Son of psychedelic rock hits Bermuda

FRIDAY, OCT. 26: Clifton David Broadbridge has performed note for note some of the most complex rock guitar albums of our time. He’s recorded his first solo album with legendary producer Eddie Kramer, written songs for Sir George Martin and now he is to perform here in Bermuda.

This up and coming Canadian guitarist, singer/songwriter has been selected to headline at the free Corporate Games’ StreetFest on Front Street tomorrow evening and will be backed by local musicians.

He will be playing well-known classics by the likes of Cream, Jimi Hendrix, his idol Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Led Zeppelin as well as songs from his upcoming blues album.

“I could maybe rip up a Pink Floyd solo at the end,” he told the Bermuda Sun.

Certainly one of the highlights of Broadbridge’s career so far has been working with producer and engineer Kramer on his recently recorded psychedelic rock inspired album Twenty First Century.

Kramer has produced for no less than The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Peter Frampton and for Woodstock. And even with all these credits to his name he said of Broadbridge: “Clifton is the best guitarist since sliced bread to come out of Canada in a long time. He has the soul of an old blues guy with all of the amazing contemporary chops needed to kill the audience with one blow!”

Despite Kramer’s advanced years, he continues to ride on the raw edge of innovative music.

Broadbridge told us: “It was an amazing experience working with Eddie. When I met him I didn’t know what to expect — he was 69 at the time and he had worked on every Hendrix record there was. It’s like finding out from someone who was right there what they were doing.

“When we did the record I was surprised how forward thinking and contemporary he was — he likes modern edgy stuff. Out of all the music I gave him he was tapping into the more modern things.”

While Kramer is up on the new music, he still has a place in his heart for the good old vintage and encouraged a healthy mix of both old and new.

“Working with Eddie was really amazing because he works old school with two inch tape as well as a combination of digital so it is a very interesting hybrid. It’s like the best of the old and the best of the new, not really going either way just right down the middle.

“For most of my album I used a rare 200 watt Marshall Major (bass amp) from 1974 and a 1969 buzz peddle so there were lots of vintage tones.”

Adding to his roll call of legendary music industry figures, Broadbridge was asked to write six songs for Sir George Martin — the record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician who was often affectionately referred to as “the
fifth Beatle.”

He was hired to write three songs that are inspired by Led Zeppelin and three by Jimi Hendrix for his Grandmaster Music featuring Ringo Starr’s current drummer Gregg Bissonnet.

Clifton is also known for playing and singing with the Classic Albums Live series which has enabled him to tour North America covering the likes of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of The Moon, Wish You Were Here and Animals, and Jimi Hendrix’s Are You experienced amongst others. 

One of the biggest shows he did was in Houston, Texas playing Dark Side of the Moon in front of 15,000 people.

“I look it as a post secondary music education — you are picking apart these albums — some of the best in rock history — and trying to find every little detail and guitar overdub, vocal overdub and harmonies.”

Broadbridge is having great success covering these great works but his biggest ambition is to make it as an original artist.

“I think it was Bruce Lee who said you have to follow your own path. I used to play guitar for some international selling artists and I guess at one point I had a choice of pursuing a career playing for other artists — I have a friend who plays for Lady Gaga... But I wanted to stick with what I was doing.”

Broadbridge’s influences are deeply rooted in blues and 60s and 70s psychedelic rock but there are more modern influences from the likes of Radio Head, Nirvana and even Nine Inch Nails.

“I’ll be 34 tomorrow (yesterday) so my album is a guy raised in the 80s, 90s and 2000s, influenced by the music of the 60s and 70s but it doesn’t sound like its 40 plus years old, it sounds like all of my influences.”

Broadbridge is not one to rest on his laurels, no sooner had he completed the 11 songs for Twenty First Century, he leapt straight into writing songs for his next album made up entirely of blues originals.

“My favourite musician of all time is Stevie Ray Vaughn so go figure — it has got Texas blues guitar solos over it but it works.

“Stevie is the most powerful influence I have the most resonate the most constant and for me he is the most powerful and soulful musician. I love Jimi because he paints musical tapestries — he is on a whole different sixth dimensional level — it’s just the ultimate.”

The free concert takes place this Saturday from 7pm to 12am on Front Street after the Athletes’ Parade. Also featuring The Kennel Boys, and music by DJ Smokey. For more information visit www.bermudacorporategames.com.