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

[clarice]

Rick's back--I directed him to all the tribute pages and filled him in on what's happened.

[Rocco]

Rick and PUK seemed to have a special friendship, I'm glad he's ok. (I was a little worried he was taking this hard)

[Ignatz]

--Sorry--you are both right and I am just so overworked I cannot see straight.--

One last nagging-mother-comment before I'm out the door;
clarice, don't work yourself sick.

[Sue]

I wonder if PUK's friends in Manchester are shocked he was a staunch conservative?

[Sue]

Rick has responded to my email. He has been away for the past week. I'm sure he'll join us soon.

[Sue]

Oh. Sorry, I missed Clarice already giving you the news on Rick.

[Rick Ballard]

Rocco,

We were like minded and 'taking this hard' is no exageration. It's been over six years since we encountered each other on another blog and I know of no other such an indefatigable champion of freedom. I greatly admired Peter's ability to reduce progressive sophist's to their essence as lying thieves by the use of needle sharp wit wielded with great economy. I am wholly at a loss for the moment but I know that the very best way to honor Peter's memory is to continue the battle.

Goodbye, Mr Uk. I'll see you at the reunion.

[Rocco]

For starters? Please feel free to edit, change, or delete anything I've suggested. Keep in mind, I was an offensive lineman, if ya know what I mean! Hence, HELP!

Dear Special Selection Committee Members

It's with a heavy heart that I'm saddened to inform you, that Manchester legend Peter Bocking, has recently Passed away. His guitar playing had a profound influence on many of Rock's leading artists as webmaster Paul Mylnarz explains on his tribute page.

"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."

[Sue]

, I was an offensive lineman

That made me LOL. And I was getting weepy. Thanks.

[Rocco]

It's good to hear from you Rick, I feel better now.

[clarice]

Like the Sept 1, 1939 Auden poem, PUK was an "ironic point of light","an affirming flame".

All I have is a voice
To undo the folded lie,
The romantic lie in the brain
Of the sensual man-in-the-street
And the lie of Authority
Whose buildings grope the sky:
There is no such thing as the State
And no one exists alone;
Hunger allows no choice
To the citizen or the police;
We must love one another or die.

Defenseless under the night
Our world in stupor lies;
Yet, dotted everywhere,
Ironic points of light
Flash out wherever the Just
Exchange their messages:
May I, composed like them
Of Eros and of dust,
Beleaguered by the same
Negation and despair,
Show an affirming flame.

[Pete Dyson]

"Pete Bocking"(R.I.P),Pete Dyson,(Milnrow).

[Jane]

OT: Fox is live streaming teh anti Health care rally if you are interested.

Rick,

I'm glad you are home. We were getting worried.

[Porchlight]

Rick, I'm glad you're back, though I'm sorry you had to come home to such sad news.

[centralcal]

Hi Pete Dyson, nice to meet you.

[Rocco]

And here's another example of just how much an influence PUK had. Again from Paul Mylnarz.

"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 guitarist was Peter Cowap, a legend in his own right, who made a living from that style of playing, but to Peter Bocking it was just another style to master along with Jazz and Classical. The two men were very close friends until Peter Cowap's death in 1997.

[Rocco]

That should read Paul Mlynarz, not Mylnarz. Apologies.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

For Rick,

Mr Uk,

I wonder if there's any money in "Honkey Pigs for Obama" buttons or bumperstickers?

Posted by: Rick Ballard | June 01, 2008 at 01:41 PM

Mr Ballard,

Our "Jive Assed Honkies for Obama" are selling well with the white guilt crowd.

Posted by: PeterUK | June 01, 2008 at 02:25 PM

[He was pretty integrated.]

Sue, @ 12:15. I've wondered the same thing and wondered if it was his reason for desiring anonymity. I've moved away from that thought though. What is the likelihood that Peter could keep his light under a barrel in the presence of his friends?
========================================

[clarice]

He didn't try to be THAT anonymous. I figured out his background because his emails to me used his real name. Like a lot of people he didn't want to be bothered by online crazies I think.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

I'll help in whatever way anyone asks me to help. If the committee makes the decision on the category PUK would fit, I think we should rush this since the Hollies are being honored this year and PUK was there to help the Fourtones become the Hollies, right?

