Eelco Gelling

Eelco Gelling (born 12 June 1946) is a Dutch blues guitarist. Gelling played with Cuby + Blizzards (which he co-founded together with Harry Muskee) until 1976.

Eelco Gelling
Eelco Gelling (formerly of Cuby + Blizzards) at the last opening night of Café de Beukelsbrug in Rotterdam (27 June 2009)
Background information
Born (1946-06-12) 12 June 1946
Zwartsluis, Netherlands
GenresBlues rock, jazz fusion, instrumental rock, hard rock
Occupation(s)Musician, songwriter
InstrumentsGuitar
Years active1965–present
LabelsPhilips, Fontana, Mercury Records, Polydor
Associated actsCuby + Blizzards, Golden Earring, Tower, Eelco Gelling Band
WebsiteEelco Gelling Band

Cuby + Blizzards (1966–1974)

Cuby + Blizzards (C+B) was founded by Eelco Gelling and Harry Muskee in 1964. Their first single was released in 1965 followed by a string of albums starting in 1966. During his time with Cuby + Blizzards the band became famous in Holland, Germany and the UK. They played, recorded and toured with Eddie Boyd, Van Morrison and Alexis Korner. In 1966 they toured with John Mayall and when Mayall came over to the Netherlands to stay for a couple of days, he asked Gelling to join the Bluesbreakers. Gelling did not agree and stayed with Cuby + Blizzards.[1] The 1969 album Appleknockers Flophouse is considered one of the greatest Dutch Blues albums. The guitarwork rivals that many great players like Eric Clapton, Peter Green and Mick Taylor. The band recorded their last album in 1974, named Het Afscheidsconcert (The Farewell Concert). Harry Muskee and Eelco formed Red, White 'n Blue but after two singles and an album reunited with Herman Brood in 1976 for a short period to record two more Cuby albums Kid Blue and Old times, Good times. In the early 1990s C+B was re-formed this time without Gelling.

Golden Earring (1977-1979)

In 1977, he joined Golden Earring who he played with for several years. He first appeared as a fully fledged member on "Contraband" (released in the U.S. under the title "Mad Love"). Eelco's haunting slide work is highlighted on the tracks "Sueleen" and "Bombay". While out on tour the group recorded their first live album "Golden Earring Live". Eelco helps the group deliver many of their classics including an extended version of the group's smash hit "Radar Love". Gelling also plays on the group's "Grab it for a Second" album. During a tour in the United States he left the band; after discussions about musical style and after his favorite guitar (a Gibson Les Paul) was stolen from a cab in New York, he quit Golden Earring and went back to the Netherlands.

80's and 90's

When Eelco returned to Holland, Harry Muskee asked him to join the Muskee Gang, during a recording session Eelco was fired and left for Den Haag to join the Freelance band. He played in several bands and after a few years started his own, the Eelco Gelling Band.

00's and onwards

In 2000 Eelco joined Den Haag local band, Xray for a show in Doornroosje in Nijmegen. A live recording with two original songs was released in early 2001.

On 25 June 2010 the Eelco Gelling Band performed for the last time, since then the band continued as Kroppo's Blues Band, without Gelling.[2]

In 2010, C+B Classic, Window of my eyes was used in the movie The American featuring George Clooney.

In 2012, Eelco appeared in the documentary 'Gitaar Jongens' (Guitar Guys) by Henny Vrienten. Eelco was interviewed at home and appeared on stage at the Royal Carre to play with Jan Akkerman. Eelco hadn't played for a couple of years and has since been working to get back in shape. In 2013 and 2014, Jan Akkerman asked Eelco to join him for some shows in Zoetermeer and Groningen.

