www.billnelson.com

Now, now. He’s a Reverend and so off-limits to criticism. I bet with Church of the SubGenius.

............. at least the "loyal following" bit is accurate.

As much as I hate to see Bill left on the short end of the deal. There is some good out of this product. I'm located in London, Ontario, Canada and I can't remember the last time I saw one of Bill's cds reviewed locally. But last week there was one in our local "Scene" magazine.

Along with Bill's set the Metroplis sets from the Zombies and Van Der Graaf Generator were reviewed. The Zombie cd/dvd set was rated with a B+, as was VDGG's offering. Bill rated an A.

FYI - here's the content of the review:

"Bill Nelson is one of the premiere cult figures in the UK music scene of the last 40 years, having gained international fame fronting his prog-rock quartet Be Bop Deluxe in the mid-Seventies and then shedding his skin to become one of the first champions of the electronic music trend in British rock. After issuing an impressive catalogue of solo records (many are now collector's items), Nelson came out of his Yorkshire hideway/lab to play this rare live show at London, England's Metropolis Studios for an adoring audience. The tracks range from the early days of his career to the present day and include his beautiful instrumental tribute to late Big Country frontman Stuart Adamson. Filmed in HD and recorded in theatre-quality DTS sound. Recommended. - Rod Nicholson A"

Maybe a few more items like this would spur more interest in Bill's work and get him some of those well deserved Euros.

Forgive my brain cramp. I know I meant to type pounds not euros....

From the Vancouver Province:

Two CDs from a forgotten almost-great. Forgotten in North America, anyway. Nelson almost cracked N.A. with his Be Bop Deluxe but since that band dissolved about 30 years ago, he’s gone several directions mainly as a soloist (and an increasingly private one at that). In the last two years, Nelson has become more public, reflected by this studio recording of a live set that spans his career as a potent, impressive electric guitarist Be Bop could be coldly arty (which might have been its undoing) but this is more primal.

And the Calgary Sun:

Live in Concert at Metropolis Studios, London Art-Rock HHHH If you know who Bill Nelson is, you must be a Be-Bop Deluxe fan. And if you’re a Be-Bop Deluxe fan, you must know how special this is: More than 100 minutes of live footage from the prolific but reclusive singer-guitarist, recorded in a tiny London studio in 2001 [sic] and featuring a career-spanning set list anchored by highlights from his legendary ’70s prog-rock outfit. Get it while you can.

So Bill, even though it's regrettable that you are not receiving any financial reward for this excellent release, I don't think I have seen a review of your music in a Canadian newspaper since the Saskatoon Star Phoenix reviewed Sound on Sound in 1979.

Bill your in good company......It was often said how JD Salinger was a recluse, yet I would see him shopping in Windsor VT which is right over the wooden bridge from Cornish NH (Cornish Colony Maxfield Parrish) where he lived. He actually was active in his community.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/01/us/01salinger.html/

http://www.nps.gov/saga/forteachers/curr-asg-cor-col.htm

I guess they just think that because you aren't jet setting all around the world throwing hand-fulls of money into the air or something.