Saturday 5 February 2011

Would The Real Peter Green Please Take A Bow

When I appear on Mastermind (an upmarket television quiz programme here in UK) my 'specialized subject' will be Brit Rock Trivia but I sometimes wonder just how long my own TV will last. Personal viewing time against licence fee makes it an expensive luxury, but every so often the viewing is such that I would happily pay double. Last nights Peter Green documentary, followed by a further 2 hours of Fleetwood Mac, after his departure, were fuel to my ever burning lust to further my knowledge.

Focusing on just the lyrics of this much under rated British Blues Guitar Giant, my own interpretation of the seminal Green Manalishi (with the Two-Prong Crown) was blown asunder when he explained this was his own struggle with money (the Green-backed Dollar).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t2lYdlukPtA&feature=fvw

Like the documentary, the start for me was when I saw Green play with John Mayall's Bluesbreakers at the Roundhouse, Chalk Farm in 1970 soon after completing the Hard Road album. Prior to that Eric Clapton had filled the position of lead guitar and there was NO doubt in anyones mind that the vacancy couldn't possibly be filled by a mere mortal. How wrong we all were! Personally, it was the 'eleventh' track on the album that did it for me, just half a dozen bars of The Super-Natural and it was hook, line and sinker. Remember this was barely the 70's!

Referring to this album there was quite a big mistake on the film as each time Mayall drummer Aynsley Dunbar was mentioned the screen turned to a still photograph of Hughie Flint, who along with Clapton departed the Bluesbreakers before this recording. As a matter of 'trivia' it might be of interest that Flint went on to hook up with Tom McGuinness (later Manfred Mann, Blues Band et al) to form McGuinness Flint (chart single When I'm Dead & Gone). Dunbar on the other hand saw a far more bizarre furtherance of his career when he along with Mitch Mitchell were the final 2 short listed to become drummer with The Jimi Hendrix Experience. With not a gnats whisker between their playing prowess the decision was decided by the toss of a coin leaving Mitchell to be immortalised!
http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=video&cd=3&ved=0CD0QtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYoasUjXBkm8&rct=j&q=peter%20green&ei=lGRNTdHmJYSAhAfAwYHbDg&usg=AFQjCNHFk-lxK1poWIbAOZxwYliV0tFCCQ&sig2=qQhO3VwLpOX5HN4tuNA6Vw&cad=rja

It was after Peter conquered his long struggle with a mental problem, and hit the road again, that I started to be stopped and asked if I was Peter Green which on a couple of occasions caused some mild embarrassment.

Bagsy

Peter Green

I once asked my close friend Andy Lindsay if he could tell the difference between us, and his reply was yes,

"one of you is a fat, ugly, lazy git whilst

the other plays guitar and is called Peter". Here endeth the similarity.

However, there have been times when this has gone in my favour, most notably at the Guitar Safari Blues Club in Tallinn, Estonia.

There, in one of the best Blues venues I know, for 2 nights running no one would believe I was not the man,

and started buying me drinks. I got very used to this very quickly, despite protestation

the beer just kept coming.

The company wasn't bad either!

and so to today, with the only notable feature being the inclement weather. A near gale from the south west,

a continuous threat of rain and high seas made for some dramatic scenes from the Trinity House Obelisk.

Looking over the cliff at the Bill,

and to the east where the sea was crashing

over the boat crane while

Gannets, Gulls, Fulmar and a mixture of Auks streamed through our part of the English Channel.

Walking back to Southwell village, I came across what could be called the harbinger of spring, as these Crocus poke their blooms from the grass verges.

An opportunist shot as the bus continued along the Chesil Beach Road with these wind surfers almost able to keep up with our speed.

and having received a 'Poison Pen Letter' this morning threatening a visitation by Jim the Medic next week, unless I pay the ransom, my thought wandered to our trip through Southern Africa some years ago. A few 'bird shots' to complete this post.

Cape Sugarbird

Cape Francolin

Bokmakierie

Blue-billed Firefinch

Blue Waxbill

Blacksmith Plover