Remembering Peter Bocking - PUK, RIP

To the rest of the world Peter Bocking was a rock and roll guitarist from Great Britain.  Here at Just One Minute he was a reliable and reliably entertaining commenter.  Regrettably, PeterUK, aka "PUK" passed away last week.

Jeff Dobbs has put together a "Best Of" tribute.  This could be dangerous in large doses (and do set down anything you're drinking), so I will pick just one for flavor:

""I forgot to mention last night that following World War II war crime trials were convened. The Japanese were tried and convicted and hung for war crimes committed against American POWs. Among those charges for which they were convicted was waterboarding," he told reporters at a campaign event"

One tiny little detail is ignored - the Japanese lost!

This is probably a historical first,the victorious side leads itself off in chains.

This is a real loss.

I CAN STOP ANYTIME:

" Whadda buncha idiots. What are these people doing on television?"
forget television,what are they doing off a sex offender's register?

Comments

[Captain Hate]

hit, you're doing a great job; no need to throw any caveats in.

[clarice]

QWuit being nice to Hit. It only encourages him.

[Ann]

I like encouraging him....smooches xxx ooo ♥

[clarice]

You would sneak in and smooch him, Ann, you hussy!

[Ann]

Who Me?

[cathyf]

Uh-oh, another mud-wrestle is gonna break out!

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

I'm not sure I'll ever close this thread.

[verner]

My heart is breaking. Peter was such a lovely, funny, patriotic man. I just can't believe it. He brightened so many days with his humor. JOM is just never going to be the same without him.

And to think he was a guitar cat. I had no idea.

[Peter]

I'm a fairly infrequent commenter here but I did always enjoy PUK's comments. His posts always showed good humor, er, humour since he was some kind of Brit. The best thing about it, though is that his humour had fangs.

RIP, Mr. Bocking, I'll shake your hand soon enough.

[Ann]

Hit:

I don't want this thread to ever close either.

I just wish PUK was here to see us fight back.

You know how we started our own LUN lingo. We need one for PUK, so he is always with us.

Something like "Piss Upon Know-it-alls" but obviously something more refined.

[Ann]

Or maybe we just use PUK instead of LOL.

[clarice]

As long as we hold him in our hearts, he'll not die.

[JJ]

Very sad.

I always thought PUK was a thirty-something wit who worked as a stock broker or maybe an investment banker in GB...

He certainly was young at heart always.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

PUK becomes a verb to mean:

"Make the bastards (progressives) live by their beliefs"

PUK you.

You got PUK'd

Dems are so PUK'd

etc.

Fits in well with what Jane is on about these days,too.

[Ann]

Clarice, you are right.

We don't need some gimmick to remember PUK. He would hate it.

It is just so hard to let go. I still can't imagine him not posting here.

I wish I would of come up with a money making endeavor to collect tears for a price on his leaving us. He would of made a lot of money off of mine and yours and JOM.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I don't know, I kind of like the idea of telling trolls, "You've been PUK'd!"

[JM Hanes]

You've been PUK'd troll gets my vote, Sara! I'll even tell my spell checker to learn it.

[verner]

I just checked out the October 24 thread and saw what I assume are some of Peter's last comments on JOM. Funny, but if we had known that it was our last thread together, just imagine all of the truly wonderful things we would have said to him. He was such a special human being.

I think he knew how much we loved him though.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Does anyone know how PUK ended up here at JOM? I know he was a very early commenter, but JOM just doesn't seem the type of blog that an British musician would even be looking for. An American blog at that. What brought him here?

[Dave (in MA)]

JOM/2006/01/are_you_a_good_.html

Was this his inaugural thread?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Dave: I know PUK was around during the Kerry campaign. He took part in the marathon comment section on the Swift Boats, etc that went way over a thousand comments.

[daddy]

Well no wonder our Peter enjoyed hanging out so much with us right wingers. He was in the Clan.

