demos (recorded, then, in a studio. There were no portable computers to burn CDs on back then!).

Y’see, today’s acts have it almost too easy … and that’s why most of ‘em don’t have the staying power of the Invasion forces!
Now, The Fore is the exception … because they’re gettin’ their music out the same way as their forefathers; They’re really workin’ at it! And, Rockiteers, it’s definitely paying off; their fan base is growing every day, and their music is compared only to the Beatles in excitement! They definitely deserve the fame they’re gettin’!!

Anyway, I’ll continue this in the next post, since I’ve a few other things to cover (and we’ll also replay some of what superstar Ron Ryan had to say about it. He’s still writing fantastic songs, and, believe me, he knows what it was like; he was there in the trenches!)… so stay tuned …

RINGO — THE ARTIST?

Yep … and he’s sellin’ it off! Forty pieces he created while on tour around ten years ago, in fact. Now, he’s lookin’ for almost three grand, and put ‘em up for sale this past Friday! Sounds a little steep? Hey … it’s Ringo we’re talkin’ about here … and, besides, it includes a ticket to Ringo’s July 3 show in Florida. The money won’t go into his pocket, though; it’ll benefit the Lotus Foundation, a charity aimed at advancing social welfare.

BE-BOP-A-LULA, SHE’S MY …

Awww, you know the rest of the song, right? The late Gene Vincent and his Blue Caps (which, incidentally, were named after President Dwight Eisenhower’s favorite golf cap) were pioneers in melding solo pop/rock and the band format. Also a favorite of many rockaholics, rockiteers, rockers and even some of us who are off our rockers! Anyway, here’s their first appearance, at the Town Hall Party, circa 1958):

Well, with that, I’m gonna have to interrupt this edition … another storm’s brewin’ outside, and I don’t particularly like being Chuck Roast … so, until a bit later today just remember:

Keep your nose in the wind, your eyes on the skies, your heart with the music … and I’ll see ya on the flip side.

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POSTED IN: 60's rock, British Invasion, Ron Ryan, The Fore, classic rock, influences, instruments and elements, personalities, rock heroes, rock news