On 26.09.01 at 13:56, Werner Temmel werner.temmel@yline.com wrote:

Hi Billy
When will you play in Austria (Europe), will you ever? Do you still have contact with the Naz-guys and Manny? Why did you leave the band? Like your style...
Werner

BILLY SEZ 

Hi Werner,
Austria? Probably not, but who knows, eh?
Naz? Yeah, spoke to Pete recently, Manny keeps in touch too.
leave the band? ididn't!
Like my style? Cheers werner, you've made the wife laugh!
Billy  

On 06.10.01 at 07:44, Chris VinylSpinr@webtv.net wrote:

Billy,
I am a huge Nazareth fan, owning all the Albums and I must say, despite the bad reviews of the 80s albums, I rank them among the best. I was extremely impressed with your triumphant return on the "NO JIVE" L.P. ("Cry Wolf" is my favorite track) and the excellent writing on the "Move Me" album.
I regret to say that I have yet to hear any of the works from you (and Manny,for that matter) but I will try to in the future.
I just wanted to ask you about Zal Cleminson (as I am also a huge S.A.H.B. fan) and your time in The Zal Band. I also would like to know why you left Nazareth.

Keep Rockin'
CHRIS.

BILLY SEZ 

Chris,
I'm proud of both the albums you mention, mainly 'cos I think I was more integrated second time 'round with Naz, not the second guitar to Manny, you know?
As for Zal, he pops up elsewhere on the site, maybe I'll do a Zal Band feature sometime.
Your last query is (hopefully for the last time) dealt with elsewhere too.
Get ma CD's, they're better than Sound Elixir!

Cheers Chris,
Billy  

On 07.10.01 at 22:02, Alan Foxall alan@foxall.f9.co.uk wrote:

Dear Billy,

I have great memories of seeing you playing (a white Ovation Axe, I recall) with Zal & co in the Zal Band @ Barbarellas in Birmingham in 1978. As I recall it was on a Saturday night & I'd seen Be Bop playing in Birmingham earlier that week on their Drastic Plastic tour. As I kind of knew Zal (having met him at a couple of SAHB/SAHB(WA) gigs) I got backstage & whilst there began talking to you about guitar players, during which time you played several of Bill's signature licks & told me how you'd got copies of Northeren Dream etc signed by him. I always thought you were pretty cool by your your lack of arrogance - 'cause if I'd have had your talent & had been playing on the same stage as Zal, Chris etc I wouldn't have beeen able to have got my head through the door!!!

I know it's a long time since then, but I've only just got on the Net & I'd like to say thanks a lot for the memory - it'll be with me always.

If either yourself or Zal are doing anything live or CD wise in the near future I'd really like to know - I live in Cheshire.

Best Regards,
Alan.

PS - Do you know which guitar players Zal admires/is influenced by?

BILLY SEZ 

Hey Memory Man!

Actually, Alan, I remember you too.

Bill's album and other memorabilia now belong to ma pal Barry (who runs this site) 'cos when ma pal Bill phones me up, lets me play his guitars (pissed in his home) and lets me insult his relatives at his wedding, well... who needs keepsakes?

Zal's influences were Zappa & Jeff Beck, 'though he doesn't sound like either of 'em to me.

Thanks for the kind words, 'check out my solo stuff, Zal's on two of them

Keep in touch, pal.

P.S. Wasn't it a black Ovation Breadwinner?  

On 03.11.01 at 18:18, Brian Baxter badbax@fuse.net wrote:

I looked at Billy Rankin's website tonight and noticed he has added a part about the Sinky's gig with some photos. I have inserted a link at the top of the emails, just click on it to go there. The site was already great but now it's even better. I also feel that Billy's stock has soared greatly with the fans that were at Sinky's on October 19.

Billy Rankin, thanks so much.

We love ya!
BB

BILLY SEZ 

Sorry we didn't meet up again Brian, maybe next time?
The Sinky's feature (as with all this site) was courtesy of Barry's usual hard work in the line of duty, good isn't it?
Incidentally, feel free to suggest other ideas he could slave over, whatever y'all would like to see or hear about, Barry can do it! (eg - Nobody Home bass-mix for starters, Barry old bean!)

Thanks again Brian, we love you too.
Billy and Barry  

On 05.11.01 at 12:33, Emil Gammeltoft emil.gammeltoft@telia.com wrote:

Hi Billy my man

Thanx a lot for your SUPERB gig at Sinkys, you were awesome! What about a tour in Sweden playing accoustic gigs or whatever?

On another note you do excellent own material and would love you to take over the world with your songs, so get yer self a bloody record contract!