[clarice]

Yes==Sara/ I posted a draft of the petition on the Facebook page because typhuspad wouldn't take it here. See what extra stuff you can do.. and email it to rocco (addy above in thread). If we could get it to The Nursery Inn in time for the wake we could ask that someone make it available for mourners to sign, too.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

PUK used to post under his full name,especially back in 2004. But as an example,http://www.samizdata.net/blog/archives/2008/01/samizdata_quote_291.html>this thread in 2008 contains a few interesting somewhat biographical comments. One using his full name once,a few others just Peter.

[Rocco]

Please do Sara...here's what I have so far, it's mostly verbatum of Paul Mlynarz's tribute but it says it all I think. After we've agreed on it, I want to send it to clarice for tweaking. And I think it's a great idea to post it somewhere, perhaps on manchesterbeat so everyone who wants to can print it out, add anything they want and sign it before sending it to the Hall of Fame Foundation

Dear Special Selection Committee Members

It's with a heavy heart that we’re saddened to inform you of a Manchester guitar legend who recently passed away. Peter Bocking had a profound influence on many of Rocks leading artists. A special thanks to Paul Mlynarz, Webmaster at www.manchesterbeat.com for the following tribute to Peter Bocking.

"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.

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 guitarist was Peter Cowap, a legend in his own right, who made a living from that style of playing, but to Peter Bocking it was just another style to master along with Jazz and Classical. The two men were very close friends until Peter Cowap's death in 1997.

Pete Maclaine and the Clan were one of the top bands in the North of England in the early sixties, partly due to the talented, young front man, but Pete Bocking was also gaining a fan base of his own as young guitarists traveled from all over the North West to watch in awe. Around 1962 he bought a Barney Kessel guitar. Impressed by the master his influences changed to jazz as opposed to the popular music of the day and it was at this point that he and Pete Maclaine parted company.

The Pete Bocking Six had two saxes and a tight rhythm section it became a bands band in which Peter could indulge his love of jazz, weaving jazz riffs into the fabric of the contemporary songs the audience wanted to hear. He also slipped in the odd classic such as Take Five, made famous by the Dave Brubeck quartet. One can only imagine the thrill the Beatles had finding they were booked at the Oasis on the same bill as Pete Bocking.

By the early seventies Peter’s ability on the guitar was well known and his skill as a reader opened doors as a session musician and as backing for touring artists. In 1972 he landed the job as lead guitarist with Lonnie Donegan on his world tour. Peter was a long time admirer of Lonnie Donegan and regarded him as one of the most influential figures in British contemporary music. Peter traveled the continent and worked as far a field as Australia and the USA, including Las Vegas the entertainment capital of the world.”

In closing, the family, friends and professionals who knew Peter Bocking respectfully request your consideration for nomination for induction into the Early Influences category of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. We hope you’ll agree that Peter Bocking 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..
Respectfully

[centralcal]

From Hit's Samizdata link - a fine piece by PUK:

In the begining there was live music,the artist and the gig,thence camest the technology to record the music.Soon didst people covet to magic new facsimiles of the performance.And lo,the smart realised that owning the technology to reproduce music and distribute it amongst the joyous populace would'st bring them in a bundle.

There was joy amongst the accountants and stockholders and they waxthest rich for they could owneth the copyright of the artist's work and and bungeth them a groat or two. For yea verily,the artist signed a contract limiting the artists rights.

In the fullness of time didst a vast legion of record pushers,DJs invest the radio stations,eager to partake of the wondrous new thrifty option to playeth records and saveth money on the band.
And it came to pass that a lack of record sales would screweth the artist and the record was the word,and thus it came to pass the record company createth the artist,sending him forth to perform a Runcorn Municipal Baths or the Poughkeepsie Abbatoir Workers Union social club,lo even unto the same night.Until ,as kine grinding the corn he falleth by the wayside.