">http://www.manchesterbeat.com/groups/petemaclaine/petemaclaineandtheclan.php"> Pete Maclaine and the Clan

Pete Whetton Vocals
Pete Bocking Lead Guitar
Brian Day Bass Guitar
John Hynes Drums

In the 3rd picture down that's him on the right, and that may be him on the left in the second picture.
As you scroll down you'll see on the playbill that by Jan 63 P'UK has left the Clan and formed his own group The Pete Bocking 6.

[daddy]

More ">http://www.manchesterbeat.com/reunions/clan/clan.php"> photo's of our P'UK in action.

[daddy]

">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW6Q41Fj3Ic"> This is a 45 single, put out in 1963 by Pete Maclaine And The Clan. P'UK played with them in 62 and I think 63, and is listed as a co-creator of the tune (PETE MACLAINE and THE CLAN. YES I DO (Maclaine, Bocking). b/w US MAIL ) The back side is US Mail, but I can't find it.

So our P'UK was co-writer of this song, and though I can't be 100 percent certain, my guess is this is him doing the lead guitar riffs. It's a cool, upbeat tune
so I sure won't blame any of Peter's JOMette teeny-bopper's from screaming hysterically like its 1963 all over again.

[Dorothy Jane]

I will miss PeterUK - I am one on JOM's most faithful long time Lurkers...he will be missed

[Donald]

Good on Ya Peter. And your family.

What a life!

[clarice]

I received this from his friend in the UK:
Hi People

Somebody asked about CDs or DVDs of Peter. I will try to track something down but I’m not aware of anything that would do him justice.

Peter started out in the late Fifties. He suffered, and became increasingly disabled from, spondylitis. This made him less marketable and he was treated cruelly by the music industry. Later on he developed other health conditions from the medications he had to take. He bore these afflictions with extraordinary dignity and never lost his great enthusiasm for life and people.

I have some very poor footage of some social get-togethers we had, if I find anything half viewable I’ll make it available.

Something might come to light. I see it’s busy on his tribute page at Manchester Beat. And we’re due a funeral and wake (probably some time next week). Somebody may have something to share.

I’ll keep you updated.

Tony

[clarice]

I'll let him know about Yes I Do.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Physical Therapy

PUK--COme here, honey.....
THWACK!!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: clarice | February 07, 2008 at 06:10 PM

OOoohh! Dat was Goood!

Posted by: PeterUK | February 07, 2008 at 06:22 PM

[verner]

I'm telling you though, my favorite PUK was his comic riff about Gordon Brown looking like a mortician after he got his teeth veneered. It still makes me laugh just thinking about it.

And it pains me greatly to hear that his health issues made him unmarketable in the "music" industry. What BS.. The song I just heard on youtube with the Clan was genius--just as good, if not better than anything the Beatles did in the early days. I can't believe that he wasn't one of the best sessions guitarists in the UK.

I have a friend who is a Nashville Cat. I'm going to ask him today if he's ever heard of PUK. Bet you he has.

[don quijote]

He was a rare talent, with a sense of the absurd and he didn't suffer fools gladly, so naturally. he would be a perfect fit here

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Verner:
I'm telling you though, my favorite PUK was his comic riff about Gordon Brown looking like a mortician after he got his teeth veneered.

Ah, Splendid timing. That's exactly where I am.

Verner,

Watched it,put me right off my black cherry jam on wholemeal butty.

The dreadful truth is,prior to stealing the Premiership of the other shyster,Gordon had a set of Hollywood teeth installed.The poor bugger cannot help it. No matter what the event,those teeth make him grin like a ventriloquists dummy.A bit like going to a fancy dress party and dscovering it's a funeral.

Now if you will excuse me,I have a bout of political noro-virus coming on.

Posted by: PeterUK | March 25, 2009 at 07:03 PM

[caro]

daddy, thank you so much for finding the music and more pics.

And to hit for the PUK gems!

[centralcal]

Wonderful way to begin the morning, laughing riotously at PUK's comments. Man, could he take down Brown!

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Remember the JOM http://www.jolietweather.com/sopranos/>"mob name" fun from http://justoneminute.typepad.com/main/2009/08/hope-and-change-fatigue.html>August?

[...]

