Bo Diddley dead..

[bleach]

Bo Diddley has died today - that pounding rhythm and minimal chords had I reckon a big influence on Lou and the gang..

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7432076.stm

[DavidH]

This is such a sad thing - ironically, I only just got hold of a CD-r of Moe's 'Playin' Possum' album (after years of not having a good enough record player to play the original on), and have been listening to it close to every day. RIP Bo.

[bobbldr]

I was so saddened to hear of Bo's passing. I saw him some 25 years ago with a pickup band at Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel in Providence. It was a snowy night, there were about ONE DOZEN people who came out... I was mortified that no one came out to see this true American original, a phrase that I do not use lightly. He played as if there were a capacity crowd and then mingled with us after the show. It was one I will never forget. And, can you think of another musician who had a song AND a rhythm style named after him?
Mo has always been a huge Bo Diddley fan, she will be the first to extoll his virtues when you talk to her. I saw her play "Hey Bo Diddley" live and it was greater than great.
As far as the Velvets, there would have been no "Miss Joannie Lee" if it weren't for Bo.
I will miss Bo greatly. And can't you just hear that Bo Diddley beat being played on harps by the angels up in heaven now....

[velvetfan]

I also remember a great Bo Diddley performance myself. It was at a club in New Orleans called Ballinjax. I know it was in August because I went as a Birthday gift from a friend and I believe it must have been in about 1973 because I was new to drinking at the time (18 back in those days) and I had seen the Dolls at the same club the week before. It was my second Dolls show, the first being when they opened after KISS(almost unknown then) and before Blue Oyster Cult (ugh). Boy was that lineup backwards! Anyway, I was new to alcohol and can remember being a bit loud. Oh I enjoyed Bo as I always would, but I distinctly remember Bo introducing various members of his family as bandmates and I of course couldn't refrain from yelling out "That's what I call nepotism!" in between every song. After about the fourth catcall, the eager bouncer was getting ready to toss my ass out, as I well deserved, but good old Bo called out: "leave the cat alone; he's rockin' out, havin' fun and I remember the first time I drank." The crown cheered, I shut my mouth and we all enjoyed a great show. Sleep well, Bo.

[Mark]

There is a killer version of Bo Diddley sung by Moe, with backing from Lou and Sterling, on the Re-Vu set that was treed a few years ago. Fantastic stuff.

[LCB]

I like the version of "Crackin' Up" that has Sterl playing while Lou teaches Nico the lyrics to "Venus In Furs"...