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Home > Atlanta Music Scene > Archives > 2008 > June > 03
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
The Bo Diddley Beat
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bo Diddley. Photo: Edward Keating/The New York Times
Bo Diddley, who died yesterday at the age of 79, was a major, and often under-heralded, player in the history of rock ’n’ roll. The man gave us the backbone of rock, putting the beat front and center. And how many musicians have a specific rhythmic pattern attached to their names?
He was influencing musicians then and now — Buddy Holly put that unmistakable beat behind “Not Fade Away,” U2 did it with “Desire.” You don’t have to look far to hear his musical legacy in more recent music. It’s obvious. Here are just a few of the songs where you’ll hear variations on the Bo Diddley beat.
“How Soon Is Now” — The Smiths
“I Want Candy’ — The Strangeloves and Bow Wow Wow
“Faith” — George Michael
“1969” — The Stooges
“Magic Bus’ — The Who
“She’s the One” — Bruce Springsteen
And one that hasn’t even been released yet, “Chip ’N Tony” from Alejandro Escovedo’s new album, “Real Animal,” which is coming June 24
There are many, many more. Can you think of more examples of the late, great rock pioneer’s beat legacy?
