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This band started out in the late 1960s basically led by Bill Nelson (guitar deity) who changed the line up several times and who rejected the limelight to a degree. Although the band started out with a rock and roll/glam type sound (sort of similar to early David Bowie/Mick Ronson sound) there was a science fiction element and Bill Nelson quickly adopted the more modern punkish styles in "Drastic Plastic", the last studio album. Nelson then disbanded the group and started over in Bill Nelson's Red Noise which was even more punkish. Nelson was also producing and produced Flock of Seagulls' including an early single "Telecommunication." He then moved to more ambient sounds.
Follow Ups:
Think it was around '78 I last saw them - Television was the warm up band.Besides Bill being incredible, I was amazed at Simon Fox on drums. He was breaking sticks left and right, The only way we knew was one piece would go flying into the air, and yet he had a fresh one already. Never missed a beat.
Simon Andrew Clark was exceptionally quirky - as he played keyboards he'd bounce up and down at high speed. Not sure how he did it. Weird. I can see why Bowie picked him up.
Red Noise was truly groundbreaking at the time, it never let up.
Besides his solo stuff and contributions to other bands, he did some nice work in an interesting band called Channel Light Vessel .
Along with some of his more recent recordings I can highly recommend Whimsy , Nelson's latest effort which recalls the pop styles and vocals of the Be Bop days.
So, my brothers and I were JAZZED to find out that Be Bop Deluxe would be playing near Washington, DC - musta been 1974 or so right after Modern Music was making the airwaves. We went to the box office directly and scored some GREAT seats . They were opening for Lynyrd Skynyrd - go figger.We show up, concert bongs hidden in large coats, and a fair number of other chemicals already in our bloodstreams. Time to par-tay!! The guy sitting next to us starts going on "Who the fuck are Be Bop Deluxe?" and "Bring on Skynyrd, fuck Be Bop Deluxe!"
This goes on for a while before I look over at this rube and let him have it. "Shut the fuck up, man, let 'em play and THEN complain if you like..."
Amazingly, he *does* shut up.
Bill and the boys take the stage and they are SMOKIN'!! Bill is dressed to the 9s and the band is on fire. *Excellent* show!
When they finished, the dude next to me was screaming "Be Bop Deluxe RULES! Fuck Lynyrd Skynyrd!!"
Heh, heh - another concert, another convert!
-RW-
I think that's why Live in the Air Age was so big at the time - everybody I dragged along to the show was interested in Television, and went out and got Be-Bop records afterwards!Yeah, who plays in ruffled shirts anymore?
That is what heaven must be like.
Funny, the crowd was not receptive to Television, and honestly, they didn't put on the show I was expecting - but then drawing boos didn't help any. Those loving San Francisco crowds.In fact Tom Verlain flipped us off after the last number.
cc
Their first album from 1974, Axe Victim is incredible!
Although I liked the rest of the albums, I always found their first one the best.Cheers from Mid Coast Maine!
Jose Douglas
It was my first exposure to them. It rocked quite hard, and will be taking up permanent residence in my collection!
Hola,About 10% of that run was done on white vinyl. Doesn't sound any better, it's just white.
nt
Got one of them E.M.I./Harvest white vinyl copies(well sides 1 & 4 are on white vinyl anyhoo)! Sonics on sides 2 & 3 always seemed clearer in comparison, so attributed that to the differing vinyl colours! 'Twas stunned to find out it wuz in the master tapes, as the cd version verified!!!
I got the white one, bought it new, back in the day....they were a cool and polished band, but Bill Nelson was too smart...
In fact, it really ws just Bill. He taught the other players their parts, and they really just replicated his vision. He was so intelligent.
They were one of my tip top favorite bands in my life.I keep hoping Bill will do a nostalgia tour.
Of all the bands I've seen live, Be Bop was the one who rocked the most live compared to LP.
I'd love to go to this:
http://www.billnelson.com/html/park/nelsonica06.php
Cheers!
at Youtube from the Old Grey Whistle Test here:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8qHVJw609o&search=be bop deluxe
Drastic Plastic was one of my five all time top played albums of all time.
Saw Be Bop Deluxe inside late, lamented Winterland for their "Live In the Air Age" tour in September of '77! In a Oui magazine article, Bill Nelson mentioned how he'd had a dreadful experience with that hallowed hall's p.a. monitors, which had him leaving the stage in tears! He also said he was lookin' for a white Strat to augment his axe collection! There were some technical difficulties during his "Air Age" opener, & he admonished the house techs with "we'll have no more of that nonsense"! Delightful sonics followed! Faintly remember Bill playing a sunburst Les Paul through-out the set, which ended with a blistering encore version of "No Trains To Heaven", where he approached John McLaughlin-esque acceleration! Oh yeah, a white Strat stood @ attention near his Carlsboro amp! Most of the crowd though, it should be noted, had come to see middle act Tom Petty & His Heartbreakers, who spent 45 minutes playing their entire inaugural album!!!
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