I saw BBD just once, opening for BOC at the Boston Music Hall on March 31, '78. At the time I did not know Charlie's role on backing vocals, but I was very surprised to see the bassist looked nothing like him. It's hard to say what he looked like, the bassist had very long, very straight black hair which he wore in such a way that it obscured his face pretty much entirely, and I don't remember him taking part in any vocals. I have a memory of seeing the band on US TV once during that tour as well, and seeing this same bassist. While the veracity of the TV appearance memory is rather suspect at this point, the concert memory is very strong & clear. A search of the forums here netted me no insights, so I thought I'd ask. This player knew the whole set and the band sounded great, so I would guess he played for the entire tour.
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The boys remind Charlie where the bullseye is!....😲😬😵😉
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gT1HAo53224
Brilliant. Any more tracks?
Following on from the above photo of Be Bop Deluxe live at the Leroy Theatre, Rhode Island, on 9th April 1978, here's a recording from that very same gig...Be Bop playing 'Shine'...As far as I remember, the Drastic Plastic tour setlists included the odd, older number or two…
I wish we could find the Star Rider (I think) recordings of earlier Br Bop.
i had a video copy but the wuality was poor.
i know that rare recordings can be found in the archives of foreign country tv companies ( deleted Dads Army in Africa for example)
does anyone have a copy?
Mick Close was the second guitar on the Modern Music tour. He was actually a Bass player usually.
Yes, the 'Sight and Sound In Concert' footage, recorded Feb 1978, is pretty special isn't it.
It's actually available on DVD as part of an official four-disc box-set, released on Parlophone in 2013...containing 3xCDs and 1xDVD (and booklet).
It's pretty hard to find now, and can go for big money, but here's further details and info (with one going on discogs for £40...bit of a bargain that one!)
https://www.discogs.com/Be-Bop-Deluxe-At-The-BBC-1974-1978/release/5012804
Great pic, thank Mr. Tourist! Now 40 year old memories being what they are, I'm reconsidering this. I think what may have struck me about Charlie on stage that night was that he was not wearing a tie or jacket, was out of uniform, so to speak. The live clip of Panic In The World I remember seeing on TV that spring did feature a guy with long, straight hair obscuring his face, IIRC, but one who rocked his head just like Charlie is in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2coXmGHIZbQ Could be he was wearing a wig for laughs. This video is a revelation, to me, BTW, I've never seen it before and am bowled over by the sharp picture, sound quality and length. IDK if it's been posted here before, but if not it certainly will be appreciated.
When Be Bop Deluxe became Bill Nelson, Simon Fox and Charlie Tumahai, in late 1974, Charlie was and remained Be Bop's only ever bass player (and backing vocals) until the bands dissolution in '78..Andy Clark joined shortly after and this line up remained constant until the end.....The only time a 'stranger' has come into the equation was when Bill hired a rhythm guitarist for some live shows in 1976. I have forgotten his name, but he can be seen playing with Be Bop Deluxe on their Old Grey Whistle Test appearance of 1976 (Forbidden Lovers and Down On Terminal Street)...without wishing to sound harsh, that guy never fitted the Be Bop Deluxe aesthetic, but there you go..he only made a very brief 'appearance'.
So, from late '74 onwards Charlie was the only ever bass player..and Bill, Simon, Charlie and Andy were the constant from the Futurama album (Andy Clark was not on the album, but did join the Futurama tour), right to their last studio album release, 'Drastic Plastic' in 1978.
I think that's pretty much correct, lol...I hope so😉
This is Be Bop Deluxe at the Leroy Theatre, Pawtucket, Rhode Island, on 9th April 1978:
The theatre was demolished in 1997.
..and Charlie, Hammersmith Odeon, on 25th or 26th Feb 1978
Well, I guess he was just having some fun with his hairstyle then. It's likely the TV bit was taped in NYC, where he was inspired to try something new. I can't vouch for my memory of background vocals, it just didn't stand out for me, but seeing my beloved band for the first time bowled me over a bit anyway.
Charlie was on stage on March 25th in Cleveland for sure. Never heard of another bassist on that tour.