Be Bop Deluxe - Blazing Apostles

[TheMotorhomer]

Great to see them live,didn't have the opportunity down in NZ'but got all thier albums on vinyl.Bought 3 copies of Live in the air age with the extra disc inside.As i use to thrash them.One has never been played 34yrd on.Best of and the rest of is worth trying to find

[TheMotorhomer]

Great to see them live,didn't have the opportunity down in NZ'but all thier albums on vinyl.Bought 3 copies of Live in the air age with the extra disc inside.One has never been played 34yrd on.Best of and the rest of is worth trying to find

[Callands22]

Bill Nelson was ahead of his time!



[moontunes1912]

I think the "Drastic Plastic" gave birth to the New Romantic era, 2 years ahead of his time with it too ask Gary Numan who influenced him

[desfaulkner]

still have drastic plastic on album

[1961webby]

@desfaulkner just a wild guess, and not being nasty, are you Gay perchance?

[FAYSIEUK]

omg, this takes me back, my sis brought these guys round my flat after they had a gig in Brighton, I mended one of their jackets, i can't remember which of them had ripped their jacket. I remember Simon telling me how it wasn't all that romantic being on the road, not all roses and champagne. W went round Brighton Pavilion. It was some time just after the fire. They were really nice guys. We had crumpets and tea. Not a drug in sight v. un-rock and roll! Happy days I'd forgotten til now

[lnickeas1]

1 of the best bands ever, bill nelson .. genius

[TigertailzBezerk]

Never heard this before but AMAZING guitar playing

[00Muttley]

@TigertailzBezerk In that case young Tiger, welcome to the world of Bill Nelson (guitarist extraordinaire!!) and Be Bop Deluxe. If you like this try and get your hands on a copy of Live In the Air Age, one of the very finest live recordings you will ever hear. Also, Sunburst Finish, Modern Music...ah hell...just get everything ever done by Bill Nelson and you will 'get it'. He is quite simply one of the most talented and underrated guitarists of all time. 'Nuff said!

[bombsite69]

I still remember seeing these guys twice in the 70's with Mary. I wish they were still both around. Thank's for the memories.

[HansofStone]

I agree...but I need to add "Sunburst Finish" to your list

[oldaxekid]

Live in the Air Age and Drastic Plastic are eternally entertaining...they are timeless IMHO...

[midlandmaverick]

One of the best bands of all time.

I remember at one of the gigs I saw of them, Leicester De Montford Hall, there were video cameras recording the show.

I think it might have been the Modern Music Tour.

Does anyone know if it was ever released on video or better still, DVD?

[shenstone]

I seem to remember that around 1977/8/9 there was a short lived series shown late at night on ITV called StarStrider....it was a bit like rock goes to college (BBC) but without the compere or any intro's...Be Bop definately featured on this show and the gig was about 40 minutes long....I am not sure if this is from it.....maybe the poster of this vid can shed some light?

[KickRockNow]

@shenstone the program you refer to was the with the "Live in the Air Age" set then they did Rock goes to college a couple of years later but only played "Drastic Plastic" songs (!) as Bill was fed up playing the old stuff. I went to a gig that year and was a little disappointed that only new material was played.. but at least i managed to see them before their demise :)

[shenstone]

@KickRockNow thanks for that :-) - alas i genuinely never got to see them - would loved to have seen them round about axe victim and futurama - Bill still one of my all time favourite guitarists, lyricist, song writers - at least i have all the albums (and a few tasty bootlegs).

[ericstee]

@midlandmaverick

I remember seeing them at DMH in about 1976.

[midlandmaverick]

@ericstee It was 1976 when I first saw them @ DMH

[midlandmaverick]

@ericstee

If I remember correctly, the whole crowd walked out at the end of the show @ DMH singing (or trying to!) "Terminal Street" Great memories!

[RealVirtuality4U]

As a young lad of 17, I bought Live in the Air Age on a lark and was instantly hooked. If you're looking for a good introduction to BBDlx, check it out....

[SabrinaMessenger]

I've only just discovered Be Bob Deluxe in the last few days. Read about them in a blog and checked out the music and they're awesome! I miss the 70s!

[avs002]

I have a new "home made" video (pretty good):

"Be Bop Deluxe - Soundtrack & Swan Song (edit)"

PLEASE WATCH!!!

[terrysteward]

superb early influence for me !!!

