Welcome to The Ollie Halsall Archive

. . . and the Great Stampede 1973

Speedwell

"I wrote this as a rocky album opener, and hauled in Ollie Halsall, the greatest Liverpool guitarist of the 60s, to play as only he could all over it. When I first saw Ollie he was a drummer. Within 6 months, he was the best guitarist in Liverpool. With Patto he played vibraphone. I once recorded with him playing Hammond organ. He was the greatest natural musician I ever knew..."

" I first met 'Admiral' Halsey when he was playing in a talent contest at the Rhodes Hall in Bishops Stortford. I was there supporting a friend's band from school. John's band, Felder's Orioles, won first prize. My lot came third. Later on he played with Ollie in Timebox and Patto. Later still he was in GRIMMS and the Rutles. he now manages the best pub in Cambridge"

Andy Roberts
[sleeve notes to Stampede reissue, 2007]

	Play the Perfect Fool	IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Antholliegy index	Scaffold	Andy Roberts
Grimms book cover "They asked me to play like Hendrix. They asked me to play as though I were a policeman or a carpet salesman. You can do it because it's easy to do, but I could never let go" - Ollie Halsall 1976	Fresh Liver 1973 Devon's Dead Fagorf Nuclear Band [Sold Out 1976] [not yet documented] Scaffold and Grimms retrospective article from The Big Untidy magazine	. . . and the Great Stampede 1973 Speedwell "I wrote this as a rocky album opener, and hauled in Ollie Halsall, the greatest Liverpool guitarist of the 60s, to play as only he could all over it. When I first saw Ollie he was a drummer. Within 6 months, he was the best guitarist in Liverpool. With Patto he played vibraphone. I once recorded with him playing Hammond organ. He was the greatest natural musician I ever knew..." " I first met 'Admiral' Halsey when he was playing in a talent contest at the Rhodes Hall in Bishops Stortford. I was there supporting a friend's band from school. John's band, Felder's Orioles, won first prize. My lot came third. Later on he played with Ollie in Timebox and Patto. Later still he was in GRIMMS and the Rutles. he now manages the best pub in Cambridge" Andy Roberts [sleeve notes to Stampede reissue, 2007]
	Grimms	Monty Python
	Rockin' Duck 1973 Take It While You Can Stay with this short clip. The second half of the solo includes s a staggeringly perfect chromatic run	The Life of Brian 1981 [OH contribution unclear] . . and The Holy Grail 1981 [OH contribution unclear]
	Tiswas
	. . . presents The Four Bucketeers 1981 Tiswas Theme Kids's TV show music with John Gorman. Musicians include not only Morgan Fisher [keyboards] and John Halsey [drums] - essentially Otway's touring band - but also bassist Clive Griffiths, making it, perversely, the nearest thing to a Patto reunion!	This album is also listed on the John Otway page partly because of the above connections, but more as an excuse to show another photo of the lovely Sally James!
Antholliegy index	Play the Perfect Fool	> A Heavy Session
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