In 2010, Claude Nobs – Montreux Festival supremo – knew John McLaughlin and his old Mahavishnu cohort Billy Cobham were both in the vicinity. He also knew that that night’s opening act for Roxy Music were stuck in traffic hundreds of miles away. Would Le Mahavishneux care to jam with Monsieur Cobham? Why not…
Using a borrowed guitar, this was the first time the pair had played in around 26 years, since a fall-out during an attempted Mahavishnu rebrand/renaissance (John, Billy + others) in 1984. There have been a couple of shaky cameraphone clips online before but this terrific quality audio has just appeared. Bryan Ferry and the lads (much as I love Roxy) surely must have realised that there was nothing more than this…
And here is a rare (thankfully) bit of evidence of that short-lived 1984 reunion. You can REALLY tell it’s the 80s…
The clothes. The hair. The strange sounds. And I still found myself unable to look at anything but that very odd painting in the background… Jikes!
…whereas I hadn’t noticed it until you mentioned it!
Still haven’t located your book Colin so will have to tell me- what happened in the 84 reunion that it all collapsed.
Great sound on that recording -really jumps out of the speakers
I don’t address the matter in the book – it finishes in 1975, bar a bit of general what-they-did-next. I believe there were financial differences.
As opposed to the usual musical differences.
The entire gig (all twenty minutes of it) has been available as a boot from Big O since April 2011.
You’re telling me Roy Orbison is selling dodgy audio?
He’s GIVING IT AWAY!!!
Quality absolutely fine, too. You could always rely on Roy for quality.
Recorded using Ooby-Dolby…
What an amazing archive of astonishing stories you have, Colin. And you certainly know how to tell them.
There must be a bookful, at least. Has it ever been suggested?
I don’t know if you’re being facetious or not!
Facetious or not ( I suspect not), Retro is right.
It would be a marvelous read.
But I suppose I really must get myself a copy of your latest magnum opux first. Looking forward to reading that too.
Thank you, Fatz!
Given you’ve written one I’d say yes
‘Dear Montreux audience, we have a problem …. John McLaughlin has volunteered to be the support act…..no, wait…..please..’
At least he’s not wearing that grubby white suit.
The truly great thing about this is that Johnny’s playing an electric guitar. Not an electrically-powered digital stringed instrument that sounds nothing like a guitar. I’m sure there are guitar experts here who’ll be able to recognise the type, too. Is it a Fenson?