Like the best guitarists, Driving Force frontman Rich Dickinson can somehow play his instrument with his teeth to earn cheers all round.
But what the enthralled audience at a Henry’s Blueshouse night at Snobs didn’t fully see is the moment he stepped outside on to the Broad Street pavement without missing a beat.
As you can see in our exclusive video from the 10 September gig, Rich then carried on playing his guitar outside by rubbing the strings up against a giant pole holding up the cables for the West Midlands Metro trams.
Well, it’s one way of generating some extra electricity in a world that is choc full of restrictions about what you can and can’t do these days.
On the opposite side of Broad Street, for example, is one sign which says ‘Red Route – no stopping at any time except buses’. But nowhere does it say: ‘Don’t rub your guitar on a tram pole’.
Rich, a passionate fan of The Kinks, is an uncanny physical cross between several guitar heroes – Rory Gallagher and Gary Moore in particular and with added hints of Ritchie Blackmore, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Tony Iommi thrown in.
But it was hearing Jimi Hendrix for the first time that changed his life for ever, with Rich saying: “I nagged my parents into buying me a guitar and that set the course for the rest of my life.”
Rich appeared at Snobs with his drummer Ted ‘Thunder sticks’ Nawrot and bassist Rich ‘Dave’ Sleep. Watching on was Jim Simpson, the legendary first manager of Black Sabbath who launched Henry’s Blueshouse in 1968 at The Crown in Station Street.
After watching Rich outside on Broad Street, Jim said: “Driving Force are one of the top six bands we ever have on. Rich is on his way to Memphis tomorrow and if he plays like that he’ll go down a storm.”
Live music coming up at Snobs:
- The Journey Men, 15 Sep
- Smokin’ Ade Wakelin Band, 22 Sep
- Jamie Thyer and the Worried Men, 17 Sep
- Veronica & Max (Italy), 24 Sep,and
- KAOS Rocks (Rich’s other band), 6 Oct.
Snobs is at 200 Broad Street, Birmingham B15 1SU.
Pictures and video for Westside BID by Graham Young
ENDS
