@Johnny-Concheroo might ‘enjoy’ this: Jan Akkerman, on some kind of curious Dutch road-trip TV show (conveniently subtitled by the YouTube uploader) discussing the history of the Les Paul in rock music, and puncturing the hype about one notable 60s exponent.
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Colin H says
And here’s the man Jan recommends instead of the comic-reading one…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIC1vvP2IpE
Colin H says
And completing the trilogy, here is Eelco with Jan playing supremely tasteful blues in 2013.
Johnny Concheroo says
That’s nice. Keen eyed viewer will have spotted that Eelco is using the same Les Paul in both clips. In the 1968 black and white clip you can see he’s added a non-standard metal plate of some kind below the stop tailpiece. In the 2013 clip the plate has been removed but the screw holes are still clearly visible.
I’d say that’s an original 1960 Gibson Les Paul Eelco is using because there is still some red colour visible in the sunburst. All original 1958-60 Les Pauls started out with a so-called cherry sunburst finish, but in the earlier models the red component faded over time, leaving the brown and yellow sunburst finish we are so familiar with. But in 1960 (the last year of Les Paul production until it was re-introduced in 1968) they changed the dye which meant the red didn’t fade nearly as much. It was a 1960 Les Paul Eric Clapton used on the Beano Album. Good to see that Eelco still has his original guitar, now worth well into six figures.
Meanwhile Jan is playing a big bastard Gibson L5 jazz guitar there.
Here’s a bit of info about Eelo’s guitar
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?91712-Eelco-Gelling-burst-great-story-!
Colin H says
You’re just not a details man, are you Johnny? 🙂
I’ve just read a comment on an amazon listing for a 28CD+DVD (!) box set of Cuby * the Blizzards that Eelco was asked to join Mayall’s band after either Clappo or Green but turned him down. Would you like to research this further JC and get back to us?
Johnny Concheroo says
Happy to Colin.
BTW, when I said “all original 1958-60 Les Pauls” above, I should have specified Les Paul Standards. There were of course several other Les Paul models in production at the time. But the Standard was the choice of the blues boomer.
Colin H says
I’m not a guitar geek, as you know, JC, but I know that Akkerman has often favoured a Gibson Personal over a Les Paul (as well as becoming known for using a Framus during the 70s – which I don’t believe anyone else of note has been associated with). Am I right in thinking that this is basically a slightly larger version of a Les Paul?
Johnny Concheroo says
Here’s how I remember it Colin.
Framus were a German company who made decent guitars of similar price and quality as the other European makers Hofner, Levin and Hagstrom. But frankly not as good as the big American brands.
Framus signed up Jan Akkerman for a signature model in 1973/74, but although he appears with the guitar in the catalogues it’s thought he seldom, if ever, used it onstage, preferring his Gibson Les Pauls Custom and Personal.
Framus went bust in 1975 and in the 80s Jan had a very similar copy made by Dutch luthier Robbert De Vos which I believe is still sold today as the Akkerman model.
Now, to complicate things in 1995 the Framus name was resurrected and they reissued their Akkerman model without asking Jan. Legal action ensued and the name of the guitar was changed to the AK 1974.
Framus basses, if not their guitars, were very popular in the 60s and one of the most high profile users was Bill Wyman.
As for Jan’s Gibson Les Paul Personal. It’s very similar, but slightly bigger than a regular Les Paul and a quite a bit fancier. As I mentioned elsewhere, this guitar had low impedance pick-ups and circuitry which is not great for loud rock music. So Jan ripped all that out and installed regular pickups along with many other modifications.
Here’s a website dedicated to the Framus Akkerman
http://www.framusakkerman.net/
Colin H says
So you don’t really know much about those matters, JC? Ah well… 😉
Johnny Concheroo says
As far as I can gather Colin, John Mayall asked Eelco to join the Bluesbreakers in early/mid 1967 to replace Peter Green, but he decided to stay with C & the Bs. There was another meeting later when Mick Taylor became aware of Eelco, but I’m still trying to sort the myth from the reality.