As the technology droppeth like the gentle rain from heaven trickling down unto even the most lowly,the artist could recreate his own image and still dealeth with the record companies.Who were most pleased since they had a monopoly on distribution,and for a few points of the monkey could save on recording costs.

Now as it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than a rich man,so it is for the artist to collect payment from the record companies.Who waxed fat and employed more accountants,who sayeth cut down thy back catalogue and dismisseth those artists who produceth not the big percentage profits.

And lo,this was done,and Artist and Repertoire trawleth no longer the pubs and clubs for new talent,henceforth shall talent emerge from an advertisement in the Stage.

Thence came forth the computer and the meek could henceforth inherit the earth.
There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth amongst the record companies,there was a flash of light and once more there was live music,the artist and the the gig

Posted by Peter at January 11, 2008 06:51 PM

[centralcal]

Now, we know where PUK got all of his S.C.A.M. business experience, huh Clarice?

[Sue]

Rocco,

I think you and Clarice are working on the same thing. She wrote something up and posted it at Verner's facebook memorial page. Check out her 2:40PM post.

[clarice]

Rocco, when you can if you'd post the first tweaking here it would be nice. Typhuspad won't take it from me and I've posted it on the facebook page.

[daddy]

Thanks CC for posting that P'UK comment in full.

Now knowing his background, doesn't that really demonstrate his gifts. How I would have loved to have heard that rolling from his lips in whatever accent he had, over a nice pint of Guiness or whatever some evening at The Nursery Inn.

Here's some homework: Peter UK once advised me what he thought was a good beer to try but I can't recall it. Just a comment to me about a year back about what to look for next visit to Cambridge. Anybody know how in the heck to track that down.

I remember a very funny line from P'UK commenting on some little girl urging using a single square of Toilet Paper, that she obviously hadn't yet learned to eat Chicken Vindalloo and chase it with a few pints of Guiness---man, that had me laughing.

[Rocco]

Sue

I was hoping someone would write it up. First impressions are so important. I'd feel a whole lot better knowing someone with better writing skills than me would write this up.

[clarice]

cc--from his friends in Manchester it appears he'd been very badly treated by the industry. Of course, in show business it cannot have helped that he was bald and stooped, but according to all who heard him he played like an angel.
Yet, except for the way his mother was treated in her final days, I never detected any bitterness from him at all.
(Damn, I'm crying again,)

From verner's page, another tribute (by the guy who took the 1971 pic on Flikr ) http://wwwmarkieg.blogspot.com/

[Rocco]

Well here's a chance for the music industry to make ammends. I don't have Facebook, I really gotta get out more often!

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Rocco: Has anyone contacted the HofF to find out if they require X amount of sponsors (i.e., recommendations) to support the early artist designation? We need to find a way to contact Graham Nash and some of the others whose names might be less well known, but still early performers. I think I read somewhere that John Lennon was enamored of PUK. How many others are out there?

And wasn't there a thread in which Peter made some allusion to being in a dressing room while on tour? The Monkeys sticks in my mind, but maybe because there was some speculation about Peter being Peter Boyle.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Rocco: Do you need to be a Facebook member to read the page, I don't think so. I have an account, but I'm not much of a user, so don't really know the ins and outs.

I'm trying to wrap my mind around the fact that Capt. Hate and I have the same last name and might be related somewhere in the past. Yikes! :)

[clarice]

Graham nash's sister is the woman pictured on the manchesterbeat pic and pete macLaine can find her for you.
Here's a picture of Liverpool's Cavern Wall of Fame..several of Pete's bands are listed there including as you can see on the right, The Hollies, just above the Beatles.

[Rocco]

Sara...Not to my knowledge, I'm just going by the HOF webpage.

Here's the criteria for the Early Influences category

Here's the address where the letter(s) need to be mailed. The museum has email but the foundation doesn't and that's where the letter has to be sent.

