Bill Nelson

[Lotobear]

.....fortunately not dead, but what a superb guitarist he is and what a criminally under rated band were BBD

[vixen1700]

Still play 'Do You Dream In Colour?' and 'Banal' quite often. Forty years old now!

[Boringvolvodriver]

You had me worried there for a minute!

Totally agree BBD much underrated although occasionally hear a track on radio 2!

Takes me back to my first ever gig, at Brid Spa where me and a friend went specifically to see BBD as support to Sailor. My mate had persuaded his parents to drive us there.


Didn’t bother staying for Sailor

[Nyloc20]

Can’t remember them playing in my hometown Brid but I was probably living in the West Riding then. Saw them at lots of other venues, my cousin was a good mate of Bill Nelson. Brilliant band.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Probably 1974 iirc

[sociopath]

Best thing to come out of Wakefield with the exception of the A638

[dandarez]

Bloody hell, thought he'd passed on when I saw that!
Bill seems to be always missed when great guitarists are listed (well, near the top ones).

I still recall buying Sunburst Finish in my mid 20s in the mid 70s - no idea what attracted me to it besides the single from it Ships in the Night
(still have the LP somewhere among my collection).

I do recall watching a youtube documentary of him about that LP a couple years ago. Gone is the flamboyant look and now grey and goatee beard (aren't we all), worth a watch if I recall.

Just had look, here is the docu, it's still up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6EC_nDTaGk

Edited by dandarez on Friday 12th March 17:31

[gazza285]

sociopath said:

Best thing to come out of Wakefield with the exception of the A638

Doncaster one way, and Dewsbury the other?

[Boringvolvodriver]

dandarez said:

Bloody hell, thought he'd passed on when I saw that!
Bill seems to be always missed when great guitarists are listed (well, near the top ones).

I still recall buying Sunburst Finish in my mid 20s in the mid 70s - no idea what attracted me to it besides the single from it Ships in the Night
(still have the LP somewhere among my collection).

I do recall watching a youtube documentary of him about that LP a couple years ago. Gone is the flamboyant look and now grey and goatee beard (aren't we all), worth a watch if I recall.

Just had look, here is the docu, it's still up.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6EC_nDTaGk

Edited by dandarez on Friday 12th March 17:31

That is a good watch - listening to the album now - stands up well after 45 years!

Still prefer Axe Victim though

[Einion Yrth]

No slouch as a composer, either.

And yes, from the thread title I was expecting bad news. Shame on you OP.

[anonymous-user]

Gary Numan did an episode of What's in My Bag for Ameoba Music in LA and he said the same thing, incredible guitarist.

[Mr Tidy]

Phew, I was expecting the worst when I saw the heading!

I bought Sunburst Finish back in the 70s when I was 17, and played it to death. Liked it so much I now have it on CD.

Blazing Apostles is possibly my favourite track - today anyway.

[paulmakin]

still play "Furniture Music" quite often - didnt realise how long ago it was

[BIRMA]

His own albums were good too. October Man is one of my all time favourites plus his playing in John Cooper Clarks Readers Wives is superb.

[sociopath]

gazza285 said:

sociopath said:

Best thing to come out of Wakefield with the exception of the A638

Doncaster one way, and Dewsbury the other?

Just not being in Wakefield is its best bit

[SaintsPaul]

I have a Bill Nelsons red noise album somewhere in my collection. Can't say I have listened to it in a very long time but remember it being very good.

[brownspeed]

dandarez said:

Bloody hell, thought he'd passed on when I saw that!


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6EC_nDTaGk

Edited by dandarez on Friday 12th March 17:31

hey!, thanks for this!
BBD were a fave band of mine when I was a lad. & has stood the test of time- unlike some other stuff I was into back then

[rover 623gsi]

one of my favourite albums - only six tracks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxkSwiOJnjg&li...

[spyder dryver]

I saw BBD a few times in their (regrettably short) heyday and Sunburst Finish remains one of my all-time favourite albums. One of the gigs at De Montfort Hall was filmed. I don't recall ever seeing a VHS or DVD of the gig.

[Skyedriver]

Always referred to as Bill Nelson Big Nose by a colleague at the time. (I'd never heard of him TBH - Nelson was of his era.)