The Big Beat

Why do people have to die?
Be so much more fun if we lived forever. But them's the breaks. .

Eddie Cochran. Recorded some of the finest Rock & Roll songs ever. Summertime Blues, C'mon Everybody, Somethin' Else, loads more (Pink Peg Slacks and Rock 'n' Roll blues are my top tips, with Little Lou being no 1). I've visited his hometown in Minnesota and partied hard at the Chippenham rockin' festival that bears his name because he crashed there before he died.
Rock on Eddie, when I stand at the marker where you crashed, I don't grieve, I vow to drive more carefully and rock & roll wherever I can. Respect to your talent and quiffage!!

Gene Vincent. Died in the early seventies a few years younger than me. He was a right mad bastard!
At least I got to see the Blue Caps (his group) about ten years ago, I dropped to my knees and did the 'worship' thing. Though I suspect only the drummer was an original .
You can't shoot me Gene, I'm a fan!

Buddy. If you don't love Buddy Holly you don't love music.
Met the Crickets, seen 'em many times, and last year my rocking buddy Mark & I made the great bopular pilgrimage to the Surf Ballroom at Clear Lake Iowa (the last place Buddy Holly played). Visited the crash site, and had a most moving morning somewhere in the snow with coffee and guitars and English Buddy fans in a coffee house.
Buddy, you were amazing. If I ever stop enjoying Buddy Holly records I'll know I've died.

The Man.
See, Elvis was the handsome one. But he was no different to all these other rockers in the fifties, but because he was a heart throb he made more movies, had the best musicians, and as a result, became a great pop star.
Then he died.
I was nine when he died, yet Me & Elvis have history & baggage . . let's leave it there!
Love on 'ya Elvis!

Funny. A lot of 'roots' Rock & Roll fans don't care for Bill Haley. I can kind of understand that, but he was great, and his band were great. I've seen the Comets a few times, and if you can ever dig out some Jodimars recordings, which is the Comets alone, you'll get a pure gold rocking thill!
Thanks for turning so many English heads Bill. .

Fats.
Unlike the others, he's still alive, yet I've never seen him. I had tickets for his last UK tour, but he pulled out, and I was-a-weepin!
Two more . .

Sam Phillips. He was in London in 2000, at the same time as me. Didn't meet him. Fuck!

Alan Feed. Died the year before I was born, bless him. I'd love to write some great long diatribe about freedom of speech and integration in the fifties, self expression and all that. But, y'know, it's late. .
Just go and listen to a 1957 Little Richard record, it's all there. Honest, it's all you need!