You may well ask, "Why is there no mention of DC's actual name here?"
Because DC is a bit of a git, and he keeps a tight control of his catalog. He always kept tight control over his band, too, and there were complaints about who got the big share of the money. Rightly, he's one of the people rich enough to file complaints when things get beyond "fair use," as they usually do with blogs, forums and torrents. He might figure this is "fair use" but...sometimes people hire BOTS as part of enforcement, and a BOT has no idea and doesn't make value judgments...just automatic bonking. But a name in a photo? Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more.
Now then. Elvis Costello's father was very successful performing live with the Joe Loss band, touring all over Europe. He was somewhat successful under his real name, issuing a few singles. Well, very few. Three between 1964-1967. He was also in demand as a "cover version" singer, somebody who could sound like a high-priced star. You might recall the game that Promenade and other labels played, of offering THREE songs on each side of a 45 rpm single, allowing pre-piracy music fans the option of hearing their favorite songs six for the price of one. Just not by the original artist.
As "Frank Bacon," Ross did his best to replicate the DC5 sound. Listen....
BITS & PIECES of Bacon. Actually, the whole song. Listen or download. NO obnoxious Paypal tip-jar request.
DO YOU LOVE ME Bacon version? Don't shrivel away. Download or listen online. No passwords or bullshit "your flash is out of date, DL some spyware" warning
DC is indeed a git, and the dictator of the band, but he comes about it 'naturally', so to speak. According to an interview in the 2000s from another band member: He started the band. He had a car (I understand that was kind of a deal in early-60s England). He got all their gigs (the band member said that, at the time, he had no idea how DC did that). He drove them around. And so on. Furthermore, they were told that when the crowds started falling, the whole thing was finished. They played bang-bash teen dance music, sort of a British surfer stomp. And they never changed a bit. DC put out one compilation in the 90s, but is not the slightest bit interested in any kind of reissue blitz. He must surely know that the value of those masters is well past their peak. But here you have a rare example of a rock-and-roller with strict business sense, who kept his own copyrights and publishing. You won't find a DC song on any (legal) budget CD.
ReplyDeleteDC was the drummer, and the worst of any national group. Boom-chick-boom-chick. He tells the story of running into Buddy Rich in a studio somewhere. All he could do was stammer out "I wish I could play like you". Buddy said something like "If you did, you wouldn't be successful. You have a style. People know it is you." An interesting thought.
That IS an interesting thought! Buddy Rich saying, "You have a style. People know it is you." Or did Buddy think he was talking to Pete Best?
ReplyDelete