REMEMBERING BAP'S MUSIC
Scroll down for a selection of videos from Bap gigs along with a few personal reflections.
Scroll down to see photos of Bap on stage.
Scroll down to see photos of Bap on stage.
This is a very special memory. It is from Bap's last ever gig. It was on St Valentine's Day last year, and it was the last time he and I played and sang together in public.
At this time Bap was happy and well. Off stage he was working very hard on his new album "Reckless Heart" and we were arranging gigs for later in the year in support of the release. During the gig I harmonised with Bap on this lovely song which he wrote for me. One of the lines says "We should make the most of our time" and that is so true for all of us. Every moment is a precious gift for we never know what lies ahead. Many thanks to Mick McAstocker who recorded this on his phone. We didn't find out till afterwards that Bap's concert Morbegno, Italy made the TV news. What a special night. It's hard to believe this was only last year.
Howl On is probably my all time favourite Bap song and it was always brilliant to play live.
I remember really well the day I first heard Bap writing it. He'd been in his den with his guitar all morning and as I was making lunch I could hear him playing that beautiful chord sequence over and over. By the time I went to tell him lunch was ready he was still playing it and singing some of the lyrics as well and I asked him what it was. He said it was "just an idea" he was working on and I said "That is seriously beautiful, Bap. You should keep working on it" And in later years he used to enjoy telling people that without his wife "Howl On" might not exist. Why? "Because she refused to give me any lunch till I finished writing it" he used to joke! From Norderstedt an Music Star, Germany. Many thanks to Hans Jorgen Kuus. |
Hey Joe was the last song of the night at so many gigs and Bap did his own very individual take on it. He never performed Hey Joe the same way twice, so it was one of those songs that really kept the band on their toes!
It was hard to beat the atmosphere at The Barge in Belfast. The acoustics were always great and "the craic was mighty" as they say in Belfast
(which translates to something like "it was a brilliant, fun night"). The whole town seemed to turn up for this open air gig....Italy really did love Bap.
Mark Knopfler produced Into The Arms of Love but he and Bap decided to put it on the Deluxe (CD 2) because it didn't fit with the moody Celtic ambience of The Sailor's Revenge. We always enjoyed performing in Holland. So many great music lover's venues, and we were really well looked after everywhere we went.
Madame George got requested a lot at Bap's gigs, and he made it special every time. Apparently when Van heard Bap's version of Madame George, he was impressed with it himself. Before his solo career, Bap was lead singer and main song writer for the tremendous London based roots band, Energy Orchard.
This is Bap with Energy Orchard live back in the day. |
To see more videos go to Bap's Youtube channel
PHOTOS OF BAP PERFORMING ON STAGE
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