It was 1974ish and one late night, laying in bed, I was listening to the King Biscuit Flower Hour. Be Bop Deluxe was the feature. When a live version of Adventures In A Yorkshore Landscape was played I leapt out of bed, turned up the radio to maximum a gogo, grabbed a pencil and wrote down the title and group name. Crying To The Sky was already getting some airplay by then but I didn't connect the dots, at that time. I went to the record store the next day and bought two of BBD's albums, went home and played them back to back for hours, listening to every note. I was already in love with Crying To The Sky and those albums set it in stone for me - Be Bop Deluxe was my now favorite group. And that was no easy feat considering all the great music to come out of the seventies. Mr. Nelson since, has repeatedly stated he wanted to lay BBD to rest under a wreath of "rocketships and roses" but we aren't quite ready to let it go. This video shows Nelson still has the mad skills, style and class that propelled BBD to the top of many peoples' lists. Thank you Mr. Nelson! Thank you for posting this!
Simply put the most underrated guitarist to come out of the 70's. Tone, feel, soul, speed and power when needed. An amazing player who deserves to named among the very, very best! Thank Maestro!!!
The best guitarist that most people have never heard of. So criminally underrated its mind boggling. His playing is silky smooth and tone is phenomenal, the planet is full of wannabes who wish they could play like this. Bill Nelson is a guitar god!
why oph why oh why is this guy not talked about..one of the best british guitarists we have had writing great music down the years NEVER talked about at all..one of the great british music mysteries...the guy is ignored and forgotten..a icon and a legend...rock on Bill
We will only see this level of talent and musical connection once......... The taste and tone of Gilmour, the explosiveness of Hendrix or Beck, the precision of Derringer, Walsh, and Montrose, the conviction of all of them put together with the absolute uniqueness and individuality that transcends them all..........
Whether this man is given the critical acclaim that he is due.....real guitarists from the 70's until now....know him as one of the greatest if not the greatest guitar player in England during the 70's and possibly beyond. A huge influence on my playing. You don't think he is worthy? Randy Rhoades was a huge fan....
I bought this CD / DVD set when it was 1st released. It's fantastic all the way thru. Bill is high up on my list of top 10 guitarists of all time. Not only for technique, but expressiveness, musicality and the many unique features of his compositions and performances.
A permanent fixture on my ever-changing list of top-10 guitarists. He is innovative, passionate, absolutely NOT self-indulgent, and always eminently musical. He never seems to have the need to attempt to impress with technique, but uses it to do beautiful things. Truly a master of magic with the guitar.
Underrated doesn't even begin the equation! Simply a man with a proper (Gibson) guitar, not a blinking Fender, who knows what the word 'tone' means. Love him and his work to bits since 1974. God bless, Bill.X
Put this man in the rock and roll hall of fame now he so deserves it he has influenced so many guitarists including me lets not wait til its too late give this man his due he is a humble intelligent gifted man who has mastered the art of storytelling to great music just listen to life in the air age or terminal street to name just two.
The most melodic guitar player i have ever heard, its always an absolute pleasure to listen to his music... Bill Nelson is not just the best of british, but just the best ever.........
I have been listening to Nelson for 42 years. If you had asked me 40 years ago what Bill would be doing now...... I would have guessed he would be Bowie’s favorite sideman, about now....
I stopped after Red Noise but have just now discovered his last ten years of individual music and I think HE IS BETTER that the 70's ... but the band pulled me through my 'tough' teens..LOVE EM!
I was lucky enough to see bebop deluxe many times at Doncaster top rank, Doncaster outlook and Sheffield city hall back in the 70s. I met this guy backstage and he was so humble and genuine. Check out Bill's late 70s band Red Noise. The best guitarist on the planet. So under rated. Stuart Adamson always acknowledged his massive admiration for Bill.
From Northern Dream through Be Bop Deluxe and Red Noise...Up until right now...this man is the best ever...totally totally underrated by the public but a musicians musician. Faultless.
