Carlo Little couldn’t have wished for a more appropriate way to launch his unique and posthumous solo cd “Never Stop Rockin’”: on 4th March 2009 friends, relatives and fans gathered at the famous Eel Pie Club in Twickenham, London, to witness the Eel Pie All Stars Band & Guests perform the album. The stage was taken by Deep Purple (founder Nic Simper), Downliners Sect(Keith Grant), The Yardbirds mk. II (Alan Glen), Jo Jo Gun (Alan Barratt), Warhorse (Pete Parks), Mott the Hoople (Chris Hunt), Carlo Little All Stars (Johnny Casanova), Bluescasters (Tom Nolan) and Spirogyra (Rick Biddulph).   

EEL PIE CLUB, LONDON, 4 MARCH 2009

Stars and Guests? Rather: All Friends. Perform the album? This fine selection of Brit Blues & Rock did not restrict themselves to the album, but threw a rock’n’roll party in honour of Carlo.

Introducing Carlo’s favourite music – uncompromising fifties rock’n’roll -  the All Stars took  off with “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Route 66”. In true Carlo Little style, these were given a rough, fast and loud treatment with vocals by Tom Nolan and Alan Barnett - wearing Carlo’s hat – respectively. They continued with some Chicago blues (“My babe” ; “I ain’t drunk”) and ended the warming-up with one of Carlo’s favourites tunes, Elvis’ “Blue Christmas”, in true blues style.

Next followed eight tracks of  Carlo Little’s album, appropriately ending with the title track, one of Carlo’s own compositions. Guest Keith Grant (Downliners Sect) did a raw vocal version of “Midnight Special” and Alan Glen did a tremendous solo on the  harmonica-driven “Country Line Special”.  After the break, the party just continued. Rick Biddulph took over bass duties from Nic Simper for just one song (One Borbon…”), then Keith Grant lent his raunchy vocal chords to sang another Chuck Berry song (“Let it Rock”) playing a mean bass as well. A weird switch was made when Alan sang a punked-up version of the fifties hit “Jezebel” – being another all-time favourite of Carlo’s and one he used to perform with his band called Flying Fox. The clock is nearing 11 p.m. and the band give it the ultimate rock’n’roll treatment: Eddie Cochran’s tongue-in-cheek “Twenty Flight Rock” and a third tune by the master, Chuck Berry’s “Little Queenie”.

As I said, this wasn’t just a gig but a real tribute in the presence of Carlo’s widow (Iris) and his daughters (Gisèle and Emma). I must point out the friendly atmosphere, the fun, the complete lack of any form pretension, the sheer musicianship, the commitment to a man and his love for music. But also the emotion, for instance with singer Alan Barnett wearing Carlo’s hit.

Eddy Bonte

THE EEL PIE ALL STARS:  

Tom Nolan (gtr, vocs) (lead vocal on 1, 6, 7, 8,  10,13, 14. / Alan Barratt (gtr, vocs) (lead vocal on 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 16, 17, 18)

Pete Parks (gtr), Nic Simper (bs), Alan Glen (hnca), Chris Hunt (dr) and Dave Lennox (kbds)

GUESTS

Keith Grant: vocals on  (9) “Midnight Special”, vocals and bass on  (15) “Let It Rock”

Johnny Casanova: keyboards on (18) “Little Queenie”, replacing Dave Lennox

Rick Biddulph, bass on  (14) “One Bourbon…”, replacing Nic Simper.

THE SET LIST

First Set: 1 Roll Over Beethoven 2 Route 66 3 I ain’t drunk 4 My Babe 5 Blue Christmas [From the Album 6-13] 6 It’s All Over Now 7 Mystery train 8 Born in the Country 9 Midnight Special 10 Iko Iko 11 Country Line Special 12 Chicago Calling 13 Never Stop Rockin’ Break / Second Set: 14 One Bourbon, One  Scotch, One Beer (4-piece band with Nolan, Lennox, Hunt and Biddulph) 15 Let It Rock  (4-piece band with Nolan, Lennox, Hunt and Grant) 16 Jezebel 17 Twenty Flight Rock 18 Little Queenie.

ALL PHOTOS © Eddy Bonte

LEFT:Pete Parks, Nic SImper, Chris Hunt, Tom Nolan, Alan Glen
RIGHT: Pete Parks, Nic Simper, Alan Barratt, Tom.
 

LEFT: PeteParks, Nic Simper,Alan Barratt
RIGHT: Nic Simper, Keith Grant
 

 

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: Johnny Casanova; Alan Barratt; Nic Simper.

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