so long, bo diddley


Bo Diddley dead at 79.

besides pioneering the Latin-flavored "Bo Diddley beat" in rock and roll, he also served as sheriff in Valencia County, New Mexico for a couple of years in the '70s. Officer Bo!

obits:

http://gordonanderson.wordpress.com/2008/06/02/bo-diddley-is-dead/


http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/arts/AP-Obit-Diddley.ht...rtner=rssnyt&emc=rss

interview:

http://www.tlchicken.com/view_story.php?ARTid=1370

from wig wam bam 41, sept 2002:

Bo Diddley, Alex Maryol Band, the Ande Teen Marimbas
8/18/02 Sandia Pueblo Casino Amphitheater

The most bizarre set ever seen, bar none. But let’s start at the beginning while things were still normal. Wig Wam Bam contributor Dee Snarl got me a free admit to this show (friendly gesture or kickbacks to get me to run his stuff? You decide) and I was glad to check the place out for the first time. It’s a very nice mid-size amphitheater, not a bad seat in the place and quite decent sound system.

From Pecos, NM the Ande Teen Marimbas (why anyone that age want to put that “teen” in their band is beyond me) are eight or nine home-schoolers who I swear look like a United Colors of Benetton ad, at least two of every flavor I mean color.

They’re actually very good, rhythm-wise. The giant bass marimba was a particularly impressive piece of machinery. But a half-hour of shiny, happy marimba/afro dance was wearing thin on me. Its not like you can really rock out or pace it down or even vary it much. Its like that “fun” multi-colored popcorn, a novelty at first, not so bad and then oh, man I need something to wash this taste out of my mouth.

However since this gig was a benefit for some foundation kid/music programs, they were the darlings of the night. Seventy-three year-old Bo had his own idea of “darling” as he made Ande’s three girlies come onstage for his first couple of songs with rattles & shakers. I can’t swear on it but I think when he realized they weren’t gonna shake & rattle their little teen-age asses much, he sent them off. No word on where all the boys were at this point.

Alex Maryol Band played to the usual acclaim and resounding applause but for the life of me I can’t see what all the fuss is about. It’s a freakin’ electric blues band, for christsakes, nothing you haven’t heard a million times over. OK, so Maryol is 21 and working on his second recording--big fucking deal; its the older crowd that is impressed with his age. Can’t speak for you but I got plenty of records by 17 year old punks in my collection. No argument--dude knows his way around a fretboard but I say: put an acoustic guitar in his hands, put him onstage in a lone spotlight and then let’s see how what he can do.

Now for the Originator, Mr Bo Diddley who’s been rockin’ since the early 50s and claims (like Little Richard, like Ike Turner, like everyone else) to have invented rockn’roll. His “patented” Bo Diddley Beat has found its way into songs by everyone from the Stones to the New Riders of the Purple Sage but tonight he went more for the blues riffs.

Now Bo don’t travel with a band but picks up musicians where he goes (less overhead) and although the Maryol Band could keep time and may know the classic licks, there’s no way anyone their ages (the oldest one in the band might be, I don’t know, thirty tops?) could follow someone who’s been playing since he was old enough to walk on two feet. Those old blues guys grew up with the shit and sat in with scores of other musicians constantly. Experience: ain’t nothing like the real thing, baby.

But to give them the benefit, it must’ve been confusing as all hell because Bo seemed to like to tell rambling stories as much as play. And the playing was just as rambling, mostly jamming on elementary riffs. To his credit, Maryol tried to bring out the rock in Bo by holding his guitar way back, by putting his hand to his ear in that shorthand “lemme hear it, man” way when Bo was riffing. He too was hoping for rockin’ show that never really took off.

As disinclined as I am towards the Maryol band, the man acted professionally. On the other hand, Maryol’s harp player had a hard time keeping his call-and- response riffs with Bo within trading-licks limit. I’m not sure anyone else noticed but it sure bugged the fuck out of me. Look, man, very few players gonna impress someone like Bo these days you dig?

Bo did bring a sax man with him (they drove out from their home in Florida) who finally got Bo to notch it up by whispering in his ear that time was running short. The last twenty minutes was the hottest but still pretty subdued. Then one of the gig organizers starting reading the governor’s ramble-on proclamation of it being Bo Diddley Day in New Mexico. Bo just looked for his chair.

As he mentioned on stage, Bo’s been diagnosed with “sugar” (diabetes) so no matter the quality of the show, I’m glad I got to see Diddley do it while there’s still a chance.

Bye, Bo.

Huge bummer..totally ruined my morning. But the man WAS 79. He made it past average life expectancy. Still kicking myself for not going to his last show in albuquerque. I knew this was going to happen.

It's like when i went to see lou reed instead of james brown. Why couldn't lou reed have died after that awful performance in exchange for mr. brown's life?

Wow, Zac, you knew a 79 year old man was going to die? You're a genius! Why couldn't Lou Reed have died after his awful Burque performance instead of James Brown? Well, too bad he didn't I guess. It really IS all about you, huh?

I thought we were all aware that musicians live and die by my sword?

I know I am!

quote:

Originally posted by Zac:
It's like when i went to see lou reed instead of james brown.

god that lou reed show sucked. next time: we skip the show and stay in the opera parking lot with our sandwiches and beers.

i saw brown about 10 years ago. the best part? when he did his fast spins and his "hair" caught up with his head a fraction of a second later. hilarious.

quote:

Originally posted by Zac:
...musicians live and die by my sword

Originally posted by black:
I know I am!

not to be gruesome or anything but, uh, think you could work it into a black maria show? that would be badass.

Yes, but only if brian puts on his dragon costume.

Dragon costume or not, this could be the chance to bring out the inner/game-er nerd in certain bandmates.

Besides, it's time to introduce some drama and stagecraft into our presentation. Not to mention Zac...!