Paul S Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 (edited) I don't see this fellow's name crop up on here very often But, for me, he is almost the perfect rock bass player. I often forget it but every time I see footage of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band I remember all over again what an influence his throbbing, pulsing bassline are to me. Nothing fancy usually, although he can play fast and complicated stuff as his later time with Michael Schenker Group proves. And always has that look in his eyes that it is all a real blast - and he still has that same twinkle in his eye nowdays. I first saw SAHB at the London Music festival in 1973 at the Alexandra Palace - a heady line topped by Uriah Heep but included Gary Moore and Manfred Mann's Earth Band. I don't think many people had heard of SAHB and their theatrics didn't go down well then but I saw them maybe 4 times in the next couple of years, then a couple of years later as SAHB without Alex (but before he died). Brilliant. Zal Cleminson is also an enduring hero on guitar, always finding a randomly innovative solo to throw out there, like ice cracking. I stick all this on here because I recently heard this track that I had amaxingly never heard before despite being on an album and released as a single! A cover of a really funny Jerry Reed track called Amos Moses. Typical Glen throbbing bass and Zal Cleminson brilliance. And of course the unique genius that was Alex Harvey. [media]http://youtu.be/IlrUzAmKO1Y[/media] Here on the Old Grey Whistle Test playing some pretty damn funky bass on Give My Complements To The Chef [media]http://youtu.be/oEMf9tqZR9w[/media] and here playing 'Into The Arena' with MSG Edit - the board won't let me imbed another, even as a link? Does anyone else hve a favourite Chris Glen moments or stories? Anyone meet him? Edited April 21, 2012 by Paul S Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr.Dave Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 I met him a couple of times doing support jobs for the later SAHB. Great bunch of blokes and a pleasure to work with. Chris being a big bloke with a big personality and a big sound. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Thanks for posting... this takes me back. I'd completely forgotten about SAHB! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buenavista Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 [b]MSG was my first ever gig in 1983. Chris was great, played Hamer Explorer, 'Blitz', basses back then. Great show. [/b] [b]I bought an old VHS of that 1983 tour live from Hammersmith just yesterday at a car boot.[/b] [b]Make a grown man cry. Musicians could really play then, perfect chops 100% of the time.[/b] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gary mac Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Love their version of Delilah and the dance routine he did with Zal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosmo Valdemar Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Love SAHB. Thanks for posting Amos Moses, I've never heard it either! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chardbass Posted April 21, 2012 Share Posted April 21, 2012 Into The Arena from Live At The Budokan. First bass solo I'd ever heard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 [quote name='gary mac' timestamp='1335031826' post='1625065'] ....Love their version of Delilah and the dance routine he did with Zal.... [/quote] We do Delilah in the cover band, without the dance!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leftyhook Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 I did Delilah just so I could do the dance! Big fan of Alex. A great bunch of character misfits blended together Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clarkpegasus4001 Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 Gotta say I enjoyed both those Youtube clips i've not heard either of them before. I can remember SAHB being on Whistle Test a couple of times and liking the single Boston Tea Party at the time. I quite liked the SAHB album (without Alex), Fourplay. Also watched Chris Glen with MSG in Derby around 1980......good times! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozbass Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 I never had any musical heroes but Alex Harvey came closest. My first gig in '74 and still (probably) the best - an outrageous show bordering on the frightening. All of the band were of the highest calibre (check out the McKennas too) - pulsatiing is an entirely appropriate term for Glen's style. I saw him a couple of years back with the then incarnation of SAHB (all the original members but fronted by Max Maxwell) - same larger-than-life character and monster tone, though I believe he was in a lot of pain during the gig as a consequence of a fall. Fantastic player and genuine rock'n'roll troooper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thebigyin Posted April 22, 2012 Share Posted April 22, 2012 SAHB....one of if not the best live band ever....loved 'em.....R.I.P....Alex....never forgotten. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul S Posted April 22, 2012 Author Share Posted April 22, 2012 Great memories. I remember for one tour I saw them on - think they must have had a little fame by then - they had an enormous 'brick wall' made of polystyrene blacks that Alex kicked his way out of at the start of 'Framed', just before doing the 'greaser' hair do with some beer. Don't know if there is any live footage of that going on anywhere but here is a '74 (God help us, 38years ago - what happened?) clip of 'Framed'. Cleminson's zany brilliance again. [url="http://youtu.be/YRbfFZnJZYQ"]http://youtu.be/YRbfFZnJZYQ[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.