Gene Vincent "Be-Bop-A-Lula" 1963 (Reelin' In The Years Archives)

This is rare live footage of one of the founders of rock and roll, Gene Vincent, on European television, doing his signature hit "Be Bop A Lula" for an enthusiastic crowd. The Reelin' In The Years library contains hours of iconic performances from many of the great artists of the 50s, including Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley, Roy Orbison, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, Everly Brothers, the Platters, the Big Bopper and many more.
Reelin' In The Years Productions houses the world's largest library of music footage, containing over 20,000 hours of material covering nearly every genre from the last 60 years. We have live concerts, TV appearances, interviews, in-studio segments, b-roll and more. In addition to music we have thousands of hours of interviews with the most recognizable celebrities, comedians, politicians, athletes, artists and authors of the 20th Century. If you need footage for your film, documentary, TV show, commercial, museum exhibit or presentation, we are your one-stop shop. Visit our online database at www.reelinintheyears.com to explore our archive, but please email us as we are constantly adding new material to the archive. We do not supply material to fans or collectors under any circumstance, so please do not contact us if that is your intention.

[@1e0s]

You can see he was in agony at the end but he gave his heart & soul. God Bless Gene Vincent

[@geoffwalker3656]

We supported Gene Vincent in birmingham in the sixties, he came to the side of stage on crutches threw them on the floor then went on stage. We were the Dalesmen from Mansfield nottinghamshire, Geoff

[@napwneoenejeod3740]

may i ask what instrument(s) you played while playing with him?

[@geoffwalker3656]

@@napwneoenejeod3740 I played lead guitar Klaus, what a fantastic night and what a experience. All the best Geoff

[@michaelgeorge8671]

as a singer he was always in pain from his smashed up leg from 1957 and he died in pain from a bleeding ulcer in 1971 2 weeks after his last recording session. a ROCKER till the end.

[@cmgpfa9604]

ma brother

[@Joshuabhaus]

That's soul

[@serenatwilite4005]

Interesting information, poor guy looks like he could hardly walk offstage after that brilliant performance.

[@colinpurssey9875]

This live footage of Gene performing an impassioned slower version of his iconic song has left me literally breathless !! It's even vastly better than the commercially recorded original. I had always esteemed Gene's artistic brilliance , but what I've just seen and heard happily compels me to now rate him with the few very best pioneering rockers, the likes of Eddie Cochran , Sonny Burgess , Elvis. Thank you so much for putting this on the 'tube'.

[@ThanasisPapadimitriouMusic]

My thoughts exactly! This footage is shocking!!

[@griswald7156]

Once in a millennium.. they pass this way..

[@FRANKIESIXTOES]

Gene Vincent a pure rocker, way ahead of his time.

[@ChrisJBlack972]

Yes, he was. Way way way ahead.

[@margaret6839]

Seriously. Johnny Rotten who?

[@raymondgroot1180]

Let's see the video

[@2011littlejohn1]

No it was his time.

[@maxsugar6394]

He and Eddie would have rocked the 60th. The Beatles should have waited a little longer...

[@markkelly3859]

to see 50s music live shows its power. It was anything but quaint.

[@srxiii2261]

That ending....so much pain. And the guys in the band...brilliant just brilliant!

[@vanloojeanyves]

The Sunlights, French musicians, they have some hits like ne joue pas au soldat, Boris Vian, very good souvenirs

[@jpdel31]

Gene Vincent was a fantastic performer. R.I.P.

[@graniteman62]

Rock and and Roll and Rock a billy at its best, underated pioneer of rock and roll, forgotten in his prime by usa but loved by Europe, so sad, it killed him

[@jimhoerr]

This is not just another old rock video. This is performance art. Unplugged instruments only added to the show.

[@badgerbear3623]

Mesmerising performance, just brilliant! what's more to say

[@kayjackson8922]

WHAT AN AWESOME PERFORMANCE BY ALL!!!

[@rickrick5041]

Super super song. What a tremendous performance by Gene and love when they fall to the floor while playing. Classic Rembrandt

[@69glamboy]

Kids, take note, this is rock n roll in it's purest form.

[@ralphdn]

Hmm... all that rolling around on the floor in the background isn't really part of the purest form...

[@cmgpfa9604]

tell em again

[@cmgpfa9604]

praise jesus

[@honestyquality3565]

Yes sir ❤

[@rickrick5041]

It is to a lot of us @@ralphdn

[@jmainiaanimations]

1:00 Suddenly as he’s singing, the guitars sound like a choir singing from the heavens as he gazes up while chanting that chorus. Surreal few seconds there

[@robbjob1725]

Yes i hear it. Maybe when the 2nd guitar is playing piano..?

