on the world wide web.
Unavailable for regular duty, Neil Ainsby bowed out from Saturday night's Jet Harris-Mike Berry double header at the Capitol Theatre in Horsham, near Gatwick Airport, leaving The Rapiers short one guitar.
With a week's notice and a day's rehearsal, in depped Tim Adams, founder and leader of The Runaways. No, not the Joan Jett-Lita Ford all-gal pop-punk combo svengalied by madcap producer, writer and enfant terrible Kim Fowley in LA in the late-'70s. Rather "an ensemble of Rapiers persuasion" from Kent, as '60s noted pop author Alan Clayson once described the four-man rock 'n' roll combo.
"They've been playing together more than 20 years," said Colin Pryce-Jones, "on their own, doing Shadows tributes as well as backing Jet, Mike and even Crispian St. Peters ['Pied Piper']."
Chords are chords, but The Runaways fancy a different set of Shads walks -- "more on the modern side," Colin said -- requiring some pre-show tinkering. "The Shadows changed their steps over the years, especially on 'FBI'. We try to keep them as they were in the early '60s, including the original sidekick."
Tim must be a fast learner. The show at the 400-seat venue "went very well," Colin added.
Also of note, Mr. Harris is now brandishing a new set of axes, including a reissue Fender VI six-string bass, swapped for his Burns Barracuda. "Fantastic stuff," said Colin. "During the soundcheck, I went down front to hear 'Man From Nowhere'. "Very authentic. The Burns has a great sound, but the Fender has one all its own. Plus the Fender VI looks right -- it reminded me of seeing Jet and Tony Meehan on all their '60s TV appearances."
Greg Ogarrio
Shiloh7@aol.com
San Francisco
The 11th Pipeline Convention ~ London, April 20th 2003 by George Geddes
On Sunday 11th April, 1993 Alan Taylor stepped up to a microphone in the theatre of the International Students House, close to London's Regents Park, and welcomed the audience to the first Pipeline Instrumental Convention. Almost exactly ten years later Alan was on that same stage, albeit refurbished (the stage, that is, not Alan) to open the 11th such gathering. The 1993 event was a big gamble, but Alan and Dave's faith proved justified, and the Convention has seen a succession of instrumental acts grace its stage. Not only contemporary bands keeping instros alive, but some of the legendary names from the '60s have taken part, not for the money but simply to share the music we all love. From that first Sunday with The Runaways, The Scorpions and Nero & The Gladiators, Pipeliners have enjoyed live sets from Highway Patrol, The Surf Rats, The Hunters (twice), The Rapiers (twice), The Falcons (twice), The Fentones, The Moontrekkers (twice), Nero & The Gladiators (twice again), "1961", Sir Bald Diddley, The Cougars, Local Heroes (twice), The Scorpions (again), The Temebeats, The Silhouets, The Spacemen, The Boys, The Vickings, Brian "Licorice" Locking, Husky & The Sandmen, Pipeline '61, The Jaguars, Bert Weedon, The Centurions, The Secrets, The Reflections, The UB Hank Guitar Club Band, The Invaders, Los Jets, Lost 4 Words, Legend, The Charades and The Tornados. A truly cosmopolitan list. Family commitments kept me away from the first two events, but I have willingly endured family gripes, travel problems and penury to be at every one since 1995. Ray Liffen's excellent videos capture much of the unique atmosphere of Conventions, but in truth, you have to be there... [Full review at Pipeline under "Convention"]