And here's a faq describing the induction process

Hope that helps

[clarice]

It would be a GREAT idea to get the petition ready so it can be at the WAKE next week for people to sign.
All the other stuff about reaching Graham and others should I think get second place in the priority list.

[Rocco]

Agreed!

[Sue]

7 dead, 20 wounded at Ft. Hood shooting.

[Rocco]

That's right, and after the wake, there's no need to rush it to the HOF, the 2010 nominations are already made.

[Porchlight]

Sort of OT,

Happy Guy Fawkes Day! (or Night)

Here's something PUK posted in response to a question from daddy back in June about how well-regarded the holiday is nowadays. The second pgh is a reference to Mr. Gordon Brown, I believe:

Daddy, Old Guido doesn't have much significance now,there used to be a Guy Fawkes Bonfire night,but 'elfn' safety is doing for that.

Personally,whilst having no objection to this miserable lot being blown up,I wouldn't like to see a beautiful old listed building destroyed.

Posted by: PeterUK | June 03, 2009 at 08:25 PM

Guy Fawkes Night

Yet another great reason to raise a glass to Peter this evening...

[Porchlight]

Terrible news, Sue...sorry, I posted the above about Guy Fawkes before reading your post...

[bad]

WTH is happening at FT. Hood? Commentaters and people giving info are scaring the carp out of me.

[clarice]

Here's a brick dedicated to The Quarrymen Skiffle Group another group with which PUK played.

[clarice]

Let me try again--I'll post LUN
Bad. to me it looks like a terrorist attack by men who infiltrated into the troops at Ft Hood.

[clarice]

They do say third times a charm LUN

[Sue]

bad,

I don't think anyone outside of the Army post knows for sure. At least not the commentators I am listening to. They are speculating, as usual.

[Rocco]

I've got to run out for a couple of hours but I've posted everything I have so far. Come on everyone, be a part of this effort to immortalize a friend in the HOF. Be back in a few...

[centralcal]

Wonderful link, Clarice - but dammit I hate people who use black backgrounds and white type!!!! It is a terrible strain on the eyes and then you can't see when you go to a normal web papge.

Any more news on Fort Hood?

[clarice]

Scratch that quarryman post it is in error.

[verner]

Here are my thoughts on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. It's true, Peter's chances of being inducted are slim. But what an application will do is help to document his life and career for future generations. I would assume that they keep an archive with that sort of information on file.

I will be more than happy to help in any way. I have a few friends and acquaintances in the music industry here in Nashville who may be able to give us a little advice.

What I would love to see is a list of all the songs he composed, and the recordings he played on. There must be a database somewhere that we can access that will give us that info.

[clarice]

Yeah, it's a living database and it's in Manchester where you need to post your request on the tribute age.

[clarice]

tribute Page

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

After reading the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame FAQ, it seems PUK would be eligible for the "Sidemen" category as well as "Early Influences." Thoughts?

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Side-men honors those musicians who have spent their career out of the spotlight, performing as backup musicians for major artists on recording sessions and in concert. They they often play a key role in the creation of memorable music, but the public rarely knows them by name. A separate committee, composed primarily of producers, selects the inductees in this category.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Death toll up to 12 and 31 wounded at Ft. Hood. Terrible.

[daddy]

Clarice,

Have been scouring the stacks at our local Library today for early R&R stuff. It's amazing how many times various Beatles (Lennon, McCartney, Harrison) mention Lonnie Donnagan's impact on them in that crucial 1957-1962 period. Never come upon our Peter's name or picture, but you get the feeling he and the Jets or the Clan are just beyond the page lurking in the background. What a huge shame none of us ever had the luck to get to spend a few hours knowing him over a beer.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Verner:
I have a few friends and acquaintances in the music industry here in Nashville who may be able to give us a little advice.

...working the same angle.