[@guips01]

Slow rhythm, that is the best version ever

[@rikspring]

epic performance, one of the best I've seen too. also the band members are so good, the drummer has the time of life.😎😁

[@vanloojeanyves]

The Sunlights

[@mbrand19971]

He may had been forgotten in his home land America but Gene had devoted followers in Europe which he had a much larger following and even spent a few years living in the UK. He really wanted to once again have hit records in the U.S which sadly didn't happen but even in his down periods he still knew how to deliver a good show and this one here surely demonstrates he still knew how to rock out when he wanted to.

[@robertadamec5962]

such a rocker and an innovator

[@drinkdrownsoda]

A true originator and genius. Way ahead of his time

[@caribman10]

Too bad some lightweights don't like this. This is REAL rock and roll. It isn't necessary to be completely in tune, as The Sonics. It IS necessary to put yourself into the music, as you see here. And I saw Gene at the end of his career..all it made me think was "Damn, wish I coulda seen him in his day!".

[@michaelknowles7559]

Great performance, as always by Gene

[@robertochiang54]

. . .and the kids on the band are great!!! (all playing on the floor, who needs punk after that?)

[@johnkerr7286]

I was there that night. My claim to fame - I pissed in the next stall to Gene Vincent !

[@KIMYSarang]

This heartrending performance of Gene Vincent, my favorite of all Rockabilly musicians, singing his signature hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula," never fails to unsettle me (U_U)...THANK YOU for posting! ~ KIMY ~ May 17, 2014

[@christianstephan51]

The first rock song and rock performer,ever,he set the path.

[@jeffmayo2439]

I can't get thru the day without watching this !

[@colinpurssey9875]

Jeff, having just this moment finished watching it for the first time , neither can I now . Wow !!

[@griswald7156]

This reminds me of the early years of the Beatles and Ian Dury’s whole career..

[@deveylderdirk]

Great show i Brussels! I was there!

[@claudealainlouiscamandone4769]

Gene est venu à Marseille... J'y étais

[@jcpjean-claude4446]

ce doit être inoubliable comme souvenir! quelle performance ce rocker pur jus !

[@allenschmitz9644]

I was at his funeral..1971.or 2 it was along time ago..he was a fat old man lookin.

[@schizophrenia65000]

Get in!

[@rockabilly127]

Ma grande époque j’ai 76 ans et toujours un inconditionnel du rock n roll.

[@alantorry3900]

I actually saw Gene on this '63 tour when he played the Ritz ballroom in Llanelli, South Wales where I live. Brilliant show, I remember he had a very pronounced limp and wore a built up boot, following a motorcycle accident years before I believe. Being a Rocker and a 'Biker' he hit all the buttons for us then and it was wonderful to see a real hero of rock and roll doing a gig in our town - which we all thought was the back of beyond and he gave it all he had. Absolutely brilliant show.

[@alantorry3900]

***** If I close my eyes I can see it now, you're right to wish you could'a been there it was a stunning show. I remember rock and roll from the start right through my teens in the mid-fifties and in the early days Gene was on a similar pedestal (for me) as Elvis. What everyone seems to be saying is that he was in a great deal of pain when he performed. That was certainly the impression I had watching him then but it gave him a wild sort of look that added greatly to his act and made me realise he was a true rocker and a true hero, RIP Gene one of the all time greats.

[@deveylderdirk]

+Alan Torry Yes indeed great show! I was there !!

[@johngrahamwilson1649]

+Alan Torry Yeah. Absolutely terrific stuff. I heard it at primary school. Didn*t know what it was but I knew something. Totally new, totally original.

[@jimmybootsx]

Gene Vincent was also in the Taxi with Eddie Cochran when it crashed and killed Cochran, in which Gene sustained more injuries to his already damaged leg. Legends of Rock n Roll.

[@johngrahamwilson1649]

Great Stuff!

[@markmacdonald3260]

I hadn't seen this. I love watching and listening to him. At the end it just shows how much his performance took out of him and therefore how much he gave to his audience.

[@thecoldglassofwatershow]

Could be the drugs too, just saying lol

[@davidmenasco5743]

It was pain in his leg that was shattered in a car crash a few years before.

[@1964rocks]

The Beatles would have been the ultimate backing band for Mr. Vincent.

[@colinpurssey9875]

This just electrifies me ! Wish I'd been there.

