All the way back in the early 1970s the genius of Bill Nelson spawned Be Bop Deluxe. A fine a band as once would ever wish for and influential to this day. A (relatively) short-lived career saw Bill break up the band after Drastic Plastic (though arguably his Red Noise is in all but name a Be Bop album).
Around for the early NWOBHM days – though not strictly a NWOBM band – they could rock as hard as anyone else and could boast not only the sublime lyrics of Nelson but also his equally sublime and oh so fluid solos. And he had the riffs too. Check out Blazing Apostles, Sister Seagull, Maid in heaven etc. One of the most under-rated guitarists in my opinion.
What we have here is a fantastic three CD and single DVD package of classic live stuff recorded in a BBC environment. From early John Peel sessions in 1974, some in concert recordings from 1976 and 1978 and even more Peel sessions in 1977 climaxing with a chillingly superb DVD of Old Grey Whistle Test performances and a quite remarkable Sight and Sound concert from 1978 made up of the bulk of Drastic Plastic and notable in particular for Bill’s jumper.
There’s nothing new here although the opportunity for the avid old fart fan (like me) to get their ears around so much live output featuring all the Be Bop classics in various forms is a most welcome journey back in time. And for any new or uninitiated rock fans out there reading this, this package is a great introduction to a unique band from four decades ago who still sound fresh and whose output most certainly stands the test of time. Enduring popularity remains as evidenced by this release.
Nelson tells a story in every song with clever lyrics which paint a picture – Adventures in a Yorkshire Landscape, Maid in Heaven and Fair Exchange being just three such examples. And man, can Bill play guitar. The power chords, the riffs, the mazy, intricate, fast flowing solos peeled off so effortlessly.
If for nothing else, bag this for the DVD alone and see for yourself. And marvel at that jumper too. See (and hear) what a great band be Bop Deluxe was. One of the first “proper” albums I bought as a teenager discovering music just as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal came along was Be Bop’s Live in the Air Age and I’ve been a huge fan ever since. Back then no CDs and “Live” came in on a single vinyl album with a short EP of what couldn’t fit on. Ah…………..nostalgia.
Anyway: Be Bop – great, great band. Bill Nelson: lyrical and six-stringed genius with a “questionable” taste in jumpers.
>> Pick up Be Bop Deluxe At The BBC 1974 – 1978 here. It’s an aural and visual treat <<
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