[clarice]

daddy, remember this lesson for your children--the race is not always won by the swiftest or most able esp in a business built on flash and run by crooks and sharpies. I've no doubt from those who heard him play or were taught by him that he was a spectacular artist.
We ARE getting him into the HOF!! Yes, we are.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Latest at thevimh http://thevimh.blogspot.com/2009/11/missing-peter-bocking.html>Missing Peter Bocking

[verner]

Daddy, Good to see you honey! Be sure and check out the facebook tribute page, and feel free to post.

[Captain Hate]

After reading the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame FAQ, it seems PUK would be eligible for the "Sidemen" category as well as "Early Influences." Thoughts?

First of all, "Early Influences" tends to be somebody outside of the rock genre such as blues or country that had their type of playing assimilated into rock. That wouldn't include PUK imo. As far as "Sidemen" I think it's a slim chance. Granted he was very talented and I was impressed by Graham Nash's comments being gracious coming from somebody who "made it big". I think what will ultimately do PUK in as far as inclusion is the lack of recordings.

Keep in mind that the Rock Hall is run by people in the biz and they pretty much only care about boosting sales and there just isn't an avenue for doing that with PUK. I think from a pure repository of data standpoint that PUK should be included there in some way if some budding musicologist was doing research on the various strains of the "British Invasion".

Based on how PUK addressed music here, I don't think he would've cared a fig about being in the R&R HOF; given a choice between being there or playing with his pals it would be no contest imo. I think he would be pleasantly amused that we were thinking of him in that regard though.

That's just my opinion and I didn't state it to offend anybody and hope it wasn't taken that way.

[clarice]

He was biggest in skiffle which was a precursor to R & R--It's where the Beatles (Quarrymen started out).
I don't think sidemen is his category though--early influences seems the proper category and from what Manchesterbeat has pulled together he was.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Well, Captain: I think since he was a sought after studio musician and toured the world with Lonnie Donnegan, that qualifies him as a SideMan as I read the criteria.

[clarice]

Maybe we can get some guidance from someone in the industry.

[Captain Hate]

LUN's a listing of all the inductees with all the categories; I think in every case there's a far more extensive recording trail. If you want I could call somebody at the Hall tomorrow and get an opinion.

[Extraneus]

What a huge shame none of us ever had the luck to get to spend a few hours knowing him over a beer.

No kidding, daddy. I was passing through England at least once a year in the 80's and 90's, and could have easily detoured, but haven't been there since.

Too bad we don't have a video, or a recording, of PUK doing some serious riffs. The clips and youtubes so far don't show him really doing his thing, just backing up some other guys like Lonnie Donnegan. I'm betting something from the Pete Bocking Six would be the best showcase, but I haven't found anything.

The Pete Bocking Six had two saxes and a tight rhythm section it became a bands band in which Peter could indulge in his love of jazz, weaving jazz riffs into the fabric of the contemporary songs the audience wanted to hear. He also slipped in the odd classic such as Take Five, made famous by the Dave Brubeck quartet. One can only imagine the thrill the Beatles had finding they were booked at the Oasis on the same bill as Pete Bocking.

Has anyone seen or heard something from the Pete Bocking Six?

[clarice]

Thanks Capt--all we have now is teo videos, one record and a tape by the guy who made it when Peter played in las Vegas which I've asked him to give us a copy of.

Go to Manchester beat--I think four of the six are still alive. I've asked around there for more videos, tapes, dvds anything. If anyone has them that's the place to reach them.

[clarice]

Well, the record is a video tape, too. I meant two video tapes of him playing and one video of a recoding of his.

[clarice]

Just bumping this up for those who might have been away.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Clarice: We need to ask TM if he'll memorialize this thread with a link in the sidebar.

[clarice]

I'll give it a try

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Also keep in mind that the comments get closed after one week.

Not sure how long we'll want to continue commenting here,but if we want or need to keep going,there would need to be a typepad intervention by TM.

[clarice]

I sent him an email--maybe you could, too, hit.

