Bo Diddley

Subject: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST,The Great Gonzo
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 08:46 PM

Has anyone seen Bo Diddley perform live in the U.S. or Europe over the past couple of years? I'm interested to know what his stage show is like these days and whether he still draws a crowd. Any advice or information appreciated. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Leadfingers
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 09:55 PM

Purely because I feel like living dangerously , isnt this supposed to
be a Folk and Blues site ? I would call Bo Diddley Rythm and Blues at
the best and straight Rock and Roll otherwise !

Promptly ducks back under the parapet !!

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: RWilhelm
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:43 PM

I once bought a Bo Diddley album at a vinyl record store that was holding a blues sale. The man gave me a discount so I guess that proves it.

I think that because his rhythms are so primitive, and his content so similar to bluesmen who were his contemporaries, because he was there before the beginning and jammed with Muddy Waters and Willie Dixon, I think I would include him here even if he did have a few hits. If Bo Diddley were the only rock'n'roller discussed at Mudcat I would agree, but he is not, not by a long shot; and his folk credentials are better than most.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 11:52 PM

His lyrics are often witty and humorous adaptations of folk music themes. His first hit, "Bo Diddley" was based on the lullaby "Mockingbird". Likewise, "Hey Bo Diddley" is based on the folk song, "Frog went a-courtin'".


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bo_Diddley

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 12:07 AM

The Great Gonzo,
Sorry, I haven't had the pleasure of seeing Bo Diddley in concert. Hopefully, folks here can answer the questions you posed.

Leadfingers,
I have a Blues tape which I can't find at the moment so I can't tell you its name...But that tape has Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf and Bo Diddley jamming together on each others' songs. Which probably doesn't refute your comments...

But I say ditto to Earl's post. I won't even take exception to Earl's use of the word "primitive", since I got what he meant by that word since he said it in the rest of that sentence.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Azizi
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 12:11 AM

Not to mention that Bo Diddley used the pattin Juba "Hambone" beat in so many songs that some called {and still call} it the "Bo Diddley beat".

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: RWilhelm
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 12:26 AM

Azizi, You're right, maybe primitive is too loaded a word, but I'm glad you got my meaning. The hambone beat is way older than rock and roll and much closer to folk rhythms than what was happening in rhythm and blues at the time.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 12:54 AM

Gonzo: Yup, I caught him doing a show during the opening of the Experience Muzak Project festivities a couple of years ago here in the upper left corner of the U.S. It was a free show on the grounds of the Seattle Center (where the Space Needle hangs out). Taj also had a show on the same stage, and a number of other bands as well, but none could hold a candle to Bo. Bo had more energy, better material, better stage presence, it was a much better show than what the others had to offer by comparison. Not meaning to put Taj down, because I've really enjoyed a great deal of what he's done, but on that day, on that stage, I thought Bo stole the show. The crowd loved him. I had never seen him perform live before, but was taken by his command of the stage. It was a real treat to see him struttin' his stuff.

Leadfingers: In reference to the comment about Bo's credentials, I have two copies on 8 track tape of Bo, called, "Big Bad Bo". Bo's posed seated on a chopper on the cover shot. There's some great blues material on that recording.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Bill the Collie
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 09:32 AM

Too Tiddie Too Too
Tsh Tsh

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 09:38 AM

He plays the ugliest guitar I've ever seen.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST,Sidewinder
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 07:23 PM

I believe he makes his own guitars and plays them in his own distinctive style. Which unlike so many guitar players has stood the test of time. His syncopated tremelo effect still sends shivers down the spine. Ain't nobody bettered his originals of "You Pretty Thing" and "Roadrunner" though the likes of the Stones etc. have tried!

Keep on Rockin'

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST,yo Bo go Bo go.. yeah
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 07:31 PM

a guitar design impressive in its functional simplicity..

a few years ago a quality far east offshoot of Gretch
issued a Bo Diddley signature replica guitar at a decent price..
never saw one in local shops..

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jan 05 - 07:37 PM

http://www.gretschguitars.com/gear/index.php?product=G5810&cat1=&cat2=&q=&st=1

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 12:28 AM

...looks like a piece of overpriced shit.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST,big Bo a go go
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 01:12 AM

are you big man enough to say that to Mr Diddleys face !!??

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 12:42 PM

..he's probably heard it before and doesn't give a rat's ass about my opinion of his ugly guitar I'm sure, but yeah, I am.....

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Azizi
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 02:09 PM

I would think that

Bo knows
that comments about how his guitar looks
mean Diddley squat.