For a guy always seemingly in search of "the next thing" and reluctant to be the guitar hero he sure can play some thrilling guitar noise when he wants to.
I was at the Metropolis concert. One of the greatest nights off my life. Just wait until Bill releases "Above these clouds the sweetest dreams", the opener on his solo set that night. Absolutely stunning. Will never understand why he is so overlooked by the industry. At least he remains loved by those of us in the know. A genius, a real genius. Thank You Bill for the most wonderful music for the best part of 40 years now.
This man is the whole reason I picked the guitar up 35 years ago. Such a sweet touch and always interesting. For me 'Crying To The Sky' was his best thing back then...thanks for the inspiration Bill.
something about his playing.......just something else.Bill you are up there simply because you play from the heart and you touch so many others.........thank you Mr Nelson x
A lot of fans have never seen Bill performing in the modern era , so the dvd of this concert is indescribably delicious . It's impossible to overstate it's importance in some of our collections. I've been waiting since 1995 for something like this !.
Bill Nelson is one of the very few guitarists who always get the right Tone for the song, Rorrante. I used to love Be-Bop, but am very embarrassed to say that I know very little else of his career. These Gentlemen Rocketeers have awoken a desire in me to explore Bills musical career in full. Absolutely Brilliant!
I had the pleasure of seeing them at the cornex Cambridge in the early to mid seventies , they were a supporting act to who I can’t remember, loved the music ever since ,
Great guitarist.,I found out about be bop deluxe and bill nelson when I was trying to find who sang which would eventually be crying to the sky... First heard that track on Tommy Vance's Friday rock show over 30 odd yrs ago .. Just an awsome guitar player.
Bill stuck the head stock of his Gibson into my heart in 1976 he's twisted that guitar ever since to this day..... Inducing Pain, sorrow , heartache, regrets but also love, joy , pleasure , and above all hope The most talented and gifted human ever to place their hands on guitar and make it a living thing. Thank you Bill
Wakefield man as I am. one of the world's greatest musicians and guitarists with no acknowledgement. Beats the shit out of anyone else. Eddie Freeth. Stoke-on-Trent.
Bill, I saw you way back in San Francisco at Winterland for your 'Modern Music' Tour with Rush and Ted N. You were brilliant then................you are even better now! I've missed you. Thanks for coming back!
Kudos to the producers of this video. I have SO many other musical legends recorded by old cellphones (or even old videocams snuck into shows) held or propped up against a beer bottle! A handful of axemen turned me on to "serious" rock in the 70s: Steve Howe, John McLaughlin, Jan Akkerman - and BN! You guys are dead right: he deserves a LOT more credit than he's gotten!
Sublime...exquisite...beautiful. I remember buying Be-Bop's first album in Canada on import just because the cover looked damned cool. I've been in love with Bill's music ever since.
Makes my heart sing Bill.So many memories.Saw BBD ST Georges Hall Bradford 1976.Stood mesmorised for 90 mins.My Army and Navy school rucksack was adourned with BBD motifs.Felt i was the only person at school in on the be-Bop Deluxe musical secret.Thankyou for the music ,Lloyd
Bill Nelson such a legend. This track "For Stuart" excellent. From the mid seventies I was such a Be Bop Deluxe fan. Seeing them 1976 at the Odeon Hamersmith was the best concert I've ever seen. Still love the track " Islands Of The Dead "
Love it that a guy with his unbelievable chops, speed, chordal knowledge, and sheer ability to dazzle will still just stand on pure musicality and just play simply and beautifully, showing us what you can do with "just pentatonic". And love that he spends a few minutes at the end taking us to "E-Bow School"!
Just court up with Bill again after to many years, It's fantastic to see & hear he's still as oridginal as ever he was.Great stuff.Sends shivers down the spine. Oh! my lost youth. Brummie Clive a regained Fan.
