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I’m sure most of you have already seenthe article, this is for the benefit of those that didn’t.
Many folks have never heard of the Mellotron,including many modern musicians, as manufacturing of the cantankerousinstrument was halted for awhile and the number of working machines dwindled,but like so many other pop culture artifacts, it has gained new life in thedigital age.
A cult of Mellotron has developed on theWeb, a new digital version of the original keyboard was introduced recently, anindependent filmmaker has given the funky keyboard the documentary treatment, andvintage gear collectors salivate over getting their hands on a 'tron.
"The Mellotron is still one of themost sought-after pieces of vintage musical gear on the market," accordingto Frank Samagaio, author of "The Mellotron Book."
But how did Myrtle Beach's Frech wind upbabysitting a Mellotron from The Moody Blues' collection?
"It's kind of a funny story how Iended up as the caretaker of the Mellotron," said Frech, owner of MentalCase, a Myrtle Beach-based road case manufacturer whose clients include a who'swho of rock 'n' roll, including Journey, Alice Cooper, Poison, Eagles, EddieVan Halen, Michael Anthony and The Moody Blues. "I was delivering cases toPoison in Greenville [and I met] Mark Hogue, one of the mostpowerful guys in the [tour production] business. He has worked with The MoodyBlues for years. I ended up getting him as a client and we built a bunch ofcases for the last Moody Blues tour."
But what about the mythical Mellotron?
Remember "Nights in White Satin -The Trip" at now-defunct Hard Rock Park in Myrtle Beach?
"He [Hogue] called me last year andsaid they had loaned a bunch of Moody Blues memorabilia to the Hard Rock Park,and that they wanted it back before it ended up in a pawn shop. He sent somerelease papers and I set it all up thinking I was going to pick up a fewguitars or something," said Frech. "WhenI got there some guy at the park started wheeling this giant thing out of acloset - it was the Mellotron. All the stuff was piled up like junk. The guitarsweren't even in cases. It blew my mind."
,,,,read the rest of the story here:
http://www.thesunnews.com/2010/03/18/1372888/in-search-of-the-lost-mellotron.html#ixzz0wdpr9hqk
-----Original Message-----
From:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com [mailto:newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of tron400
Sent: Saturday, August 14, 2010 8:35 PM
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [newmellotrongroup] Re:Off topic: Out On a Wing
Wasn't it Mike Pinder whosaid "Playing a Mellotron is like riding a rocket"?
Bernie
--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com,Berington Van Campen <vcmusicorp1@...> wrote: >
CAN take you for a pretty good ride tho' yes? Ask Pinder!
> True, you can't fly a Mellotron... a little ungainly for that, but thay >
to DO it! Can't ignore that last note, brass(?), turning the whole way downin pitch and sounding very airplane-flyby-like! Weeeeee!
> "He'll take you up, he'll bring you down,
> He'll plant your feet back on the ground.
> He'll fly so high, he'll swoop so low.
> He'll fly his astral plane.
> He'll take you trips around the bay.
> He'll bring you back the same day."
>
>
> Okay, they're talking about Timothy Leary, but they sure used a Mellotron >
>
>
> Berington Van Campen
> Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp / BEATUNES Beatles Tribute
> VCMusiCorp1@...
> (626) 458-4474 Home/Office
>
> www.myspace.com/berington
> www.facebook.com/berington
> www.myspace.com/VCMusiCorpScoring
>