Welcome
Just a quick note to say that tickets for the Radcliffe Centre gigs are now available from the online shop.
Hi all,
Here I go again, oops, sorry about that.
What I mean is I am already updating, is this new record? I have to let you know that I have been overwhelmed by the messages and emails I have received since the last and quite dramatic update. Having calmed down somewhat I must tell you I still feel very happy about what happened in the summertime.
Playing on stage with David was a very special moment, I think for both of us; in those magic minutes all the negative stuff simply vapourised, and witnessed by thousands of real Whitesnake fans, not cynical musicians! To be invited to play with the band, and being the only founder member to do so after all these years was very special, once again I thank all concerned, especially that night in Hammersmith, unforgettable.
So what's been happening, well quite a lot, I spent most of October in the United States, I was at the Paul Reed Smith Experience in Maryland, and officially launching my signature guitar, and a few days recording in Pennsylvania and Memphis, more of that in the New Year hopefully. I strongly recommend any guitar nuts to make a visit to this unique weekend, PRS open up the factory to the public, and you can see a guitar from lumber to finish, all very interesting, they are a great bunch of people. This year I got to perform with PRS’s band, Davy Knowles, of whom I have spoken of, the great Ricky Skaggs, a superstar of country music, acoustic maestro guitarist Tony McManus, please check TM out if you have never heard him play, he is awesome, and a great mate.
After the PRS gathering I travelled by road to Mississippi, into Memphis via the legendary Peabody Hotel and a morning out in Memphis visiting the all new Stax museum on McLemore Avenue, rebuilt, I was so happy to see that iconic structure again, there will be pics to see soon, a friend also drove me around town for an “Unseen Elvis Tour”, places the tour buses never see, and the original WC Handy Theatre, now derelict sadly, but still standing, BB King, Bobby Bland, Ike Turner, Ruth Brown, Etta James, Chuck Berry, T Bone Walker, I could go on, but you get the drift, I went to Sam Phillips second studio, and had a coffee in the original Sun Recorders, the tourist in me could not help it! One memorable sight is of the falling down house of the great blues piano man Memphis Slim, right opposite Stax, and due for renovation, Memphis is doing it’s best, but I might have to start a “Save the WC Handy Theatre” UK campaign. I left Memphis early afternoon, 80 degrees and took, Elvis Presley Boulevard, onto Highway 51 then Highway 61 and I was in the Delta within 45 minutes, Walls, Tunica, Robinsonville and arriving in downtown Clarksdale late afternoon, still 90 + degrees, I was in Clarksdale to meet Gary Vincent, songwriter and film maker; I have recorded a semi documentary about the centre of the old town, namely Issaquena Street.
I have been in Clarksdale three times before, the first times on my own and frankly was intimidated by Issaquena, so much that I wrote a song that included several references “Pick It Up” on the Big Boy Blue CD, well things are changing in the delta, not all but some, slowly but positive. I am proud to have met 80 year old Mr Gates of the Gates Piano Company of Issaquena Street. I had many discussions about the town with the late David “Honeyboy” Edwards over the last 15 years, he knew Clarksdale in the 1930’s and 40’s, so who better to talk to, he in fact wondered why the hell I was even planning to go there, he lived in Chicago at the time, but he was from Shaw Mississippi, about 30 minutes from Clarksdale, he told me that it took more than five minutes to cross the road in the old days, it was so jam packed on a Saturday night, in those days the only free day of the week for the plantation workers. This time with local people in my team we have made I think a very interesting film about the town, the legends, the myths, but overall what it is like to be a European musician still making a regular trip to the heart of the blues, there is a slow rebirth in the old town, blocks on Issaquena are being bought and built up, not knocked down, I spoke with a great lady who had purchased the New Roxy, a cinema that had Muddy Waters open it in the 50’s, and where Ike Turner sold popcorn! In the balmy hot Mississippi evenings the unroofed old theatre is open for parties, gatherings and gigs, the stage is the only part with a roof! Clever lighting takes you into another time, don’t worry I am not just another old hippy, the evening time I spent there was great, recommended. From there I went to Ground Zero, a club part owned by none other than Morgan Freeman, great music, great food and cold beer, sounds good does it not. I plan a few days next year in the town which will include two shows at the club, we will film them for a DVD.
I played with James “Supa Chikan” Johnson, Johnson I hear you say, he is the great nephew of Robert Johnson, his father was Robert Johnson’s brother! That is how it is in Mississippi, especially Clarksdale; there is more to tell, lot’s more, a later date.
So I get back to England and get a call from my friend Joe Bonamassa; he invited me to his London shows at yes, Hammersmith Apollo! Joe and his band are at the top of the tree at this time, I played with them on the Saturday night, on stage once again for about 20 minutes, he is a truly great player, having spent time with him over two days, and he never stops playing his guitar, which tells us all something! Donal Gallagher was there with Rory’s Fender, so now Joe and I are the people that have played that guitar on stage since we lost the great man, kind of an exclusive club to be in! The footage is on YouTube, along with a young Scots lady playing guitar alongside the two of us, check it out, we had to be on form!
Please check out the Rory Gallagher item link on this site, I fully endorse the great man being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, so do Joe B, Slash and Davy Knowles, and that I know for sure. The PRS signature guitar should be in the music stores from November 15, also available from the website soon, let me know about any purchases, and if you want the guitar signed. I will be in Switzerland from the middle of the month and then have a few UK shows including Nunnington Hall in Yorkshire in December, a local gig for me on December 17 to raise funds for the village hall near to where I live, all are welcome, and we need the cash! That’s it for now, hopefully informative, if nearly a tour promotion for Mississippi!
Next time……my gigs with my dear friend Steve Lukather and Joe Satriani, The MC 5 and more Mississippi madness………… Thanks to all and a Happy Christmas, just in case this fast update thing ends…
See you out there,
BM
November 2011
Bernie Demonstrates his PRS SE Signature Guitar
Rory Gallagher for the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame
Dino McGartland has had a petition up and running for just over a year now to get Rory Gallagher inducted into the Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame. It has already had great support from fans and musicians around the world including Rory's brother, Donal.
If you would like to sign the petition, you can find it at: