Barrie James Wilson

From the Procol Harum Mailing List, 5 January 2001: from Dietmar 'Nik' Clever

I heard some great jazz-drummers live (for example Elvin Jones and Charlie Antolini). It was a great pleasure to hear them 'cause they were technically so much better than the most rock-drummers I knew...but they never reached my heart ...

Then I heard crossover-drummers (for example Jon Hiseman or Carl Palmer). Hiseman had the technique perfection of a jazz-drummer and was able to add the power of rock-drumming to it...fantastic...but he didn't touch my soul. Palmer (I would settle his drumming stylistically between Buddy Rich and Elvin Jones - he plays logical with a good feeling for balance and drive) ... but his playing isn't nearly as melodious as BJ's was.

So: BJ's technique was as good as those of the best jazz-drummers I've heard but added by a suitable power and drive and a melodious feeling I've never heard from any other drummer again!!! Jazzlike drumming is something for my head but BJ also reached my heart and touched my soul as no drummer will do it again!!!

From the Procol Harum Mailing List, 5 January 2001: from Larry Pennisi

In the beginning, I was mesmerized by Matthew. Further on, I was completely taken over by BJ's magic. Even if Matthew had stayed, I think that my perspective would still be most influenced by BJ. I never heard music the same way after he started that really outlandish drumming in about 71. That year was a turning point in his playing. His growth as a player was exponential from there. He outstripped everyone else in the band in terms of sheer growth. By the end of Procol, his drumming was jazzlike in conception and execution. A magician's magician … BJ.

From the Procol Harum Mailing List, 9 May 1999: from Ernst Schuiki

I've always considered BJ Wilson a key member of Procol Harum. His drumming is outstanding throughout all PH recordings. Unlike a typical rock drummer, he never relied on just keeping time and marking the offbeats but rather made his playing an integral part of any PH song. Those unusual accents and rhythmic turns gave structural identity to many compositions and made them immediately recognizable as PH material. Just listen to BJ's entering in the first verse of A Salty Dog ... unbelievable! The band will never be the same without him.

From the BtP Message Forum "Still There'll Be More": 18 Jun 1999 lowangel@ols.net

Inspiration in small doses does wonders ...

Just a casual comment...on something I'd noticed years ago ... thought I'd share. The bass drum kick just before that last glorious B3 chord on Repent Walpurgis ... what an inspired statement from BJ!

From the Procol Harum Mailing List, 12 August 1999: from Larry Pennisi

Subj: BJ. The only one of a kind

As I watched the Musikladen footage of Drunk Again and Grand Hotel, I was once again awash with sadness at the passing of Beloved BJ. His banter with Gary between songs and his lovely mandolin accompaniment on Grand Hotel made me realize, once again and ever so strongly, that BJ. was the most important part of Procol for me in so many ways. His playing was unique, daring, intuitive and so very very individual.

Miss you again, BJ. On the tail of an asteroid, you can play on the fragments from exploded stars.

Cerdes

From the Procol Harum Mailing List, 15 August 1999: from Clyde Johnson

Subj: BJ was the BEST like so many shooting stars

Just got the VHS concert footage mentioned here and Cerdes points out something I've always wanted to say to the list and you lurkers out there but never could bring it out so Cerdes says

Thanks for reminding me and us ... today is all we have and not a second more; in BJ's case we have many hours of music and images to remember and enjoy. Life is good but some of us burn faster and brighter and it does cost for some. I still believe it was to be this way .

One reason I can never accept The Prodigal Stranger as a PH album is that it was done with a click track most likely (maybe not on all tracks?) and then when the production was ready a very good drummer laid down his thang ... unfortunately they might as well of left the click track and forgot about drums. I hear Drummers all the time (well maybe NOT all the time but enough) ... to realize that there are dozens who could have copied his style or at least thrown in the counterpoint and dynamics that is 'sadly' missing.

Maybe it is true...no one else but BJ himself could do the do ... and I bet BJ himself would have been the first one to say BS to that!

Sure unlike some on this list I never knew him personally but I've heard some of the live stuff from the nineties and the drummers seemed to do the older songs close to the pocket BJ left, and a huge POCKET to fill. Was a BUMMER to listen to a great album with great songs that don't have 'that pocket' that 'WAS' the PH sound. Guess I sound a bit angry here but I did not know that BJ had passed on when I first heard the album and read the credits. My reaction was of course how the hell could they have left him out of such a project as this! Heck even Robin was there although his stuff is mixed out there near the rings of Saturn and can't really be heard or cherished as in the original albums ... hell he might as well have been dead too!!

