EXCLUSIVE! Bev Bevan Reveals his 5 Favourite Albums from his career!

VRP Rocks, host Paul Stephenson sits down with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, Bev Bevan, for an exclusive and in-depth conversation. Bevan, a true rock legend, shares insights into his illustrious career, spanning from his time with The Move, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), and Black Sabbath.
Tune in as Bev Bevan delves into his personal stories behind 5 iconic albums from his career, giving an insider's look at the making of, the highs and lows of touring, and the impact of their music on fans around the world.
Experience the excitement as Bevan reminisces about the challenges and triumphs during his time on the road, from driving long distances across America to the unforgettable performances at legendary venues. Hear captivating stories about ELO's stage set with a spaceship and the inspiration behind their chart-topping hit "Mr. Blue Sky." Learn about the long standing friendship with Black Sabbath's Tony Iommi which helped Bev join the metal legends.
As Bev Bevan opens up about his musical journey, he also provides a glimpse into Quill, his current group, and their latest album "Midland Beats," along with exciting plans for the future.
Join the conversation and explore the world of classic rock with VRP Rocks as we celebrate the enduring legacy of Bev Bevan and his remarkable contribution to the music industry. Don't miss this extraordinary episode, packed with iconic names, beloved songs, and unforgettable rock and roll memories.
0:00 Intro Album 1
3:00 Crazy American Tour
9:40 Album 2
11:00 Satanic Messaging
14:45 Musicland Studios Munich
17:30 Album 3
20:05 Mr Blue Sky
24:00 Album 4
27:00 "The more fills the better"
30:00 Reading Festival '83
31:05 Album 5

[@2095yourstruly]

Thank you for interviewing Bev Bevan, an underrated, unique drummer and a gracious, humble man.

[@VRPRocks]

I've spoken with him a couple of times, always a pleasure. Thanks for checking out the video 👍🤘

[@user-cz3ky4ix6u]

And a Thatcher supporter.

[@romelovesdan]

Bev is dynamic, talented, and humble.

[@DavidGraskemper]

Bev has a great memory! Loved his work with ELO, especially "Out Of The Blue".

[@paulkraynak5604]

God bless Bev Bevan! Huge fan of The Move, who don't get nearly enough credit from Sabbath fans for their influence on fellow Black Country Rockers. Long live Bev! Wish you'd do something heavy w Roy again! 🙏🏻⚡️

[@davidmacgregor5193]

There's no chance of either Roy Wood or Jeff Lynne recording with Bev Bevan again, Roy fell out with Bev over him reforming The Move, Roy wanted nothing to do with the venture. Jeff fell out with Bev over him forming ELO Part 2, Jeff disbanded ELO in 1986 because he thought the concept had run it's course, then Bev formed ELO Part 2 in 1989 to Jeff's displeasure.

[@paulkraynak5604]

@@davidmacgregor5193 Hence "wish"

[@Af1st1]

Looking On album by the Move is very similar to the Sabbath stuff!Sabbath fans would like that album!A very heavy album !

[@sachsenteddy]

Ich als ELO Fan, insbesondere Jeff Lynne, hätte mich sehr gefreut, wenn ELO 1986 weitergemacht hätte. Move hab ich auch sehr gemocht. ELO 2 konnte leider nicht an Jeff Lynne's ELO anknüpfen. Obgleich ihre Live Auftritte bemerkenswert gut waren. ELO war und ist immer noch für mich die beste Rockmusik aller Zeiten. Dieser klassische Sound iwar und ist einzigartig. Ich trage alle Musiker, die jemals bei Move und ELO dabei waren, im Herzen

[@classicrockfan8034]

ELO’s Out Of The Blue is the best double album ever ❤❤❤

[@JeffCooper10538]

Such a fan of The Move’s Shazam album. Some of Bev’s very finest drumming on record IMHO.

[@IraSiegel]

Bev has the best stories because he was _there_ for all of it.

[@predictorleague8780]

Fascinating interview, thank you for doing this. Of course I know of ELO but wasn't aware of the Move, and didn't know he was in Sabbath either. Some interesting stories I've never heard before thank you

[@DevilsDevices666]

This is meant with no offense, but this is a small channel with BIG ideas. Ive watched a few of your 5 Favorite videos and its a great format. Notbsure who does your research but you know your stuff and that makes these interviews even better. Props to you VRP!

[@billyshane3804]

Don't Bring Me Down Bev Bevan!! Not a chance, Bev is a CHAMPION 🏆 AND A LEGEND

[@briankelley4492]

Bev is awesome! Had the honor and thrill of meeting him in 99 following an ELO Part II gig. He was just as kind and humble as he was in this interview. Only wish I had had my ELO albums for him to sign, as I heard about show at the last minute that day and couldn't go home to get em all to make show in time. ELO will always be my first musical love, as it was also my first ever concert in 81 on the Time tour. Him and John Bonham were my first drumming heroes. Glad to see him doing well these days. Nice interview, VRP!

[@timwright4263]

The original line-up of The Move must have been a madhouse. So many strong personalities. I walked past Bev, in the centre of Birmingham, in 1984. He looked at me and I looked at him. He could have been in no doubt that I was a fan.

