Guitar Gods in Beds. (Bedfordshire: A Heavenly County)

Mike Buchanan

Description

Mike Buchanan is a Bedford-based author who interviewed eight well-known local guitarists, and wrote accounts of their colourful lives:

- Finger Pickin' Good Paul Bonas
- Hollerin' Bob Foley
- Amazin' Max Milligan
- Blindin' Dave King
- Lightnin' Hands Pete Rose
- Mumblin' Cliff Hanson
- Thunderin' Paul Carrington (star of the author's travelogue Two Men in a Car: a businessman, a chauffeur, and their holidays in France)
- Laughin' John Verity

Sujets

• Musique
• Histoire de la musique
• Music
• Guitar
• Musical Instruments

Informations

• Publié par: eBookIt.com
• Date de parution: 17 novembre 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780957168831
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 3 Mo

Extrait

Guitar Gods in Beds.
(BEDFORDSHIRE: A Heavenly County)
Mike Buchanan
LPS PUBLISHING

Publisher’s note
Every possible effort has been made to ensure that the information contained in this book is an accurate representation of some of the details of the contributors’ life stories, and the publisher and author cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, however caused. No responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting, or refraining from action, as a result of the material in this publication, can be accepted by the publisher or author.
First published in Great Britain in 2008 by LPS Publishing. This ebook edition was first published in 2014.
Apart from any fair dealing for the purposes of research or private study, or criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, this publication may only be reproduced, stored or transmitted, in any form or by any means, with the prior permission in writing of the publishers, or in the case of reprographic reproduction in accordance with the terms and licences issued by the CLA. Enquiries concerning reproduction outside these terms should be sent to the publisher at the following address:
LPS Publishing
PO Box 2220
Bath BA1 1AA
Copyright © Mike Buchanan, 2014
The original paperback edition of this book was published in 2008.
The right of Mike Buchanan to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 2008.
ISBN 9780957168831
This ebook edition is distributed by the good people at http://ebookit.com .

Guitar Gods in Beds.
This book relates the life stories of eight guitarists living in the Bedford area, in their own words. In turns funny, shocking, and moving, the stories give some insights into Bedford’s guitar-based live music scene which has so far lasted about 50 years, and remains in fine shape.
Mike Buchanan is a 50-year-old businessman and author, whose work brought him to Bedford in 1995. He was delighted to discover a vibrant live guitar-based music scene in the Bedford area, mainly centred on the town’s public houses. The scene may be traced back to the early 1960s, and continues to this day.
The author doesn’t have the patience to learn to play the guitar well, and the two guitars in his living room are strictly ornamental. But he greatly admires people who do have the patience – including ‘Guitar Gods’ – and this book is a tribute to all of them, for the pleasure they bring to mere mortals.
Cover photograph: Amazin’ Max Milligan with his 1967 Fender Telecaster, and Finger Pickin’ Good Paul Bonas with his 1952 Gibson LG2, above Bedford, Bedfordshire, 26 August 2008.

Other books by Mike Buchanan, published by LPS publishing:
Two Men in a Car (a businessman, a chauffeur, and their holidays in France) (2008)
The Marriage Delusion: the fraud of the rings? (2009)
Buchanan’s Dictionary of Quotations for right-minded people (2010)
The Joy of Self-Publishing (2010)
David and Goliatha: David Cameron – heir to Harman? (2010)
The Glass Ceiling Delusion (2011)
Feminism: the ugly truth (2012)

For all guitarists, everywhere. Thank you.
Thunderin’ Paul Carrington with his 2003 Yamaha Dreadnought DWX-8C outside The White Horse, Bedford, 26 February 2008. © Mike Buchanan.


Finger Pickin’ Good Paul Bonas and Fiddlin’ Nick Edwards set off for another gig on Paul’s Honda CD175, 1974.


Finger Pickin’ Good Paul Bonas with his 1978 Martin D41 at the legendary Guitar Gods in Beds. (and a Goddess) gig, The Red Lion, Stevington, 8 December 2007.