Sorry but I needed to get that off my chest and it feels great. Good songs, singing, lyrics and vocals but where the HELL is the PH VIBE on that album ... hiding between the lines of course and I have no problem filling the blanks in since I found several years later that BJ Wilson was not available for the album. OK at that point ALL was forgiven after all. So I rushed and put on the CD and well God he left a hell of a "hole" behind.

I know sometimes folks who know the boys or the boys themselves get the drift from this list and BtP all the time so if this little bit of a thread gets to you guys ... please try and fill that hole in the next studio recording sessions which 'will' come up soon.

The last job was as sad as BJ's passing in the drum dept ... your music Keith and Gary was not made for the great 4/4 wizards you used and I suspect produced it that way. Perhaps having the drummer cover the click track like BJ was just too close to home at the time, I truly understand if that WAS the case as one of your fans through hell or high water.

SHINE ON DUDES
AJ

From the Procol Harum Mailing List, 15 August 1999: from Richard Beck

Subj: Re: BJ was the BEST like so many shooting stars

To all and sundry,

Cerdes wrote:

Clyde "A.J." wrote:

This sentiment continues to re-surface from time to time, and it is easy to see (or hear) why. We are left with a constant reminder with each Procol tune we play, including the ones without BJ playing on them.

I recently got hold of a CD quality copy of Broken Barricades which included Whiskey Train live from WPLJ broadcast. Listening to the fade-out ending of the song Broken Barricades with new ears this time, I was struck, as if by lightning, by how representative that song was of BJ's incredible musical composing talents and with how integral he was to the vision and spirit of ALL Procol music. And upon listening to Whiskey Train I was marveling at the INCREDIBLE groove that the band was in during this song, 'thinking to myself , "What IS this groove? What does this sound like? And (duh) ... it hit me ... a runaway TRAIN! How PERFECT! It was there all along ... subliminally, yet so obvious. What genius!!

BJ does this over and over throughout the history of PH music. And I pose the question ... what OTHER drummer could have created such a marvelous accompaniment to The Blue Danube as BJ did so well. I tend to listen to BJ's drumming compositions the same way that I listen to any work by Beethoven ... with an unshakeable conviction that such music ... every single note ... is perfectly composed and could have been written NO OTHER WAY!

And this thought leads me to my last postulate ... one of a spiritual nature: the great composers, looking down from the firmament of Heaven upon the earth, realized that they needed a drummer worthy of all the new music within their restless souls. Upon seeing the beautiful spirit and talent of BJ Wilson, they implored God to free him from his earthly shackles, and to bring this kindred soul into their fold. And God complied. Now Heaven has one HELL of a band!!

In closing, please allow me to post this excerpt from my concert memoir posted at BtP. For me, it says what I feel, as best I know to say it.

Shine on BJ, and to one and all

Richard

From the Procol Harum email List: 4 September 1999. from: Kevin Kiley

I thought that you guys would appreciate this.
I just recently got the MusicLaden video and was so happy to see the amount of focus on BJ. The drummer in my R&B band is a VERY intelligent drummer. He is approaching 50 and he was schooled in the Buddy Rich, Cozy Cole, Joe Jones, Basie's bands, etc. He fucking swings and shuffles like NOBODY! But that is ANOTHER story ...

Anyway, he was unfamiliar with Procol Harum (other than WSOP and Salty Dog), so I lent him the video and told him to check out the drummer. When I asked him what he thought, his very first words were "He's very musical" and he went on to talk about how he played WITH the songs and not just laying down the beat. Needless to say, he was impressed ...

Subj: [Procol] BJ Date: 99-10-07 23:02:13 EDT From: cerdes@procolharum.com (Cerdes)

I can hear BJ tapping ... on the fiery remnants of exploded stars.

Cerdes

Subj: Re: [Procol] About BJ... Date: 99-10-08 11:20:16 EDT From: protay@eudoramail.com (Ross Taylor)

And thanks to Ms. Peyton for helping us see Barrie again--"everything buckled, but had a bounce" ! Fun to see his expansive handwriting!

Ross

Subj: [Procol] About BJ... Date: 99-10-07 23:26:21 EDT From: bertsaraco@hotmail.com (Bert Saraco)

It can be said of BJ as was said concerning the great French jazz violinist, Stephan Grappelli - ...he plays like an impossible juggler who tosses up too many objects at once but somehow manages to catch them all.

Happy birthday, BJ. You gave us all a wonderful present.

Bert & Carina

Subj: Re: [Procol] About BJ... Date: 99-10-08 15:25:36 EDT From: Jem33@aol.com

Hi Bert, Carina and all the fans of the incredible BJ Wilson!
There are so many differing tastes among Procol's fans, about Procol's music, musicians, as well as other bands, etc -- I think Procol has one of the most diverse fan groups of any band, as far as musical taste is concerned.

