BOBS HISTORY

   

BOB BEESON

(Drummer/Backing Vocals)

 

Bob first started to play drum kit at the age of 14 (God, has it been that long?  You'd think he'd be a bit better than that by now!) and has been entirely self taught …(Ah, that would explain it then!).  His first drum kit was a little 4 piece Del Ray (?) kit in blue sparkle, a birthday present blackmailed from loving parents, well it was either the drums or a CB radio.  ("You're not putting one of those things in my car" said Father.  Bob has often wondered if he regretted that decision during those many hours of bedroom bound practice).

  Now suitably equipped, Bob and a bunch of schoolmates fulfilled that dream of all post-pubescent teenagers and formed a band. Going under the name of Jagged Edge, the five fistey lads more than made up for any lack of ability with boundless enthusiasm.  They mangled their way through all the classic rock covers gradually honing their skills until, out of the blue, the lead guitarist from a local college band came to practice, liked what he heard and never left.  Now armed with at least one member who could actually play his instrument, the lads had a change of name to Ivory Tower, and a change of direction which saw them writing and performing their own material.  An illustrious few years went by playing all over the North East, recording several future classics (?) and even radio sessions for Radio Tees and airplay on Radio 1 no less.  During this time the band had the pleasure of supporting local mega-rock band Hammer at their local 6th form college where Bob met a familiar guitarist and vocalist for the first time.  ("Here Kenny, who's the spotty kid on drums?" "Dunno Doggy, but he's f***ing loud and look at all those sodding cymbals!").

  Well time moved on and the real world was beckoning (and he was broke!) so Bob and the original bassist finally left the band to get "proper jobs" leaving the way open for a dynamic new rhythm section, one half of which was bassist extrodinare Mr Paul Simpson.  (Chance meeting No.2).

There now followed a period of frantic inactivity, punctuated by several writing/recording projects with old Ivory members, and a few unsuccessful bands, a couple of which included Ken and Paul.  (Is fate trying to tell our hero something or what?)  After four years wandering the musical wilderness Bob finally found sanctuary in a Billingham based rock band named Framed.  Good times were rolling again, but before long the inevitable "other commitments" forced the rhythm guitarist and bassist to leave.  These posts were eventually filled by Mal and Outrageous original bassist, Alan Stephenson.  The first gig loomed large, and with a week to go disaster struck and the lead guitarist left the band!  A mate temporarily stepped into the breach and we managed to bluff the gig (Cheers Steve!) but the search was on for a permanent replacement.  Sitting 'round Mal's house one night, trying to make sense of that wallpaper, the doorbell rang and there, at the door stood an unmistakable silhouette. "Blimey, look lads, a real rock star" was Mals' comment as, resplendent in tight jeans, cowboy boots, leather jacket and THAT hair stood the one and only Mr Kenny Nicholson.  The nucleus of the band was now formed and the rest, as they say, is history.

 Bobs Top 5 Albums

 Any early to mid Rush (not to keen on the last three albums, dunno why.)

Anything by Frank Zappa.  Much misunderstood master of rock humour.

Any thing by Genesis.  See below!

Robbie Williams.  Honestly.  Good no nonsense Pop/Rock with Chris Sharrock.  A fave since his days with the La's.

The first three Primus albums.  Tim 'Herb' Alexander and Les Claypool - Totally bonkers, utterly original. Go on, treat yourself.  You know you want to.

Plus many, many more.

Bob's Favourite Drummers

Neil Peart - The master at getting away with the most outrageous overplaying and making it fit the song.  Oh yeah, and he's got even more cymbals than me.

Vinnie Colaiuta - Blistering technique with Zappa.  Unrivalled feel with Sting.

Brian Downey - One of the most underrated rock drummers of all time, the guy is awesome.

Terry Bozzio - His solo work has totally redefined the roll of the drum kit in modern music.  A top class innovator.

Dennis Chambers - Jazz Funk at its very best.  No comparison.

Phil Collins - The best English rock Drummer ever.  Check out his early Genesis and Brand-X stuff.

Bobs Favourite Beer

Kenny said we had to put this one in so the fans can relate to us but I'm not a great beer drinker.  Whisky, oh now there's a mans drink!  Fave tipples at the moment must be: Ardbeg - A robust and smoky Islay.  MacAllan 18 Year old - Sherried and smooth.  Aberlour - Full, rich sweet toffee taste.  Glengoyne - smooth and clean.  Glenmorangie Sherry wood finish - Smooth with a wonderful finish.

Sorry Kenny, what's that?  I've got to stop being a pretentious prat with my posh drinks, after all I'm only the bloody drummer so I can drink beer like the rest of you and bloody well like it.  Oh OK then.  Guinness, John Smiths Extra Smooth, Boddingtons, Worthington Cream Flow, Cafferys.  How's that then?  Satisfied?  Good!

Bob's Gear

DRUMS

All of the drums that I use with Outrageous are Sonor Phonic Plus in Rosewood veneer finish, with the exception of the snare which is a Sonorlite in Scandinavian birch and the kit consists of:

            10" x 10", 12" x 12" & 13" x 13" Rack Toms,

            14" x 14", 15" x 15" Floor Tom,

            22" x 16" Kick Drum,

            14" x 8" Snare,

All are fitted with Remo  heads; Pinstripe batters and Ebony Ambassador bottoms.  The snare has a Coated Evans Genera batter and a Remo Diplomat snare head.

The whole lot is held up by Sonor Phonic hardware ( F***ing heavy, just ask the rest of the lads!) and a pair of Pearl double pedals completes the line up.

Now onto my favourite bits; 

CYMBALS!   

A right mixed bag of brass here consisting of, from left to right (mine, not yours)

            16" Sabian AAX Studio Crash,

            14" A Zildjian Quick Beat HiHats,

             8" Sabian B8 China Splash,

            16" Sabian AAXplosion Crash

            12" Sabian AAX Splash,

            14" Sabian AAX Studio Crash,

            17" Zildjian Z Custom Medium Crash

            13" A Zildjian New Beat HiHats,

            14" Sabian AAX Mini China,

            20" A Zildjian Rock Ride,

            18" A Zildjian China Boy High,

            18" Sabian AAXplosion Crash.

All these are lovingly brayed to within an inch of their lives by Promarks most excellent 747N sticks.  Several bits of the kit are fitted with DDrum triggers firing samples from an Alesis D4 and sequenced MIDI parts come courtesy of a Viscount RD-70 MIDI data filer.