I've been going thru the thousands of emails I saved from him. On Dec 23 of last year he sent me this link and told me he has a couple of bricks in this wall (Cavern Wall of fame in liverpool). I was too stupid to ask him the names of the groups.

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/2566442.jpg

[clarice]

I have a jpg of a playbeill PUK sent me from The Oasis (a major Liverpool vlub in the day). Two bands are on the bill, some group called the Beatles and the Peter ZBocking Six.

If someone knows how to reproduce it and wants it, send me your email and I'll mail it to you.

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Me, me!

Send to: blog@pal2pal.com

[Rocco]

Sara

Could you email me at rhayden3@comcast.net. I want to send you the draft we've written. Would you be kind enough to go over it and add any relevant facts that might help PUK. Clarice thinks there's more about his early years at manchesterbeat.com that should be added. Since we can't post it out here for some reason, she asked me to post it on Facebook but I don't have an account and wouldn't know where to begin. After it's finished we could post a link to it asking everyone to print it out and sign it. We could also send it to Paul Mlynarz and ask him to do the same on his site.

[Rocco]

Sara

I sent the draft to blog@pal2pal.com

[clarice]

Done, sara.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Can do.

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

(sorry, replying to Clarice about emailing TM)

[unɹ puɐ ʇıɥ]

Jeff's Party Night!

[clarice]

Thanks, Hit!!

[Rocco]

We might have to add a print out of that bill to the letter we send to the R&R HOF.

Good night all

[clarice]

Niter,sRocco.Yes , we should attach it.

[clarice]

There's another neat pic of Peter here with the Fourtones. (He's wearing dark glasses)
http://www.manchesterbeat.com/groups/fourtones/fourtones.php

[Sara (Pal2Pal)]

Rocco: Looks like a good start. All the links should be printed out and included as attachments since this has to go as regular mail and not email. I just took some heavy duty antihistamine, so I'll do more tomorrow.

[daddy]

Another ">http://www.manchesterbeat.com/reunions/keiths_tour/keithstour.php"> Peter photo we may not have seen from 2008, half way down on the left.

[daddy]

More P'UK Triva:

Some successful Guitarist named Mick Morris, speaking of his old guitars has this about an old Stratocaster:

1959 Fender Stratocaster (1975 - 1990)

Funny thing, me and strats! When I’ve got one it’s only a matter of time before I start to feel discontent with it. But when I haven’t got one, it’s never long before I get to feel strangely undressed! Weird or what? On this occasion, I was in The Louis Armstrong jamming with my friend (and superb guitarist) Pete Bocking. Listening to Pete playing his old Fender Esquire I knew I’d have to get another Fender and told him so.

A few days later Pete rang me and put me on to a really nice old strat he’d come across in his travels. By coincidence, it was the same age and colour as the very first strat ever to reach the UK (Hank Marvin had taken possession of a Flamingo Pink strat in May 1959). It seemed all original apart from having had what looked like a rather poor re-spray job in black. It played superbly so I bought it... Then the usual thing happened. I started to get fed up with it...Finally I accepted a very good offer and it was gone. And guess what - I want it back!"

[daddy]

It's funny how when I enter into the search pad "Peter Bocking Jazz," I get a couple links to our P'UK's Jazz career, but then I get Link's to PETE Maravich playing basketball for NBA's New Orlean's JAZZ. And then it goes on to talk about BLOCKING shots.

Maravich never blocked a shot in his life, so careful what you read on the Internet!

[clarice]

I have a couple of emails from Paul M to share:

Thanks Clarice – much appreciated.

Sadly, this [the playbill with the Beatles] appears to be from a book called “It happened in Manchester” , which means I cannot use it due to copyright reasons. It is also retyped and not the original advert, so many of my “readers” would not be too impressed.

The original can be found on this page http://www.manchesterbeat.com/groups/petebocking6/petebocking6.php - dreadful copy, you will agree, but authentic.

