Risky Business, 80s band setup blog

[steantval]

On 17/09/2025 at 19:05, MacDaddy said:

 

 

Mike Score would struggle achieving that unique look nowadays, unfortunately we all grow old.

 

 

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

22 minutes ago, steantval said:

Just three guys dressed in tee shirts, nothing flash, the music speaks volumes.

80’s mega star, nothing to prove by dressing up like he did back then with the Police.

Each to their own.

 

 

Which reminds me of another 80's tune that I absolute love playing - Every Little Thing She Does is Magic. I know, I'm easily pleased 🤷‍♂️

[ezbass]

1 hour ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

Which reminds me of another 80's tune that I absolute love playing - Every Little Thing She Does is Magic. I know, I'm easily pleased 🤷‍♂️

Another from our old set list and one we also recorded as a demo.

 

[Geek99]

On 18/09/2025 at 11:21, police squad said:

Here's a picture taken at an 80s gig I do

We're called Miami Vice Reloaded

 

WTF is that toy bass doing within ten feet of you?  Suggest you wash your hands and thoroughly de-contaminate 

[JapanAxe]

5 hours ago, Norris said:

1979 was actually the best year in the 80s for music! So many great songs that year

Not many people realise that, thanks to an oddity in the way the calendar is worked out, the 80s actually began in 1979.

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

I've just been flicking through some of the videos for Total 80's. A lot of them have been blocked or are not public.

One of my favourites is this one. It was taken by our guitarists daughter. It's a shame it's in portrait, but I'm just happy that it exists at all.

We were gigging a lot that year and did so right up until COVID spoilt the party.

Even then, after things settled, bizarrely, we were even busier post COVID. Literally up and down the country.

Sadly the relationship with our agent broke down and we have now reverted to select local gigs which we manage.

@Chiliwailer, I'm sure you've seen it before, but it's the purple Modulus in action. It remains one of my absolute favourite basses to play.

I still have to pinch myself that you actually put it up for sale in the first place!! (yes, you still have first refusal, behind a long line of seconds 👊).

 

 

[Chiliwailer]

4 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

 

@Chiliwailer, I'm sure you've seen it before, but it's the purple Modulus in action. It remains one of my absolute favourite basses to play.

I still have to pinch myself that you actually put it up for sale in the first place!! (yes, you still have first refusal, behind a long line of seconds 👊).

 

Yep - still have to pinch myself that I sold it 😂 Oh well, we needed cash quick for a new floor and a couch and for some odd reason I couldn't justify keeping the bass 😕

 

Anyway, lovely playing in the vid Warren, and genuinely so chuffed you love it and use it. Though I very much doubt you'll ever move it on, and I can't blame you pal  

[police squad]

14 hours ago, Geek99 said:

WTF is that toy bass doing within ten feet of you?  Suggest you wash your hands and thoroughly de-contaminate 

strangely I actually have more guitars than basses, strange considering bass is my first instrument but I also suppose they are mostly P basses or derivatives (apart from the HW4403)

I've got 4 Brian May guitars!

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

14 minutes ago, police squad said:

I've got 4 Brian May guitars!

The guitarist in my Queen trib has two, one of which is the expensive variety. He hates it.

[Geek99]

3 hours ago, police squad said:

strangely I actually have more guitars than basses, strange considering bass is my first instrument but I also suppose they are mostly P basses or derivatives (apart from the HW4403)

I've got 4 Brian May guitars!

May God have mercy on your soul, heathen 

[Russ]

3 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

The guitarist in my Queen trib has two, one of which is the expensive variety. He hates it.

Harley Benton do a Brian May "tribute" guitar, which is supposed to be rather good, and better than the official models if you don't want to be dealing with all the fiddly phase switches, etc. They also do a bunch of "tribute" Strat-a-likes, includng a Hank Marvin one in Fiesta Red with gold hardware, and a Dave Gilmour one in black, with white pickups. They're all pretty cheap on Thomann too. I've not played those particular HB Strats, but I've played one of their regular ones and it's a bloody good guitar for £150.

 

Basically, you could have a decent collection of tribute guitars for some of the UK's greatest guitarists for under £500!

[hiram.k.hackenbacker]

7 hours ago, Russ said:

Harley Benton do a Brian May "tribute" guitar, which is supposed to be rather good, and better than the official models if you don't want to be dealing with all the fiddly phase switches, etc. They also do a bunch of "tribute" Strat-a-likes, includng a Hank Marvin one in Fiesta Red with gold hardware, and a Dave Gilmour one in black, with white pickups. They're all pretty cheap on Thomann too. I've not played those particular HB Strats, but I've played one of their regular ones and it's a bloody good guitar for £150.

 

Basically, you could have a decent collection of tribute guitars for some of the UK's greatest guitarists for under £500!

The reason he doesn’t like it is because of the neck. It’s supposed to an exact replica of Brian’s Red Special.

The guitar sounds amazing and that’s most likely where anything else will struggle.

The neck is chunky by my bass playing standards, so I can understand why he has issue with it.

Ironically the much cheaper standard Red Special he bought first has a much shallower neck, but doesn’t sound as good 🤷‍♂️

[police squad]

10 hours ago, hiram.k.hackenbacker said:

The reason he doesn’t like it is because of the neck. It’s supposed to an exact replica of Brian’s Red Special.

The guitar sounds amazing and that’s most likely where anything else will struggle.

The neck is chunky by my bass playing standards, so I can understand why he has issue with it.

Ironically the much cheaper standard Red Special he bought first has a much shallower neck, but doesn’t sound as good 🤷‍♂️

the purists are moaning that it isn't the correct neck shape but I love mine and it does sound really good. I love the neck shape too

I changed the pickups in 2 of the others and the volume pot (the original is 500k and it should be nearer 250k and they both sound much more May like

My forth one is signed by Brian and hangs on the wall