The concert was called "The Guitar-In" at the Royal Festival Hall in London. The idea was to open with a folk singer, then a flamenco guitarist and close with a rock band. (I cannot remember the other guys but the rock band was "Cream" staring a guitarist by the name "Eric something")
I had only enuf funds to buy a single up in the gods. But as the show opened an announcer came on and said Eric was "sick" and Cream would not be appearing, but had been replaced by another band. "If you want a refund you have to leave now. After the show opens there will be no refunds".
Most people read that as a sign the replacement band would be no good so hundreds left. I had nothing better to do,so as I spotted better seats becoming available I moved down front and ended up in the sixth row center.
The break came after the first 2 acts and many other people left as well, as I settled into my seat they started to roll out more speakers on the stage (It had been set up all night long for Cream) and I began to wonder who was the replacement. Well out came the announcer and introduced a new guitarist on the scene with a new single in the charts called "Hey Joe".
Yes there I was, sixth row for Jimi Hendrix. The place went wild, all of the audience knew him and could not believe their good luck. It was quiet an evening.
At that time there was controversy as to whether the line was "Kiss the sky" or "Kiss this guy". When Jimi came to that line he sang "Scuse me while I kiss this sky guy".
My ears rang for 2 days.
2008-09-02
2008-07-03
The Night I Met John Lennon
It was billed as The 24 Hour Technicolour Dream. What it turned out to be was a great big space with a band playing at each end of the building and lots of activities going on in between. There was a stage set up on one side and theatrical groups were performing. Yoko was one of the acts. I remember something about plastic domes with people inside. There we movies being projected on the walls and all sorts on colours filling the space. It was fun.
We found a spot of to one side and fell asleep around midnight, we had been there all day. At some point the music woke me and I sat up and looked around. About 50 feet away was a side door, out stepped a man. I thought that fellow looks like John Lennon, but what would he be doing here. As he stepped forward all his entourage came through the door and I realised it was him. I left my girl sleeping and walked over to him. "how are you? what do you think of all this?" "looks great" he said. I told him about some of the things I had seen during the day. He seemed interested in all of it. Then I asked for his autograph and he changed. "If I give it to you everyone will want one". By this time a crowd had grown around us. "John when will I ever get the chance to ask you again?". He took the scrap of paper and signed John L. and walked away into the crowds.
My girlfriend appeared out of nowhere grabbed the autograph and I never saw it again.
But the memory will never leave me.
It was billed as The 24 Hour Technicolour Dream. What it turned out to be was a great big space with a band playing at each end of the building and lots of activities going on in between. There was a stage set up on one side and theatrical groups were performing. Yoko was one of the acts. I remember something about plastic domes with people inside. There we movies being projected on the walls and all sorts on colours filling the space. It was fun.
We found a spot of to one side and fell asleep around midnight, we had been there all day. At some point the music woke me and I sat up and looked around. About 50 feet away was a side door, out stepped a man. I thought that fellow looks like John Lennon, but what would he be doing here. As he stepped forward all his entourage came through the door and I realised it was him. I left my girl sleeping and walked over to him. "how are you? what do you think of all this?" "looks great" he said. I told him about some of the things I had seen during the day. He seemed interested in all of it. Then I asked for his autograph and he changed. "If I give it to you everyone will want one". By this time a crowd had grown around us. "John when will I ever get the chance to ask you again?". He took the scrap of paper and signed John L. and walked away into the crowds.
My girlfriend appeared out of nowhere grabbed the autograph and I never saw it again.
But the memory will never leave me.
2008-06-24
2008-06-17
Well, I have been a busy boy. I cannot believe the amount of music I have found on these blogs. Some of it I know from my own collection, some of it completely new to me. I am having a wonderful time. I have about 6000 vinyl albums, all in boxes, all untouched in 20 years or more. At one time I counted over 300 hundred Beatles Bootlegs, then I found the Unsurpassed Masters and Ultra Rare Trax series and the sounds blew away all the vinyl. Its been fun finding the Purple Chick collection. I am looking forward to listening to the Buddy Holly set all 10 albums worth.
2008-05-29
Lemonflag?
I had just reached the age where I could be invited to a pub for a drink. My mate told me to meet everyone at the Lemon Flag pub in Leytonstone. So that evening off I went. No one had heard of this pub! I must have visited 4 or 5 different pubs asking, but no luck. So I went home. The next day he was crying with laughter, it was the Lamb and Flag Pub.
Anyhoo the name stuck with me over the years and I thought it would make a good name for my blog.
I had just reached the age where I could be invited to a pub for a drink. My mate told me to meet everyone at the Lemon Flag pub in Leytonstone. So that evening off I went. No one had heard of this pub! I must have visited 4 or 5 different pubs asking, but no luck. So I went home. The next day he was crying with laughter, it was the Lamb and Flag Pub.
Anyhoo the name stuck with me over the years and I thought it would make a good name for my blog.
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