[@MrPercussionPete]

Amazing when you have experienced these magic rock n roll times, and to have been part of it. That's really something special. Bev can truly say: Done it, been there.

[@garytwitchett9359]

I love "Message from the Country" , the Move's 1971 album . I believe Bev sings "Dont mess me up" ( Elvis pastiche) and the brilliant "Ben Crawley Steel Company". The Harvest singles were brilliant "Tonight" , "Chinatown" & "California Man". Wonderful period for Pop music.

[@davidmacgregor5193]

It's Roy Wood who sings on "Don't Mess Me Up".

[@garytwitchett9359]

@@davidmacgregor5193 I read it was Bev?

[@trevor4382]

Bev sang Ben Crawley Steel company

[@garytwitchett9359]

@@trevor4382 Thanks Trev, about Bev 😀👍

[@zen1281]

Elo great musicians, great band and very underrated in the UK , Thank you for these interviews

[@VRPRocks]

Glad you enjoyed them 👍🤘

[@emdiar6588]

I loved Reading 83. My first festival, 16 years old, singing Smoke on the Water at the top of my lungs as worlds collided.

[@lejoeyoung]

Bevs been around man! And a great drummer to boot!

[@rogerbixley6911]

yep...bev is a fantastic drummer

[@markbowman7240]

fire on high great track from an epic album , in all those earlier albums upto time his drumming really stood out .eldorado too and on the third day , people need to take a listen

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

what are your favorite ELO albums ?

[@markbowman7240]

@notanotherjamesmurphy5574 all from on the third day to time (the last great elo album imo ) are truely amazmzing , but top 3 ..oftb masterpiece double album , face the music and eldorado with a new world record and time running clioe by .but theres some grear stuff in elo with roy wood and elo 2

[@derekpratte7259]

To this day, I’ll never understand why Bev (love him) and all the others were foisted from the great ELO behemoth. After all, Bev and the others helped build it. They are missed to this day. A lot.

[@ErikDB6]

Amazing how classy Bev is towards Jeff, especially as Jeff has treated him so badly. Bev is a true gentleman.

[@naturalroidrage350]

Bev's drumming is truly unique. Mack also created a great studio sound with a high recognition value for ELO (Harrison Console?!) The roto toms in the intro of Horrace Wimp were on point, typical Bev, no frills, simple and yet high art!

[@avanti6058]

I love Bev very nice guy, great drummer and always very interesting to hear his stories.

[@andrewgood4230]

I read his book many years ago, and despite being a drummer, he came across as honest, thoughtful and intelligent! I agree with him about taking The Move to America, but then we might not have had ELO!

[@timemerich]

Fields of People on Shazam! sold me solid as Bev being the greatest drummer of all time. Cherry Blossom Clinic Revisited is the icing on the cake 🖤

[@jabbahursty]

for years, i made every young person i came across listen to side 3 of "out of the blue".

[@MrCherryJuice]

The original Move were a great band, a 'supergroup' of Birmingham players. Not only did Roy Wood pen very clever tunes ('Night of Fear', 'I Can Hear the Grass Grow', 'Fire Brigade' etc.), everyone in the band could sing, so there were great harmonies. In addition to their string of hits and cool B-sides their live EP 'Something Else' features ripping covers of tunes by the Byrds ('So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star'), Love, Eddie Cochrane, Spooky Tooth etc.). It's killer. And yes, the original 5-piece lineup was the best, though the 4-piece on the EP is also great. Listen to 'Sunshine Help Me' and 'So You Wanna Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star' (on KZbin) to hear how effective Trevor Burton was in his new role on bass. Bev's choice of 'Shazam' makes perfect sense. Yes, one or two of the tunes might have benefitted from some editing, but in those days longer tunes were the thing to do. He didn't mention the Move's 'Live at the Fillmore' album, which includes their cover of 'Open My Eyes', a Todd Rundgren-penned hit for his late 60s band the Nazz. (Rundgren would later record the Move's 'Do Ya', a Jeff Lynne tune later done by ELO.) Also worth noting that in an interview, Sabbath's Bill Ward said Bev was the first heavy drumming in Birmingham, thus his 'Basher' nickname: Bev 'Basher' Bevan. It is nice to see that Bev has something new and fun with Quill. Thank you interviewing Bev. And as usual being so well informed for someone so young.

[@khaz606]

“She was Sharon Osbourne before she married Ozzy” made me chuckle. Great format. It’s interesting hearing artist you admire talking about their own favourite albums. All the best.

[@DevilsDevices666]

It's a great format isn't it

[@siberianhusky5874]

That's obviously not what he intended to say.

[@khaz606]

Considering he mentioned Don Arden later on, I didn't think it needed pointing out. @@siberianhusky5874

[@siberianhusky5874]

@@khaz606 He obviously intended to say Sharon Alden.

[@siberianhusky5874]

@@khaz606 Typo. Arden.

[@ant2533]

Great and really interesting interview. These guys have fantastic experiences and those slightly off the front line are often more interesting. Looking forward to more👏👏👏

[@TheLemonShines]

The best band ever ELO in the seventies works of genius and they are all so humble about it :).