***

The Lonnie Donegan band may not seem much to you guys in the USA but in the late 50’s Lonnie was probably the one who sparked off the whole pop scene of the next decade in the UK. Playing skiffle numbers like Rock Island Line, Lonnie inspired thousands of kids to take up guitars, washboards and tea-chest string basses. Every street, every school, etc, had its own skiffle group. From skiffle came the sixties scene. John Lennon’s first group was a skiffle group, for example.

So, Peter was playing with his hero – not many of can ever achieve that. Bit like me playing for Manchester United (no chance ever, sadly).

*****

Perhaps some more info may be ofinterest.

On the pages about Pete, you will see mentions of the Fourtones and Peter Maclaine and The Clan.

The Fourtones featured Pete plus Derek (who was later to join Freddie and the Dreamers and have numerous hits in UK/USA) plus Alan Clarke and Graham Nash (both of the Hollies – huge in UK but les so in USA, plus Graham later part of Crosby, Stills and Nash – worlds first supergroup)

After they split, Pete joined Pete Maclaine and the Clan and played with them, on and off, for four decades. Pete was probably Manchester’s top singer and had a good backing band, the Dakotas. Beatles manager Brian Epstein knew this and “stole” the Dakotas from Pete M and used them to back the vastly inferior Billy J Kramer. Billy J had lots of hits in UK and Dakotas had a couple on their own. Pete M built a new backing group featuring the best in Manchester, including Pete Bocking.

It is certainly true that although Manchester groups of the early sixties were huge in UK and USA (Hermans Hermits, Hollies, Freddie and the Dreamers) none had the musical prowess within their ranks of Pete Bocking.

[centralcal]

...none had the musical prowess within their ranks of Pete Bocking.

And, not just musical prowess either, as we all know here within our own ranks.

[hit and run]

I found http://www.paulbura.co.uk/songs.htm>this about PUK last night:

THE WEED SONG - Written by Paul Bura.

THE WEED SONG I wrote as a send-up country and western song as I was working as a singer/poet in THE COLEY band. I wrote it – as I remember – in about half an hour when I lived in Herne Bay in Kent. That song (which featured on the jazz album: GOODBYE BRAINS) got many laughs but the lead guitarist – Pete Bocking – had to hide behind the amps as he detested country and western and was a dedicated modern jazz man. He didn’t stand a chance though as every one knew that he used to be lead guitarist with LONNIE DONOGAN!

I don't know if PUK would want you to hear this,but http://www.paulbura.co.uk/audio/The-Weed-Song.mp3>here's the song (mp3 link)

And here is what I am assuming to be the http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2PDtlET_R00>title track from Goodbye Brains on youtube

[clarice]

Thanks..Be sure Sara has that by cross posting on facebook, please, Hit.

[Hi Peter, up there in Heaven.]

I'm not so sure his chances at the Hall of Fame are so poor. Obviously he was in at the beginning, and apparently, he was considered the master guitarist. His influence is there, but not directly in the vinyl record.
==========================

[Rocco]

Good Morning

Thank you Sara...the more I read the better I think his chances are.

[Jim Ryan]

I've heard back from the student of Pete's I quoted earlier, the pro jazz guitarist in London, Mike Outram. He sends a link to his memories.

[clarice]

Thanks,Jim--when we get the letter to the HOF done, would you forward it to him and ask him to help us, please?

************
We finally have funeral information --via Manchesterbeat:
The funeral will be at 1:30 p.m. on Thur the 12th at the Manchester crematorium.
There will be a friends meeting later at the Nursery Inn, Heaton Norris Stockport.

[Jim Ryan]

Sure will, Clarice. Also, he's joined the Facebook group.

[hit and run]

FWIW, when looking for PUK stuff last night my laptop caught a nasty virus,and I've had two switch laptops until the infirm computer is made whole again.

Two things...1)this laptop has an undersized keyboards with odd key placement in a number of cases,so I am battling Claricitis (typo dysfunction disorder); 2)for some reason this laptop refuses to open Facebook. Every time I try,my browser chokes.

yay