Claims to fame are numerous and not often accurate. Although Gene Vincent is no longer with us, his band, The BlueCaps is STILL rockin'. Not exactly an oldies rehash either; these guys are NOT kidding.
Although, technically, Billy Haley & His Comets (as The Saddlemen) pre-existed the BlueCaps; The Comets were essentially a Cowboy band the morphed into a 'rock' outfit.
Gene Vincent's Blue Caps may be considered our first completely Rock n Roll band. Some members MAY have picked some country along the way, but AS A UNIT, they were pure R & R, with their take no prisoners performances and with their ALL Fender guitars and amps, and their 'rebel' image and dangerous songs, they FORGED the true pure rock sound. No steel-guitars (country influence), not even a saxophone (jazz influence). And they were arguably the first outfit to employ Fender bass, as most other 'bands' were still hangin' with String Basses (note: The Comets, Elvis Presley).
The only other major band I can think of that MAY have had Fender Bass that early was The Little Richard band, but they were not really 'pure' R & R either, as they employed lots of horns and were coming from a decidedly R & B position. Notice for example that 'guitar' solos are mysteriously absent from Little Richard's hits on 'Specialty' (1956-195 .
It's good to know that our first TRUE R & R band is still wailin' and that Chuck, Fats, Jerry Lee, The Comets and even PAT BOONE (yes, he rocked for a while) are STILL with us to this day. Huey Lewis knew it too..." The Heart of Rock N Roll is Still Beatin'"
ABOUT CLIFF GALLOP: Cliff played a Gretsch VERY early on (and mostly in the studio) with the BlueCaps, he left soon and the group visited the Fender Plant in Fullerton....thereafter (as is borne out in album jackets and photos of the day) the BlueCaps (and Gene himself) sported matching Stratocasters and Precision Bass gear. This was their stock in trade for the most part, even though Gene and Paul Peek are occasionally pictured with big oversized acoustics. Or maybe they just LOOKED oversized due to Gene and Pauls natural shrimpiness.
Special Note: The BlueCaps are not as well recognized in the States as they are in England. They are like national figures there. Folk heroes of the first order. Here, they are like vague shadows. For years I'd look at their pictures and think "jeez...these guys look like a bunch of criminals posing for pictures". Not until recently, when I did my homework, did I realize that many of the BlueCaps were semi-famous entertainers and celebrities in their own right and regularly hob- nobbed with the truly famous...Ray Price, Ricky Nelson, Ray Stevens etc. Several of them even had movie careers, believe it or not. Some have passed on (RIP) and are only vaguely remembered by the public at large. But make no mistake. The guys ROCKED! Just listen to the Capitol Records release of 'Say Mama'. It's the epitome of original Rock'n'Roll and is still one blasting tune! The ambience of that recording defies all attempts at replication by 'pretenders to the throne' and late-comers across the globe.
I think it's important to recognize that these guys aren't JUST guys who played the stuff . . they're the guys who created it. It didn't exist until they plugged in and let loose. I get the same feeling when I listen to 'Come On Everybody' and 'Somethin' Else' by Eddie Cochran (of whom I know not enough to base further writings on...) Yer pal, Louie Seven