When Cal met Bo 

Bo loved crazy-looking guitars of all shapes. Here he is in Australia with one of his signature “cigar box” guitars. This one was very similar to his famous axe, The Twang Machine, built by Gretsch. He travelled to and performed in Australia many times over the years.

Bo Diddley was a rock and roll legend, and a blues legend too. In the 1950s, as rock and roll morphed from its roots in country blues, city blues, rhythm and blues, ragtime and the big-band sound, and as most guitarists started to plug in their instruments, Bo was at the forefront of the revolution, along with John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, Howlin’ Wolf, BB King and many other game changers.

I had the privilege of speaking with Bo after one of his Australian concerts in November 1981 in country NSW. Bo was enthusiastic to talk about his music and its directions.

Cal: Bo, what do you see in the future for your music?

Bo: I've been playing my music on the road for 27 years. And I'll be going for another 27. I'm a perfectionist. Beat and rhythm are my specialties. Always experimenting, always changing. I sock it to 'em! Look, I'm coming up with new material all the time. Every day is a new day for me. I just wrote a song - Ain't It Good To Be Free. Guitars are a trip!

Vegemite

Cal: There have been rumours that you're hooked on Vegemite - any truth in that?

Bo: Hey, you bet. But somebody's snitched on me. Nobody is supposed to know about that, you know. (Laughing loudly.) I wrote a song about Vegemite one night on stage - just started playing it. I was inspired. Here's some lyrics: “You know your old lady's gonna treat you right, just give her a little Vegemite - if you come home and you're all alone, your old lady's grabbed the Vegemite and gone - Vegemite is out of sight, eat that Vegemite both day and night!” Look, I really dig Vegemite, but it's not true that I sniff it out of a spoon!

Touring

Cal: What in particular do you like or dislike about touring?

Bo: I love touring. Going to Japan soon. I've never been there, but they keep calling me up all the time wanting me to come over. They won't leave me alone, so I'm going over and show 'em how to play a guitar. But I'm not going to Europe. No way! I'm afraid of the place. Too many crazy things going on - violent and hateful. I don't understand it and I don't want to be involved.

Cal: What are you afraid of over there?

Bo: Look, there's too many idiots throwing bombs. I don't want to be a part of that sickness. Why do people want to destroy their fellow man? Now suppose a whole lot of people all come to see me if I'm over there, and some weirdo tosses a bomb. I'm going to feel responsible for that because it was me that those innocent people came to see. But the day will come, and things will get better. We are going to see a mighty change.

Changes

Cal: Do you really think people are going to change?

Bo: Yes! It's going on right now. People can see where we're going, and they're putting a stop to it. Sure, there's still hateful people around, but not like before.

Things have completely changed since I was a kid. Kids are thinking on their own now, and they don't believe a lot of the hatred that's been taught to them by older people. Look, if a little boy is listening to his father, and that father is teaching him to hate other people, then that little boy is going to think, “This is my father - what he says must be true." But that's not happening so much now. Kids are starting to think for themselves. They don't want to be hateful.

Cal: Have the attitudes changed toward Blacks?

Bo: In America, things are really good. It's unbelievable when compared to what was happening 20 years ago. I mean, we got a long way to go, but we're on the right road - I'm telling you!

America and Elvis

Bo: In 1955, I changed the music scene. But I was a black man in America. So what happened? I got ripped off. I'm the dude that Elvis Presley ripped off. They just shoved me off in the corner.

Cal: Does that still bother you?

Bo: Sure it aggravates me - it would aggravate you. Some people like filling their pockets off other people and without giving them any recognition. There have been a lot of groups playing my songs and not doing the right thing by me. I just ask for the recognition I deserve.

Cal: Do you mix politics and music?

Bo: Of course. They can't be separated. Music has helped change the world. It brings people together and gets them talking. Talk! Talk! Talk! You gotta do it! Too many people are messing around with each other. Look, there's always some monkey in the woods who's bigger and smarter than you. You better believe people can be devious. Why can't adults start sitting down and talking? We've got to solve these wars that are going on.

Not just shooting wars

Cal: Which wars in particular?

Bo: All kinds of wars between people - not just shooting wars. There are economic wars, illiteracy wars, land rights wars. A lot of the politicians haven't changed since the caveman days. Instead of killing someone with a rock or a poison dart, we're more educated about it now - we sit back from two thousand miles and push a button. The politicians have to change. The people are changing faster - it's true.

Cal: How have the people changed?

Bo: When the civil rights (movement) started in America, they said there was going to be a holocaust, a blood bath. It never happened! The people were ready to change. The young kids weren't going to take any prejudice lying down. And other young kids weren't dishing so much of it out. There's vast changes happening, but everyone has to get involved. Don't just sit there. Do something. Rock and roll is doing a good job, but it can't do everything.

(This is an edited version of an article that appeared in the Macleay Argus, published in Kempsey NSW, 24 November 1981.)