[@Colin-ee5gh]

What a geezer ,a rock n roll icon .RIP

[@rogernolte1704]

I've been a big, big Stray Cats fan since '82 or so, and love their version of Be Bop A Lula, but after seeing the original versions done my Mr. Vincent, well, I can see why the Stray Cats copied his style and his work. I am hooked on Gene Vincent, and have to get a fix of this almost every day.

[@kimgrant3879]

I'm a stray cats fan also and love gene xxx

[@mcconlogue1898]

Stray Cats are great! Can't match Genes' vocals though.

[@rgroen]

Love this video... It seems to me that the song is being played at a slower pace than the original recording, along with a more bluesy feel to it.... The band theatrics are awesome.... Gene Vincent, so tragic how his life went...

[@iadorenewyork1]

It’s almost like the pace of a burlesque performer for a strip tease.

[@styles3732]

This has got to be the strangest and most bazaar musical scene in music history.

[@kimgrant3879]

And memorable xx

[@keywest63020]

ditto

[@bonesc7201]

Ex-navy leg injury, in lots of pain to stand there and perform. Toured with the Beatles and John Lennon's rock and roll album he did be-bop-a-lula in honor of Gene Vincent Craddock. Gene drink a lot and became very violent at times and took several shots with a pistol toward Gary Glitter... but who wouldn't...lol Gene died early in 1971...RIP

[@cathyskywalker77]

@@bonesc7201 His leg was also injured in the car accident that killed Eddie Cochran.

[@davidking3532]

Nothing bizarre about it. F.......g brilliant!

[@marcdelente2456]

Gene vincent super rock n rolleur

[@mariepierregomis7621]

Un des plus grands du rock and roll!

[@patricklopez4255]

We used to hear this song coming out of a Honky Tonk bar at The Long Beach pike in Long Beach California all the time when I was a kid , I used stop and rock out to it !

[@abaltarbaltar2718]

Woooow, amazing!

[@jayare5483]

Has a Lux Interior feel...💙💙💙

[@101stuey]

See lots of echoes of Gene Vincent in Lux

[@markbyzantine4066]

Simply, wow !

[@RegisPPalmer]

I just think he's the BEST... always did... He's a Korean war vet... leather jacket, the whole bit... Yeah ! Gene Vincent !!

[@michaelligue3842]

He was far ahead of his time, we see several artists within this performance . I would say he influenced a great many future performers. This was truly fantastic . True pleasure , thanks for posting .

[@robertadamec5962]

Gene Vincent pure rock and fierce energy, many copied from him.

[@mcbain3949]

Rip Gene you were out there man , Awesome .

[@richardbanker3910]

This is the spirit of rock and roll at its wildest. No choreographers and image controllers at work. Be Bop a Lula is nicely slowed down and rocks . No wonder Ian Dury was a Gene Vincent fan , as were the Beatles

[@zeedin4492]

I like this slow rock tempo.

[@leegroce7566]

Thanks for posting.. Love him .. Peace

[@campaniancards]

WONDERFUL!

[@nachomane7989]

Beautiful...!!! Wonderful...!!! Pero qué estilo, qué calidad de rockero, Gene...!!! Y sus músicos....!! Geniales...!! Bravooooo....!!!👏👏👏

[@lindamugford5507]

Wow, whar a way to wake up. Love this.

[@Zeusdattilo]

I think that in this version he sings much better than he used in first releases...

[@spookypatchouli]

Oh to have a time machine. I'm wild about Gene! :D

[@ChrisJBlack972]

I want those same BLACK LEATHERS for myself! Yep.

[@michaelgeorge8671]

Gene was on record as saying you have to give the fans a show it did not matter that a lot of times as in this clip he was in extreme pain with his leg.the calipar is not a prop nor the walk of stage. he lived on pain killers and grog.he was a rocker till the end

[@grouchosays]

What’s a calipar

[@GhostOfATotalStranger]

Makes me proud to own quite a number of his singles, especially the promo version of Be-Bop-A-Lula/Woman Love. It's definitely one of my grails

[@spring-jo8xv]

one word great😀

[@gerardpatrickaspin6150]

Sweet Gene Vincent...

[@jeffmayo2439]

I can't watch the part where he exits the stage....It Breaks my soul to see him in so much pain.....................After a motor cycle crash...his leg was to be amputated.Gene refused......................Gene Vincen,t Ediie Cochran, will be jamming withy Little Richard up there today !

[@diegos.loayza3706]

Yeah me too. So sad

[@DirkMoritz]

hinterher ist er fix und fertig weil er auf der Bühne wirklich alles gegeben hat ; trotz Schmerzen. Absolut bewundernswert und wie wunderschön er singt- wie ein Engel - Danke sehr !

