The Gretsch Pages: Discussions: On the 'tube: Gene Vincent 1969 UK Tour

Welcome to the Gretsch Pages

Gene Vincent 1969 UK Tour

- Rated: 29 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 5:56 p.m. Shuie:

Good God this is a difficult watch, but it is essential viewing. In three parts. This is not all of the documentary. This is, dispiritingly, the GOOD bit.

Gene is lovely, though, and is on his best behavior, drink-wise. Prepare yourself for the worst as he is humiliated by dodgy agents trying to weasel out of paying-up, has to ride in an ever-stalling V4 Transit van, suffers the indignity of a shampoo-and-set and is rewarded by being introduced on a teatime evening TV slot after the price of kippers is announced.

If you really need another reason to watch, the guitar player in his backing band, the Wild Angels, has a double-cut 6120. It gets plenty of action in rehearsal and performance.

I'd put a seat belt on if I was you. Hardcore Vincent fans will have endured viewing this before and know the feeling well.

Sweet Gene takes it all on the chin and sings like he was kissed by an angel.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=MFt47od7xLo

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=siZuVrgrpTY&feature=related

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=brQPazI6XWU&feature=related
- Rated: 30 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 6:39 p.m. JazzBoxJunky:

Wow, poor old Gene, he just looks tired, sick, his leg was pretty bad. But even with a pickup band he could still light it up. This was a tough time in America to do this kind of stuff, but they clearly loved him over there. Folks, this is what show business is really like, no wonder there is so many casualties. I would love to hear from Billy Zoom about his time with Gene and what kind of guy he really was when he didnt have a documentary camera jammed in his face.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 6:46 p.m. Shuie:

That IS the point, JazzBox, he sure could light it up. All the other stuff going on didn't matter when the gig was a rollin.

I'm sure he had his moments, maybe hours, maybe longer, when he was bitter and depressed. But the man could turn it on when he had to though. And how!

Love to hear from Billy Z on this, too.
- Rated: 35 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 8:14 p.m. crowbone:

Hey Billy,

Did you do any recording with Gene?
- Rated: 83 ↑
Oct 3, 2008 10:03 p.m. Synchro:

Show biz really takes a toll and it's obvious that Vincent had his share of show-biz grief. Fighting for my pay is one of the parts of the music biz I don't miss a bit.
- Rated: 29 ↑
Oct 6, 2008 7:36 a.m. mark t:

I read an interview with Billy when he was talking about his days playing with Gene, and how he (Billy) and the other guys in the band had long hair, and most of them had no respect for Gene. Vincent at one point or another said something along the lines of being amazed with Billy's ability to play that "old stuff" or something, and I came away thinking that Gene had a lot of respect for Billy's ability.
- Rated: 45 ↑
Oct 6, 2008 8:05 a.m. Tsar Nicholas :

That was very upsetting.. he looks so pained the whole time. He's still got that voice though.

You'll need to log in to post.