But you know what? If you drop the last 't' and become Elliot (and approximately 30% of people at JOM do), you then share an appellation with none other than PUK, which is the same name taken by our very own Sue here:

The Bastard

[...]

Posted by: hit and run | August 16, 2009 at 09:49 AM

Which was fitting because PUK's complaint about the names that were being bandied about was...

Without wishing to sound "Mobist",but these names sound terribly liberal. What happened to all those wonderful traditional mob names like "Lucky","Bugsy" and "Legs"?

Posted by: PeterUK | August 15, 2009 at 09:23 PM

Perhaps he really should have been "Fingers".

But God,I miss that bastard.

[verner]

Oh Hit, I love you for bringing back precious memories.

[clarice]

I'm getting a lot of emails from people wanting updates. I understand, but I also am finding it impossible to get much else done. As long as this thread is open I will post the latest news here as I did just upthread and on the last thread open for the day's date. Please check it as I am going mad trying to keep up with this all.
Thank you for your consideration.

[Jack is Back!]

Somehow I get the feeling the last thing anyone wants to do in their lifetime is make Clarice "mad":)

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

It doesn't surprise me that typepad ate a comment with a link to a post honoring PUK.

They didn't get along,those two.

But a new post at thevimh is up with more Best Of PUK.

Oh,and little known fact: though I am not finished yet,I have thus far come across only two PUK comments utilizing html. This is one of them:

RUSSIANS Bomb typepad.

Posted by: PeterUK November 05, 2008 at 09:08 PM

[belle]

Hit, send your compilation of PUK's greatest quips to Leno and Letterman. He was much better at trenchant and laugh-out-loud funny one-liners than they will ever be.

[Porchlight]

Was Typhuspad a Rick or a PUK coinage? Or neither? I associate it with both of them...

[Rocco]

I noticed The Hollies are nominated for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2010. Should we plant a seed for PUK? From PUK's Tribute

His first band the Jets, was formed in 1958 with friends John "Butch" Mepham, Derrick Quinn and Joe Abrams and was fronted by Johnny Peters. Being one of the earliest Rock and Roll Bands in Manchester, rather than a skiffle group, they made a big impact on the local youth club circuit. In 1960 the band changed their name to The Fourtones and backed a duo that went by the name of Ricky and Dane Young, better known as Allan Clark and Graham Nash, who later went on to form The Hollies.

Early Influences

Artists whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock’s leading artists.

The special selection committee elects the inductees in the Non-Performer and Early Influences categories.

[clarice]

Sure--why not get the info on how to do this and coordinate with his friends in Manchester, Rocco?

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Brother Texan,I think it's an excellent idea.

[EBJ]

There are only a handful of commenters where, when I see their tag, I go from skim mode to full attention read mode. PUK was one of them. He will be greatly missed around here. Godspeed.

[Jim Ryan]

I have three photos up, fwiw. The 1971 can be clicked to embiggen.

[Old Lurker]

OK, Ext. I want all that time back I just spent on the walmart pic site you posted....

[Rocco]

I've e-mailed the webmaster at manchesterbeat.com and asked his permission to use the tributes on his website when I write (no email) the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Foundation and suggest PUK for consideration in the "Early Influence" category.

Any other suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I'd also like some help writing the Foundation if anyone with a flair for that sort of thing, would care to help!

I don't see how anyone could read those tributes and not conclude that PUK was an "artist whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock’s leading artists", as is the qualification for nomination.

[clarice]

Manchesterbeat's webmaster could help also by getting some of PUK's old and still living colleagues to support the petition--and even get all the old Manchester musicians to write in. If he gets back to you suggest it.

I think JMH or SBW are probably our most beautiful writers you might ask them directly to help draft our nomination.

[clarice]

There's a fellow on the tribute page who is an "MBE", an honor he won for his charitable work. He was a Manchester DJ and surely he can help round up supporters as can Pete MacLaine.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

I think Graham Nash would be a great person to get in touch with for help,if Mylnarz would be willing to put you in touch.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I'll bet PUK's friends at the pub where he played on Sunday nights would also lend a hand. Wonder how we could get them to read a letter at one of the jam sessions.

