Post by Boatman on Sept 30, 2008 18:54:53 GMT
Imagine...The Story of the Guitar (3 part series)
Part 1 of 3 starts Sunday 5 Oct 2008, 10:20 pm - 11:20 pm on BBC 1.
Episode 1: In the Beginning...
www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk42/feature_imagine.shtml
The link above gives a synopsis of the three episodes with some great quotes:
"Such instruments were often identified with sex and sittern became a slang term for ladies of easy virtue – "any man can play upon them".
"The guitar has always had that potential," says Yentob. "You only have to look at the shape of it to see what a sexual object it is. Being a way to impress girls is a theme that can be traced back to the Spanish traditions of Flamenco through to cowboys like Gene Autry in the Fifties, strumming guitars to the delight of whoever."
Charlie Christian attached a pickup and amplifier to his guitar, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Benny Goodman Sextet – the first band to build its repertoire around guitar riffs.
The second programme continues the story of the evolution of the electric guitar from early experiments such as Rickenbacker's "Frying Pan"; to its eventual transformation into the solid-body instrument that would become the central plank of rock 'n' roll.
What was it that Marvin had that the other boys didn't? A bright red Fender Stratocaster for a start – one specially imported for him from the USA. For the likes of young Mark Knopfler, later of Dire Straits, and David Gilmour, of Pink Floyd fame, it became the ultimate object of desire. "David told me that seeing Hank Marvin with that red Fender really was an iconic moment for a lot of those guys," says Yentob, "they absolutely had to have one."
The last programme covers post-Hendrix guitar, making room for stars such as Townshend, Marvin, Gilmour and Johnny Marr of The Smiths to explain what the guitar means to them and illustrate their style of playing.
Part 1 of 3 starts Sunday 5 Oct 2008, 10:20 pm - 11:20 pm on BBC 1.
Episode 1: In the Beginning...
www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/proginfo/tv/wk42/feature_imagine.shtml
The link above gives a synopsis of the three episodes with some great quotes:
"Such instruments were often identified with sex and sittern became a slang term for ladies of easy virtue – "any man can play upon them".
"The guitar has always had that potential," says Yentob. "You only have to look at the shape of it to see what a sexual object it is. Being a way to impress girls is a theme that can be traced back to the Spanish traditions of Flamenco through to cowboys like Gene Autry in the Fifties, strumming guitars to the delight of whoever."
Charlie Christian attached a pickup and amplifier to his guitar, becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Benny Goodman Sextet – the first band to build its repertoire around guitar riffs.
The second programme continues the story of the evolution of the electric guitar from early experiments such as Rickenbacker's "Frying Pan"; to its eventual transformation into the solid-body instrument that would become the central plank of rock 'n' roll.
What was it that Marvin had that the other boys didn't? A bright red Fender Stratocaster for a start – one specially imported for him from the USA. For the likes of young Mark Knopfler, later of Dire Straits, and David Gilmour, of Pink Floyd fame, it became the ultimate object of desire. "David told me that seeing Hank Marvin with that red Fender really was an iconic moment for a lot of those guys," says Yentob, "they absolutely had to have one."
The last programme covers post-Hendrix guitar, making room for stars such as Townshend, Marvin, Gilmour and Johnny Marr of The Smiths to explain what the guitar means to them and illustrate their style of playing.
