Nick is pleased to announce a new album that he is playing on: “Living the Blues” by Terry Marshall and Friends. “Despite having never released his own album, Terry Marshall remains one of the most ubiquitous and influential individuals in modern music; this of course comes from the guitar amplifiers which bear his name. Debut album ‘Living The Blues’ by Terry Marshall and Friends, including Laurence Jones, Emma Wilson, Alice Armstrong, Krissy Matthews and Zoe Schwarz as well as an array of talented blues musicians, the album is the embodiment of a lifetime of dedication to music and a revitalising take on blues classics. Living The Blues is available on CD and 180g vinyl LP via Marshall Records.”
Once again I have to pay tribute to another departed friend and colleague. Last week saw the sad passing of one of the most talented musicians that I have ever known. The fact that he was a member of the very band I played with for over forty years, The Good Old Boys, brings the blow even closer to home. Simon Bishop joined the group thirty years ago to replace guitarist Alex Chanter who was leaving to form his own band. To say that he was an asset to the group would be an understatement! Although a quiet and unassuming man it didn’t take long for us to realise that his astonishing talent on guitar was something rather special. Simon had the unique ability to embrace all styles of music and his amazing originality made him able to make a song his own.
Last picture of the Good Old Boys. From left to right: Richard Hudson, Alan Barrett, Pete Parks, Nick Simper, Simon Bishop
Although his style differed from Pete Parks the two of them were able to blend together and compliment each other and after thirty years they developed an almost psychic ability to read each other and create the unique sound of the band. Simon also worked as a music teacher and was always inundated with pupils, all hoping to learn to play like he did! A big part of my enjoyment as bassist for The Good Old Boys was knowing that the other members had the ability to suddenly display a little bit of magic which would make everyone sit up and smile. Simon Bishop was no slouch in that department and audiences would often break into spontaneous applause at some outlandish or outrageously clever demonstration of just what he really could do! Sadly, The Good Old Boys have called it a day after more than forty years, but the fun we had will remain with us forever. Simon, like all the members of the band was an integral part of it, and his passing leaves a huge void in the music business, and in our hearts. I consider it a great privilege to have known him and played alongside him for so many years, a truly talented man who deserves recognition as one of the best!
It was with great sadness that I heard the news of the passing of Mick Underwood.
I had first witnessed his great style of drumming at the Park Hotel in Hanwell in 1963 where Jim Marshall would host gigs for his pupils and customers. Mick was playing for the Outlaws, a top outfit at that time and he certainly gave an impressive performance. During the following years I bumped in to him several times and when I formed my band Warhorse in late 69 he was the obvious choice, but he was already forming his own outfit, the great Quatermass. Several years later Mick telephoned to offer me the bass job with his new band called Sammy, but by then Warhorse we’re enjoying their best period of touring and recording. As luck would have it Sammy and Warhorse toured together on the same bill for several months which provided an opportunity for me to get to know Mick very well. After the break up of Sammy, Mick continued to work with various outfits including Episode Six, Strapps, and Gillan, always in demand and by now well established as one of the greatest drummers in the business.
Quatermass II, 1996
It was 1994 when I found myself having a beer with Mick at a record company Christmas party to which we were both invited. As we reminisced we were joined by record producer Derek Lawrence who later suggested that we should form a band together, and to call it Quatermass II. We both thought it a good idea, and, after several false starts we had the right line up which resulted in our album Long Road being completed in 1996. Mick and I were both extremely proud of the album, and I consider it a great privilege to have spent several years working alongside a man who I always considered to be one of the very best. Mick spent the rest of the time working with his own group Raw Glory, but sadly never achieved the level of success that he should have done. I will remember him as a lovely friend and colleague, always fun to be with, the loudest drummer that I ever worked with, and definitely one of the very best!!!! Rest in peace.
The American tour continues, with Ritchie jamming with a roadhouse band in Florida and Tetragrammaton rush-releasing a butchered version of River Deep Mountain High as a single, without the band’s consent. Back home, things start to get weird until on July 1st, Nick gets the bombshell news – but not from the band. Read the full story here .