Gondolin’s last gig, in a field off Cardington Road, Bedford, 1974. Rockin’ Rob Felton (Wilson bass), Thrashin’ Trevor Riddy, and Amazin’ Max Milligan (Antoria Les Paul copy).


Amazin’ Max Milligan with his 1996 Martin 00028EC at a Tim Buckley tribute concert, 10 May 2008, at The Cockpit theatre, London.


Foley’s Follies. Peter Thorburn Walling, Hollerin’ Bob Foley with his 1942 Gibson J45, and Diana Strange, performing at the London Hospital Autumn Ball, 1965. Hollerin’ Bob reports that Peter is now a ‘gas man’ (an anaesthetist) in Dallas, Texas, and Diana a ‘gas bag’ (a lady anaesthetist, hopefully) in Queensland, Australia.


Hollerin’ Bob Foley with his 1998 Gibson Mastertone banjo, Pete Bonas and Patrick Knight, at The Bedford Arms, Oakley, 16 July 2006. © Mike Buchanan.


The Painful Truth, later to become Soft Touch after a few personnel changes. This is the band which came second in the Saffron Walden ‘Battle of the Bands’, a self-declared crowning moment in Lightnin’ Hands Pete Rose’s musical career. Martyn Atkins (bass), Steve Godden (drums), ‘some kid that sometimes played the saxophone’, Don Musto (guitar), Stan the Man (vocals), and Lightnin’ Hands Pete Rose (1989 blonde US Fender Stratocaster Plus).


Lightnin’ Hands Pete Rose with his 1997 Fender Roadhouse Stratocaster at The Ship, Bedford, summer 2006.


Thunderin’ Paul Carrington flies through the air with the greatest of ease and breaks a 4" thick breeze block with his foot. As you do. Bedford College, 1990.


Mumblin’ Cliff Hanson with his 1998 Taylor CE310K at The Ship, Bedford, summer 2006.


Cookin’ Neil Cook, Blindin’ Dave King with his Fender Telecaster, and another bloke with another guitar. The Crown in Kempston, 1985.


Blindin’ Dave King with his Stagg jazz guitar at Danny’s Bar, Bedford, 13 April 2008. © Mike Buchanan.


Laughin’ John Verity leading Phoenix with his 1961 Gibson Les Paul Custom, Zurich, 1976. Photograph © Ueli Frey.


Laughin’ John Verity with his 2007 Vintage V300 at The Northill Blues Festival, July 12 2008. Photograph © Carole Verity.

