I'm utterly envious reading these posts as I never saw Be Bop Deluxe live. However, aged about eleven, I did see Global Village, I believe, when they played Clarence Park back in 1969. It was all by chance as I'd been to the fair. I was one of the kids who went up on stage and I got the drummer's autograph, who, I remember, was very polite to me, and appeared pleased to be asked for his autograph, despite the stage being mobbed. I also saw Be Bop Deluxe in concert on television about 1978-ish. I've looked for mention of the concert but never have tracked it down. I have a feeling it may only have been screened by Yorkshire Television in the region they then covered. Sadly, I caught just the tail end of the programme, having just returned from the pub, but I remember 'Sister Seagull' being part of the set and the band played to an audience in what looked like a TV studio, rather than a theatre or similar concert venue.

It's not often I can claim to being in the right place at the right time, but for once I was: By sheer chance, I was in Thornes Park when Bill played that concert. I was ten at the time and the band playing there on stage was the loudest thing I've ever heard - guitars screamed like jet engines, the drums were thunderous detonations, as loud as ships' cannon. I did go on stage and asked the drummer for his autograph, which should still be in my autograph book, and which is probably tucked away somewhere in my loft... oh, if only I could find that autograph book. I could prove I saw Global Village - and Bill Nelson - live back in '68. Much later, I bought BBD's Hot Valves EP, realized I'd discovered music that I loved, and have been a fan of Bill's work ever since, and it's only fairly recently that I've realized I saw him play in Thornes Park all those years ago.