cool photo Kyle!

"You can't tell where you're going if you don't know where you've been"

This site makes my day.........Thanks Brian!

Traditional........speak softly and play through a big blonde amp. Did I mention that I still like big blonde amps?

Hi Ivan,

(1) Yes I did add that question after thinking about it. But really….It just did not, and still does not, mean all that much to me. But nothing at all for you to be sorry about, Ivan. Really man.

(2) Yes, Leo was all of that and more. After further thought, I only recall twice that Leo accepted money from me. He had a couple of Showman heads with single 15” cabinets with out a home. I think it was $150.
He did not charge me one cent for what he did to my Piggy Back Bandmaster. That was the beginning of the endorsement with Fender.

(3) Yes, the wood used to build the cabinet will of course make a difference in the sound. Some would argue, (and I am one) that even the cover material, glue and how the glue is applied matters a little bit as well.

(4) The Showman Amps started with E&TS. I don’t recall trying out a Showman, or Showman prototype, while I was with The Bel Airs. It’s possible though.

(5) The “spin” that writers put on things I have issues with. It can tend to change the raw facts of the matter. I do think however the truth is trying to be said….
It is the drama that has been penned, in my opinion, which has the potential to be misleading. If you know what I mean.
I never really looked at the “whole” of it as a rivalry...I heard DD said something...then I responded. I was NOT consciously trying to compete with Harmony Park in any way shape or form!

(6) As far as the songwriting credits: I would have to do a search to find out who wrote, as example, Far Away Places…I can’t remember now if I wrote BreakTime or heard it somewhere else…It seems I came up with that one. BUT……At this point if there is even a chance I am wrong, I will not commit till I am positive.

(7) The Lively One’s were fun to watch….that’s for sure. I don’t remember Masoner doing a lot of jumping however. He had a very powerful looking stance.

(8) Laughing. The Kathy Marshall thing was just joking around. We never dated. She and her family were just very “nice” people that were very good to me.

Rob Edwards and John Andersons interplay was significant. So was the role of the bass guitar. Some very cool bass patterns. I never needed to say much of anything to them about what to play. They came up with the formula and the “who will play what” mostly on their own. I worked closer with the drummers.

Rob became heavy into graphic arts. He was an over the top, awesome artist.
He died not long ago. I miss him. I don’t like doing life without him. We were close right to the end. We lived 10 minutes apart. Always there…

Hi mrski

#1) I cannot confirm, because I have not seen or heard anything myself. The chances are great that live recordings are out there, bootlegged or otherwise. So consequently I could not release anything other than my own CDs.

#2) Yes I did a 9 minute version of Moon Dawg on stage with David. Approximately 6 of those minutes I was playing alone or jamming…not knowing in advance what I am going to play is something I really enjoy. Spontaneity can be a rush!

David and I have stayed in touch on a fairly regular basis all these years. We talk on the phone and try to see each other when he is in Los Angeles.

Thanks mrski for the cool questions… Please visit my web site and post a note on my message board…that would be an honor for me.

Stay in touch,

Eddie

Web site - eddiebertrand.com

E-Mail – eddiebertrand@yahoo.com

Last edited: Mar 23, 2013 13:03:22

Hi Ryan,

Be happy to tell you. It was a simple thing. We changed out the tray and the tubes. I pulled the tray out of one of my 'Quad Reverb Amps". And my friend Norman Cowell did the rest.

Hope that helps.

Eddie

Again: this is a very interesting thread. I enjoy reading every little detail about how things were in the surf scene of the 60s.

One aspect I'm particularly interested in is the everyday aspect of playing in a surf band in the 60s (compared to now).

Therefore I put together a whole lot of partly silly questions about these issues. I hope you don't find them too stupid...;)

1. Did you often play multiple gigs in one day?
   

2.How many times did you normally play per week? Which days?

3.When you backed other artists did you have a lot of time to rehearse their songs? Did you get to rehearse with them before playing live?