[Rocco]

Here's the process for induction (I think) and begins with a letter (postal) to the foundation. I would think the letter should contain the reasons for consideration which, by the way, PUK would be thrilled to have JMH and/or SBW honor his lifes' passion. I'm afraid I'd begin an international incident if left on my own! Anyway...this should be a group effort, don't ya think. I'll let ya know as soon as I hear from webmaster Paul Mylnarz.

[Rocco]

Wouldn't it be ideal to get a letter drawn up by JOM'ers and signed by all those greats and sumitted to the foundation for consideration?

[verner]

Hey Y'all, Pete Maclaine and the Clan has a facebook page. Y'all might want to join, cause it looks like a great way to get in touch with his UK/Manchester friends.

Also, all of you JOMers who are facebook members, be sure to join his tribute group. I'm still looking for a good profile pic. If any of you have one, please let me know.

[Rocco]

A young guitarist watched amazed as Bocking played the bass line with his thumb while picking out the top line with his fingers, astonished at his dexterity the lad asked him what he was doing. "Flat Top Picking", was the answer, "have you never listened to Chet Atkins?" The young chap shook his head, left the shop and found the nearest record store and a Chet Atkins album. That young lad was Peter Cowap, soon to be a legend himself

Does this satisfy the qualifications to be inducted in the Early Influence category? Let's see...

Artists whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock’s leading artists.

There's one example, I'm sure there's more!

[Jim Ryan]

Verner, the 1971 pic here is good. Click to embiggen. I have no idea who owns the rights on these three pics.

by the way, this isn't the only thread with tributes, by the way. There are others, such as this one.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

There is this I picked up from one of the Manchester Beat pages:

[Rocco]

Brother hit...we've got to figure out a way to get you in touch with Graham Nash.

I'm beat...good nite all

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

BTW, I think the above came from a print biography of Crosby, Stills and Nash.

Seems it fits quite well with the criteria of:

Artists whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock’s leading artists.

[clarice]

Rocco, I just heard from Paul Mlynarz
of Manchesterbeat and I told him what you were planning, asked him to please give you permission to use some of his material when you seek it and whether the Manchester gang would support us in this effort to honor PUK.

[clarice]

We finally have an obituary--and that should help Rocco--http://www.manchesterbeat.com/tributes/petebocking/pb_obit.jpg
Also LUN

The coroner still has not determined the cause of death. Sigh.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Rocco:
Brother hit...we've got to figure out a way to get you in touch with Graham Nash.

I'm going to try a couple of things.

[clarice]

http://www.manchesterbeat.com/tributes/petebocking/pb_obit.jpg
Typhuspad seems to have eaten my post--PUK's obit--It seems he's STILL at the coroner's.

[Jane]

Verner,

What is the link to the tribute page?

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=324486900360>Peter Bocking Facebook Page

[Captain Hate]

Since I'm in the Cleveland area, any legwork you want me to do with those HOF humps just let me know.

[clarice]

Rocco,Paul (Manchesterbeat) says nominating PUK for the Rok and Roll Hall of Fame is a great idea and gives you permission to use whatever you wish from the site.

I suggested that when we've got the petition drafted we'll email it to him to post on the site so people there can copy it (or add to it) , sign it and mail it in from there, too.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

From a new comment on the tribute page, adding more fuel to the greatness of PUK:

have to say that in over 50 years as a frelance professional session musician I have worked with hundreds of guitarists around the world,but not one of them could match Pete Bocking's incredible technique.

As a pure guitarist he was unsurpassable.He was "the guitarists'guitarist".

I remember him playing specially adapted,very fast violin solos,and evry note would be there in the right place.

He achieved all this in spite of a very long and lingering illnessand still managed to keep his spirits up and dish out that wicked sense of humour

Rest in peace Peter
Luv

Brian Day

[clarice]

Paul just wrote back and likes that plan--so let's write up the petition (we can give you our names and addresses to attach) and we can send a copy of the petition to manchesterbeat to post so people there can copy it, sign it and mail it in.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Captain:
Since I'm in the Cleveland area, any legwork you want me to do with those HOF humps just let me know.

