For some time, Peter Cook and I have been meaning to have another get together and go through the "stuff from the attic"!. Well, late last year it happened and this is the post that I did about the visit, Peter, the Axis Guitar and me! Peter, Axis and Eric.
Well,
what a brilliant day I had with Peter - the promised "sort through" of
all the stuff that was in the attic/loft, was more interesting that I
could have imagined. After
a cup of tea (how English) and a bit of a natter, we started on a
smaller box with diaries, note books, delivery notes etc. Lots of entries for John (The Ox) and Pete, plus Clapton, Neil Murray, Lemmie/Fast Eddie and a whole host of others.
The second box, marked up as Ned C, was full of Ned Callan bits, as you would expect, as well as more copy delivery notes, which on reading, quite shocked me at the quantities!
I never thought there were that many in circulation - and included were
the serial numbers of a lot of them, along with the dates. There were many more interesting items, which we had a sort through - with another tea, including some Polaroid shots of a very young Peter Cook, playing a Firebird copy, prepared for CSL!
Then the third box! So many interesting bits and pieces to sort through and then. . . . .
What do you think this is? Got it yet? Fans of John, I'm sure would spot this instantly - it had the whiff of "Garden Shed" I was truly "Gobsmacked"!!!!! Yes, it's the real thing, trust me!!
Also found a few layers down, was this! The bottom part caught my eye,
because he made two Firebird Twin Necks - mine and the one Del Bromham
had. . . . was this entry relating to mine? The parts at the top, obviously relate to the items shown above, if you hadn't already guessed!!!
This is just a fraction of it, in terms of details, notes, etc. - so we
are going to have another go at it and try and bottom it, at some time!!
As I said at the top, a brilliant day!
As
always, my request goes out to anyone who has/had a Peter Cook or Ned
Callan, seen one/played one - would love to hear from you.
Cheers.
The
Black Bomber Jacket, is one of those typical tour jackets of the 70's
and 80's, which Peter used to take to shows and apparently, sold like hot cakes. Anyone got one?
Anyway, recently been playing my Ibanez RB 650, which is a Killer of a bass! So, I was searching for the link and during the same period that I did the white one, there was also lots of other interesting stuff. So, go here and scroll down one post to the Ibanez and if you fancy it. . . . have a browse through the rest of it. :) Ibanez RB 650 and other stuff.
The first time Peter and I met, we spoke at length about all sorts of things - sort of a question and answer session, with other anecdotes thrown in. One of the questions I asked him was, "what happened to the designs, templates, ideas, paperwork from the days of "the shed", Ned Callan and the the shop?" "It's all in the attic". Well, even back then, I had to ask - "Could I have a look at it all, at some point?" That day arrived, a couple of weeks ago. It coincided with the return of one of his creations, which he made over thirty five years ago. This is the feature I did on the guitar, some time ago: Peter Cook Axis Guitar
As I have mentioned before - with everything that he was involved in and everything he made for others, he had nothing of that era, for himself.
So, as well as going through a whole pile of stuff, that was in the attic, the Axis was reunited with it's creator.
Below, you can see a very happy Peter, with the Axis Guitar.
Oh - there is me. . . . as well!!!! Back next time with "what's in the box?" Cheers. :)
I don't usually do this sort of thing - I think Gary Moore was the last time that I did, as it was such a shock.
This, to me, is an equal shock.
Greg Lake has left us, aged 69.
A volume of work that any artist would be proud of but at this time of year, I so look forward to hearing this - not only a great song at Christmas but one of my favourite songs!
He left a big impression on me and I'm sure, millions of others, all over the world.
