2010-08-15 by Ms. Janet Strauss
I'm sure most of you have already seen the article, this is for the benefit
of those that didn't.
Days of Future Passed
Many folks have never heard of the Mellotron, including many modern
musicians, as manufacturing of the cantankerous instrument 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 the digital age.
A cult of Mellotron has developed on the Web, a new digital version of the
original keyboard was introduced recently, an independent filmmaker has
given the funky keyboard the documentary treatment, and vintage gear
collectors salivate over getting their hands on a 'tron.
"The Mellotron is still one of the most sought-after pieces of vintage
musical gear on the market," according to Frank Samagaio, author of "The
Mellotron Book."
But how did Myrtle Beach's Frech wind up babysitting a Mellotron from The
Moody Blues' collection?
"It's kind of a funny story how I ended up as the caretaker of the
Mellotron," said Frech, owner of Mental Case, a Myrtle Beach-based road case
manufacturer whose clients include a who's who of rock 'n' roll, including
Journey, Alice Cooper, Poison, Eagles, Eddie Van Halen, Michael Anthony and
The Moody Blues. "I was delivering cases to Poison in Greenville [and I met]
Mark Hogue, one of the most powerful guys in the [tour production] business.
He has worked with The Moody Blues for years. I ended up getting him as a
client and we built a bunch of cases 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 and said 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 some release papers and I set it all up
thinking I was going to pick up a few guitars or something," said Frech.
"When I got there some guy at the park started wheeling this giant thing out
of a closet - it was the Mellotron. All the stuff was piled up like junk.
The guitars weren'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 who said "Playing a Mellotron is like riding a
rocket"?
Bernie
--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:newmellotrongroup%40yahoogroups.com> , Berington Van Campen
<vcmusicorp1@...> wrote:
>
> True, you can't fly a Mellotron... a little ungainly for that, but thay
CAN take you for a pretty good ride tho' yes? Ask Pinder!
>
> "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
to DO it! Can't ignore that last note, brass(?), turning the whole way down
in pitch and sounding very airplane-flyby-like! Weeeeee!
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> Berington Van Campen
> Van Campen Productions / V.C.MusiCorp / BEATUNES Beatles Tribute
> VCMusiCorp1@...
> (626) 458-4474 Home/Office
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