[warshefsk1]

Bill Nelsons' STYLE inspired alot of guitarists here in the US. I remember the Main FM station playing- "Shine"-(Live version) and "Life in the Air Age" and Electrical Language-@77'-it was'Really COOL music,,especially the Guitar style!!There was nothing like it!!GREAT GUITARIST and GREAT BAND!!

[jmg4314]

I'm so glad these videos are posted. I became an instant Be Bop fan in 1977 or so when I first heard "Modern Music"' (long version) on the radio WNEW NYC. That song and entire album just does something for me even 30 years later. I got to see them live at Capitol Theatre, Passaic, NJ in 1978. They broke up not too long after. I believe they should have become much more popular than they became. I know they are much more popular in U.K. than U.S.

[johnnymoondog]

A beautifully creative guitarist and an inspiration to thousands !

[xsited1]

Brilliant! I still listen to Bebop Deluxe at least once a week. Amazing band.

[casperspork]

Charlie Tumahi died of a heart attack a few years ago in his birth place New Zealand.

I asked him what his favourite Be bop song was and he replied without hesitation

"Blazing Apostles"

[colronuk]

Thought he died of cancer

[bowler3329]

Never understood why they never took off in the US. Any Axe Victim video around???

[dickydropgoal]

I've still got all their LPs, but I've got bugger all to play them on dammit.

[clivetemple]

Great stuff. I can never decide whether Bill or Pete Wylie were the most overlooked geniuses of all time.

[ohisashiburi]

Was Pete Wylie part of 'Farm'?? (another great band)

[canley1]

Please don't mention Pete Wylie in the same breath as the great Bill Nelson!! For overlooked geniuses check out John Martyn; he was/is an awesome musician

[clivetemple]

No, Pete Wylie was never in The Farm. Yes, I'll agree with John Martyn, very much the musos muso.

[strummerino]

Cheers for that mate, reminds me of going to see them a couple of times, about 1976 I think. Is big Charlie dead, somebody said so

[Sunburst75]

Timeless, brilliant,awesome.......say no more! Thanks for the post Dagooch!

[1hogwild]

I still have the Sunburst album... don't have a record player anymore so it doesn't get much play .But back in the day I played it many tmes... great stuff.

[Geetar2112]

Thanks again for posting. Sunburst Finish is a classic. Never saw them live but saw Tandoori Cassette at the Marque a couple of times. Anyone remember them? Keep rockin´.

[dorian1112]

Bill Nelson is a brilliant guitarist and influenced many guitar players as well as myself. Its great to see these old tunes. Sunburst finish is a great album, all the songs are killer!

[TheOuterBoogie]

Yeah, thats brilliant, casby. Good thinking there. Thanks again Dagooch. You are my new personal hero!

[pablosperros]

Bill is best, sorry Jimmy and the rest of the guys. One rules, Axe victim, Futurama wow and Whimsy is not bad either.. You are a good guy Bill.

[casbyhockeyballs]

hes so fuckin ugly i think this is the only way he could ever get chicks.

[lookingforananswer]

The video and sound quality kind of lend a sort of surreal, dream-like sense... a hazy, memory aspect, if you will, to the performance. Almost like my memory playing before me on YT. :)

[Davethemusic]

Saw Be-Bop Deluxe at the Woolich Poly, UK, in the 70's back in the days when you could stand 10 feet away from a band and watch them play.

Great stuff.

[ukyestony]

I am fortunate in that Imanaged to suport this great band in my youth - Bill wasa god to me then -crying to the sky always was my favourite and yes -their demise was premature

great to see though

[latimeralder]

Bill still is God. And Crying to the Sky was just him showing how good he could be when he put his mind to it. One of the best guitraists ever There's a very fine cusp between genius and insanity (EG vv GOGH)and Bill trod it very carefully. A great man.

[Delfinna]

what happened to the killer video for "maid in heaven" that used to be up? bring it back!

[peridaisely]

Love be bop deluxe! thanx for the video. lisa

[Seminoles8390]

Saw Bill twice, once with BeBop, once solo on Red Noise tour-absolutely brilliant. No doubt he ranks with Page, et al. Way before his time. Great to see video- Thanx

[erikvon]

Have to agree. Bill was in a class of his own as a guitarist and song writer as well. Could not help but be extremely influenced by his music during the first six albums. I guess you could say that I was BEBOPPED!! Touche' Bill

[RabbitsARERoadkill31]

Be Bop has to be my fave band of all time, Bill Nelson is a guitar god and i think that if its possible hes the best in the world, i also think he made a mistake when he finished the band! Thanks for this vid!