1. Could you describe the practical aspect of a gig:
   a.Where did you store the instruments and equipment when you didn't play?
   b.Did it take long time to put it up in the club? Did you do it all by yourself, or was there a person from the club supervising everything?
   c.Did you eat together before shows? If so: where?
   d.What did you normally do after the gig?
   e. Did you change strings before each gig?
   f.Were there friends of you coming to each gig?
   g.Was it a problem that you had other things to do besides playing?
   h.Could you buy Eddie & the Showmen singles at the show?
   i. How much were you paid per gig?
   

Allright: maybe some of the questions are difficult to answer, so let them be. Also if there are some aspects that are not covered here, please feel free to comment on them too.

again thanks

guitarist, The Mobsmen

Hi Wavy,

#1) I did play more than one concert on occasion. Not often though.
#2) Played two to three times a week. Like Thursday thru Saturday.
#3) The Showmen would learn the material (if complicated) ahead of time. I knew who was playing a week in advance normally. We also had some rehearsal time in green room with the various artists before they went on.
#4)
a. I kept my equipment in my house.
b. Actually Eddie and the Showmen didn’t play clubs. But yes I had people to handle it if I needed.
c. Not really….more eating after the shows.
d. Go eat!
e. I changed strings a lot…but not necessarily before each concert.
f. There were always friends and family at the shows.
g. The only thing I had to do besides playing my guitar was surfing.
h. People bought my records back then at music stores and record shops.
i. Money varied a little from show to show, but not much. It was a lot!

Cool Questions Dude. Thank You.

Eddie

Last edited: Mar 23, 2013 13:04:03

Hi Simen,

Normally the hours we played were between 8 PM & 12 midnight.....I would play at most two sets, approx. 45 minutes each. I would do mostly surf instrumentals, my own as well as some from other artists ie: Duane Eddy, The Shadows, The Ventures, etc.

We normally rehearsed at home in the garage or patio or at the concert halls during sound check. And yes, lots of bands I am sure rehearsed the same as I did.

Garages are not in the house, I just kept my guitars etc. in the house.

Good Questions Simen…..Peace,

Eddie

Hi Scott....

First of all, thank you for your kind words to Dario Gomez and myself regarding the endorsement on the "Gear" thread..

Question A.
I really never thought about it before you asked. Looking back I just simply wrote a melody one day, and another one few days later, and so on. But apart from surfing and going to school, that's what I did everyday, played guitars and wrote songs.

Question B.
I was not aware of Wenzels'.

Thanks Scott,
Eddie

Hello Eddie:

Wow, I completely forgot that I didn't answer this post - sorry! I'll keep it short.

EddieBertrand_
(2) Yes, Leo was all of that and more. After further thought, I only recall twice that Leo accepted money from me. He had a couple of Showman heads with single 15” cabinets with out a home. I think it was $150.

For the head AND the cabinet? For both amps or per amp? Either way, sounds like quite a deal!

Did you use single 15" cabs much back in the day or did you usually stick with Dual Showmans?

Rob Edwards and John Andersons interplay was significant. So was the role of the bass guitar. Some very cool bass patterns. I never needed to say much of anything to them about what to play. They came up with the formula and the “who will play what” mostly on their own.

They both did a really great job with it, very creative rhythm guitar and bass playing that added a lot to the songs. In my mind that's really one thing that sets E&TS apart from much other surf music. The arrangements were always very interesting and interplay between instruments was among the best of any surf band.

I worked closer with the drummers.

That's the case with me, too, and I think several other guitarists I know. I wonder why that is? I'm much more picky about the drums than I am about bass, though I absolutely appreciate creative and melodic bass playing that adds to a song.

Rob became heavy into graphic arts. He was an over the top, awesome artist.
He died not long ago. I miss him. I don’t like doing life without him. We were close right to the end. We lived 10 minutes apart. Always there…

I'm really, really sorry to hear that. What a shame, he was far too young to die. It would have been amazing to see Rob playing with you again.

Congratulations on your endorsement, Eddie, can't wait to hear you rip it up with these new amps! And I truly can't wait to hear your new music.

Best regards,
Ivan

PS Did you see the thread on SG101 about Jim Roberts sitting in with a surf band again, and playing surf music for the first time in decades?

Ivan
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