But I also believe that there's at least one thing about which we all agree, and that's the greatness of BJ Wilson, his monumental importance to the Procol Harum sound, the fact that he's one of the best, most musical drummers ever to walk the face of the Earth (in my opinion he's THE best, bar NONE), and the need for his musical legacy to be kept alive, among music fans and other musicians.

We can't reverse his physical death but his musical death (i.e. the fact that he's now virtually unknown outside Procol fandom) is reversible and I think we all have work to do in this regard.

Sadly this is the 9th anniversary of BJ's death, not his birthday, but that doesn't change the important things you said, your beautiful and eloquent descriptions of his musical greatness. Many thanks to you both.

Best, Joan

Subj: Re: [Procol] About BJ... Date: 99-10-08 23:24:31 EDT From: bertsaraco@hotmail.com (Bert Saraco)

You're right ...maybe it was a Freudian slip. It was the anniversary of his death and the birthday of BtP .....but, it's my belief that leaving this phase of existence can be the beginning of your real life. That is, if you believe that BJ might actually be 'watching from above,' as Gary is wont to say. I hope he made the right connections ...I'd love a few hundred years of drum lessons someday in Heaven.

Bert

Subj: [Procol] First song Date: 99-10-08 18:25:45 EDT From: jensan@online.no (Jens Anders Ravnaas)

Hi
I picked up my new car today. (After leaving the car business, I now must buy my own car). Question is: Which was the very first song to be played on the CD player in my new car? Being a BJ tribute day, I could think of no better song than A Salty Dog. I know BJ loved that song, that's why Gary usually dedicates it to "Those who are watching us from above" when he plays it. I also love A Salty Dog, for many reasons, but Barrie's drumming is one of the main reasons. It HAS to be the best piece of drumming ever done, in any song everywhere in the world!

Shine On!
Jens

Subj: Re: [Procol] First song Date: 99-10-08 20:14:50 EDT From: rdd64287@mail.telepac.pt (José Santos Fernandes)

It's funny, but I really don't remember ever to hear mentioning Kaleidoscope. Just recalled that song, because magnificent drums by BJ Wilson were mentioned in A Salty Dog, also one of my favourite PH songs in general terms. When Kaleidoscope was issued here in Portugal, as a single (EP, better saying) right after Homburg, I think around 1967, I got amazed with those glorious sustained organ chords, but mainly with those magnificent drums. It still is one song that moves me deeply. By the way, I only managed to get access to the album PH few years later. You know, as a teenager to buy an LP wasn't just that affordable those days...

Joseph, A Salty Dog.

Subj: [Procol] Barrie James Wilson Date: 99-10-10 00:04:25 EDT From: PROCOLPEYTON@webtv.net (Beverly Peyton)

Dearest Palers:

I wish to thank all of you who took the time to tell me how touched you were by BJ's tribute. It is not surprising that so any of you who didn't know BJ loved him as much as those who did. This was a very difficult piece for me to write as well as having been a very difficult weekend, but I never want to lose sight of the greatness of this man and am so very glad you don't want to either. As much as I tried to give you an idea of how incredible a person BJ was it was equally important that his daughters know how much he is truly loved still. His star will always shine.

"Never part without loving words to think of during your absence. It maybe that you will never meet again in life." (anonymous)

Much love to all of you for caring and sharing in my expression.
Shine On Palers,
Beverly

Subj: I saw Procol Harum Date: 99-10-23 20:43:58 EDT From: mwbolan@home.com (Michael Bolan)

Michael Bolan is my name and I had the good pleasure of seeing Procol Harum three times in MI in 69-70. Robin Trower was the guitarist and I believe Dave Ball was the guitar player in 70. I took no photos and was clean and sober during that time period. Procol Harum played @ the Grande Ballroom and were fantastic. I was really impressed by the late BJ Wilson who had a rudimentary skill that was unsurpassed by any drummer I had ever seen. By the way, I had seen Keith Moon, Ginger Baker, and Mitch Mitchell and I feel that BJ was the best. That's all for now.

MB

Date: 28 October 1999 07:53 Subject: [Procol] PUBLIC: Hello and introduction From Peter.Cullivan@wdr.com

Barrie Wilson was the most phenomenal drummer: a real musician, a drummer who felt the music organically and who wasn't prepared to play "Four on the Floor"! Of his peers only Bill Bruford equals him. Every song bears the unique stamp of his remarkable playing and no disrespect to those who have taken the riser subsequently, but he was as irreplaceable in PH as Bonham was in Led Zeppelin so integral was he to the band's music.

Wanda Saggese writes in 2005

BJ's page at 'Beyond the Pale'