Birotron

[Mikey]

Thought this was someone doing a bit of sabbotaging

Although Wakeman was a noted player of the Hammond Organ and the Minimoog, he also played a key part in the popularisation of the Mellotron – an electronic musical instrument that used a bank of prerecorded tape strips, activated by each key on its keyboard. It proved too unwieldy and unreliable for regular touring, and Rick eventually doused his in petrol and set fire to it in a field [4]. Undeterred, Rick worked with David Biro to develop the Birotron, which used the then popular 8-track cassette format rather than bare tape strips. Also because of the advent of digital keyboards at that time, the Birotron was not a commercial or technical success. Only 35 Birotrons were produced, and Rick eventually threw his across the stage after it broke down mid-concert, an action he now regrets, as there are only 6 known remaining examples.[5]

But maybe not
Birotron

[Gandalf1986]

Don't let Jem read this... :lol:

[Mikey]

Don't let Jem read this... :lol:

Thought he'd like the bit about the Mellotron  :lol:

[Gandalf1986]

Don't let Jem read this... :lol:

Thought he'd like the bit about the Mellotron  :lol:

Not the regret part though... :lol:

[James_S]

"RW: And full of anger, I took the two Mellotrons into a field, a put petrol over them, and I fired them.

YM: You really did that? I can't believe it!

RW: Yeah. And all of them, all the wood, burnt and all the metal just... "

I suspect Jem would like that part though - good old Rick

[Jem]

Glo-o-o-orious! :lol:

I do like Rick Wakeman.

[Mikey]

Glo-o-o-orious! :lol:

I do like Rick Wakeman.

Thought you'd like it.

[RacingHippo]

Glo-o-o-orious! :lol:

I do like Rick Wakeman.

Oops. I just had a half-eaten-cheese-sandwich / keyboard collision.

Excellent find, Mikey!

[Mikey]

Glo-o-o-orious! :lol:

I do like Rick Wakeman.

Oops. I just had a half-eaten-cheese-sandwich / keyboard collision.

Excellent find, Mikey!

Strangely I'd started off at Babylon (where is it now), then Babel (Tower, aka Babylon), went to Elton John (Track) and hence the Wakeman

Judging by the samples on this page, we didn't miss much. Bet Jem's been on ebay already

[EVP]

I think it's funny that Rick done that actually. If I were in his position at the time
I would have also. I'm not ashamed to say I do like Mellotron sounds but I try to
use them somewhat sparingly in my own songs and I would try to do something
different with them. I gotta say that old demonstration video on you tube is
a blast to watch. I almost spat my beverage out when I saw that. I remember Jem
saying in that context,they were brilliant.

[Jem]

Absolutely, I've no problem with the machines themselves, it's the keyboard players...

On my Nord (now sold...) it had the entire Mellotron tape library loaded on it and some of the sounds were amazing. I've half a mind to get that new Mellotron plug-in and use some of the less well loved sounds for the next Frost song.

[Gandalf1986]

Absolutely, I've no problem with the machines themselves, it's the keyboard players...

On my Nord (now sold...) it had the entire Mellotron tape library loaded on it and some of the sounds were amazing. I've half a mind to get that new Mellotron plug-in and use some of the less well loved sounds for the next Frost song.

G-media M-tron?

[Capt Underpants]

I love the sound of a mellotron,used properly it can add texture and atmosphere to a track.

[rogerg]

I always enjoyed Tormato.

[James_S]

I always enjoyed Tormato.

Are you making soup again?