It seems Eelco was also invited to join Van Morrison’s band, but I’m not sure what year that was.
He was also in an early line-up of Golden Earring
Meanwhile here’s an early picture of Eelco with his original 1960 Les Paul. This shot clearly shows that strange metal plate modification below the tailpiece which I mentioned earlier.
http://i.imgur.com/T3M9xW7.jpg
Johnny Concheroo says
And here’s that Les Paul as it looks now. The metal plate has gone, but the filled screw holes can be seen. The bridge has been changed for a non original one and I can see signs of repaired damage on the body where the bridge fits. The neck (top) pickup cover is now back in place (or the pickup itself has been changed). Otherwise the guitar looks fairly original.
http://i.imgur.com/bLR0rdP.jpg
Johnny Concheroo says
Lots more pictures here of that Les Paul during its restoration
http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/vintage-les-pauls/307947-restoration-eelco-gelling-burst.html
Fintinlimbim says
Am I the only one who can’t see any subtitles?
Colin H says
I’ve checked – they’re definitely there (for the first half)…
mikethep says
Guy gave up halfway through.
H.P. Saucecraft says
I’ll be a Dutchman! Claims for that Beano Album are looking a bit comic …
Colin H says
Now that Eric has been kicked into the dustbin of history, the question is this: Eelco Gelling – time for a reappraisal?
mikethep says
Never having heard of him, I need to do an appraisal before I can do a reappraisal…
Colin H says
Well… it just so happens that there’s a recent series of delightfully comprehensive looking single-artist 2CD sets in a series called ‘The Golden Age Of Dutch Pop Music’, combining As and Bs and selected album tracks by a host of Dutch 60s acts, including Cuby & the Blizzrds (featiring Eelco):
I’m very tempted by the Focus one in the series. It has their rare single backing Ramses Shaffy, and the brilliant ‘Early Birth’ B-side, but annoyingly misses their very rare B-side (to something or other, maybe not a Dutch issue B-side) ‘O Avondrood’.
Johnny C, like myself, will surely appreciate the montages of European 60s single pic sleeves that appear on this series of comps.
Johnny Concheroo says
I enjoyed that (until the sub-titles ran out). A few howlers from Jan there, though.
Rock Around The Clock wasn’t recorded on a Gibson Les Paul, but a 1946 sunburst Gibson ES-300 jazz guitar (see below). Incidentally Danny Cedrone, who played the solo, died only 10 days after the record was made.
Jan claims NSU was Cream’s first hit, but it was actually an album track and the B-side of I Feel Free.
He then goes on to confuse Keith Richards with Free and Neil Young with Guns N’ Roses.
http://i.imgur.com/BaINbH3.jpg
Colin H says
I think you’re being a bit unfair re: NSU – it was the I Feel Free B-side, as you say, but what if NSU was the track that got more radio play in Holland? (Or indeed was flipped to be the A side in Holland?)
mikethep says
NSU has always been popular in Holland. 😉
fortuneight says
Applauds.
Mike_H says
I was surprised he didn’t recognise Neil Young’s playing.
Blimey…
Junior Wells says
Yeah well I thought that was Kossof too. And I could see why he thought Guns and Roses from that small take.
Nice playing in the guitar shop. Obviously a while ago given guitar reserved for Gary Moore ( or are they still waiting for him to pick it up !!)
Bit unfair re Clapton, as I recall Clapton always acknowledged the source of his licks.
Johnny Concheroo says
Yes, exactly. Eric has never claimed ownership of the music he plays. What he did do was bring blues into the world of rock/pop and introduce it to a white audience. Plus he turned it into modern rock music, but that’s another story.
Colin H says
I understand that Clappo is historically important, and I’ve a soft spot for Cream myself – but I do think he’s hugely overrated. I mentioned this to Jansch once and he agreed – quite vociferously.
