Obviously it's not really possible to prove who is the best, for the reasons you state. Thompson is as good as I have seen though.
Special mention should go to Sabbath's Tony Iommi who, if legend is correct, lost 2 of his fingertips on his last ever shift before turning pro in an industrial accident. For a while he played with false fingertips fashioned out of the ends of washing up liquid bottles.

I used to like Black Sabbath back in the day but didn't know that story, a bit Djangoesque, you might say. I remember seeing them live at the St George's in the early seventies and was impressed at the time. That was a super time though, there was some star musicians on every other week (or so it seemed!) Richie Blackmore, Paul Kossoff, Alvin lee..

Did anyone else see Ballad of Mott the Hoople on BBC4 last Friday (or Saturday)? I caught it on catch up last night; a brilliant story of one our greatest rock n roll bands & my favourite group of all time.

Never realised they were so big and prolific. All I'd heard of was All the young dudes via Bowie.

No wonder the country is going down the pan. A big influence on Harry Styles.

Give over, we all know your favourite is the Cheeky Girls

Was he related to Nobby Styles??

Dick does come to mind, so to speak.

Is that Noby Dick or Dick Styles?

Anyone know what is happening regarding these concerts? There was meant to be an announcement about the Sun gig weeks ago. I assume this isn't now happening?? Perhaps one to ask at the fans forum...

It's all gone very quiet. If there is another announcement the promoters are leaving it late for ticket sales.

Was it a wind up when someone put on here the killers and madness and loads more bands were gonna be at odsal at end of May

Serves you right for being a fair bit younger than me...

Missed the programme (working...) which was a shame.

The were very much at the forefront at the time I was discovering rock & pop in my early teens. I think All the Young Dudes was one of the first songs I taped on my (Wahey!) Bush mono cassette radio, and I definitely recall taping Honaloochie Boogie, All the Way from Memphis (the MTH song that I guess most comes to my mind), Roll Away the Stone and Foxy Foxy. Some of the album tracks were better songs IMO, mind. Saw them (post-Hunter, as "Mott"icon_wink.gif live in Leicester in 1976, supported by a short-lived but IMO excellent band called Lone Star. Strangely, I realise that whilst I have both Lone Star albums, I have none of the Mott the Hoople albums.

Ah well...reminiscing nostalgia over, back to the shìtty present...as you were...

Was Paul 'Tonka' Chapman on guitar for Lone Star at that gig Adey?

To the best of my recollection it was the full original line-up, just after they had released the first album and before Driscoll left. I recall my mate telling me one of the guitarists had played with UFO, so I presume so. But its a long time ago now!

I remember they struggled a bit to excite the audience, and Driscoll saying "come on Leicester, wake up" or similar, whereas everyone was on their feet and very animated for Mott.