This'll Be The Day

I can't let 3 February 2009 go by without a nod to Buddy Holly, who died 50 years ago today, aged 22. 8uddy's band, The Crickets, were the archetype: two guitars, bass, drums. All you need to make great music.

In 1977 I was an enthusiastic guitar apprentice, and thanks to the tutelage of Brian The Singing Postman had a few Buddy songs under my belt. Heartbeat was the first single I ever bought, albeit in the cover version released by Showaddywaddy. The record collection contained Chuck Berry and Little Richard. On tape I had the Beatles' Rock 'n' Roll Music. Primitive, homemade rock 'n' roll that you could make in your garage.

Elvis may have swung an acoustic round his neck, but Buddy had the Fender Strat and could play it. About this time I bought my first electric guitar, a Japanese strat copy (Grantson) and a strange amplifier christened RAW NRG - I think someone made it from a kit. Its metal casing used to vibrate after you'd used it for a while, and had to be suppressed with a weight when used in public. I used it to make primitive rock 'n' roll in my garage, writing songs without lyrics that were named after things near at hand: Tennis Racquet in D Minor, Anti-Freeze, etc.

In 1978 Buddy Holly Lives (20 Golden Greats) came out and was quickly snapped up and played to death. To this day, when I hear a track from that album, I am waiting for the next track in the playing order. One thing's for sure - Buddy Holly will Not Fade Away.