America

donger · **Joined:** Sat Feb 13, 2010 6:00 pm **Posts:** 1090

Bill Nelson wrote:

Re: American cars:
I would have loved to have been able to visit America in the late 1950s, early '60s, when the now classic tail-finned, rocket-ship inspired cars cruised the US cities and highways. Yes, horrendous gas-guzzlers and highly ecologically incorrect vehicles, I know, but, despite all that, works of sculptural art on wheels...just fabulously dreamy machines.

Although I was born in working class Yorkshire I grew up with American pop-culture, music, films, comic books and technology, (as so many of my generation did.) Perhaps it was the Hollywood version of 'the 'States' rather than the real thing but the romance of it all was terribly seductive for a young boy surrounded by the drab, grey and austere atmosphere of post-war England.

Bill, those classic American cars are now in Cuba.

http://www.danheller.com/cuba-cars.html

I saw a TV program about this some time ago. I don't recall how these classics made their way to Cuba. What's fascinating is that they are still running. Replacement parts of course can't be had so the owners hand-make all the parts. Incredible.

wonder toy · **Posted:** Tue May 29, 2012 10:46 pm

donger wrote:

[ I don't recall how these classics made their way to Cuba. What's fascinating is that they are still running. Replacement parts of course can't be had so the owners hand-make all the parts. Incredible.

At the time of the 1959 revolution, the Detroit auto giants and all American manufacturers were forced to stop sending goods to Cuba to conform to the United States' embargo.

They had to keep the old cars road worthy, because that is all they could get.

Must be neat seeing them driving around, though.

Bill Nelson · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:40 pm **Posts:** 8559

Radium Girl wrote:

New York's alright......

If you like saxophones

Now that's one of the most hip comments I've ever read here on the forum! :wink:

wonder toy · **Posted:** Wed May 30, 2012 2:37 am

I have never considered Lee Ving to be particularly hip. :lol:

alec · **Posted:** Wed May 30, 2012 3:00 am

Bill Nelson wrote:

wonder toy wrote:

Do you remember where your first show in America was?

I think it was in Atlanta. I remember staying at The Peach Tree Plaza Hotel which, in the '70s, seemed very modern and quite impressive. I think the venue we played was called something like 'The Electric Ballroom' (or something similar.) I seem to remember we had to walk through the audience to get to the stage and, as we did so, a member of the audience shouted to me: "Hey, Bill! Glad to see you're in town! Wanna do some Qualudes?"
We eventually quoted that line in 'The Modern Music Suite'! :lol:

Always wanted to ask about the ludes sample. :shock:

What about "Bruce, our Public Relations man?" :lol:

Bill Nelson · **Joined:** Sun Apr 03, 2005 4:40 pm **Posts:** 8559

alec wrote:

What about "Bruce, our Public Relations man?"

That one refers to a certain record company promotions guy who rather over-ingratiated himself with the band...Andy Clark did a merciless parody of this person's obsequious manner and we got Andy to do this on the 'Modern Music Suite' recording.

paul.smith · **Joined:** Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:41 pm **Posts:** 240

donger wrote:

Bill Nelson wrote:

Re: American cars:
I would have loved to have been able to visit America in the late 1950s, early '60s, when the now classic tail-finned, rocket-ship inspired cars cruised the US cities and highways. Yes, horrendous gas-guzzlers and highly ecologically incorrect vehicles, I know, but, despite all that, works of sculptural art on wheels...just fabulously dreamy machines.

Although I was born in working class Yorkshire I grew up with American pop-culture, music, films, comic books and technology, (as so many of my generation did.) Perhaps it was the Hollywood version of 'the 'States' rather than the real thing but the romance of it all was terribly seductive for a young boy surrounded by the drab, grey and austere atmosphere of post-war England.

Bill, those classic American cars are now in Cuba.

http://www.danheller.com/cuba-cars.html

I saw a TV program about this some time ago. I don't recall how these classics made their way to Cuba. What's fascinating is that they are still running. Replacement parts of course can't be had so the owners hand-make all the parts. Incredible.

My wife Sam and I were fortunate enough to go on holiday to Cuba for a couple of weeks many many years ago - at that time practically nothing had changed since 1962 or whenever the embargo started - it was as if we had pinched Rod Taylor's (all right then,HG Wells') time machine and headed back a few decades -Havana was like being in an early James Bond film- absolutely fascinating - the cars were utterly stunning - I took literally hundreds of photos of whole cars /fins/wheels/hub caps etc.etc.etc.-amazing how you can keep a piece of ancient machinery going when you have no choice.

One other point to note - in spite of their difficult circumstances and acute poverty the people of Cuba(we met some lovely,lovely people)appeared much happier then the greedy ,mean -spirited ,aggressive,materialistic people who seem to be on the increase here...............

Sorry - that sounds a bit of a 'grumpy old man 'thing to add but it's true :wink:

EERO · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:32 pm

The magnitude of America still blows me away. I have spent most of my life in the Northeast having lived in New York, Boston, Philadelphia and Providence. Five years ago I drove to St Louis, it took two days and we weren't even half way across the country; staggering.

Regarding TV, to paraphrase Springsteen, "756 Channels and nuthin's on"

alec · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 9:59 pm

Hammericker ...

Ed Means ... · **Posted:** Mon Jun 04, 2012 11:37 pm

paul.smith wrote:

donger wrote:

Bill Nelson wrote:

Re: American cars:
I would have loved to have been able to visit America in the late 1950s, early '60s, when the now classic tail-finned, rocket-ship inspired cars cruised the US cities and highways. Yes, horrendous gas-guzzlers and highly ecologically incorrect vehicles, I know, but, despite all that, works of sculptural art on wheels...just fabulously dreamy machines.

Although I was born in working class Yorkshire I grew up with American pop-culture, music, films, comic books and technology, (as so many of my generation did.) Perhaps it was the Hollywood version of 'the 'States' rather than the real thing but the romance of it all was terribly seductive for a young boy surrounded by the drab, grey and austere atmosphere of post-war England.

Bill, those classic American cars are now in Cuba.

http://www.danheller.com/cuba-cars.html

I saw a TV program about this some time ago. I don't recall how these classics made their way to Cuba. What's fascinating is that they are still running. Replacement parts of course can't be had so the owners hand-make all the parts. Incredible.

My wife Sam and I were fortunate enough to go on holiday to Cuba for a couple of weeks many many years ago - at that time practically nothing had changed since 1962 or whenever the embargo started - it was as if we had pinched Rod Taylor's (all right then,HG Wells') time machine and headed back a few decades -Havana was like being in an early James Bond film- absolutely fascinating - the cars were utterly stunning - I took literally hundreds of photos of whole cars /fins/wheels/hub caps etc.etc.etc.-amazing how you can keep a piece of ancient machinery going when you have no choice.

One other point to note - in spite of their difficult circumstances and acute poverty the people of Cuba(we met some lovely,lovely people)appeared much happier then the greedy ,mean -spirited ,aggressive,materialistic people who seem to be on the increase here...............

Sorry - that sounds a bit of a 'grumpy old man 'thing to add but it's true :wink:

Paul,

I'm jealous, but I mean it in a good way. On a family vacation back in '76, we drove down to Monterrey, Mexico. We were impressed by the classic cars still in service and seen a 1928 Model A Touring Car still used as a Taxi. Our own car, a bright orange Volkswagen VW-412, caused a sensation as well.

www.billnelson.com

America

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