I was there that evening. I have wandered all over the musical universe and keep coming back to Bill N. I just wonder how high he could have soared in popularity terms if his stubborn creative genius had relented a bit allowing the world to keep up with him.
The most feeling and completely satisfying guitarist ever IMHO. Maybe try string quartets to see it. Thank you so for posting this... when TH-cam lives up to its potential ✨😺🐝🌞💚🍀
what do we do when all our heroes are gone and all that is left is the pap of the modern music genre, Totally love this man ,his music and one reason i started playing back in the 70's
imagine a double act Bill Nelson and KC.......as good as Adrian Belue but almost unknown even to this day, i dread to think how many albums hes put out over the years been a fan since 79, great to see hes still playing:) m50 thankyou for the post ps bloody hell his guitar playing soars
Just get the Bebop albums and listen to Bill's guitar .. it's all there rock, soul, blues ,jazz, whammy bar, sustain of tone, ebow , scales, feedback , art deco even Musical genius for all time, past, present and futurama his art trapped in a plastic disc or on the internet airwaves for all to enjoy. Always will be Modern music
Amazing guitarist my favourite , he moves you , just brilliant one of the BEST!FOR SURE!❤
It was 1974ish and one late night, laying in bed, I was listening to the King Biscuit Flower Hour. Be Bop Deluxe was the feature. When a live version of Adventures In A Yorkshore Landscape was played I leapt out of bed, turned up the radio to maximum a gogo, grabbed a pencil and wrote down the title and group name. Crying To The Sky was already getting some airplay by then but I didn't connect the dots, at that time.
I went to the record store the next day and bought two of BBD's albums, went home and played them back to back for hours, listening to every note. I was already in love with Crying To The Sky and those albums set it in stone for me - Be Bop Deluxe was my now favorite group. And that was no easy feat considering all the great music to come out of the seventies.
Mr. Nelson since, has repeatedly stated he wanted to lay BBD to rest under a wreath of "rocketships and roses" but we aren't quite ready to let it go.
This video shows Nelson still has the mad skills, style and class that propelled BBD to the top of many peoples' lists.
Thank you Mr. Nelson!
Thank you for posting this!
Simply put the most underrated guitarist to come out of the 70's. Tone, feel, soul, speed and power when needed. An amazing player who deserves to named among the very, very best! Thank Maestro!!!
Ray W. , I saw beBop open for Johnny Winter in 1975(I think). Bill is still my favorite guitarist.
couldn't agree more
Absolutely!
Agreed !
to come out of ever!
Two guitarists of the 70's that did not get the acclaim that was truly deserved. Bill Nelson and Rory Gallagher.
Sooooooo true my friend soooo true
Danny Gatton?
Ted Turner,Wishbone Ash also included.
I totally agree. There are so many artists from that generation that were overlooked.
And Andrew Latimer from Camel.
Bill Nelson,GENIUS !
nothing else compared to this !
すごいですね、よかですね。
from Japan.
Best guitarist bar none... for feel, technique, musicality... he was good in the 70's now he's legendary...
The best guitarist that most people have never heard of. So criminally underrated its mind boggling. His playing is silky smooth and tone is phenomenal, the planet is full of wannabes who wish they could play like this. Bill Nelson is a guitar god!
He's not underrated to the people who know his music. Great art is not for everyone. Excelsior!
Bill Nelson is a true maverick ..Followed him from the 70's ...I have 27 of his albums ..and he's such a nice guy ..he's never asked for them back ..
🤓 you are funny !
Those giving thumbs down plainly know nothing about virtuoso musicianship.
One of the few guitarists/artists that can truly move you with the heart and soul of his playing. He truly paints with sound.
why oph why oh why is this guy not talked about..one of the best british guitarists we have had writing great music down the years NEVER talked about at all..one of the great british music mysteries...the guy is ignored and forgotten..a icon and a legend...rock on Bill
We will only see this level of talent and musical connection once......... The taste and tone of Gilmour, the explosiveness of Hendrix or Beck, the precision of Derringer, Walsh, and Montrose, the conviction of all of them put together with the absolute uniqueness and individuality that transcends them all..........