On April 14, 2015, Eelco was inducted in the Dutch Blues Hall of Fame and presented with a trophy by former C+B manager Johan Derksen. He also received a 45-year-overdue Gold Record for Groeten uit Grolloo. Eelco played a surprise set with Ruben Hoeke and Raymond van Kuijen.[3]

On April 29, 2015, Eelco opened the exposition, "Eelco Gelling, Geweldenaar op de Gitaar" (Savage or Giant on Guitar) at the C+B Museum in Grolloo.[4]

Guitars and amps

Eelco's favorite guitar is his longtime companion the famous sunburst 1960 Gibson Les Paul. Eelco has owned this guitar since the early Cuby days when he traded his Gibson ES-330 for it. The guitar has been stolen, broken, abused and was recently restored to former glory. Eelco used a Fender Concert (4x10) or a Marshall 100 watt stack to amplify his guitar. In the 1980s, when Eelco played with Blues Connection, he usually resorted to playing on his Acoustic Control Corporation Model 165 combo. After departing from Blues Connection in the early 1990s, Eelco started using both the Koch KC50 and the Koch Multitone amplifiers. Recently he has switched back to Marshalls and now uses a small Marshall Class 5 combo.

Discography

Singles with Cuby and the Blizzards
Single titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Top 40Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Stumble And Fall/I'm So Restless 1965----
LSD Got A Million Dollars/Your Body Not Your Soul 1966----
Back Home/Sweet Mary 196617-09-1966334Philips
Richard Cory/You Don't Know 1966----
Just For Fun/Things I Remember 196718-03-1967344Philips
Another Day, Another Road/Feeling Like A Suitcase 196715-07-1967207Philips
Distant Smile/Don't Know Which Way To Go 196716-12-1967206-
The Sunshine Of Your Shadow/Crying Tears 1967----
Another Land/Somebody Will Know Someday 1967----
Window Of My Eyes/Checkin' Up On My Baby 196828-09-19681010Philips
Nostalgic Toilet/116 a Queensway 1968----
Appleknockers Flophouse/Because Of Illness 1969----
Thursday Night/Wee Wee Baby 1970----
Backstreet/Easy To Leave Hard To Forget 1971----
Pawnbroker/Straight No Chaser 1972----
Sometimes/Every Time 1972----
Kid Blue/Perfect Song 1976----
Going To The City/Maybe We Need 1977----

Albums with Cuby and the Blizzards
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Desolation 1966----
Praise The Blues 1967met Eddie Boyd ----
Groeten Uit Grollo 1967----
Trippin' Thru' A Midnight Blues 1968----
Live! At Düsseldorf 1968met Alexis Korner ----
On The Road 1968----
Cuby's Blues 1969----
Appleknockers Flophouse 1969----
Too Blind To See 1970----
King Of The World 1970----
Simple Man 1971----
Sometimes 1972----
Ballads 1973----
Afscheidsconcert 1974----
Kid Blue 1976----
Old Times Good Times 1977----
The Forgotten Tapes 1979----
Featuring Herman Brood Live 1979----
Blues Traveller 20004-cd ----

Singles with The Tower
Single titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Top 40Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
In Your Life/Slow Motion Mind 1968----
Captain Decker/Steps into space 1969----

Singles with Red White 'n Blue
Single titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Top 40Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Master Of Planning/Pigeon Girl 1975----
Happyville/ Country Life 1976----

Albums with Red White 'n Blue
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Red White 'n Blue 1975----

Singles with Golden Earring
Single titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Top 40Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Radar Love Live 1977----
Movin' Down Life/Can't Talk Now 1978----

Albums with Golden Earring
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Contraband 1977----
Live 1977----
Grab It For A Second 1978----

Albums with Freelance Band
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Rough 'n' Tough 1980----

Albums with the Muskee Gang
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Rimshots In The Dark 1986----

Albums with Blues Connection
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
Featuring Eelco Gelling 1988----

Solo Albums
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
The Missing Link 2000dubbel cd---

Albums with Eelco Gelling Band
Album titleRelease dateCharting in the Dutch Album Top 100Comments
Date of entryHighestWeeks
On The Road 2005----

References
  1. Unterberger, Richie. "Biography: Cuby + Blizzards". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 July 2010.
  2. (in Dutch) Eelco Gelling band stopt er mee; Kroppo's Bluesband maakt doorstart!!, TheBluesman.nl (WebCite archive)
  3. (in Dutch),
  4. (in Dutch),
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