Post by wingsj0 on Dec 15, 2005 19:08:12 GMT
Jean, Barbara, and I arrived in Belfast on Sunday the 23rd November 2003 to see a man whose music means so much to me guitar rock legend Henry McCullough. Words cannot describe how I felt as we arrived at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast. We made our way into the venue, found a table and chatted about the evening that awaited us.
After a drink we were warmly greeted in the bar by the man who was in charge of the whole tour Nigel Martyn. It was wonderful to finally meet him because we have been friends via email for a long while so it was great to put a face to a name. Nigel very kindly took us back stage to say a quick hello to Henry before show time commenced! We were greeted with a big hug, and said a quick hello before making our way into the theatre to find our seats. It meant the world to me to be there that evening because Henry music means allot to me .
Eventually we found our seats and what a great view we had the box office had done us proud!
As I got comfy and admired the theatres original surroundings I glanced towards the most famous instrument standing pride of place on the stage! For there she was, Henry beautiful ‘original’ 1969 vintage Gold Les Top that Henry performed his breath taking My Love solo on during his time with WINGS, and used during his performance at the 1969 WOODSTOCK festival with Joe Cocker's Grease Band. (You’ve no idea what a rare site that was to see for us fans it was a thrill to see such an important part of musical history the memories that guitar must hold !ED) Ever since his beloved Cherry Red Gibson got stolen back in the year 2000 Henry has been very nervous about taking his beloved Gold Les Top out of the house and I don’t blame him there! Above the stage was a big screen, for this wasn’t going to be any old gig this was a very special evening as we were celebrating the life and times of the pride of Ireland Henry McCullough.
Eventually, the lights dimmed and on walked the man himself Henry McCullough to a warm applause along with cheers, and fellow rock journalist and a member of The Henry McCullough Band Anthony Toner. A Very Special Evening With Henry McCullough was to be split into to two parts, the first half of the evening we were treated to an exclusive interview with Henry as he told his fascinating story to Anthony Toner and the audience. Along the way we were treated to some wonderful family photos, photos of Henry in various bands as well as rare film footage from The Grease Band, The Grease Band performing live at WOODSTOCK with Joe Cocker, Paul McCartney & WINGS, and the classic of all classic’s the movie DVD of Henry own song Failed Christian. During the footage I glanced towards were Henry was sitting and thought, I wonder what he’s thinking, seeing his life work before him, proud I’m sure I know we were!
The most moving part of the evening for me was the introduction to another rock legend sitting in the audience Henry former boss and life long friend Frankie Miller. Henry revelled during the evening that Frankie was the greatest singer-song writer that he’d ever worked with. Sadly, Frankie Miller is too ill to continue working and was warmly greeted by the audience it truly was an honour to be in the presence of two of music greatest rock legends, Henry McCullough and Frankie Miller. For me as a fan it wonderful to hear Henry’s story being told by him, his story of talking to his mother who sadly passed away asking her for help as he reached a difficult cross roads in his life was a moment were I felt my eyes welling up. We were treated to stories of his days performing with his first rock band Air Apparent, his two minuets of fame performing as Jimmy Hendrix guitarist, how Henry got to know Jimmy during the package tour which consisted of The Move, Amen Corner and The Jimmy Hendrix Experience. How he came about joining and meeting The Sweeney’s Men, Spooky Tooth, Joe Cocker's Grease Band, the story of performing at WOODSTOCK not releasing how big the actual festival was they where performing in. Working for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with The Grease Band on the original sound tracks of Jesus Christ Super Star, and Evita.
Another story I enjoyed was the story of WINGS and how Henry surprised Paul during his performance of My Love as Henry musically challenged his former boss Paul McCartney as he told him he had to play the solo his way and Henry had his own ideas Henry ended the story by telling us Paul stood up and hugged me and said “I didn’t know you could do that!”? Henry laughed and said “Neither did I”. Henry fished the story by saying “I was able to stand a little taller that day”.There were many wonderful stories from the evening, but there was even more to come!
As the first half of the show drew to a close, in the second half we were treated to a live performance from The Henry McCullough Band.
The band where led by Henry and Percy Robinson on Pedal Steel. Throughout the evening we we were treated to many songs from the McCullough archives such as Too Late To Say Good Buy, Same Dam Thing, I Couldn’t Sleep For Thinking Of Hank Williams, Belfast For Boston, Failed Christian, to name a few all classic songs waiting to happen. Henry was on good form throughout his vocals were fantastic and matched his guitar playing then what would you expect from a guitar virtuoso? Half way through the evening Henry’s partner Josie joined the band on stage and sang a great song called’ Take Me Down To Your Level’. The other side of that song was Henry own arrangement of The Animals classic House Of The Rising Sun which left the whole of the Lyric Theatre spell bound. I knew Henry was a trained string and musical arranger and that song alone proved McCullough musical talents are endless.
As well as rockers from Bill Haley See You Later Alligator, Fats Domino, Let The Four Winds Blow, Frankie Miller Drunken Nights In The City, The Henry McCullough provided us with a fantastic evening’s entertainment of pure show man ship, led by a guitar rock veteran whose music is loved and respected by hundreds of fans through out the world. A performer whose career has survived four decades, whose musical life has interested movie producers in the USA who are hoping to turn the Life And Times Of Henry McCullough into a film.
The whole trip was fantastic, and worth the air fair, the people in Belfast are lovely. It was fantastic to meet up with Henry again and to hear him perform his own songs with his own band.
Thank you Henry for making the evening so special and for providing us fans with such classic songs that will remain in our hearts for ever. If you ever get the chance to see The Henry McCullough band on your travels they come highly recommended and if you like classic music performed by a rock legend then you’ll sincerely appreciated The Henry McCullough Band one of Ireland’s national treasures.
