Crazed Fandango

I have listen to many of these guys, but I just didn't while growing up and learning guitar. I'd go to blues jams and also hear a lot of these songs and get to know who did what. I've heard Hubert before and like his playing. I think a lot of these bluesmen went to England during the blues craze in the 60s. I think I even have some sessions of Howlin play with Clapton, though I know Clapton styled himself on BB King and Freddie King. And of course I learnt "Crossroad" from Clapton, but only because of Clapton's version. The original Robert Johnson song didn't really do anything for me and Clapton gave it power with Cream.

I never really got into the blues. The blues I heard growing up were from Clapton, John Mayall, Led Zeppelin, Johnny Winters, etc. Usually English musicians playing the blues. And I know these guys all went back to the source. I just liked their playing and never journeyed back to the original inspiration. I'd learn "Hideaway" thinking Clapton or Mayall wrote it or hear Led Zeppelin doing the blues and not realizing they took a lot from other artists like Willie Dixon. I was content to play rock music. I like the name "Down and Outs" and could understand why parents wouldn't think highly of that name. My first band was called "Bad News" (from a movie at the time called "Bad News Bears") and my parent came out to see me at the Governor Simcoe hotel. I think they thought that I'd eventually get over it. haha My aunt, who worked in a bar with bands in Toronto, told my parents all musicians were drug addicts, thieves and into crazy wild sex, which didn't help matters. Your parents probably thought something the same about hippies and musicians -- at least mine did. It put it down to the times we lived in growing up...

Cool! That's too bad there was no footage. What type of Blues and where did you guys play?

Orphan of Babylon, if you visit theses far reaches of Dreamville, the Seventh Ring, where no apologies will ever dare to venture or tread, I mentioned that I played in a Neil Young cover band. Here is a clip of me playing with my band "Ophelia's Dream"and I'm doing "Rockin in the Free World." To make things more interesting I slipped in clips of Neil doing it as well and made it look like a simulcast. This really is my natural voice and because both Neil Young and I are from Ontario, we kinda sound the same. So what you are seeing is totally me and my band... with visual clips of Neil and his band interspersed throughout, lip syncing to his own song. I hope you enjoy it!

Hey, I wrote to Phil requesting it. I didn't say he did it in response to my letter, in fact, if you watch the video he thanks people in general for making suggestions. Don't read things into it that aren't there. Look, I made a proposition to Bill. Nobody said anything about moving the thread and then when I post a video about Bill, you move the thread. It makes no sense, except that I think you guys are pissed off for thinking that I lied about writing Phil. I think I am owed an apology.

hmmm, shouldn't this thread should be in "The World and his Wife" ???

For Be Bop Deluxe fans, I've written to Phil from Wings of Pegasus and he finally did a commentary on the Bill's guitar playing and the band. Enjoy!

Orphan of Babylon, I checked out "Banal" and the guitar solo at the end is really scalar. So I think I'll pass on that type of solo, but still do a guitar solo. Maybe something more in keeping with the melody. Just a note, I'll definitely do this song as Count Vlad but my real voice is a bit of an anomaly. I've been in Neil Young cover bands and just recently have done Elvis. For example, in this video I talk like Elvis but I sing naturally as myself. I'm also experimenting with EDM meeting the 50s... I'm in my Dr. Frankenstein creating a monster role.

Yeah, you have something there Orphan of Babylon. Why keep that song strictly synths! A guitar solo would be great. I have to dig up that song to remember what the guitar sounded like. I just remember the BAAN_AL vocal part. I'm glad you like my vocal. If you met me in real life I talk like the Canadians on the show Big Brother Canada. The accent is a bit of artifice, but somewhat true to my East European background (Ukraine/Slovenian).

I think I'll give it go. My wife is learning German so this is really apropos. It reminds of The Strangler's keyboard sound a bit. Good mood music and when I saw the 40s & 50s fashions I thought "God, I could have a field day with footage from old movies." But they have already done it to some extent, so maybe I'll come up with a new slant. But clips from the 40s & 50s movies are temping. I'll see what comes to me.

I'm also working on combining Buckethead's "Nottingham Lace" with Sach's "Flying in a Blue Dream." That will be an interesting guitar monster. Once I get through playing Dr. Frankenstein on guitar I'll do the Kraftwerk piece. My wife will say, "Herr Frankenstein what time is it?" And I say, "Now is the time on Sprockets when we dance!"

Well thank you guys! It means a lot to me that you appreciate it. Good ear for hearing that Santana influence Alec. Yeah, the bass line, Latin rhythm (tresillo) and sustained guitar note are a very close to Santana. I've never seen Big Brother Canada because I never watch TV, so I'm learning something new. The only show that I'm aware of was the popular export "The Trailer Park Boys." It's a comedy series about being down and out on the East coast of Canada, eh. I was lucky stumbling on to the silly symphony cartoon. I had a weird premonition of having a cartoon for the video and, lo and behold, I found the perfect one!

