I heard about Bill Nelson and these guys for a long time, but I failed to check out their stuff because the band name is a turn off. I was thinking it was be bop jazz or something...

The music is similar to glam rock like Queen, Roxy Music or David Bowie. Or even older Peter Hammill/VDGG sort of stuff. The difference is that Bill Nelson is a virtuoso guitarist.

This type of 70's glam rock has typically never appealed to me, but BBD do it with such flair, that I actually dig it. It's less about posing and make-up (but they do this) and more about the music.

yut wrote:I heard about Bill Nelson and these guys for a long time, but I failed to check out their stuff because the band name is a turn off.

This is precisely why I never checked them out--I am deeply suspicious of bands with bullshit names. But your description of them suggests that they're worth a listen. Thanks.

Yay! Great band. Have a listen to Bill Nelson's Red Noise (OK he wasn't good with band names) as well - Revolt Into Style in particular.

yeah... I only got the first 4 BBD records, and they are really great. I need to get the other ones and Red Noise...

I think part of the reason why they never got big in the U.S. is that they toured with bands like Blue Oyster Cult. That's just such a different sound, and I reckoned they got a lukewarm reception. On the other hand, I read about a few people who went to see BBD's set and left before BOC came on...

I have always heard they were quite popular in the U.K. They deserve whatever props they got (and more). Way better than any of their glam contemporaries. This is probably the problem -- if they were mediocre they would probably sell more records (though they wouldn't sell any to me)

But yeah, if you can get over the goofy band name, most of the music is amazing.

I've been a fan since the mid '70s. I don't think they sound like anyone else, but Bill has a serious Bowie thing sometimes..( Jet Silver and the Dolls of Venus..). They were definitely not Glam, even though some makeup was applied.

I saw Be-Bop Deluxe open for Alice Cooper in the '70s, it was the first time I ever heard/saw a band use a tape loop onstage.

Bill Nelson's guitaring is excellent, although his soloing can be fairly samey after repeated listenings. Still, he's unique and brilliant.

On a side note, he's the only fairly famous guitar player to champion Carlsbro amps. They sounded great with his setup and style.

Yeah... I noticed that his tone is much better than anyone in the 70's. I had no idea it was the Carlsbro amps.

Yeah, I guess my pigeonholing of BBD is based on what others say. There is a similarity to Bowie or things of a glam nature. They wear suits (which is similar to Brian Ferry in Roxy) and they wear makeup.

It is true, however, that the music is distinct from these other bands, mainly due to the musicianship.

Their drummer is OK. Their bass player has some really great chops. But Bill is really the heart and soul of this band.

Honestly, I just got their first four albums about 3 weeks ago. They are top notch, and I can't believe I continually overlooked them because of their name...

Wow... After I have spent more time with this music, I like it even more. This is stuff that is so dense and tuneful, it keeps giving.

I just looked over the wikipedia article on BBD today, and found the influences I had noticed.. Van Der Graaf Generator, Zappa, Bowie. But really, there is not much lifting at all. Nelson is insanely creative and makes some of the most warm and endearing prog-pop music...

The only thing I don't get is how underrated and unpopular this band is... I stumbled upon this stuff because a few prog dorks have been talking about it... from what I understand, he was fairly popular in England, but never caught on in the U.S.

I don't know any. What album is best? I like his "Do You Dream In Colour?" 7", that's all I know by him.

I own 4 of their albums, and I would rank them as follows:

1. Axe Victim
2. Modern Music
3. Futurama
4. Sunburst Finish

I just ordered their live one and their final album, Drastic Plastic.

Axe Victim has some of the most amazing tracks... The guitar solo on Adventures In A Yorkshire Landscape is amazing! It is the most perfect solo ever. Merging virtuosic playing, flagrant overdubs, and the BEST guitar tone ever. It almost sounds like a synth.

Jet Silver And The Dolls Of Venus is about as perfect as a song can be. The only one I don't care for is Rocket Cathedrals, which has a sort of Bowie Boogie/Rocky Horror Picture Show kind of thing to it... Not terrible, but it's the one unimpressive track on an otherwise perfect album... It's the one track that is mired in the 70s, for an otherwise timeless record..

I don't have the "Do You Dream in Colour".

To be honest, I just started listening a couple of months ago, but I wish I had ignored their silly name a long time ago and just listened to the music...

Bill Nelson is totally neglected as an artist. Which is a shame,his solo and BBD albums are amazing. Great Band. Amazing Guitarist.

Not Crap.