[@Erkele]

Sweet, Lovely and always Rockin' Gene Vincent !!! -E

[@jimmy59ca2001]

the beatles started shaking their heads while singing after they seen, also you think someone might have copied the one glove idea, gene was an original rocker

[@deveylderdirk]

Brussels Ancienne Belgique! I was there !! Great show great band,the Sunlights

[@MANDALAMUSICNYC]

The father of Glam Rock... And notice the one glove... And notice when the power went out and the bass player jerked in pain he says he got shocked that's all

[@old65rocker]

Gene Vincent once seen never ever forgotten Croydon 1961

[@deveylderdirk]

Oui! Le show était extraordinaire!l'ambiance dans la salle aussi, Les gens dansaient meme sur les tables!!

[@louiscardinaux5233]

Un titre mythique du rock'n'roll "Be Bop a Lula" par Gene Vincent accompagné je pense par le groupe belge les Sunlights.

[@peterhaynes8258]

One of the original Pioneers of Rock "N " Roll, A Legend, R.I.P. GENE.

[@mojojojojuniper6122]

Ma wildest crush gene vincent🤸🏼‍♀️😎

[@diegos.loayza3706]

Really? Mine is Elvis

[@leegroce7566]

I agree with you Steve O , this is awesome, just real Rock n Roll.. Peace

[@stormytempest3907]

KING OF THE ROCKERS.

[@alarmsnstuff4351]

What a legend

[@sandrabarriaaburto4566]

Excelente 👍👍👍 me fascina Este tema, gran presentación de Gene 👏👏👏👏👏

[@moominpic]

50 years RIP

[@chocolatcats]

I loved the man.

[@shaolinwaltertoch]

Respect for the traditionel Rock & Roll

[@mrsbluesky8415]

Lennon loved this song. Rest In Peace to both John and Gene. Rock & Roll icons.

[@lawrencelorentz8998]

Gene Vincent , the AC/DC of the early 60s

[@TheGrandmasterMan]

This is about as good as it gets....

[@jpetpatoujaillet2608]

magnifique il vit à 100% cette chanson

[@fransdielis2532]

This is Rock and Roll man !

[@karenreardon5398]

Wow! How on earth did you find this?? Beyond amazing! Thanks for posting it.

[@ParanoiDave]

sweet gene vincent

[@jcpjean-claude4446]

pur rock n' roll : magique !!!!! RIP Gene !

[@jackyretif7529]

superbe !!*** sa réchauffe le cœur et sa chasse les rhumatismes et bin et pi en 1963 j'avais 19 ans

[@topspin4456]

We will never forget you !

[@sarahwaters4448]

i have this 45!!!! . . very creative all around!!!! . . one glove! shaking of the head side to side . . and the cross-over trick, 3-guitar-bukake!!!!

[@Lordnickx]

Rock!!

[@SybillieJean]

Ohhhh LOVE it!!!! Thank`s a lot :)

[@user-qk8yh7dq1g]

О,круто,круто!

[@dinadarsi6992]

This video 1 year before my birth, but I'm ready to cry

[@mcconlogue1898]

The spirit of rock and roll possessed him.

[@chocolatcats]

While in the Navy, he had a horrid motorcycle accident that hurt his leg and forced him to wear a painful brace. He preformed in a lot of pain FOR HIS FANS WHOM HE LOVED as much as they loved him. He drank to kill some of that pain and that's probably what caused his ulcer to bleed. He died far too early. I'm going to his grave soon, Eternal Valley in Newhall, Ca. Loved that man.

[@richardjenkins8515]

A legend

[@peppersander2457]

This was definitely the start of Heavy Rock :)

[@CobinRain]

Poor Gene….by this time alcoholism and painkilling drugs for his destroyed leg have got their claws into him. Still, a wonderful performance . Gene had the sweetest voice and if you’re new to his music check out “I sure miss you” or “Important Words” or “In my Dreams” with the Blue Caps…1957 I think…he was 22.Thanks for sharing

[@stealthsadhu306]

Pure Johnny Thunders!

[@jacobjenn1]

You 100% get it

[@nureinherz]

4:00 he looks like he´s really in pain, I know that kind of look. Must have been hard sometimes to do the touring with his leg hurting like...

[@bobbyguest3906]

Newcastle: Probably a muscle cramp from standing with a heavy bass and then bending his knees and legs completely while on the floor.

[@ChrisJBlack972]

Must be hurting like hell for sure.

[@secondchance9058]

I think he needs help

[@goldenghostgod5333]

@@secondchance9058 well he’s dead so he’s way pass needing help.