...at the sound-check:



This was prior to last night's show at the Hammersmith Apollo in London (nee Hammersmith Odeon).

I had a notion Forum user Twelvebar would certainly require me to ask about the Gold Flake Strat. To do him credit, Joe hid well the fact he must be bored to tears with that particular question and replied in his usual very polite and charming manner that the Strat is currently in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is shortly to be auctioned for charity. He said flatly that he had no further use for it. Regulars here will know what that is all about. I tactfully was not wearing a Fender polo shirt...

Other than the Gibs JB seems to be exclusively getting his Fender-ish sounds from Musicman guitars these days. Here's the MM double neck he opened the show with - dunno why, 'cause he never touched the lower neck:



My wife asked Joe if it had been a good year since we last saw him at his big Royal Albert Hall show. He said it was going like a whirlwind - in fact he said he just turned 30 about a year ago, and now he suddenly looked around and found he was already 33. Those of us - let's just say - a few years ahead of him laughed sardonically at that, kinda feeling we knew how that aspect of life works.

I'd considered making him a gift of a bottle of Plymouth Sloe Gin (those who know his work will understand why), but seeing what we're paying for tickets to his shows these days I sort of felt he could buy his own booze. So I didn't.

I did ask Joe if anything had topped the RAH show for him. He got very enthusiastic about how good it had been playing with Clapton, but then pointed out that the Hammersmith Apollo is actually slightly larger than the Albert Hall, so this was the biggest gig of his life. In fact, he knew the exact audience capacities of both venues from memory, down to the last seat. That's a gentleman who takes his ticket sales very seriously indeed!

Turns out Hammersmith is 5200 and some. For those of us as know both venues - who'da thunk?

We were all chatting merrily when some guy strolled onto the stage and started serenading the empty auditorium on a flute. Turned out to be Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, the night's "surprise" guest:



So that was nice. Here's my home movie of what they did together later that evening. Please take into consideration that this was filmed on my wife's tiny Fuji FinePix camera - so kindly be forgiving of the sound and picture quality:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ko504JbvdME

Couple more pix. Here's the Flying-V. As you see, the Bonamassa tour now runs to ramps, theremins and cutsie lighting FX. Full rock and roll decadence is just around the corner... :



And here's a nice Cherry Red Gib set up as a Lucille, upon which he treated us to his repertoire of BB King licks:



While we were chatting a guy who I believe was Joe's tour manager offered to take a photo with my wife's camera. It is simple and automatic and yet he still managed to get it out of focus, so I've en-smalled it to hide the lousy quality. This is Mrs Ceri's first appearance on the Forum - be gentle with her, people:



She told me afterwards that Joe has a particular thing going for him where women aren't quite sure if they want to seduce him or adopt him. I can tell you, with her eyelashes batting away that is not my wife in adoption mode. Ceri looks on, warily...

Anyhow. That's what we were doing last night.

Cheers - C

Very cool and loved the video!

"Miami loves it with Ian on flute!"

_________________
Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Yeah - they did two numbers and the second one was much better. Unfortunately at that point the camera said "card full".

I think someone else has already put part of it up on YouTube though, for anyone as can be bothered to look...

Did I mention? It was a cracking night!

Cheers - C

Woah! That's totally cool man.

Thanks for the pics and the "interview".

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MIM Std Tele, MIM HSS Strat, Homemade Mongrel Tele, Blues Jr, Champ600, coupla pedals...sweeeet!

Nice story and pics, however what I find interesting is YOU Ceri! Out of nowhere you show yourself ot be a master luthier, conesseur of fine ale's and spirits and now you post pics of a soundcheck of JB along with snipets of your chat with him!

I think your lifestyle is closer to James Bond than you eluded to in your guitar building thread! A man with connections!

Very cool!

You'll see my 'stamp of approval' on your vid.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

Ceri is definitely a man of mystery!! A legend unknown!!

Very cool my friend! Thanks for giving us a glimpse of your interesting life!!

Hey, thanks Mike! What puts me off YouTube is all the silly foul mouthed stuff kids seem to feel free to write all over it. Kinda makes you wonder why anyone bothers to put stuff up there? Friendly remarks always welcome!


In truth, so much not. But let's live the fantasy!

Cheers guys - C

PS Knopfler on Tuesday...

I wish it was true!

'Night all - C

nice story and cool pics. i would give anything to be able to rewind time and go back to Riverside CA in March and see Joe again. best concert I have ever seen.

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Blues with a feeling.

GUILD GUITARS: MADE TO BE PLAYED!

Ceri, thank you for posting a great story, the pic's, and the video are too cool Bro! The Hammersmith (or was it the Rainbow? age is apparent at this moment) is a great venue, saw Chicago there in '74. And for anyone wondering, yes Ceri is definitely a man of mystery, and much more, but then that part is classified top secret.

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you can save the world with your guitar one love song at a time it's just better, more fun, easier with a fender solid body electric guitar or electric bass guitar.

Are you really going to see Knopfler? You're a lucky guy Ceri.

Ceri, is this show with the project he has with Jason Bonham, 'Black Country Communion' ?

or is that still forthcoming?

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Great pics & vid Ceri, looks like a great night had by all, and welcome to the forum Mrs C rein in those lashes girl

Hi SBLS: nah, The Rainbow was somewhere different, sadly long gone. So happens, I used to know someone who worked at The Rainbow in the '70s when it first opened. She said they wanted it to be different than other venues and put a lot of effort into making it really nice backstage. Then The Who turned up to inaugurate the place - and wrecked it. So from that moment on it was a dump backstage like everywhere else...


Though I don't think I get to meet him on that one - but stay tuned. "money4nothin" - a Knopfler fan by any chance?


Hi Twelvebar: no, this was the regular band. I haven't seen the other project yet - but You and Me is my favorite album!


I'll tell her!

Cheers - C