RIP Bo Diddley

It is with great sadness that I note the passing of Bo Diddley. In this day and age of reverence for dropping mad beats, none should forget the man whose signature rhythmic sense was the a foundational pillar of rock'n'roll. Back in the early 80s I had a stack of obscure Bo Diddley albums that dated from the early 60s. His raw, sexually charged playing and thunderous rhythms were a revelation. Bo Diddley was more than a pioneer who inspired early blues based rock, his roaring tone on those early sides easily predated the use of distorted guitars and over driven amps often ascribed to Jimmy Page, the Kinks or a host of other pretenders. The manic energy that his tracks pulsed with was a pure precursor to the garage rock of the Stooges and his influence will continue to live on through the sounds and beats of anyone that picks up a guitar and smashes out an infectious rhythm.



From the description to the video: Bo Diddley... 1966, The Big TNT Show movie, fantastic and iconic guitar hero, with the marvellous Norma-Jean Wofford, aka "The Duchess", on the second square guitar, the amazing Bo-ettes, Lilly "Bee Bee" Jamieson and Gloria Morgan.