Listening to Bill Nelson play guitar feels like walking on a tightrope without any fear of falling.
Whether this man is given the critical acclaim that he is due.....real guitarists from the 70's until now....know him as one of the greatest if not the greatest guitar player in England during the 70's and possibly beyond. A huge influence on my playing. You don't think he is worthy? Randy Rhoades was a huge fan....
I bought this CD / DVD set when it was 1st released. It's fantastic all the way thru. Bill is high up on my list of top 10 guitarists of all time. Not only for technique, but expressiveness, musicality and the many unique features of his compositions and performances.
Probably the most underrated guitarist to come out of the UK, a unique and amazing style that's unmistakably Bill Nelson.
Futurama has some of the most Amazing guitar ever, and the tunes are first class. A true Talent indeed.
A permanent fixture on my ever-changing list of top-10 guitarists. He is innovative, passionate, absolutely NOT self-indulgent, and always eminently musical. He never seems to have the need to attempt to impress with technique, but uses it to do beautiful things. Truly a master of magic with the guitar.
One of the finest rock guitarists ever! Not too many out there that can play as "tasteful" as Bill Nelson.
BILL NELSON, The only two words you need for the reason for being alive. The greatest of all time.
My Fav artist of all time , a pure genius. I saw him live a few times - sheer brilliance
Underrated doesn't even begin the equation! Simply a man with a proper (Gibson) guitar, not a blinking Fender, who knows what the word 'tone' means. Love him and his work to bits since 1974. God bless, Bill.X
Gibson? I think it's a Paul Reed Smith in his hands.
I saw him play a Gibson hollowbody with Be Bop Deluxe
Just catching up with Bill Nelson. Loved him in 1976, and again now. Brilliant!
Put this man in the rock and roll hall of fame now he so deserves it he has influenced so many guitarists including me lets not wait til its too late give this man his due he is a humble intelligent gifted man who has mastered the art of storytelling to great music just listen to life in the air age or terminal street to name just two.
The most melodic guitar player i have ever heard, its always an absolute pleasure to listen to his music...
Bill Nelson is not just the best of british, but just the best ever.........
I have been listening to Nelson for 42 years.
If you had asked me 40 years ago what Bill would be doing now...... I would have guessed he would be Bowie’s favorite sideman, about now....
I stopped after Red Noise but have just now discovered his last ten years of individual music and I think HE IS BETTER that the 70's ... but the band pulled me through my 'tough' teens..LOVE EM!
I was lucky enough to see bebop deluxe many times at Doncaster top rank, Doncaster outlook and Sheffield city hall back in the 70s. I met this guy backstage and he was so humble and genuine. Check out Bill's late 70s band Red Noise. The best guitarist on the planet. So under rated. Stuart Adamson always acknowledged his massive admiration for Bill.
From Northern Dream through Be Bop Deluxe and Red Noise...Up until right now...this man is the best ever...totally totally underrated by the public but a musicians musician. Faultless.
For a guy always seemingly in search of "the next thing" and reluctant to be the guitar hero he sure can play some thrilling guitar noise when he wants to.
I was at the Metropolis concert. One of the greatest nights off my life. Just wait until Bill releases "Above these clouds the sweetest dreams", the opener on his solo set that night. Absolutely stunning. Will never understand why he is so overlooked by the industry. At least he remains loved by those of us in the know. A genius, a real genius. Thank You Bill for the most wonderful music for the best part of 40 years now.
This man is the whole reason I picked the guitar up 35 years ago. Such a sweet touch and always interesting. For me 'Crying To The Sky' was his best thing back then...thanks for the inspiration Bill.
something about his playing.......just something else.Bill you are up there simply because you play from the heart and you touch so many others.........thank you Mr Nelson x
A lot of fans have never seen Bill performing in the modern era , so the dvd of this concert is indescribably delicious . It's impossible to overstate it's importance in some of our collections. I've been waiting since 1995 for something like this !.