[@micknordstrom2591]

Bev is one of my 5 top drummers in the world! My picks are the same as his!!!

[@iainholmes2735]

Really interesting vid. Good to hear these memories from Bev. Cheers.

[@VRPRocks]

Glad you enjoyed it 👍🤘

[@lrm215]

I love Bev’s drumming on Born Again by Black Sabbath!!!!

[@elofan62]

He didn't play on the album.

[@danielfisch389]

Bill Ward played on the studio album. Bev replaced him during the Born again tour (and appeared in a couple of videos). He can be heard on the live CD of the Deluxe Edition.

[@lrm215]

@@danielfisch389 oh okay yr right I totally forgot that thanks

[@notanotherjamesmurphy5574]

I thoroughly enjoyed this, you’re doing a great job

[@tysonthomson6847]

Bev did some great Drumming on the Black Sabbath live Tour Born Again was so underrated he did a good job.

[@RicHollandUK]

Shazam’s sound is potent. Brilliantly engineered by Gerald Chevin (at Advision Studios in Central London).

[@kathryn8304]

Turn back turn back music is reversible time is not ... fire on high 🎵🎶🥁🥁🥁🎶🎵 good onya Bev 🪄🔮

[@user-ls7sb2wd6r]

Saw him with an arm full of clothes heading to the till in Stafford TK Max not so long ago. Very down to earth bloke as all the Midlands music stars seem to be!

[@timwingham8952]

I always found it amazing that UK took so long to get ELO. Even Face The Music didn't chart here. Interesting what Bev says about the string section. In interviews cellist Mel Gale says they are on the albums, (and worth knowing - he plays piano on Wild West Hero). Elsewhere on KZbin there are lots of ELO songs with the vocals stripped and you can definitely hear the string section parts separate from the orchestra. It's so nice to hear Bev, and fair play to him he is humble and always complimentary to Jeff Lynne.

[@H-mu4bo]

I think Bev's best drumming was on the ELO's half of the "Xanadu" soundtrack and the sound on "Discovery".

[@jillshinault9442]

I wish Drum Dreams had been included on the album

[@timemerich]

this is so good, i have to stop a third of the way in and come back to it later. thank you for this!

[@kathryn8304]

I wonder if that's where the idea for the song "wild West hero" came from... the fist fight on route 66 lol wow imagine that 👊 ✊️ 🤛 🤜 👊 😅 Great to see Bev & listen to the stories 🫠🥰🤩

[@ruipedro4195]

Bev Bevan Reveals his 5 Favourite Albums from his career! 1º The Move - Shazam (1970) 2º Electric Light Orchestra - Face the Music (1975) 3º Electric Light Orchestra - Out of the Blue (1977) 4º Black Sabbath - Born Again (1983) 5º QUILL - Riding Rainbows (2021)

[@MyAGGirls]

You forgot to ask him the name of the kitty sleeping in the background .... 😃😸

[@Af1st1]

Shazam the Move is fantastic!

[@angelavasey5083]

Met him when he was with The Eric Bel Band ( long story to go with it )

[@siberianhusky5874]

What was the purpose for the numerous edits? I notice the edits in all of these interviews.

[@VRPRocks]

I think it's more to do with the internet connection. I don't tend to make a lot of edits, especially in these longer interviews. The only time I'll do that is if there's an obvious case for it, like someone else walks in the room. Thanks for watching though 👍🤘

[@jillshinault9442]

I love Bev to pieces, but by 8:00 I’m a little put off and/or confused. Jeff Lynne has told the same story, almost verbatim, about the girls flashing them on their first trip to LA, except it was ELO in Jeff’s story. Bev would have been there for ELO’s and The Move’s first visits, but did he get mixed up on which band he was with when he got flashed? I’m a tad suspicious of how similar his story is to Jeff’s.

[@cgpitt]

I don't think it really matters. It was over 50 years ago and memories tend to fade. You can see that Bev was having some trouble remembering during the interview. He is 79 so i would cut him some slack.

[@jillshinault9442]

@@cgpitt I'm not trying to be critical of him -- I'm just genuinely curious about which band that happened to! I am leaning toward ELO since Jeff wouldn't have been there for it to happen to The Move. I also wonder if Bev hasn't seen that Jeff interview, and the story kind of stuck with him. It was a little sad to see Bev struggling with his words here. I bet he's still 110% when he's behind his kit, though!

[@cgpitt]

I'm sorry if i upset you.@@jillshinault9442

[@ErikDB6]

Bev was always the band historian, so I’d believe his version. I don’t have my copy of the ELO Story on hand, otherwise I checked what he wrote there. Plus, Jeff has played fast and loose with history many times.

[@jillshinault9442]

@@ErikDB6 I’m not arguing, I’m curious. Can you cite some examples of Jeff playing fast and loose with history?

[@rogerbixley6911]

The Move were a fantastic group. Such a pity that Ace Kefford turned to drugs. Such a waste of a fantastic singer and bass player.

[@Adetv1616]

Wtf has god got to do with it…