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Neil McCauley
28-07-2015, 16:33
Moderators – please my apologies if this post is in the wrong category.

Outside of AOS, some have cheerfully invited me to comment on my avatar. Who is he/she, where was the gig they were photographed at, what was the guitar, and stuff like that.

First, it’s Pete Townshend. He’s playing a Gibson SG – special with twin P90 pickups into heavily modified (serious midrange distortion boost) Hiwatt amps and four (possibly six ) 4 x 12” speaker cabinets. No foot pedals.

The picture is from the boiler suit / Gibson era of the late 1960s

But the image? Well, I've seen it erroneously described as the first Isle of Wight festival and the first Woodstock festival. Both wrong though because both those gigs were played at night! I've no idea where though. This iconic image was on my wall as a student having bought Live At Leeds as a single album for 19/6 (nineteen shillings and sixpence) for some years, and as a mental image ever since.

As for the post subject observation “Like two hard-boiled eggs in a handkerchief”, it came from a lady of my acquaintance who was focusing on PT’s encased bottom more than the about to be smashed Gibson SG.

Macca
28-07-2015, 16:59
I've read that he broke his first guitar by accident, raising it above his head at the end of a gig at a small club and stuck the neck through the false ceiling above the stage breaking the neck. Angered he smashed the guitar up. The crowd went nuts and a tradition was born.

RMutt
28-07-2015, 16:59
I was only seven in 1969 so I wasn't there, but it looks like, from pictures on line and youtube, that they played in daylight in 69 and darkness in 70.

Neil McCauley
28-07-2015, 17:10
I've read that he broke his first guitar by accident, raising it above his head at the end of a gig at a small club and stuck the neck through the false ceiling above the stage breaking the neck. Angered he smashed the guitar up. The crowd went nuts and a tradition was born.

Quite correct. The Station Hotel in Harrow in fact.

Neil McCauley
28-07-2015, 17:11
I was only seven in 1969 so I wasn't there, but it looks like, from pictures on line and youtube, that they played in daylight in 69 and darkness in 70.

Interesting and thank you. Wasn't aware of this. That said videos of Woodstock and IOW do show night performances

RMutt
28-07-2015, 17:16
Interesting and thank you. Wasn't aware of this. That said videos of Woodstock and IOW do show night performances
Sorry, yes I wasn't very clear on reading it back. I was commenting on the Isle of Wight festivals.

awkwardbydesign
28-07-2015, 20:24
Well, I WAS at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. And I can't remember a damn thing. So I must have done it right. ;)

Neil McCauley
28-07-2015, 21:39
Well, I WAS at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. And I can't remember a damn thing. So I must have done it right. ;)

Indeed yes.

Barry
29-07-2015, 13:06
Well, I WAS at the 1970 Isle of Wight festival. And I can't remember a damn thing. So I must have done it right. ;)

So you missed Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis as well .....! :eek: :doh:

Haselsh1
29-07-2015, 14:51
How very 1970's, Hi-Watt amps and cabs. I remember it well. All very prog rock ;)

awkwardbydesign
29-07-2015, 15:53
So you missed Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis as well .....! :eek: :doh:

Not a fan of either, but didn't necessarily miss THEM, more a case of missing memories!

Macca
29-07-2015, 17:20
Not a Hendrix fan? How can that even be possible?

Gordon Steadman
29-07-2015, 17:34
Not a Hendrix fan? How can that even be possible?

Quite easily. Just another stoned out grimacing blues guitarist (sorry Alan) About equal to Clapton perhaps but some way behind Peter Green and /or BB King:)

Barry
29-07-2015, 17:48
Quite easily. Just another stoned out grimacing blues guitarist (sorry Alan) About equal to Clapton perhaps but some way behind Peter Green and /or BB King:)

And Clapton, Green and BB didn't grimace? And Clapton and Green were never stoned when playing?

Gordon Steadman
29-07-2015, 17:56
And Clapton, Green and BB didn't grimace? And Clapton and Green were never stoned when playing?

No, what I I said was that Hendrix was just another one. Green and BB King just played better blues in my ever so humble opinion:ner:

Barry
29-07-2015, 17:59
No, what I I said was that Hendrix was just another one. Green and BB King just played better blues in my ever so humble opinion:ner:

Albert King was better than BB King in my ever so humble opinion :ner:

But would agree with you re. Clapton v Green. Clapton was technically better, but Green had a better feel for the blues.

struth
29-07-2015, 18:20
True ..albert was king of kings

Gordon Steadman
29-07-2015, 18:48
Albert King was better than BB King in my ever so humble opinion :ner:

But would agree with you re. Clapton v Green. Clapton was technically better, but Green had a better feel for the blues.

I haven't heard much of Albert King but a few YouTube clips seem to suggest that he is, at the very least, BB King's equal. I will investigate further:)