ABC / Voiceprint (label)
23 February 2009 (released)
07 February 2009
There are two things that this is not: this is not a bunch of embarrassed looking b-list musicians backing a ‘star’ desperately clinging to fame and this is not a cheap collection of off-cuts and ‘exclusive’ clips designed tto cash in on the death of a superstar. What this is is a bunch of genuine rock superstars getting together and enjoying the heck out of playing with two of the founding fathers of most of the music of today. For cripes sakes, this includes Ron Wood, Mick Fleetwood, John Mayall, Mitch Mitchell playing as BACKING MUSICIANS!
Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry were the catalyst and originators for the whole of the beat boom of the sixties and the rock scene of the seventies and onwards and this captures them having a great time and, incidentally, playing some kickasss r&b. The smiles on the faces of Mick Fleetwood and Ronnie Wood are a joy to behold and the playing that results is something else.
At one point there are about twenty musicians on the stage including four drummers and three bass players but they are all falling in line behind Bo Diddley. On 'Rock 'n' Roll Music' you have Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge), Kenney Jones (Faces & The Who), Mitch Mitchell (Hendrix) and Mick Fleetwood (Fleetwood Mac) all drumming away like a percussive juggernaught, Mayall blowing some great harmonica, Carl Wilson (Beach Boys) adding some stunning guitar, Ron Wood bouncing around like a six year old while Ronnie Lane and Chuck Negron (Three Dog Night) add backing vocals and Bo Diddley is leading like a major General – like I said, real allstars and a real jam.
There aren’t any great insights here or anything to learn – this is just great fun and I double defy you not to dance while this is happening.
Bo Diddley is the undoubted star of this and he shows why he is so often quoted as the main influence for so many – enjoy.