Awesome ! Always a Be-Bop fan and love his live guitar tone here. Keep rockin' Bill !
Bill Nelson is one of the very few guitarists who always get the right Tone for the song, Rorrante. I used to love Be-Bop, but am very embarrassed to say that I know very little else of his career. These Gentlemen Rocketeers have awoken a desire in me to explore Bills musical career in full. Absolutely Brilliant!
I had the pleasure of seeing them at the cornex Cambridge in the early to mid seventies , they were a supporting act to who I can’t remember, loved the music ever since ,
A masterclass in tone, control and technique....perfection. A big thank you to my friend Dean for putting me on to this.
AWESOME is an understatement.
What lovely sounds. One of the good guys.
he can bring tears to my eyes
I've followed Bill Nelson since Axe Victim and on the evidence of this clip, he's lost nothing. The man is a genius...
Fitting tribute to a great guitarist from a great guitarist.
Discovered Axe Victim in 1973. Bill Nelson has always had that shear genius touch, captivating, mesmerising, .
Thanks Bill.
Great guitarist.,I found out about be bop deluxe and bill nelson when I was trying to find who sang which would eventually be crying to the sky... First heard that track on Tommy Vance's Friday rock show over 30 odd yrs ago ..
Just an awsome guitar player.
Thank you Bill. Stuart we love you
Bill stuck the head stock of his Gibson into my heart in 1976 he's twisted that guitar ever since to this day..... Inducing Pain, sorrow , heartache, regrets but also love, joy , pleasure , and above all hope The most talented and gifted human ever to place their hands on guitar and make it a living thing. Thank you Bill
bill nelson and be bop deluxe [fantastic] so beyohnd there time back in the seventies a fantastic band and so innotive
Bill Nelson is a Melody Master.
BILL NELSON A HUMBLE MAN......A HUMBLE GENIUS.......A MUSICAL BRILLIANCE>>>>A LISTENERS HERO! EMERALDISLE
Just listened to Bill a minute ago Way ahead of his time back in the 70s Satriani Vai plus others came way after him great urecognised guitarist
Wakefield man as I am. one of the world's greatest musicians and guitarists with no acknowledgement. Beats the shit out of anyone else. Eddie Freeth. Stoke-on-Trent.
Without a doubt one of the finest ever. Alex in Biddulph ;-) ...... and Stuart Adamson led me here :-)
Bill,
I saw you way back in San Francisco at Winterland for your 'Modern Music' Tour with Rush and Ted N. You were brilliant then................you are even better now!
I've missed you.
Thanks for coming back!
Fantastic, one of the best concerts I've ever been to was Be Bop Deluxe in Birmingham back in the mid 1970's. Brilliant to see Bill again ;o)
Bill Nelson, multimedia artiste, total visionary, with staying power !
Been a BN fan forever. I could listen to this riff for hours!
Forgot what a great guitarist Bill Nelson really is. Saw him back in the 70´s at Glasgow Apollo, F**k me he´s better than ever!
Truly ...a master of melodic phrasing...and tasteful riffage....enduring till even now.....i still listen to “Shine” all the time....
Perfect. Hope Stuart can hear this, it's beautiful.
It melts so fast ....
Kudos to the producers of this video. I have SO many other musical legends recorded by old cellphones (or even old videocams snuck into shows) held or propped up against a beer bottle! A handful of axemen turned me on to "serious" rock in the 70s: Steve Howe, John McLaughlin, Jan Akkerman - and BN! You guys are dead right: he deserves a LOT more credit than he's gotten!
Brilliant, beautiful, magnificent!
One of most melodic players ever!
Sublime...exquisite...beautiful. I remember buying Be-Bop's first album in Canada on import just because the cover looked damned cool. I've been in love with Bill's music ever since.
So beautiful so fine Made me smile wish I could play like that I must say :)
Got chills guy still kills!!!!