Jo Rishton
Official Site: www.henrymccullough.com
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.
After a drink we were warmly greeted in the bar by the man who was in charge of the whole tour Nigel Martyn. It was wonderful to finally meet him because we have been friends via email for a long while so it was great to put a face to a name. Nigel very kindly took us back stage to say a quick hello to Henry before show time commenced! We were greeted with a big hug, and said a quick hello before making our way into the theatre to find our seats. It meant the world to me to be there that evening because Henry music means allot to me .
Eventually we found our seats and what a great view we had the box office had done us proud!
As I got comfy and admired the theatres original surroundings I glanced towards the most famous instrument standing pride of place on the stage! For there she was, Henry beautiful ‘original’ 1969 vintage Gold Les Top that Henry performed his breath taking My Love solo on during his time with WINGS, and used during his performance at the 1969 WOODSTOCK festival with Joe Cocker's Grease Band. (You’ve no idea what a rare site that was to see for us fans it was a thrill to see such an important part of musical history the memories that guitar must hold !ED) Ever since his beloved Cherry Red Gibson got stolen back in the year 2000 Henry has been very nervous about taking his beloved Gold Les Top out of the house and I don’t blame him there! Above the stage was a big screen, for this wasn’t going to be any old gig this was a very special evening as we were celebrating the life and times of the pride of Ireland Henry McCullough.
Eventually, the lights dimmed and on walked the man himself Henry McCullough to a warm applause along with cheers, and fellow rock journalist and a member of The Henry McCullough Band Anthony Toner. A Very Special Evening With Henry McCullough was to be split into to two parts, the first half of the evening we were treated to an exclusive interview with Henry as he told his fascinating story to Anthony Toner and the audience. Along the way we were treated to some wonderful family photos, photos of Henry in various bands as well as rare film footage from The Grease Band, The Grease Band performing live at WOODSTOCK with Joe Cocker, Paul McCartney & WINGS, and the classic of all classic’s the movie DVD of Henry own song Failed Christian. During the footage I glanced towards were Henry was sitting and thought, I wonder what he’s thinking, seeing his life work before him, proud I’m sure I know we were!
The most moving part of the evening for me was the introduction to another rock legend sitting in the audience Henry former boss and life long friend Frankie Miller. Henry revelled during the evening that Frankie was the greatest singer-song writer that he’d ever worked with. Sadly, Frankie Miller is too ill to continue working and was warmly greeted by the audience it truly was an honour to be in the presence of two of music greatest rock legends, Henry McCullough and Frankie Miller. For me as a fan it wonderful to hear Henry’s story being told by him, his story of talking to his mother who sadly passed away asking her for help as he reached a difficult cross roads in his life was a moment were I felt my eyes welling up. We were treated to stories of his days performing with his first rock band Air Apparent, his two minuets of fame performing as Jimmy Hendrix guitarist, how Henry got to know Jimmy during the package tour which consisted of The Move, Amen Corner and The Jimmy Hendrix Experience. How he came about joining and meeting The Sweeney’s Men, Spooky Tooth, Joe Cocker's Grease Band, the story of performing at WOODSTOCK not releasing how big the actual festival was they where performing in. Working for Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber with The Grease Band on the original sound tracks of Jesus Christ Super Star, and Evita.
Another story I enjoyed was the story of WINGS and how Henry surprised Paul during his performance of My Love as Henry musically challenged his former boss Paul McCartney as he told him he had to play the solo his way and Henry had his own ideas Henry ended the story by telling us Paul stood up and hugged me and said “I didn’t know you could do that!”? Henry laughed and said “Neither did I”. Henry fished the story by saying “I was able to stand a little taller that day”.There were many wonderful stories from the evening, but there was even more to come!
As the first half of the show drew to a close, in the second half we were treated to a live performance from The Henry McCullough Band.
The band where led by Henry and Percy Robinson on Pedal Steel. Throughout the evening we we were treated to many songs from the McCullough archives such as Too Late To Say Good Buy, Same Dam Thing, I Couldn’t Sleep For Thinking Of Hank Williams, Belfast For Boston, Failed Christian, to name a few all classic songs waiting to happen. Henry was on good form throughout his vocals were fantastic and matched his guitar playing then what would you expect from a guitar virtuoso? Half way through the evening Henry’s partner Josie joined the band on stage and sang a great song called’ Take Me Down To Your Level’. The other side of that song was Henry own arrangement of The Animals classic House Of The Rising Sun which left the whole of the Lyric Theatre spell bound. I knew Henry was a trained string and musical arranger and that song alone proved McCullough musical talents are endless.
As well as rockers from Bill Haley See You Later Alligator, Fats Domino, Let The Four Winds Blow, Frankie Miller Drunken Nights In The City, The Henry McCullough provided us with a fantastic evening’s entertainment of pure show man ship, led by a guitar rock veteran whose music is loved and respected by hundreds of fans through out the world. A performer whose career has survived four decades, whose musical life has interested movie producers in the USA who are hoping to turn the Life And Times Of Henry McCullough into a film.
The whole trip was fantastic, and worth the air fair, the people in Belfast are lovely. It was fantastic to meet up with Henry again and to hear him perform his own songs with his own band.
Thank you Henry for making the evening so special and for providing us fans with such classic songs that will remain in our hearts for ever. If you ever get the chance to see The Henry McCullough band on your travels they come highly recommended and if you like classic music performed by a rock legend then you’ll sincerely appreciated The Henry McCullough Band one of Ireland’s national treasures.
Jo Rishton
Official Site: www.henrymccullough.com
Please note all articles on this site are (C) to The Beat Goes On And On Fanzine and may not be used without permission.