Not to mention your knowledge of music generally and jazz specifically, which could be very helpful in the write up...

[Captain Hate]

Use me as you will guys; I'm not the biggest fan of the HOF but I'll do anything for PUK.

[Melinda Romanoff]

My moment of clarity with PUK was the explanation of rolling fifths with regards to Bebop, specifically that Charlie Parker's Ornithology was based on "How High The Moon".

Made me feel like a dope when I said I didn't like "hard bop". We never discussed music again. My loss, through ignorance.

From new lights, come paths to knowledge.

Thank you, Peter.

[Ann]

Verner, I kinda like this picture that appeared on the Manchester beat:

That younger picture makes me think of his beloved mother and how she saw him and the older wiser one of us all...older but wiser because of him!

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Clarice linked to a PUK obit in the Manly Virtues thread.

http://www.manchesterbeat.com/tributes/petebocking/pb_obit.jpg>Let's put it here too.

It's a large .jpg file of a photo of the newspaper,btw.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

(oh,i missed that she put it upthread here too,oops)

[centralcal]

Verner: I think I have caught a cold and am gonna go lie down, but on Saturday (I think) when Clarice broke the news about PUK, I started googling furiously. I found a Facebook page labeled "Peter Bocking," but because I don't DO facebook, I had no clue what to do when I got there. It looked empty - maybe because I am not a facebook-ie. Try and check it out and let us know if he actually had one. I wouldn't be surprised if he did.

[udontwantmeanymore?]

"And the real shame is that our CinC could so easily reassure military families."

Perhaps,but Michelle won't let him resign.

Posted by: PeterUK October 24, 2009 at 02:50 PM

I think they both reassured the Cole family, just before the plane crash.

[daddy]

Am trying to track down audio of 2 tunes I believe P'uk was involved with. US Mail, the flip side on that 1963 Dekka 45 of Yes I Do, and a 1970's song, "Weaver's Lament", mentioned by some performer named Lonnie Donagan. Not having luck but will keep looking.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

PUK did a world tour with

LONNIE DONEGAN
Obituary

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I found another video with PUK playing for Lonnie Donegan.

Speak to the Sky

Same blue shirt, much more camera time.

[daddy]

Thanks Sara,

Towards the end of the song it looks like Peter's laughing and really enjoying himself. Very nice to see.

[verner]

Ann, great pic of Peter, but I can't figure out how to get it on the page. I have put one of him on stage that I found as the profile pic.

Central, I saw that, but don't know if it's our Peter or not. I hope you'll take the stuff you found and put it on the facebook page--when you feel better of course and speedy recovery to you!

Love ya hit. And I put a link to your "greatest hits" on the facebook page. Did ya see it?

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

I did, verner, thanks.

[Jim Ryan]

Verner, to take the pick you can press your PrintScreen button, then go to Microsoft Paint (or some other such program) and press ctrl-V or paste. Then select crop, then crop the pic. Embiggen it to the right size and save it to a file.

[centralcal]

Great video find, Sara.

[clarice]

Thanks, Sara! I'll send that url to Manchesterbeat for the Tribute page.

[clarice]

JIB forwarded this to me from the owner of Manchesterbeat's website:

From: Paul Mlynarz

Date: November 4, 2009 9:20:56 PM EST

To: 'Jack Lillywhite'

Subject: RE: Pete Bocking

Just got some info

Peters funeral will be at Southern cemetry, next Wednesday or Thursday, then a buffet at the Nursery later.
His body has been released and is at the undertakers, thery want to know if anyone wants to go and see him
before the close the coffin ?.
Thats all I have been told so far.

Paul

[Rocco]

Good Morning JOM

Wow, I should have stayed up a bit later last night. I really believe PUK has a good shot at the Early Influence category of the HOF.

clarice...What great news. Now I know you said you were really busy at the moment but we need someone to coordinate everything and I'm hoping you'll be that person. You're already corresponding with all the right people and I've yet to receive a reply from Paul Mylnarz.

