Stratpack Concert 2004

[Lee Restarick]

Its on Sky Arts 1 tonight (9th May) at 10pm

[Mikey]

I have this concert on DVD and I have to say it's a bit of a disappointment. For instance, what connects either Jamie Cullum or Amy Winehouse to the Fender Stratocaster? Thank goodness for Hank and Ben's appearance!
There have been much better, more relevant homages to this iconic instrument. Good example is the 40th Anniversary TV documentary which told the story of the guitar's development and featured the people who do actually play the thing!

[dave robinson]

There are quite a few bogus Strat players and 'passengers' on that show. Apart from those two mentioned by Mike, how did Brian May and Albert Lee manage to get a slot - as good as they are and I think they are both great players, they were never Strat players. Proper Strat players like Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton were conspicuous by their absence.
I did enjoy watching Joe Walsh though, he's brilliant but a total fruitcake . . . . . . .
My Pinnacle amp stands out nicely though over on stage left .

[Didier]

Proper Strat players like Jeff Beck, Mark Knopfler and Eric Clapton were conspicuous by their absence.

There must have been some contractual problems...

Didier

[Rosemary]

We also bought this DVD and were disappointed. It wasn't quite as expected though Hank of course was brilliant as always.
best wishes
Rosemary

[dave robinson]

Hank of course was brilliant as always.

Rosemary

Of course ?
You must have a different DVD to me Rosemary, on mine his sound isn't very impressive.

[iefje]

But when are you a Strat player? Are you when you have played one on all your big hits and still do, or if you have ever played one?

[Martin Page]

The concert seems to be on Sky Arts 1 every few weeks - well worth a look. I recorded and transferred it to DVD a while back. I thought Joe Walsh was excellent. I couldn't quite understand why Jamie Cullum and Amy Winehouse were on there albeit they did perform very well.

Martin.

[iefje]

I have the DVD issue of this concert. I understand the Blu-Ray issue has some additional tracks and footage, including by Hank and Ben. Does anyone know what the extras are?

[Abbeyroadie]

[b] Stratpack 2005
Although some of the comments here are true i.e re Jamie Cullum & Amy Winehouse what you have to realise is that this concert was not only a celebration of the Strat for Fender but a charity event in aid of Nordoff-Robbins music therapy.
It's quite possible that many more noted Strat players might have attended #1 if they were being paid and #2 if they were available.
It was like so many other concerts you had to be there to appreciate it but being on the guest list certainly helps.
Time was against the organisers, the costs of mounting such a gig were high and there was only a window of 2 days for rehearsals, all taken into consideration I think they did well.
Quite agree about Joe Walsh a larger than life character with hands like bunches of bananas...
Hank as you know was on early if I remember correctly he did not appear in the finale because he had to be somewhere quite a distance away the following morning,I think he left well before the end.
You do not see the full concert on the DVD and it has to be said that without some of those "non Strat players" it would not have been as good as it was, the perfomances of Brain May,Paul Rodgers,Paul Carrack were outstanding.
Anyway there can't be many famous players out there who have not used a Strat at some time or other during their career even as a second guitar.
For us overall the most satisfying memory is that there we were an unheard of and insignificant British amp maker from deepest Essex with no less than 2 amps of ours along with all the giants of the amp world sitting on that Wembley stage.
Dave has the Pinnacle used by Ben that day and I still have the Hank's stage KCP, out of the various gear we've seen go thru our hands it's about the only thing that we never parted with still we never intended to become collectors.