Be-Bop Deluxe were probably one of the most under-rated rock bands of the 1970s. Not traditional New Wave of British Heavy Metal however they were at their peak during NWOBHM times and could rock as hard as anyone else. Bill Nelson’s guitar playing being fluid and sublime switching easily between mazy solos and hard, heavy riffs – take Maid in Heaven or Sister Seagul and just two examples.
This is a band you really need to check out or get back in to with the perfect opportunity now presenting in the shape of the Futurist Manifesto – a massive (but incredible value) five CD collection of all Be Bop’s best stuff, live stuff and rarities thrown in too. Marvel once again at Nelson’s inventive song writing, clever lyrics and just how far ahead of their time Be Bop Deluxe was. Over thirty years later their stuff stands the test of time. If you like your NWOBHM-era experience to be somewhat more refined then Be Bop is for you.
Be Bop Deluxe was always Nelson’s “baby” as he founded the band in his home town of Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1972. Extensive local gigging saw a debut album (Axe Victim) seeing the light of day in 1974. It was perhaps more leaning towards glam rock with such cuts as Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus though variety was shown with the still classic Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape. And so the seeds were sown.
Some comings and goings saw the “classic” line-up of Nelson, Simon Fox, Andrew Clark and Charlie Tumahai eventually found their way together during/after the follow-up Futurama album from which would spring forth a more progressive/heavy style (Maid in Heaven, Sister Seagull, Stage Whispers, Between Two Worlds before everything came together in 1976 and the release of perhaps their best known work – Sunburst Finish – and not just for “that” cover. A consistently superb album of finely crafted, intelligent hard/heavy/progressive songs and even a hit single – Ships in the Night. This should be in every rock fan’s collection, no doubt.
Here they are appearing on the Old Grey Whistle Test back in 1975 performing Maid in Heaven. Great stuff.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzZUyTpmy3g[/youtube]
Modern Music came next and was a little more experimental in parts with Nelson getting a bit ambient though get your ears around Orphans of Babylon, Kiss of Light, Modern Music, Forbidden Lovers and Down on Terminal Street and listen how Be Bop could rock with the rest of them and how influential they would become.
The live album Live in the Air Age marks time a little before what would be the final Be Bop Deluxe offering – Drastic Plastic – in 1978. “Drastic” saw Nelson’s electronic/synth experimentation becoming more to the fore though it remains a deceptive heavy edge in songs like Love in Flames, Dangerous Stranger, Possession to name but three.
Drastic Plastic was the final Be Bop album even though Nelson continued to write stuff with Be Bop in mind – those songs seeing the light of day under the name of Bill Nelson’s Red Noise on one album – Sound on Sound – then that was that. Sound on Sound is a sort of punk/electronic hybrid which works well – Art, Empire, Industry, for example.
Be Bop Deluxe were coming to the end of their career as NWOBHM was taking off however in Bill Nelson they had a truly inventive, intelligent leader with an influential guitar style and craft. If you are not familiar with Be Bop or perhaps want to rediscover them then the Futurist Manifesto is the place to start.
Live in the Air Age was one of the first albums I ever bought as a teenager in Yorkshire and I’ve been a fan ever since.
MORE ABOUT BE BOP DELUXE FUTURIST MANIFESTO HERE
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