Remember, this is not a Rocco thing, this is a PUK thing, so let's do this as his family, together!

[clarice]

Why not post or send me by email a draft of the nomination --save me time by putting in the address and writing it up in the proper form and I'll edit it. Then we can post it here and ask Manchesterbeat to post it there. People can print it out, sign it and send it in.
I think that's the easiest thing.

[clarice]

Rocco--everyone--I just looked at the rules and I don't see that PUK is eligible:
"The nominations for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum were announced today. The twelve nominees are: ABBA, Darlene Love, Donna Summer, Genesis, Jimmy Cliff, KISS, Laura Nyro, LL Cool J, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Chantels, The Hollies and The Stooges. Ballots will be sent to more than 500 voters, who will select artists to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at the 25th Annual Induction Ceremony on March 15, 2010 at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

Five of the twelve nominees will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. To be eligible for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year’s nominees had to release their first single no later than 1984.

The inductees will be announced in January 2010, and all inductees are ultimately represented in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio.

Click here for more information on about the 2010 Induction nominees."

I don't see the rules for the early influences..Do you? Is that different?
The nominees for 2010 seem already to be chosen so we would be looking for 2011 or is there a different rule for 2011.

I am happy to help edit but someone else will need to do the legwork on this aspect..perhaps if you went to the facebook Rocco and asked verner to call around and find out.

[Extraneus]

Great link, Sara.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

That is a great find Sara!

Like Daddy said, he seems to really be enjoying himself...

Here's a screenshot:

[Rocco]

clarice, as I understand it, there are four categories one could be inducted into. I believe you're referring to the Performer category which requires that artists become eligible 25 years after the release of their first record. I don't think PUK is eligible for this category.

But...the Early Influences category doesn't have that requirement, only that,

Early Influences

Artists whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock’s leading artists.

The special selection committee elects the inductees in the Non-Performer and Early Influences categories.

[Ignatz]

--I just looked at the rules and I don't see that PUK is eligible:
............To be eligible for nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, an act must have released its first single or album at least 25 years prior to the year of nomination. This year’s nominees had to release their first single no later than 1984.--

Just stopped by for a second clarice so you might say I'm doing a hit and run, but why wouldn't he be eligible?
It says "at least 25 years prior" and "no later than 1984", not "at most" and "no earlier".

[clarice]

Sorry--you are both right and I am just so overworked I cannot see straight. Which is why all I can do is edit the petition.
Sara might be interested in helping you draft it , Rocco, if Verner or someone else cannot.

I will continue to post what I get from the UK re funeral info etc. Otherwise, I agree only to edit and post the petition.

I'm sorry. I cannot take on more re this but I cannot.

[Rocco]

Yoo hoo...verner, JMH, SBW, Rick Ballard, and everyone else, we need your help. If we keep the criteria for induction into the Early Influences category in the forefront, it should be easy to come up with several examples from manchesterbeats tribute page.

Artists whose music predated rock and roll but had an impact on the evolution of rock and roll and inspired rock’s leading artists.

[verner]

Hey Rocco, If you're on facebook, be sure to send me an e-mail about the petition. I would be happy to help.

From what I'm reading online, Peter would definitely fit under early influences. He was at ground zero for Rock in Manchester, and even played gigs with Herman's Hermits (and yes, Peter Noone was my very first groopie crush--at age six..I even wrote him a fan letter. Take that Lennon and McCartney...)

[Rocco]

verner...I'm afraid my computer is on the fritz. I don't dare download any new programs.

A young guitarist watched amazed as Bocking played the bass line with his thumb while picking out the top line with his fingers, astonished at his dexterity the lad asked him what he was doing. "Flat Top Picking", was the answer, "have you never listened to Chet Atkins?" The young chap shook his head, left the shop and found the nearest record store and a Chet Atkins album. That young lad was Peter Cowap, soon to be a legend himself

And as I understand it, when Noone left Hermin's Hermits, Peter Cowap replaced him.

[Rocco]

My email is rhayden3@comcast.net if anyone cares to email. Incidently, the r is for ralph, not Rocco.