|
I was the luckiest guy in the world, having both my idols "Wild Bob Burgos", aka The Sledgehammer of Rock 'n' Roll, and "Chris Black" on the Czech Rumble this summer. I was asked by organizer Eric (Uncle_B) to do the presentation again, as I did last year, so I spent quite a lot of time on stage and backstage with plenty of opportunity to see Bob and Chris perform, and talk to them privately. It had been a few years since I had seen Bob and I was ever so glad to meet him again, because apart from being a great performer, he is also a great guy and a very friendly gentleman. Backed by the terrific German band "Big Bad Shakin'", Bob and the guys put up a fabulous show and the crowd just really loved it! It became a tremendous wild jamsession when Chris Black, lead guitarst of Black Cat, joined the gang on stage with his legendary Fender guitar.
Next on the bill was Black Cat. I had been looking forward to this set too, because it had been over 20 years since I had seen Black Cat perform. They split up in 1983, Chris then went on to Lord Sutch's band, he never quit playing, and he never will, not if he can help it. For the last couple of years Black Cat have been working on a comeback with great success. Chris Black is a genius on the Fender guitar, and Black Cat now have two wild saxophones in the band. Ricky Bainbridge, a founding member of the original Black Cat, and Dixie Dave, who has played with just about every great rock 'n' roller in history, among which no one less than the unforgettable Screamin' Lord Sutch.
On bass guitar a very good looking Claire Black (daughter of...) who took over the electric bass from her uncle and founding member Doug Weymouth, who unfortunatly can not tour with the band anymore for health reasons. I think Claire was a bit nervous at first, standing before a large audience on the mainland, but her face was just glowing in the dark when she saw how much the crowd loved the show. Black Cat was fronted by two great lady singers, Sharon and Melanie, a.k.a. The Blackettes, and they were really a sight for sour eyes. Two girls singing in harmony (three with Claire) makes a refreshing change on the rock 'n' roll scene today. Sharon also plays a mean blues harp and Mel is absolutely a Brenda Lee soundalike. Astonishing! Half way into the set, Wild Bob Burgos sat in, joining Dave Manning on the drums, and Chris Black invited me on stage to scream the rebel yells in "Ghostriders in the Sky". I think I overdone it a bit,
because everybody complained afterwards that the screams were so terribly loud, but I had the time of my life. It was great to see how easy Chris and Bob could join each other on their sets and it was surely a show I will never forget!
Reviewed by The BlackCat, 2005
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