One question: What is your feelings on "Dream On" not getting credited to you (last seen on the Very Best Of with no mention of your name)? You get your money coming in anyway?

Question two: What did you think of the "Let Me Be Your Dog" version on the latest Naz-tribute? Like it? I think it rocks anyway.

Billy - take care. It was a pleasure seeing you live (finally!) and also talking PROPERLY with you the day after your gig....

Love from one of your new friends.
Emil Gammeltoft, Stockholm, Sweden

BILLY SEZ 

Master Gammeltoft! (What a great name!)

Although a Swedish tour and a 'bloody record contract' would be nice, I fear both are unlikely. (Never know though.)

As for Dream On, I was young and trusting, then older and bitter, now I don't give a fuck, life's too short y'know?
Money coming in? Never has Emil, me old 'Scania', let that be a lesson to you and your band, trust no-one, even each other in my case.

Haven't heard Dog yet, hope to soon.

Regarding your demo CD, it sounds like the stuff that blasts from my son's bedroom so you'll probably do well with it, best of luck to ya! By the way, what do you play in the band?

Here's to new friends, Emil
Speak to you soon
Billy  

On 14.11.01 at 17:42, Graeme Bird birdinho@btinternet.com wrote:

What is your definition of the word Bointing?

Big Dreamer,
"Did Nine Myths"

(and if you can work me out, you're better at crosswords than you look!!)

BILLY SEZ 

Bointing, derived from the verb 'boint' has multiple usage amongst scholars.

One: Expression of extreme force, eg - "I'll boint you fur that bawbag!"

Two: Insensate condition resulting from such force, eg - "Ah was well and truly bointed oan the red leb, so ah wiz!"

Three: Vigorous raw passion, verging on (and usually exceeding) acceptble levels of pain, eg - Lonely and dark as his solitude was, Malcolm took great and frequent comfort from Patsy's promise of a right, royal bointing upon his release.

Readers are invited to submit further usage(s) of this truly bointatious word. In the meantime, how about: "Boint the bointin' bointer for boint's sake, ya boint!" (Replies to: Billy's Boints of View.)

P.S. 'U PICK BILLY, OR U STRAY'.  

On 16.11.01 at 10:48, Cammy King cammy.king@ntlworld.com wrote:

Are you & Zal going to gig together again? I like Alistair, he's one of the last few good guys who will make time to answer any irritating questions about SAHB etc. How about some gigs in the West End? Cottiers or Studio One or something? You're an impressive guitarist and, if you're ever looking for an amazing deal on hi-fi, come in to Richer Sounds beside Sound Control and ask for Cammy (deputy manager). Will genuinely do you a deal, did a deal for Zal baby!

Cheers
Cammy

PS Do you drink in Partick or is somebody winding me up?

BILLY SEZ 

Haven't spoken to Zalister or Ted for a while, Cammy. (If Zal gets talked into playing, it's always by Ted.) As always, though, I'd jump at the chance 'cos they're so flamin' great to play with.
Thanks for the 'deal' offer, I may drop in next time I'm terrorising Sound Control.
Do I drink in Partick? Dear boy, I drink anywhere!

Cheers,
Billy  

On 19.11.01 at 11:58, Curtis Stoddard cstodd@ida.net wrote:

Hey my brother from another mother.
Right Between the Eyes is one of the top five best Naz songs ever, for that I will always owe you. Have seen Naz dozens of times and one of the best shows ever was at that dive in Vegas for the No Jive Tour. I'm wondering why Naz has never (to my knowledge) done anything live from No Mean City since '79? If so, where can I get It?

Rock on brother
Curtis

BILLY SEZ 

Yo Mo Bro!

We did Simple Solution on the un-plugged tour. Various bootlegs exist including a new version by current Naz. (They canny do 'Eyes' though!)

Keep in touch, ma-kin!
Billy  

Billy,

Is it true that you still owe me fifty grand for the royalties of Can't Shake Those Shakes?

Mick

BILLY SEZ 

Last statement - 125,000DM un-recouped, Mr Paul! (Don't tell 'em where ye live,OK?)
Fancy a pint for old-timer's sake?

Love,
Billy  

Billy you old buzzard, how the fuck are you? While carousing through the web did I not stumble inadvertantly into the Billy Rankin site. Well put together my old mucker, great stuff. Hope you're doing well, a new album out too, there's still life in the old dog yet. Well, just a short test run, keep shaking those shakes.....

Yir old mate,
Mick.

BILLY SEZ 

Christ, you're just like a Partick bus, 'never see one for years, then two appear at once!

Yir old(er) mate,
Billy