How Jimmy got the blues ( a tragedy in too many parts)

Many people have asked me how a white middle class kid from Hucknall got the blues? Now surley I could make some obvious pun about working down the pit, but alas that is not the case, I have probably never done a day's hard work in my life. I suppose to tell the story properly we need to talk about a life changing incident. You will have to forgive me if you have heard this before (according to some the whole of Nottingham knows this story). To do this we have to go back 21 years ........ Young Jimmy had already taken up the lifelong struggle of trying to play guitar, never knew why I wanted to play but something just appealed to me about guitars. Not the usual bullshit that I wanted to meet girls and be in a band, I have ended up in bands, but women never come and talk to me at gigs, just blokes wanting to ask boring fucking questions about guitars. I can't say I still have those feelings now surrounded by a shop full of them, but back then there was a mysterious something that attracted me to a piece of wood with six strings and some magnets on and a box of valves attached to a speaker. So anyways. Here I am 14 years old struggling with the guitar, playing the music of the day to no avail. Que a rather eventful family holiday in Spain. I've never really been one for speed based motor thrills, so imagine my fun when I was almost press ganged into going go karting, big fast ones and me with the co ordination of Bambi. It was never going to work out well, in fact a broken ankle, split scalp, black testicles confirmed this to me. Could things get worse? Yopu should never ask this!- My father Derek, a small angry Yorkshire ripper look alike, was convinced that I had not in fact broken my ankle ( I hadn't it was a rather nasty double fracture that has left me walking funny to this day). In fact so convinced was my small father, that he made me walk on the fucker without crutches- Yelling at me to "stop being such a puff" and uttering another gem" In the Tour De France they'd put you back on your bike". Needless to say the leg was, to use a medical term fucked and I spent the summer in plaster, getting very bored...... But then I discovered something a rather odd cd that no one ever listened to, in fact I think Derek got it free with a cd player, moaned that it all sounded the same and set it aside. The CD in question was "The Incredible Chess CD" - a compilation of 1950's Chess recording artists. To say that it turned me on my head would be an understatement. I would go as far to say that after that point nothing had any importance in my life for the next 21 years other than black american blues music (and boozing, and trying to sleep with women that are actually sane). Who was Howlin Wolf and why did he sound like he had broken the microphone with his voice, why was Muddy Waters singing abot "Two Trains". It was like music from Mars to me. Nothing has really had the same impact since. The thing that really flipped me out on that CD was the realisation that I could play some of this on my guitar... Dunno how or why. But the first thing I could copy bits of and it actully sounded good was Lowell Fulson's "Reconsider Baby".. It's been a downward spiral ever since (35 years old living on a matress in a bedsit- good blues collection though) Here's Lowell

Passing on the Blues to the kids

Recently I achieved something I didn't think I would see. I performed with an ex pupil on stage as a guest of my duo. Cheers to Joe Barber for carrying on the tradition of blues, and making the seven years of teaching him thoroughly rewarding. It's nice to see some things work out the way you think they should. Hopefully he won't end up in a bedsit at 35 sleeping on a mattress, or maybe that's where the blues takes you (apologies in advance Joe). Nice picture by his mum.

Gordon Smith Guitars

As may have been mentioned before, The Guitar Spot is Nottingham's only dealer for these wonderful instrumnets. We always tell people about the small scale production, only three people in the factory etc. Here is a great short film about Gordon Smith Guitars... Enjoy

Epiphone Elite

Rare Epiphone LP semi solid. They only made them for a year. Available for you at The Guitar Spot. £499.00

It's been a lont time since...

We posted anything about guitars.... Just in Gibson Sonex 180 circa early eighties. A groovy rare bolt neck Gibson with a fibreglass body. Not one you see everyday, available at The Guitar Spot £550.00

Well if anyone can do it ...

Ever thought of songwriting as a cathartic process? of course you have!. You don't have to be Jim Morrison and wank yourself to death full of smack in the bath to know this? Or do you? No literal awards for this, but I wrote some lyrics and I like em and I'm going to expose you to some of my cathartic side. You heard it hear first!!. See I've not been feeling too good of late and was influenced by two ideas. One from Billy Childish, that a true artist does it everyday because they have to, and two, I once heard that B B King reckoned that he didn't know anything about life until he was forty.... More crap to follow, including my classic I want to chop my own head off and put it in your garden (joke) Just a man that knows nothing I'm just a man that knows nothing, that's for sure that's a fact Pull up a stool I won't be none of that I'm like a ghost in the room could disappear and that’s that I'm a man who knows nothing for sure My love has meant nothing and my actions just as much I could vanish tomorrow and who would give a fuck I'm a man who knows nothing I guess I keep getting life's dirty deal I guess it's not about how you look but about how you feel I'm a man who knows nothing What you think of that Always thought I could be just who I wanted to be But I guess the forces of nature just didn't want it to be I'm a man that knows nothing it kind of hurts but life is hard I guess the best lessons are the ones that break your heart I'm a man that knows nothing

Tanglewood TSB 58

A really nice LP copy. Entwhistle pickups and the whole shooting match. £300.00 www.theguitarspot.com james@theguitarspot.com

Italia Maranello

It's blue sparkly and gives you the ability to pretend you are Chris Rea. Latter part optional. Mint condition £299.00 also available on 9 months interst free www.theguitarspot.com james@theguitarspot.com

Fender Voodoo Stratocaster

Hendrix geeks have always claimed his reverse headstock, gave him better playability and his upside down bridge pickup gave him a more even response. This Voodoo Strat certainly delivers great feel and sound. Made only for about a year, this is a Mexican version. Nice figuring on the maple neck and wonderful sounding pickups. Yours for £399 .00. Remember we also offer 9 months interest free. www.theguitarspot.com james@theguitarspot.com