Classic Rock Musings, Rants & Raves

Last night, rock and roll lost one of its original founding fathers: Bo Diddley. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member passed away from heart failure at age 79. Health problems had plagued Diddley these past few months, and he eventually stopped touring, ending his run at his home in Florida.

Back in the late 70s, I saw Diddley play a rock and roll revival show put on by Dick Clark. The concert was staged at Knott’s Berry Farm and I don’t remember any of the other acts. But when Bo Diddley hit the stage, he was the only one who mattered. The square body guitar and that distinctive, staccato rhythm were unforgettable.

At the time, George Thorogood was gaining a lot of popularity, and the heart of his music was derived directly from Diddley. Along with Thorogood’s take, there are countless covers of the Diddley classic “Who Do You Love?” — from the 20-minute version by Quicksilver Messenger Service (who also covered “Mona”) to Ronnie Hawkin’s immortal reading at the Band’s 1976 farewell concert (aka The Last Waltz) in San Francisco.

When it comes to Diddley’s influence, Buddy Holly and the Rolling Stones are at the top of the list. Holly’s “Not Fade Away” incorporates that unmistakable, machine gun rhythm. And there are literally dozens of songs in the Stones’ canon indebted to Diddley’s genius. Recognizing this, the Stones invited him to their televised 1994 concert in Miami to perform a rockin’ version of “Who Do You Love?” In my opinion, Diddley was more on his game that night than the Stones.

Unfortunately, he never made the kind of money the Stones did, which is why he continued to play whenever and where ever he was welcomed. Back when he started, Diddley was only paid a flat fee for services rendered, with no royalties or other residuals set aside for the future. That, of course, would change for others as the music business became bigger, more profitable and shadier.

Still, toward the end of his life, Diddley received many accolades, including a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame and a lifetime achievement award in 1999 at the Grammy Awards. He also played for President Bush and President Clinton. And his ego never caved despite the lack of financial rewards.

“I came out of school and made something out of myself. I am known all over the globe, all over the world. There are guys who have done a lot of things that don’t have the same impact that I had.”

Bo may not have been a a great football or baseball player like Bo Jackson, but when it came rock and roll and his role in its beginnings, Bo knew…

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