Fact #191926
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John Steel (drummer, The Animals] : Sonny Boy wore this bizarre outfit - a two-tone suit, half brown and half black, with the dividing line straight down the middle. And he had this bowler hat that was shoved right down on his head so it bent his ears over. And he carried an umbrella and a briefcase. The only thing in the case was two bottles of Johnny Walker Black Label, his daily ration, plus his harmonicas. Maybe he only drank one bottle - he was prone to bragging - but he certainly put some away. I'm not sure anyone can drink two pints of scotch a day, but he certainly gave it a good hiding.
He looked just like some sort of weird city gent. He was an old goat, really. He must have been in his seventies then.
As far as playing with him went, he'd just shout out the key - C or D usually - and he was into it. It happened more than once that he'd pick up the wrong harp and you'd be in a different key. You'd be desperately floundering about trying to find the key he was in, and he'd stop and blame you publicly for being idiots. He was an evil old bugger. I suppose he was showman enough not to admit he'd made a mistake.
It was our fault for being young, white, and green. Still, he was an idol, and we'd more or less sit at his feet after the show.
Giorgio Gomelsky : Phil, the engineer, had a mono Ampeg machine which he brought to the club and recorded them with Sonny Boy. It was a great performance, and I was very impressed with The Animals, but I never got the tape. I think Eric went off with it.
(Source : not known)
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He looked just like some sort of weird city gent. He was an old goat, really. He must have been in his seventies then.
As far as playing with him went, he'd just shout out the key - C or D usually - and he was into it. It happened more than once that he'd pick up the wrong harp and you'd be in a different key. You'd be desperately floundering about trying to find the key he was in, and he'd stop and blame you publicly for being idiots. He was an evil old bugger. I suppose he was showman enough not to admit he'd made a mistake.
It was our fault for being young, white, and green. Still, he was an idol, and we'd more or less sit at his feet after the show.
Giorgio Gomelsky : Phil, the engineer, had a mono Ampeg machine which he brought to the club and recorded them with Sonny Boy. It was a great performance, and I was very impressed with The Animals, but I never got the tape. I think Eric went off with it.
(Source : not known)