NEvillE’s AdvocAtE
Ponders an upcoming rock ’n’ roll tour and what he needs to do to prepare. And realises he’s (sort of) in the charts
As for guitars, I usually use my red CS Stratocaster, although I’ve recently been playing the white one I refinished for our Guitarist Strat feature. But on the last tour I went with the ES-335, as my illustrious predecessor in the band, Big Jim Sullivan played an ES-345 so those sounds, and not Fender ones, are what seems to suit best. But then, the Tele is such a guitar for all seasons, and I love the inverted snobbery of using this simplest-looking instrument and getting monstrous sounds out of it. So the jury’s still out here.
Well Prepped
For half the show I play acoustic: my Martin Reimagined OM-28. Both electric and acoustic will receive an overhaul and I’ll stock up on strings. Also, I’ll make sure all those gig-bag essentials are in place – spare slide (for one number), spare capo (I use it on several), cleaning stuff, string snips, truss rod adjusters, cleaning cloths and lemon oil. It all sounds a bit keen in writing, but get to the next show, find you’ve mislaid your capo and all the guitar shops are closed… it can be quite stressful.
Then there’s the matter of the songs. On these tours we back the other artists too, so the numbers have to be learned before we get to pre-tour rehearsals. And that’s when those sounds you think you had perfected, need tweaking because they don’t work with the band. It’s all fun though, and I can’t wait to get back out on the road.
Oh, and as we speak, M’s album Dreamboats And Petticoats: The Very Best Of Marty Wilde is riding high in the UK charts. I played on several of the tracks including a new song about rock ’n’ roll legend Eddie Cochran who died in St Martin’s Hospital in Bath (the city from which I write) after a car crash. He had been backed on tour by The Wildcats, on loan from Marty.
I’m Marty’s longest serving ’Cat and it’s been a privilege to work with him. Perhaps I’ll see some of you at the shows. Do come and say hello…