[notahemi]

I had all their albums. (Drastic Plastic, who cute). I got rid of them and many more. Smart move.

Anyway, I can't play guitar much. But I know remarkable talent when I see it.

Seems to me that being able to copy someone's song is one thing. But being able to write and put this type of stuff together was quite something else.

[sabafa]

BIG TIME SHAME THE SOUND QUALITY WASN'T BETTER :( but then that's what buying the music is 4 isn't it;)

[latimeralder]

This William Nelson chappie looks like he has the basis of some talent on the guitar. With more work he could be quite good.

One of the best live bands I saw in the 70s...anyone else remember seeing them at Oxford Poly (1975?) Awesome.

[Mobyish]

Big THANKS :-) Good one !

[jexport]

were be bop at reading festival in 1975 i seen them in 75 but can not remember where

[xfosda61]

My favourite group when I was at school. Nelson's lyrics and guitar spoke straight to the heart and the group's relative lack of popularity made those of us in the know feel all the more special for being in on such a remarkable secret that enriched our lives. To those of you who remember, I salute you.

[wilster200]

Try to get to 'Nelsonica' in York, Oct this year if you want to hear Bill play live. He's the best of the best...

[Motarmstrong]

Charlie Tumahai the bass player was a New Zealand maori and joined NZ band Herbs in the 80s.

[Motarmstrong]

Charlie Tumahai was a Maori who left europe in the 80s and went back to NZ where he joined Herbs, top reggae band in NZ

[Codackussell]

One of the most under-rated bands on the planet...

[Bad1967]

Geez, as a fan of British progressive rock and guitar virtuosity, I don't know how I could have missed this phenomenal act. I guess I have some catching up to do.

[stargazer2756]

Still love these guys and they still get air play in my house!! Even when the radio has basically ignored them most of the time. Love to see Bill nelson and a revamped Be Bop Deluxe.

[bebopredux]

Saw BBD open for Uncle Ted in Portland, OR summer of '76. I was right up front and Nelson blew me away! Fans were screaming for Nugent and Nelson went over to his amps and cranked up the volume. He won the crowd over. Great show. Saw them 3 times.

[enfetish]

One of the greatest guitarist that has ever lived - period! I am into fusion and yet Bill is the one that floats my boat the most - he could do anything. You have to admire him for turning his back on fame and pursuing his artistic muse! Just imagine what could have been created if he had teamed up with Bowie in the 70s??? I saw him last year on the anniversary tour - a real privilege!!

[bebopdeluxe2]

this is utter fantastic

[sandgrownun]

This is great stuff.I loved Be Bop Deluxe and saw them twice in the 70s.I could never understand why Bill rejected the guitar and went more electronic.Sister Seagull must be one of the most beautiful songs ever written and as for the guitar sound on that track SWOON.

[Pigeon55]

Didnt know about Charlie passing,i saw them in the 70s also,i agree 'Sister Seagull' takes some beating,but dont forget 'Crying To The Sky'AWESOME

[Pigeon55]

This is one band that justifies a comeback

[sandgrownun]

That would be great but Charlie Tumahai who played bass died in 1995.

[hente2rock]

Bill Nelson amazing guitarist, intelligent music! They´ll stay on top also the next 30 years!

[1matrix9]

More Bill Nelson!!!

Thank you!!!

[spiralv]

brill

[windymiller7]

Brilliant. Thanks for putting this up. The guy is seriously underrated.

[FogerRox]

I would love to see a video of Fair Exchange. Hmmmmmm.

[stevehelps]

Saw bill and the boys at the colston hall bristol, drastic plastic tour, sisters boyfriend made me go, i was a punk, they were brilliant, have all the vinyl and saw red noise after they split. Bill is a classic guitarist who should have gone further. Thanks for this.

[banknockboy]

Check out Bills web site he's still out there making great music!

[pranky4]

DAGOOCH YOU ARE A PRINCE

[bofuus]

was lucky enough to see them in "77" or "78" i was 16 or 17 and had no idea who they were , and was blown away, to the girl who dumped my friend and whos ticket i used ,thank you never got to tell you that.