BP Fallon on how a film has captured his incredible life in music
Both Shane MacGowan and Sinéad are sadly no longer with us, but both are surely there in spirit in a new documentary about the author and musician who's worked with a host of famous names.
'BP Fallon: Rock'n'Roll Wizard' had its world premiere at the Galway Film Fleadh yesterday, with a veritable who's who featuring in the documentary.
Among those talking about their dealings with the Dubliner are Debbie Harry, Adam Clayton, Donovan, Imelda May, Iggy Pop, Bob Geldof, Robert Plant, President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins, Joe Elliott, Dr John Cooper Clarke, Glen Matlock, Alan McGee, Louis Walsh, and many more.
BP with Willie Nelson
The documentary is directed by Dubliner Alan Leonard, produced by Níall Carver for Speed Of Life Films with Alan Leonard and Fiona Graham also producing for Single Cell Films.
'The impetus was Neil Carver, I met him in the Shelbourne by appointment for afternoon tea, and he said he'd like to do a documentary 'on you as a musician',' explains BP, whose initials stand for Bernard Patrick.
'I said, 'Thank you, I'm in'. People would ask me about doing a documentary every couple of weeks. I always said no. But I said yes to this one, because my music would be in it.' Read more
'With this movie I've given them complete access to my photo archive, which is enormous.'
Although born in Dublin, BP was schooled in Yorkshire and moved to London in the early 1960s where he got a job in Apple records and was thrust to the epicentre of the musical revolution.
Sinéad O Connor and Shane MacGowan
He then became a confidant and creative catalyst for some of rock's most iconic artists.
At Apple Records, he worked alongside The Beatles before becoming publicist to T. Rex and a key member of Led Zeppelin's legendary inner circle.
'The first time [he met the Beatles] was 1963 in Liverpool. The drummer and the bass player. The bass player [Paul McCartney] signed my Cavern Club membership card and then in put in brackets 'The Beatles' in case I forgot the name of the group he was in. The first time I saw them play was in The Grafton Ballroom in Liverpool, they did two half-hour sets — it was August 1963.'
He even got to star on Top of The Pops as part of John Lennon & The Plastic Ono band. 'I mimed bass on Instant Karma and played tambourine on Instant Karma, on two separate occasions,' he smiles.
'What I most remember about John was that he and Yoko were very kind.'
BP moved back to Ireland in 1980 and remembers a young U2, who he would later go on tour with and write a book about.
'They were very ambitious,' he recalls.
BP with Debbbie Harry
On his BF Fallon Orchestra show on RTE Radio 2, which ran for five years in the 1980s, he had a number of firsts.
'I was the first person to play Sinéad on the radio; I was the first person to ever interview her on the radio actually,' he says.
'I was the first person in the world to play Fairytale Of New York on the radio, I was the first person in the world to play The Pogues on the radio.'
BP turns 80 in August next year, but is still dreaming up plans.
'I'm putting out another album, putting out a book, lots more things to do,' he says. 'Thank God for life.'
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