Here's a clip from a show called "Hollywood A Go-Go" (I'm fairly sure.)
This features Bo Diddley (1928-2008), "The Duchess" and some white go-go girls. It's a great song headlined by Mr. Diddley, one of the all-time great blues/ rock and roll guitarists. This song, featuring the "Bo Diddey Beat" was covered my many groups, most famously in 1964 by The Yardbirds.
(from Wikipedia)
In the days following his death, tributes were paid to him by President George W. Bush and by the US House of Representatives, as well as by countless musicians and performers, including Eric Burdon, Elvis Costello, Ronnie Hawkins, Mick Jagger, BB King, Tom Petty, Robert Plant, Bonnie Raitt, George Thorogood and Ronnie Wood. He was posthumously awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts degree by the University of Florida for his influence on American popular music and in its "People in America" radio series about influential people in American history, the Voice of America radio service paid tribute to him, describing how "his influence was so widespread that it is hard to imagine what rock and roll would have sounded like without him." Sir Mick Jagger hailed him as one of the leading influences on his band The Rolling Stones, stating that "he was a wonderful, original musician who was an enormous force in music and was a big influence on The Rolling Stones. He was very generous to us in our early years and we learned a lot from him." Jagger also praised the late star as a one-off musician, adding, "We will never see his like again."
Hey this is neat. I liked the footage, fun to see the big hair on the women, and the styles of dress for both sexes, 1960's, 70's and the music was interesting because of the female co-guitarist; she was good, and was nice to see women not only as extras in the background dancing, which most groups had on the TV show appearances, at that time in TV history, but helping create good, memorable music.
ReplyDeleteFantastic , an absolute classic....a sound that changed the world with the birth of rock 'n' roll and the transcultural evolution of the blues into a new artform. Bo Didldey and Chuck Berry were it's progenitors building on the work of such blues balladeers Leadbelly and Josh White. Thanks for posting this tribute Doug. One of my personal favourite Bo Diddley tracks in his cover of the Band's 'The Shape I'm In......I'll have a look on YouTube, but I doubt it'll be there.
ReplyDeleteYes, she was. Proof positive female guitarists were around before The Go-Gos. The hair styles were indeed something else. Maybe big hair will make a comeback; the music makes one glad to be alive.
ReplyDeleteSo true, AA! It's fun to hear and see how American music evolved and broke down barriers and borders. I first heard this classic tune by The Yardbirds, who of course forged a link with their style that helped lead the Blues/Rock influence into British psychadelic music. MCA-Chess records came out in the Nineties with a CD of Bo Diddley's music called "The Best". "The Shape I'm In" isn't, sadly, on there but hopefully someone will post a performance on the 'Net.
ReplyDeleteI was a big fan of Bo Diddley. He influenced so many great aetisits. Growing up on the east coast I listened to a lot of Lonesome George Thorogood. I like his Who do Love Better than Bo Diddley's. Here is a case where the student went on to help continue on with the teahers work. Bo Diddley will be missed
ReplyDeleteHere is George singing one of Bo's best
An excellent link to the featured tune! Great song. I like this version as well as George and the Destroyers doing "Bad to the Bone".
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