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01 Mar 05 - 11:48 PM (#1424588) Subject: And how long have you been playing..... From: Shanghaiceltic Wonder what i will answer when I get me invite to meet Brenda? The Queen: Have you been playing long? Eric Clapton: It must be about 45 years now By Neil Tweedie (Filed: 01/03/2005) Pundits pronounce almost daily on the workings of the Queen's mind, but few people really know her likes and dislikes. As of last night, however, there is at least one certainty: Her Majesty has quite clearly never been a fan of virtuoso electric guitar. This fact became painfully obvious as the monarch engaged in conversation with some of the greatest exponents of the art produced by Britain during a reception at Buckingham Palace celebrating the country's music industry. And what do you do? The Queen meets Eric Clapton It started when Brian May of Queen pointed out that it had been his honour to play the national anthem during the rock concert held at the palace in 2002 to mark the Golden Jubilee. "Oh! That was you was it?" replied a surprised monarch, before moving swiftly on to Jimmy Page. Quite a lot of people would swoon in the presence of such a talent, but the Queen managed somehow to control her excitement. "Are you a guitarist too?" she asked of the Led Zeppelin megastar, as if addressing a member of the 1st Haywards Heath Scouts Band. He nodded. Eric Clapton was taking no chances and, shaking the Queen firmly by the hand, introduced himself by name. "Have you been playing a long time?" the Queen asked, obviously none the wiser. "It must be 45 years now," replied a non-plussed blues giant. Next was Jeff Beck, like Clapton and Page a former Yardbird. Her Majesty was duly informed of the fact. "We're all from Surrey," added Clapton, grasping for some point of commonality. Luckily, the Queen had heard of Surrey. Clapton was philosophical as he munched his canapé. "It's great to meet her - and it doesn't matter at all that she did not know who we are or what we do. I wouldn't expect her to." Some 500 guests were invited to the reception, and all except Geri Halliwell managed to turn up on time. The former Spice Girl breached protocol by arriving 40 minutes late — and, more importantly, after the Queen. Phil Collins, who was also present, recounted his meeting with the Queen during a tribute concert for Nelson Mandela. "Before the concert she told me 'I hope you're not going to be too loud'. "Her only comment afterwards was 'yes it was actually'." |
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02 Mar 05 - 12:13 AM (#1424603) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: Little Hawk Heh! Amusing... |
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02 Mar 05 - 03:44 AM (#1424654) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: GUEST,Sidewinder Gerri Halliwell -yes definitely a virtuoso musician-but Phil Collins? Regards. Sidewinder. |
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02 Mar 05 - 04:26 AM (#1424679) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: greg stephens I think you will find the Queen is an avid fan of early delta blues, and a particular devotee of the Piedmont style of more ragtime influenced guitarists. She is not to be criticised for failing to keep up with the tedious self-indulgent so-called "innovations" of white-trash 60's guitarists like Eric "Deadhand" Clapton. |
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02 Mar 05 - 04:38 AM (#1424688) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: mooman She certainly seemed knowledgeable on the subject last time I discussed it with her Greg and specially seems to favour Blind Blake and Blind Boy Fuller! (;>) Peace moo |
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02 Mar 05 - 05:14 AM (#1424721) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: breezy Her -The Queen's - mother was very appreciative of 'The Ballad of Tubby Clayton' This is a song composed by Les Sullivan from Bishop's Stortford. Many of his songs are to be heard in the folk sessions at festivals and in the repertoire of decent folk singers, e.g Johnny Collins, Christine Connolley to name drop just two. Les very recently released a CD ,'Echoes of Mingulay' his first ,after many years of requesting. On it he is aided and abetted by Kitty Vernon who does a superb job on harmony vocals. The 'Ballad of Tubby Clayton' is included. The letter expressing the late Queen mum's appreciative sentiments is mounted and framed on Les's wall. Les will be visiting Vancouver in the very near future, April I believe. Before then he will be appearing at the spotlight folk club at the Royal British legion in St Albans on Friday 20th March Doubt if her Majesty will be there though. Since 1962, seeing as you asked |
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02 Mar 05 - 05:19 AM (#1424723) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: greg stephens Mooman: you're absolutely spot on about Blind Blake. It's not widely known that the queen, as well as being knowledgable, is actually a player. Not great, but competent. I well remember sessions at Buck House back in the 80's, when she used to turn in a very creditable Rope Stretchin' Blues on her old Harmony Sovereign. Charlie used to chime in with his Wurzels repertoire. and Philip always did the White Rose of Athens when he'd had a few. The atmosphere always got a bit frosty, though, when Lady Di insisting on doing every bloody Duran Duran song that she knew. |
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02 Mar 05 - 05:37 AM (#1424732) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: mooman Quite so Greg! I particularly mentioned Blind Boy Fuller as well as Blind Blake as my current version of Weepin' Willow Blues is based on an arrangement she worked out. Now that her arthritis has hindered her playing I believe that her old Sovereign (which had a hardish action as I remember) is now owned by the redoubtable Bill Sables. So I gave her a permanent lend of my low-actioned Manson Kingfisher which, so I am told, was filched soon after by Charlie. I wonder what Camilla may bring in the way of the tradition? Peace moo |
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02 Mar 05 - 05:41 AM (#1424738) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: Nick Her influence extends to her husband... The following was published in Scotland on Sunday on 3 October 2004. Karen Matheson was interviewed by Jonathon Trew. The Princes and the Show Girl The Queen's consort may be deaf to Karen Matheson's divine voice but his son shares her passion for Gaelic. Gaelic singer Karen Matheson has some high profile fans. Sir Sean Connery famously described her voice as being "touched by the hand of God" and, after a solo performane at the Lisbon Expo a few years back, Prince Charles was sufficiently clued-up and interested to ask her if she was still singing with Capercaillie. Unfortunately, a later meeting with another royal was less gratifying. Matheson was in Edinburgh to give out a Duke of Edinburgh award. After the ceremony she met Prince Philip at a line-up. When he asked Matheson what she did, an assistant told him that she was the singer with the band Capercaillie. "So what do you do then?" pressed Prince Philip. "I'm the singer in the band," explained Matheson, patiently. Regrettably unable to get his head around such a complicated concept, he then barked, "So, do you bang on something or what?" "Obvioulsy, if you are a traditional musician then you must bang on something, a piece of goatskin or half dead animal," laughs Matheson. "He was so patronising; it was hilarious." |
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02 Mar 05 - 05:47 AM (#1424742) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: mooman "Obvioulsy, if you are a traditional musician then you must bang on something, a piece of goatskin or half dead animal," laughs Matheson. Well I have certainly met both sorts in my time! (:>) moo |
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02 Mar 05 - 12:21 PM (#1425021) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: Big Al Whittle no way for a gentleman to speak of his wife.... |
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02 Mar 05 - 07:08 PM (#1425393) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: PoppaGator The Queen had no reason to reason to get rid of her Harmony Sovereign; I'm sure that's a false rumor being spread about by irresponsible Fleet Street journalists. Since her arthritis began bothering her, she's taken up slide guitar, and I happen to know that the high action that used to bug the shit out of her has become a blessing in disguise. She uses one of those heavy brass slides, and always knocks it against the frets when she tries to play her favorite Robert Johnson numbers on a fancy new ax with low action. Works out much better when the strings are a good quarter-inch from the fingerboard, like on that tried-and-true Sov. |
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02 Mar 05 - 07:17 PM (#1425400) Subject: RE: And how long have you been playing..... From: Sttaw Legend I think the 50p coin is very nice. |