(Virtual) Headbang - 8th May, 2020

I think we can all pat ourselves on our backs for getting through the technical challenges of remote headbanging last night. Barring a few fairly minor glitches, most of us managed to play all 29 tracks. It will be much easier when/if we do it again, but we did learn a few lessons last night:

1. AVI files still seemed to be a problem for some, despite the testing that took place a week ago. Six of last night's videos used this format. Three things we can do to resolve this:
1. Convert these files to MP4 format beforehand. (Right clicking on the file in Windows offers a conversion option). Maybe best if I do this.
2. Additionally, as an extra failsafe, I suggest everyone downloads a short file converter program like Prism from NCH
3. It would also be helpful if everyone could make sure they have more than one video player available. Right clicking on the file shows the options you have (VLC seems quite popular with some)
2. Prepare your screen and size the different windows beforehand so that you can view as many windows as you want at the same time - e.g. Zoom, the chat box and the video player. (Colin - practice stretching the windows by clicking on the edge of them)
3. If you choose to use headphones rather than speakers, make sure you still have access to a microphone (Colin)

Three themes last night - first of all 'GENARIANS - the tracks played for the Septuagenarians were:

1	Mike Campbell	Fooled again
2	Steve Hackett	Twilight alehouse
3	Peter Gabriel	Moribund the Burgermeister
4	Andy Powell	Vas Dis
5	George Thorogood	It wasn't me
6	Phil Lesh	Take a step back - Box of rain
7	Tony Banks	The return of giant hogweed
8	Agnetha Faltskog	Take a chance on me
9	Steve Ellis	Rainbow Valley
10	Herbie Hancock	So What
11	Peter Frampton	Do you feel like we do?
12	Lou Gramm	Waiting for a girl like you

Additionally, 2 tracks were played for the Octogenarians:

13	Smokey Robinson	You've really got a hold on me
14	Lester Chambers	Time has come today

We then asked everyone to vote for their top 3 - Jeb missed a lot of this section so he passed, but everyone else voted and, surprise, surprise, Agnetha won. Just behind in 2nd place was Peter Gabriel and a short head behind were Mike Campbell and Andy Powell. George Thorogood was in 5th place and trailing behind were Steve Hackett, Peter Frampton and Lou Gramm.

Steve Ellis and Herbie Hancock managed a solitary point each, whilst Phil Lesh and Tony Banks didn't register.

There were a whole raft of others who became 70 since the last Headbang but didn't feature:

Billy Ocean
Phil Ehart	Kansas drummer
Bob Daisley	Bass - Chicken Shack/Mungo Jerry/Widowmaker/Rainbow/Ozzy
Roger Fisher	Guitar - Heart
Rickey Medlocke	Blackfoot/Lynryd Skynryd
Emitt Rhodes	Palace Guard/Merry-go-round drummer
Bobby McFerrin	Don't worry, be happy
John Hartman	Doobie Brothers drums
Carl Palmer	ELP drummer
Roger Hodgson	Supertramp
Phil Lanzon	Uriah Heep keyboards (from 1986)
Steve Ferrone	Drummer - AWB/Tom Petty
Mary Hopkin
Prairie Prince	Drummer - Tubes/Jefferson Starship

A few 80 year olds as well:

Angelo D'Aleo	Belmonts
Brian Bennett	Shadows' drummer
Dean Torrence	Jan & Dean
Candi Staton	Young hearts run free
Eden Kane	Brothers - Peter and Clive Sarstedt
Giorgio Moroder	Donna Summer etc
Toni Tenille	Captain & Tenille

and even a couple of nonogenarians:

Rolf Harris
Leon 'Pops' Hughes	Coasters

Theme number two was OBITUARIES. A total of 9 tracks were played:

Andy Gill	Damaged Goods
Joseph Shabalala	Diamonds on the soles of her shoes
David Roback	Blue flower
Kenny Rogers	Just dropped in (to see what condition my condition was in)
Julie Felix	Masters of War
Bill Withers	Ain't no sunshine
John Prine	Sam Stone
Florian Schneider	Das Model
Dave Greenfield	Golden Brown

The vote, as usual, was for the most missed. Dave Greenfield, the Stranglers' keyboard player got 6 nominations while the rest went for Bill Withers.

Again, there were loads of others who had passed:

Chris Darrow	Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
David Olney	"Godfather of Americana"
Robert Parker	Barefootin'
Lyle Mays	Keyboards/composer - Pat Metheny Group
Joe Gordon	White Heather Club
Pearl Carr	& Teddy Johnson
Andrew Weatherall	Producer, DJ, remixer - Screamadlica
McCoy Tyner	Pianist - John Coltrane quartet
Genesis P-Orridge	Throbbing Gristle
Suzy Delair	French chanteuse - C'est si bon, covered by Louis Armstrong
Manu Dibango	African jazz saxophonist
Bill Martin	Songwriter - Puppet on a String, Congratulations etc
Delroy Washington	Reggae Singer, friend of Bob Marley, backing singer with the Wailers
Bob Andy	Bob & Marcia - Young, Gifted & Black
Terry Doran	Beatles' assistant - "man from the motor trade"
Ronan O'Rahilly	Radio Caroline founder
Hamilton Bohannon	Percussionist - Disco Stomp
Tony Allen	Drummer - Fela Kuti; Africa '70; King Sunny Adé

(Part 2 to follow)