On April 25th, 2024, Nate and John from the Deep Purple Podcast, “have the privilege of speaking with Nick Simper. We talk about the upcoming Warhorse Remasters, Deep Purple Mark 1, Johnny Kidd, Nasty Habits and the Mark 1 Tours, Rod Evans, Book of Taliesyn, The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and much more!”
Release date 26th April 2024, a newly remastered 2CD edition of the recordings by Warhorse, released originally on the Vertigo label between 1970-1972. Includes the self-titled album, Red Sea and 11 bonus tracks. cherryred.co/Warhorse
Just a few months ago we lost Maria Hall, one of the best female vocalists I ever knew or had the pleasure of working with. Always known as Marie, she had been married for many years to the late Tony Hall, one of the country’s best saxophone players. Originally from Ireland, Mary had three children before meeting Tony and eventually joining his excellent jazz/rock band called Redwind. She was gifted with an amazing voice, being equally at home with raucous rock ‘n’ roll as she was with big ballads and country music.
Marie had an enormous catalogue of songs to draw on, a useful asset when called upon to stand in with other bands. Famous for her irreverent sense of humour and easy-going nature she was also tough enough to see off the occasional heckler who dared to interrupt her performance! During the 70s and 80s Marie joined forces with ace drummer Carlo Little and together they enlisted some great musicians, producing some excellent songs under her recording name Heddy Power. Sadly, none of these records made the impact that they deserved. Undaunted, Marie carried on performing with Redwind, Tony always by her side, her amazing voice always impressing the audience.
I was proud to have played bass for her on many occasions and to have enjoyed her great company. Eventually with Tony Hall spending more and more time on the road as a session player, Marie finally stopped performing. If anyone deserved success it was Marie who really should have seen her talent carry her to the top. Sadly, it was not to be, but the memory of her great voice and the fun that we had will stay with me for ever.
During the summer of 1975, shortly after Warhorse had disbanded, Pete Parks and I were contacted by drummer Barney James who wanted us to play on his planned concept album. We both eagerly jumped at the opportunity to re-unite with Barney and also keyboard wizard Frank Wilson who was already on board. It was a joy to get together with these great musicians again. Although it was never completed or released, the results are now available on ‘Köneg – The Second Coming’, nearly half a century after being recorded.
Ron Penney
Sadly, Barney James passed away several years ago and never saw his efforts released on disc, but thanks to his family they can now be heard on this new CD which was recorded at ex-Peddlers drummer Trevor Morais’ studio with the help of ace U.S. session guitarist Mark Warner. One huge omission on the sleeve notes, however, is a credit for drummer Ron Penney who played throughout the recording instead of Barney, who elected to only sing. Ron had been recommended by Trevor Morais to Barney who was suitably impressed! Pete Parks and I were also knocked out with Ron’s capabilities, leading to him joining us in our next venture called Fandango.
After all these years it is a joy to hear the tunes again and reminisce to the great memories they left us with. Thank Barney!
Since the rally for Medical Freedom held on August 28th, we have attended all the following protests, culminating in the latest (our ninth) on January 22nd. This particular rally was to support the thousands of NHS nurses and doctors, together with many other medical and care workers whose jobs were being threatened by the outrageous mandates of “vaccination” being proposed by the government.
Starting outside the BBC, tens, possibly hundreds of thousands of supporters marched through London. A report by the BBC laughably mentioned ‘a few hundred people’, although they only had to look through the office windows to see the truth! The huge presence of riot police was once again unnecessary as these protests are always carried out peaceably and with great dignity. The crowd, including many military veterans, marched past Downing Street where the NHS workers dumped their uniforms before carrying on to conclude at Parliament Square. Of course the general public never get to hear of these protests, but maybe it was just coincidence that the government decide to abolish these proposals after all?
I like to think that this time the power of the people prevailed!