What matters is how the guitar
sounds.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: MARINER
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 03:16 PM

I saw Bo playing in Letterkeny Co.Donegal in '03. Even though he is now an old man he can still rock.But, if I remember rightly he didn't do a lot of his classics.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: PoppaGator
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 03:19 PM

If *any* electrified music can be considered folk music -- and I think Mississippi Freed McDowell makes a convincing case that some of it must be included -- then a player of a no-frills self-made electric guitar must surely be seen as a folk artist of some kind.

Ugly or not, isn't it pretty much a cigar-box instrument under a coat of red lacquer?

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST,Sidewinder
Date: 06 Jan 05 - 04:35 PM

What does it matter whether Bo plays folk or rock etc? What all us of sound mind and taste seem to have established here is that the man is a tremendously talented singer/songwriter/musician and most of us respect him for that and couldn't give a folkin' tinkers cuss what musical category you deem it necessary to place him.

Regards.

Sidewinder.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: RWilhelm
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 12:28 AM

The point is, Bo Diddley is the real thing and belongs here. It's Eric Clapton that's the wanker.

Leadfingers, leave me a space under the parapet.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 09:31 AM

Much as I hate to disagree with Leadfingers (and, yes I, too,hate the look of that square guitar)I include Bo in my collection, even if he overdoes his signature "shave and a haircut" riff, the blues is a pretty broad church with room for him. Chuck Berry has a good blues pedigree, too, as well as R & R.

RtS

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 12:22 PM

There's plenty of room left on this thread to rag on Eric Clapton.

Maybe we should start an ugly guitar thread, if it hasn't already been done. Here's a submission to get the ball rolling: some of the ugliest production guitars around

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST,The Great Gonzo
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 12:46 PM

Thanks to all who have replied to my original query, especially those who have answered my original questions.

I didn't expect so much interest in Bo Diddley. He is obviously still capable of generating quite a debate.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: M.Ted
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 01:49 PM

I thought I posted a while back, but my post never showed up--so--

I think Bo Diddley is one of the greatest guitarists ever--and he is rock'n'roll, because "Bo Diddley" was part of what defined rock'n'roll as a seperate kind of music--He has always been a really great performer, and, as far as I know, he's been out there playing clubs and small venues forever--never was a "superstar", never got the recognition for his music(or the money) that he deserves, but, like all real blues people, his music has always been fresh, changing, and alive--

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Tweed
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 02:02 PM

I saw Bo Diddley at the Bamboo Room in Lake Worth, Fl. on this past Wednesday night. He filled the room at $55.00 per ticket and kicked our butts with the Bo Diddley Beat. He'd just had a birthday the week before so the staff made him a cake and brought that out when he got done. He and his band, The Accelerators, played 2 1/2 hours straight through with no breaks. Bo Diddley knows how to entertain. He had to sit in a chair due to losing a couple toes to diabetes, but it didn't matter. Heck, at one point he did a Russian folk song, in what I reckon was actually Russian. He is therefore a folksinger
The Volga Bo-Man.

The crowd swarmed him after the show and the bouncers had their hands full trying to make a path for him to get down from the stage. It was a good night for us all. Bo Diddley has still got it and I don't believe he will ever lose it.

He'd played the Bamboo Room about a year ago and I attended that one too and wrote one of my offbeat Review of that show. If he's anywhere close to any of you, go and check him out.

Tweed

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: Tweed
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 02:59 PM

.....forgot this...He talked a little about Ray Charles and how they were sittin' around playing poker with Mickey and Sylvia one night. Ray cleaned up everytime he dealt and cleaned poor Sylvia out and she couldn't figure out how a blind man could do that. She didn't know he had Braille dots on his deck. Bo said it felt like them cards had chicken pox. ;~)

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jan 05 - 03:51 PM

To the guest who thinks Bo's guitar is ugly:

How many guitars have you made and played? If you've done better with your self built geetars, send us a link to a picture of your workmanship and by all means give us some information about your accomplishments.

I think Bo's guitar did what it was meant to do. It apparently worked well enough as the instrument he needed for stage, but it also, and perhaps more importantly, served as an identifying visual. Having that distinctive look set him apart and gave him a leg up on many others whose guitars weren't as memorable. I believe he knew this and knew of the importance of having a strong visual image to match his unique sound.

Subject: RE: Bo Diddley
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Jan 05 - 12:45 PM

I've played a few... I've not made any. That doesn't keep me from having an aesthetic opinion about the looks of a guitar.

Yeah, his guitar set him apart from everyone else...as being the ugliest guitar ever phtographed or wielded onstage.