Lucky to see them live in RENO Nv in I think 1977
Makes my heart sing Bill.So many memories.Saw BBD ST Georges Hall Bradford 1976.Stood mesmorised for 90 mins.My Army and Navy school rucksack was adourned with BBD motifs.Felt i was the only person at school in on the be-Bop Deluxe musical secret.Thankyou for the music ,Lloyd
Wow! Bill Nelson in 2011. Long overdue!! Time for a BeBop Deluxe reunion tour!!
The guy is a genius and his music is just as relevant as it was over 30 years ago
I have loved Bill's music since discovering it in 1975--this is SO Bill. What a beautiful style he has..............
Bill Nelson such a legend. This track "For Stuart" excellent. From the mid seventies I was such a Be Bop Deluxe fan. Seeing them 1976 at the Odeon Hamersmith was the best concert I've ever seen. Still love the track " Islands Of The Dead "
Saw this tour at Sheffield board walk with my mate Jim brilliant 🎸🎸🎸🎸🎸
BRAVO MR NELSON......NO ONE EVER HAS OR EVER WILL SOUND LIKE THIS.....SO CLEAN
Love it that a guy with his unbelievable chops, speed, chordal knowledge, and sheer ability to dazzle will still just stand on pure musicality and just play simply and beautifully, showing us what you can do with "just pentatonic". And love that he spends a few minutes at the end taking us to "E-Bow School"!
This is just the best .. Always loved Bill but he's better than ever ..Tears in my eyes as I loved Stuart's playing as well ..
Ray could not agree more when he was on fire there was no one better
Brilliant, real flashback to classic Be Bop Deluxe anthems. Stuart would have loved this
Known of him from the 70's , a real guitar master !
Just court up with Bill again after to many years, It's fantastic to see & hear he's still as oridginal as ever he was.Great stuff.Sends shivers down the spine. Oh! my lost youth.
Brummie Clive a regained Fan.
Superb!
Thank you man , eccelent music , great guitarist !
Stuart will be enjoying that. Just perfect.
SOOOOO under-rated as a guitarist and a songwriter!!!
Have loved Bill's playing since discovering him in 1974. Thanks for the upload!
Live long and [keep on] spiritually prosper Bill.
Thank you Old friend.
My two little lads 8 & 7 just watched and listened to this and loved it...
Bill Nelson was definitive in perfection
GENIUS.
The emotion in this man`s guitar playing makes me well-up...always has...always will.
Outstanding player
I was there that evening. I have wandered all over the musical universe and keep coming back to Bill N. I just wonder how high he could have soared in popularity terms if his stubborn creative genius had relented a bit allowing the world to keep up with him.
BEAUTIFUL
The most feeling and completely satisfying guitarist ever IMHO. Maybe try string quartets to see it. Thank you so for posting this... when TH-cam lives up to its potential ✨😺🐝🌞💚🍀
what do we do when all our heroes are gone and all that is left is the pap of the modern music genre, Totally love this man ,his music and one reason i started playing back in the 70's
You keep playing their records that's what you do.
Gold and Amazing.
this is very good could be made in heaven
just watched john mcglauchlin, paco de lucia & co, magificent fast fingers et al but this guy has got and always has had soul !!!
imagine a double act Bill Nelson and KC.......as good as Adrian Belue but almost unknown even to this day, i dread to think how many albums hes put out over the years
been a fan since 79, great to see hes still playing:) m50
thankyou for the post
ps bloody hell his guitar playing soars
wow !! I am just blown AWAY AT THIS SONG !!!!!
GRACIAS BILL NELSON.
Beautiful - I was there
Just get the Bebop albums and listen to Bill's guitar .. it's all there rock, soul, blues ,jazz, whammy bar, sustain of tone, ebow , scales, feedback , art deco even Musical genius for all time, past, present and futurama his art trapped in a plastic disc or on the internet airwaves for all to enjoy. Always will be Modern music