The Pretty Things have been on the music scene since the early 1960’s. The driving force and longest serving members of the band are guitarist Dick Taylor and vocalist Phil May. They had a few minor top wenty hits, but their strengths was the beautifully constructed albums, my personal favourite being ‘Parachute’ released in 1970. Still heavily on my monthly playlist, it’s to be sought out at all costs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parachute_(The_Pretty_Things_album)
A couple of years back, my old and treasured friend Chris Green, himself an incredible musician, invited me to ‘The Crumblin’ Cookie’, a tiny venue on Leicester’s (UK) High Street. On stage was Bowie’s guitarist from his ‘Tin Machine’ days, Reeves Gabrels, supported Lisa Ronson. To be honest, the gig was just too fucking loud for these old ears, but a few days later I spun the CD’s purchased from the gig, and the sounds were both refreshing and amazing.
I shot some images that night with my Apple iPod, but they didn’t turn out that good.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reeves_Gabrels
https://www.discogs.com/Lisa-Ronson-Emperors-Of-Medieval-Japan/release/8014914
The first time I saw Judas Priest live at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester UK, there was very few paying punters. ‘Sad Wings Of Destiny’ had been out for a couple of years and they were busy building a reputation both here and in Europe. The USA had yet to see this excellent band. This was their second album, a much, much better and acomplised recording than their debut (Rocka Rolla), which will be featured in this blog another time. Seek and enjoy.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sad_Wings_of_Destiny
I play this CD a lot, not to everybody’s taste but the content, songs arrangements are excellent. The project didn’t get very far, but nobody could deny the brilliant guitar work by the late, great Paulk Kossoff
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kossoff_Kirke_Tetsu_Rabbit
If you ever get the chance, check this out.
Back in 1971, I booked two tickets for Black Sabbath at the De Montfort Hall, Leicester, one for me, one for my brother Allan. It was the first time I had seen Sabbath and the gig was loud, very, very loud and absolutely amazing. The support band for this particular tour was Glen Cornick’s Wild Turkey, but that’s for another blog. Prior to the gig I purchased ‘Master Of Reality (vinyl of course) and played it to death. The opening track on Side 1 (Sweet Leaf), still gives me goosebumps today. Check it out, play it loud and be blown away.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_13th_Floor_Elevators
The 13th Floor Elevators were an amzing American band that drew a large cult following in the mid to late 1960’s. I came to their music much later and was knocked out by the amazing range of styles and sounds, which I’m sure influenced many bands that followed, here in the UK, as well as in America.
I recently purchased a boxed set of their work and it’s played most weeks, either the full aibum or a single track. Check them out, and be prepared to be blown away.
http://ultimateclassicrock.com/13th-floor-elevators-history/
This is the post excerpt.
My name is Tony Shelley, and this blog is mostly about my record collection, but with some sidesteps into gigs I’ve attended, some memorable and not so memorable expreiences, and my time as a shooter (photographer) of musicians, bands and concerts.
This is a fairly recent Lomographic image of myself with Art Whitiker (my oldest friend) and John Toye a fellow shooter. Art turned me onto the band ‘Comus’ in the early 1970’s and I will be blogging about them in the near future. But you will hear a lot about a great mate of mine, somebody I’m very close to called Chris Green, a shit hot drummer, great designer and all round decent guy. Enjoy the blog, let me know what you think, good or bad.