Thanks Orphan of Babylon for that compliment. I think the original songs are genius and I just contribute to an arrangement. A lot of times, things suggest themselves to me so it is not always a conscious, problem-solving effort. And I get lucky too. You can't discount luck when you stumble across an idea or sense that things are working well. It's spooky. You almost think there are other forces at work when things are lining up so well. It's like synchronicity and you just watch as things unfold it a way you never planned or anticipated. Good things just happen, and you are like a spectator to your own art and good fortune.

Ralf Hutter. Wow. I will check out Kraftwerk. The only song that sticks with me is the "Fun Fun Fun on the Autobahn." It's a fun song so I might give it a go. If you think of anything more let me know.

Thanks again guys!

Thank you Alec. I'm glad you think it is neat! (I don't usually hear that word) I'm sure you and Bill are thinking of your friend Harold Budd's birthday today. In Canada we are celebrating Victoria Day today and I can hear fireworks in the background. I watched the interview with Harold and he seems a genuinely sweet soul.

I sent a message to Bill that if he comes to Canada I'd show him Niagara Falls, if he hadn't seen it. My wife's relatives from Holland took us up on that offer right from git go. If Bill wanted to bring Emiko that would be cool too. So, it's an open invitation and I hope he takes it up.

Incidentally, people seem to really be liking the video. I've been getting way more subscribers within a short period of time. So I can imagine it even being stronger with Bill's help and input.

Was reticent, but have checked it out. Neat stuff. Hats off to your gumption.

Good Lord, I thought there would be a REACTION from the fans one way or the other! It seems only Orphan of Babylon liked the song so far... and the rest are very reticent, indeed.

I'd be willing to drop everything and fly over to England it make this happen. My wife is willing to take care of the cats (Cardigan and Buttons AKA The Holy Terror and the Prince of Darkness) and she would be happy to see me off. I'd take Bill out to the Savoy (Oh la la!) and I'll see the sights of London and the North country again. Or... if Bill would want, I'll pay his flight over and he could stay at my place. I'll show him a different type of London and we could go bar hopping. This would be after COVID no doubt.

Where is that sense of adventure? You can see my Bowie picture in the video and he looks like he is staring out from the grave. We don't want to be there yet. This song is a great vehicle for adventure and art. Stay Young!

The more I think about it, this video has bits of genius. The little things like I mentioned: 1) Chinese women's eyes turning to face the guitarist 2) Chinese generals saluting the guitarist 3) Chinese sailors dancing in slow motion 3) bones of skeleton in sync with hi hat 4) the close up skeleton face coupled with Mao 5) the body of the guitar player moving in close...

This last point is very important because it makes it personal. Imagine Bill moving in to play that lick? Couple that with Vlad and you would see two guitar players coming in close. There is presence there. And that is attractive. There is something for the audience to latch on to. I saw the video done by the guitar player for Def Leopard that Bill mentioned and it was a nothing burger. There was nothing to latch on to... a collage of war images. So what.

If Bill want to add his touches with new sounds or production techniques to make the sound shine, that would be great. Right now it is a framework. Things would need changing if Bill came on board. But it is giving out the right messages, sending out the right signals. The licks are simple and then Bill can give an amazing BBD solo. Simplicity and complexity come together. My solo is more of a straight forward 70s rocker/stoner solo and that's fine too.

Yeah, the more I think about it, the greater the potential I see! Mind you, I am biased. hahaha What do fans think? Is it right for Bill?

I didn't know. I'm hardly ever here. So that is news to me, mind you, I did see a thread with congrats so I'm assuming it's not that old. Anyway, I still wish him the best!

Poor Bill. How many times does he have to repeat that the silver anniversary was LAST year? 😁

Yeah, it's a cool riff. A fandango of sorts. I tried to study what a fandango rhythm was and it has something to do with 6s (either 6 beats or 6 bars, I can't remember). It ended up being in 2/4 march rhythm. And that march rhythm naturally gave me the idea of marching and I found footage of Hell's Marches that work perfectly with it. I also had a premonition of a cartoon in parts of it and guess what? I found the skeleton cartoon that was perfect for it. Here you have marching soldiers turning into dancing skeletons: a great anti war statement!

The second motif is great too. I had the Chinese soldier dancing in slow motion with that one. Both motifs are very powerful and I have to credit Tommy Bolin for those riffs. With the first riff I found the soldiers turn their eyes to look at their leader. It just worked out perfectly that that is when I visually come in, so it looks like they are looking at me. It's a subtle thing to catch but very effective. This, by some weird coincidence, happens again. I was thinking that Bill could come in the second time with the riff when the generals salute. It looks like they would be saluting him. Bill could stay and do a riveting second solo.

This is a great song to unite east and west. We can think of Bill and Emiko. I seriously hope Bill would consider doing it. The music and visuals can be fantastically strong.