Johnny Concheroo says
I think perhaps Clapton’s legacy has been dulled by the decades of so-so music he’s been churning out since the 70s. But for a brief 5 or 6 years – 1965-70 – few players did more to change the face of rock
Beck and Hendrix were/are better players, but I’d venture that Clapton had more influence.
Colin H says
He was certainly the right man at the right time.
Johnny Concheroo says
Cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Johnny Concheroo says
And that’s sad to hear Bert’s views on Clapton.
Eric insisted on inviting Jansch to appear on the 2010 Crossroads Guitar Festival just a year before Bert left us.
Colin H says
It wasn’t a personal critism – BJ, like me, just couldn’t understand why he was so venerated as a player.
Johnny Concheroo says
I’m sure it wasn’t.
But I wonder what Bert thought of Neil Young’s playing who got BJ to open for him on Neil’s Twisted Road tour during his final months?
Junior Wells says
Is he so much overrated or is it that others dont get due recognition for similar levels of competence?
Colin H says
That’s two sides of the same coin!
I’ve no axe to grind about the fellow (no pun intended! … for a change…), but during the 80s/90s I simply couldn’t understand why millions of people were paying huge sums to see a man in an Armani suit play unremarkable mid-tempo blues and even less remarkable mid-tempo soft-rock in the Albert Hall for weeks on end every year. I still can’t understand that.
Junior Wells says
Well I reflected on that.
Overrated I was interpreting as he is not as good as people say he is, here as what I’m suggesting is that others are “also” very very good but don’t get the recognition.
Alternatively overrated in the sense of unduly rated above others -yes that is 2 sides of same coin.
I’ve seen Clapton twice . In 75, rumoured he took 2 acid tabs beofre the show and highlight was throwing up on side of stage. Second time in late nineties $300 a ticket and didn’t even say hello. A very perfunctory performance- thank god Doyle Bramhall III was there. Alas missed the show when he did D and the Ds with Doyle and Derek Trucks. (Was Derek named after Dand the D’s)
Johnny Concheroo says
Wiki:
Trucks was born in Jacksonville, Florida. According to Trucks, the name of Eric Clapton’s band, Derek and the Dominos, had “something to do with the name [Derek] if not the spelling”.
Not sure what means about the spelling
fortuneight says
I went to several of EC’s “snoozefest” gigs in the 90’s. Why? Because I’d never had the chance to see him before and I wanted to see the Clapton I missed. Needless to say I didn’t – at times he did seem on autopilot, and the almost total lack of interaction with the audience wasn’t so much bizarre as mildly insulting. Occasionally it looked like he was warming up to cut loose on songs like “Badge” and you’d see the audience come alive, willing him to relive a little. He pretty much never did.
The blues nights were better, not least because EC seemed a lot more relaxed as a second string to Albert Collins, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Vaughan et al. I think I saw 4 or 5 gigs at the Albert Hall in his “residency” days across 3 years or so – I sat through quite a bit of dross and whilst the occasional gem like Ray Charles “Hard Times” made up for lot, it wasn’t really enough.
retropath2 says
OK, you guys, I see your point, but nonetheless a bit harsh and acidic in your synopsis. So if the reasons to go see were of affection and memory, does that deny the pleasure given.? As a non blues purist, I have enjoyed snippets of Clapton over the years, as in when he’s good he’s very very good and when he’s bad he’s horrid. I knew that, but, given the chance, I lapped up the opportunity to finally see him in action, on his turf at RAH during last years “final” gigs. (OK I had nominally seen him at Blackbushe but ingestions have removed the memory of most of that day.) It was a slick and well presented show. He pressed the buttons and I left happy.
Junior Wells says
Back to Akkerman. They toured Oz in the seventies and played a few gigs in succession in Melbourne at various venues, unis etc. Saw them 3 times in a few days. My mates helped out with PAs smoked spliffs etc. Anyway I posed this clip on Facebook and one of these guys posted this anecdote …….”remember that night the dumb skinhead asked him “is that a real Gibson ?” … Akkerman looked at him like he was a moron (which of course he was) and said “I hope so …”
mikethep says
I never felt remotely like shelling out for one of those Albert Hall snoozefests. But apparently the thousands who did, didn’t think (or know, or care) that he was overrated.
