From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Mon Dec 30, 2002  7:17 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Bo Diddley
 
BO DIDDLEY (By Shaun Mather)

Born Otha Elias Bates McDaniel, 30 December 1928, McComb, Mississippi

Bo Diddley is a shy, gentle man who refuses to accept any compliments
about his influence on his role in rock music. On the rare occasion that
he agrees to an interview, he would have you believe that the two bits and
a shave beat was the work of Buddy Holly. Whilst Bo copied the heavy
glasses look of Holly, the sheriffs badge on his cowboy hat was all his own
design. Bo's work was often called Shakespearean and was miles away from
the nursery rhymes of his contemporaries! Whilst Johnny Otis was undoubtedly
a major influence, Bo thought Otis' use of triangular and square shaped guitars
was a tad pretentious. Bo thought that Otis' use of the glamourous Three Tons
Of Joy was degrading to women, so in silent protest he employed a series of
non-curvacous trogs to supplement his band.
Bo was fortunate to have dozens of numbers 1's without ever developing his
own unique style. His film star looks and his warm personality no doubt
helped him to hits like "Ellas McDaniel", "One Shouldn't Form An Opinion
About Something Until It's Been Seen From All Angles", "Whom Is The Object
Of Your Affection", "Mae'n Flin Gen I", "Attractive Item", "Fetch That Thing
For My Maracas Player", "Excuse Me Sir", "I'm A Gentleman", "The Swiss
Timing Box That Belongs To My Fathers Father" and "Always Shining".
The only person Bo is bitter about is that bloody Forest Gump. It was Bo
who taught Elvis how to wiggle his hips. The young Presley boy had his legs
mangled in a Pink Cadillac demolition derby and was recovering in a Memphis
hospital. Bo was in town with the Chicago Philharmonic and was dating a staff
nurse who introduced the two musicians. Bo told Elvis that if he really had the
faith, he could get up out of his wheel chair and walk. Elvis climbed bravely
from his chair but his gait was wobbly and in anguish, his lips curled up.
The other nurses started to shriek and fling their knickers at him. Elvis had
found a gimmick and it was all because of Bo's advise. Forest Gump was
not involved!
A decade later he was marvelling at the new jungle rhythm the Rolling Stones
had invented, very white. At this time Bo was still selling millions using a
guitarist called Chuck Berry, a one-time label mate of Bo at Ludo Records
before he was axed for a lack of hits.
Since his mid-50s visit to Memphis he has refused to return to the city ude
to the songwriting of college student Charles Underwood. Bo was furious when
the youngster penned Ubangi Stomp, a song about jungle rhythms, something
Bo feels should stay in the jungle and not be used to infiltrate the minds of
America's youth.
When Bo was inducted to the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in the late 80s, he
tearfully accepted the award and passed it to Patti Page for his contributions
to the development of the musical equality. A touching gesture which had
Chuck Berry throwing his diamonds into the crowd whilst Little Richard
immediately jumped in his car, drove down south and got an underaged
white girl to play with his tutti-frutti flavoured ding-a-ling.
Bo used to work with me in the Forestry Commission (and he's alright, he
works all day and he polishes his badge all night).
All the above is true, or I don't know Diddley!
Thanks to Phil for the following additions which were brought to my
attention. Thanks Phil, there's some interesting snippets here that people
may not know.

Further recommneded listening:
Hey Ellas McDaniel
Ellas McD carries a firearm, and is very quick
McDaniel Papa
Story Of Ellas McD
Still Your Oral Orifice
Law Enforcement Officials and Criminals
Highway Quick Forward Momentum Athlete
Indeed and Indeed One Does
One's Stringed Instrument Enunciates Badly

Kept sending cheques back to Leonard saying no keep some, give some
to the stationery supplier also, I have more than sufficient for my needs.
Gently corrected colour blind dyslexic Mr Sullivan about the name of his
music style, its not rhythm n red Ed. Patented his guitar design after meeting
Patrick Boone. Based his riff on a well known barber shop saying, hence
Summat for the weekend mate?

Now runs the Leonard Chess/Sam Phillips fan club on his own after the
passing of his pal Rufus Thomas. Has just made a fitness video with pal
Billy Riley (as a thank you for the Surfing lp), it's called Diddley Squats.