Be Bop Deluxe

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Biography

Be Bop Deluxe were formed in the early 1970s in Wakefield, England. Fronted by singer and virtuoso guitarist Bill Nelson, the band went through several albums changing their style of music, with Nelson using newly available technology to create unusual sounds and guitar effects. Be Bop Deluxe’s sound ranges from the blues rock influenced early work of ‘Axe Victim’, to the more electronic based work of ‘Drastic Plastic’.

During the comparatively barren times for progressive music in the early 70s, guitarist Bill Nelson (William Nelson, 18 December 1948, Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England) recorded the limited edition Northern Dream. Tapes of this collector’s item were played by the pioneering disc jockey John Peel on his legendary BBC Radio programme, Top Gear. The line-up of Nelson, Nicholas Chatterton-Dew (drums), Robert Bryan (bass, vocals) and Ian Parkin (d. July 1995; guitar) recorded Axe Victim as BE-BOP DELUXE. Nelson soon disbanded the outfit, and following a tour supporting Cockney Rebel, he formed a new band, taking members from that fragmented unit. This short-lived combo also broke up. With the addition of bass player Charles Tumahai (b. New Zealand, d. 21 December 1995) and drummer Simon Fox, Nelson released Futurama and Sunburst Finish. The latter included a surprise hit single, “Ships In The Night”. Nelsons art-school sensibilities and his use of themes from such diverse sources as Jean Cocteau, 1950’s sci-fi and the surroundings of his native Yorkshire gave the group a unique character.
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  • jerry900i

    Can thoroughly recommend this, Classic Rock Legends: Bill Nelson DVD. Just got it a week ago. Thanks to weirdcritter for the heads-up

    27 Oct 2011 Reply

  • alexia_N

    i've noticed that their albums sound MUCH better on vinyl..

    27 Oct 2011 Reply

  • jerry900i

    Thankyou that was splendid.

    7 Oct 2011 Reply

  • scentdesigner

    Nelson is a hero, so clever music and nice lyrics. Wow

    9 Jun 2011 Reply

  • weirdcritter

    Excellent new DVD "Classic Rock Legends: Bill Nelson". ** Filmed March 2011 at Metropolis Studios West London. Bill opened with a solo set of four tracks and then blasted into an eighty minute concert with the band including Do You Dream In Colour?, Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape, and The October Man. The DVD contains both sets and an extensive interview. Tracks: 1. The October Man 2. Night Creatures 3. God Man Slain 4. Contemplation 5. Lady You're A Strange Girl 6. Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape 7. Furniture Music 8. Do You Dream In Colour? 9. Ships In The Night 10. Lovers Are Mortal 11. Maid In Heaven 12. Sister Seagull 13. Wonder Of The Moment 14 Panic In The World (Solo Set) 1. Above These Clouds The Sweetest Dream 2. Golden Dreams Of Circus Horses 3. A Dream For Ian 4. For Stuart - LPCM stereo and DTS 5:1 sound. All regions NTSC.

    30 May 2011 Reply

  • academyofrock

    New video now available - including audio of Bill's appearance on Johnnie Walker show on BBC 2 http://www.youtube.com/user/academyofrock?feature=mhum#p/u/12/ba2vi1AM0zk

    14 Mar 2011 Reply

  • weirdcritter

    Bill Nelson - Live ITV Legends series of shows. At Metropolis Studios in West London on Saturday, March 26. See https://fan.musicglue.com/sale/saleproducts.aspx?productid=9d7840f9-0593-413e-a125-ca19ecd8e007&resellerid=317ec854-51c0-4728-a0aa-1151c60d65f0 for ticket details.

    6 Mar 2011 Reply

  • weirdcritter

    New Bill Nelson song - "Holey Moley, It's A Parallel World" - is now available to download. The proceeds of sale are for a Children's Cancer Charity. See http://www.billnelson.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=15721 for more details.

    3 Jan 2011 Reply

  • The_Albion

    Hey folks, I'm a massive fan of Roxy Music, David Bowie and Brian Eno etc. and I've recently been suggested to listen to this band. Any idea where to start? Hit me with some of their top arty albums. Answers on my page will be greatly appreciated. Cheers. :)

    21 Jun 2010 Reply

  • maxwellhousefol

    Nice guitar work, My fave!

    1 Jun 2010 Reply

  • manonadune

    I've been listening to a lot of Be Bop Deluxe recently. They were one of the very best bands of the 70s and are much too litlle known today. Hopefully social music sites like last.fm will lead to many more listeners discovering one of the great rock bands.

    27 Apr 2010 Reply

  • flexmens

    Just discovered them. I truly like their "New Wave"-like album "Drastic Plastic"

    14 Feb 2010 Reply

  • spidrwegian

    Wonders if anyone else sees the similarity between Be Bop Deluxe and Muse? Both great sci-fi rock bands in my opinion. :)

    27 Dec 2009 Reply

  • PartGreyBeard

    One of the better things to escape from Wakefield

    22 Dec 2009 Reply

  • weirdcritter

    *** New Bill Nelson 'Rocket To The Moon' Children's Cancer Charity track is now available to download - see http://www.billnelson.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13060

    26 Oct 2009 Reply

  • qrobur

    One of the victims of changing trends. BBD came at the fag end of progressive rock and were then submerged by punk. 'Drastic Plastic' was a creditable effort to move with the times but the earlier stuff leaves me completely cold. Bill Nelson's Red Noise were more interesting.

    20 Sep 2009 Reply

  • 100PunkClub

    Meh from Wakey too wooop! Ahaha!

    4 Sep 2009 Reply

  • Bentwick09

    totally underrated, great, great band............

    27 Aug 2009 Reply

  • jerry900i

    Underated to the point of criminality as mentioned on numerous occasions. Been my all time favorites since the early seventies. The top track in my opinion is not and never has been Ships in the Night, there are better for those prepared to look and listen. Watch all the video you can get your hands on, Bill Nelson IS a virtuoso guitarist of the highest order. Sunburst Deluxe were a tribute band par-excellence, sadly no longer around, but at the start of the decade (2000) they were the next best thing to the real deal.

    13 Aug 2009 Reply

  • TantoTempo

    They predated Squeeze by a least five years....

    4 May 2009 Reply
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