EC was the first cool guitar hero. Hank and Bert were never cool. Even his Beano-era haircut was cool. Once Peter Green came along his reign as God was pretty much over, but he remained pretty good until he lost it in the 70s.
Johnny Concheroo says
Yes, this.
Eric was always a fashion chameleon. On the Beano Album cover Mayall looks like he’s been sleeping in a hedge, while McVie has the regulation blues boom outfit of Levi’s, plimsolls and jean jacket. Hughie Flint looks cool in a continental kind of way, but it’s Eric who looks best by far. Expensive haircut with big sidies, high heel boots, proper skinny pants with a crease, striped sweater and some kind of fur coat.
I wonder who was getting the most groupie action in that band?
A month or two later he would look different again.
mikethep says
‘ ‘e looks like ‘e’s been through a nedge backwards’ – my grandmother, c.1966.
Junior Wells says
We have done this on the blog but heck while that lot are sleeping ,errr …..who cares?
Last album I really liked was the live album EC was here with a lot of grunt work by Geoirge Terry. Me and Mr Johnson was a lot better than I expected and Riding with the King was a lot worse than I expected.
Johnny Concheroo says
I just took a look at the Clapton/Cream section on my shelves.
I have absolutely everything he did until 461 Ocean Blvd, then it starts to tail off.
This is what I have after 1970
461 Ocean Boulevard – really good, but not as good as Layla
There’s One In Every Crowd – meh
The Rainbow Concert – a flop. With too many guitarists on stage it sounds a mess
EC Was Here – Excellent as JW says, but George Terry is doing much of the heavy lifting
No Reason To Cry – Features a rare Dylan song and Bob guests on vocals. Otherwise double meh
Slowhand – a return to form according to many, but I’ve never rated it that much.
Backless – triple meh
Money & Cigarettes – Good version of Albert King’s Crosscut Saw and Ry Cooder guests. That’s about all.
Riding With The King – Recorded with BB. Pretty good overall
Sessions For Robert J – Not bad
The Road To Escondido – recorded with JJ Cale. Not Bad
Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood – Live At Madison Square Garden. Winwood is always good value and Eric rises to meet the challenge. This is a good live album.
Crossroads Box set – Possibly the first rock box set and it set the standard for everyone else. Excellent
Unplugged – maybe his biggest seller of the last 30 years, but I can live without it
Johnny Concheroo says
Oh and Crossoads Vol.2 Box Set – Live in the 70s. It’s OK, but it’s like a 4 disc version of EC Was Here
Johnny Concheroo says
And here’s Eric in 1968, looking handsome with his Cream perm grown out and “The Fool” psychedelic Gibson SG. That wall of Marshalls looks cool in the background too. This was filmed for the Farewell Cream movie, but he’d changed his appearance yet again by the time the concert took place a month or two later.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Yebbut Johnny! Have I gone completely mad – tell me – am I going fucking mad here or what? I seem to remember you making the point very strongly that Clappo was the first to use a Les Paul in a rockular context, on that Beano album. Yes? No?
You seem to avoid mentioning that you got this wrong – terribly wrong – wildly wrong – shamefully wrong – in your comments.
Or have I gone mad?
Johnny Concheroo says
I’ll mention it now if you like. Only Clapton in the UK (and maybe Bloomfield in the US) was using a Les Paul for overdriven blues rock in 1965.
Keith had one in 1964 and so did others such as John Sebastian in the Spoonful, but they weren’t using theirs in a rockular way at all.
As I keep saying, production of the Les Paul ended in 1960, but by 1966/67 Clapton had popularised the guitar so much that Gibson felt obliged to start making it again. They started making the wrong ones, but that’s another story for a different type of forum.
H.P. Saucecraft says
Apology accepted.
Junior Wells says
great band great song