Thunderin’ Paul Carrington and the author next to a village sign in the Jura mountains, France. The photograph was taken during the second of two holidays described in the author’s bestselling travelogue Two Men in a Car (A Businessman, a Chauffeur, and Their Holidays in France). © Mike Buchanan.
INDEX OF SEARCHABLE TERMS
The following is an index of key terms and names used in this book. Please use the ‘search’ function on your e-reader to locate all instances where these terms are used.
A Hard Day’s Night
A Tune a Day Classical Guitar – Book 1
ABC Paramount Records
AC Milan (a football team)
Advances, not a gift
Adriatic coast
Africa, North
Agajari (Iran)
Age Concern
Agostini, Giacomo
Albert, the author’s cat
Aldeburgh
Aldershot
Aldershot, Billy J Kramer’s unfortunate choice of pint in
Ali the magician, the ‘gucking chapatti twat’
Alice’s Restaurant
All Along the Watchtower
Alzheimer’s disease
Ampthill
Anderson, Daniel
Annie’s Song
Antoinetta
Antoria Les Paul copy
Apache
Apsley
AQA
Aran, Dave
Architectural Association
Argent
Argentinian soldiers
Army
Arran jumpers
Ashwell, Pete
Asperger’s syndrome
Aston, Clint
Aston Martin Lagonda
Athens
Atkins, John (‘Akkie’)
Atkins, Martyn
Austin A40
Austin Somerset A55
Austin, Mike
Auto-harp
Average White Band
Ayr
Aznavour, Charles
B, Mr, the abusive headmaster
Babcock & Wilcox
Bad Company
Bad To Me
Baez, Joan
Bailey’s (nightclub, Watford)
Bakewell
‘Baldrick’ (Marcus)
Balfour, Dave
Ballard, Russ
Balliol Primary School (Kempston)
Band members, the disappearance of
Banjo
Barmaids, blonde, buxom, German
Baron Knights
Barrett, Maurice
Baslow
Bath
BBC Light Programme
BBC Radio Cambridge
Beagling
Beatty, Dave
Beck, Jeff
Beckett, Graham
Bedford College
Bedford Corn Exchange
Bedford Court #2
Bedford Court #3
Bedford Fire department
Bedford Hospital
Bedford magistrates’ court, the daring theft of chocolate digestives from
Bedford Maternity Hospital
Bedford Post Office
Bedford Road School (Kempston)
Bedford School
Bedford rail station, sleeping in
Bedfordshire Times
Bedfordshire Youth Theatre
Bedsit, ‘a shithole of a’
Beer drinking, the ultimate sin
Belgium (in WW2)
Belsen concentration camp
Benedictine monks
Bennett, Tony
Benson, Gerald (‘Jez’)
Berlin
Berlin (in WW2)
Berry, Chuck
Berry, Dave
Best, George
Betty Ford clinic
Beverlaquas (family)
Beverley Hills
Biddenham, bijou
Bielic, Martin
Biggleswade
Bilk, Acker
Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings
Billy Liar
Bingley Nursing College
Black Dyke Mills Band
Black Sheep Boy
Blackadder
Blackmail, to finance first guitars
Blackpool
Blair, Captain Hamish
Bletchley
Bletsoe
Blood, Sweat and Tears
Bluegrass music
Blues Image
BMI (guitar shop, Bedford)
Boar’s Head (tobacco)
Bolton, John
Bomb disposal (in WW2)
Bonas
Brian
Celine
Charmaine
David
Elaine
Georgia
Lucy
Paul, Finger Pickin’ Good
Pete
Raney
Steve
Bond, Rob
Boots (Bedford)
Bow Wow Wow
Bowie, David
Boyd, Patti (Mrs Harrison, then Mrs Clapton)
Boyfriends, jealous
Boys’ Brigade band, Kempston
Bradford
Brand X
Bray (Ireland)
‘Breakfast’s off, dear!’
Breeze
Bremen
Brian Currie
Bricks and Brussels
Bricks, manufacturing
Brickyards
Brighton
Brighton Steel Company
Brindisi
British blues scene
British Music Fair
Britland, Colin
Britten, Benjamin
Brookhirst Igranic
Broonzy, Big Bill
Broughton, Don
Brown, James
Brown, Joe
Brussels (in WW2)
Bryant, Teryl
BSA 250cc motorbike, ‘rubbish’
Buchanan
Kate
Roy (no relation, sadly)
Sophie
Buckhurst Hill
Buckinghamshire
Bugle, why it’s frustrating to play the
Burgundy (region)
Burnett, Jay
Butlin’s (Skegness)
Byford, Biff
Caesarean section, the traumatic
Cagliari (a football team)
Calais
Caldwell, Bill
Calleson, Richard
Cambi, Franco
Camborne School of Mines
Cambridge
Cambridge Corn Exchange
Cambridge Folk Festival
Cambridge University, Trinity College
Camper van, a dodgy, selling it to two lesbians from Luton
Canned Heat
Canny, Miss, the lovely
Capaldi, Jim
Cape Town
Carawan, Guy
Cardington
Cardington Camp (MOD)
Carlow (County)
Carlows (music shop, Bedford)
Carlton, Larry
Carolina, North
Carousels (Bedford)
Carr, Georgina