By: New York Post
Elvis had the look, Little Richard had the scream — but it was Bo Diddley who had the all-important beat.
March marks the 60th anniversary of Diddley’s self-titled debut single, which introduced the world to the hugely influential Bo Diddley beat. This chugging rhythm was influenced by sub-Saharan music and injected into the blues to create not only a signature sound for Diddley himself, but also to provide the backbone of rock ‘n’ roll for decades afterward.
Diddley passed away in 2008, but the beat most certainly goes on. Here are five examples of how it’s been used by others.
‘Not Fade Away’ by Buddy Holly (1957)
Just two years after “Bo Diddley,” Buddy Holly reinterpreted the song’s rhythm for his hit “Not Fade Away.” In 1964, The Rolling Stones made the beat heavier for their version, making it a smash once again.
‘She’s the One’ by Bruce Springsteen (1975)
The Boss and Steve Van Zandt, his best buddy in the E Street Band, are nothing if not scholars of rock ’n’ roll history. On this beloved track from the “Born to Run” album, they pay a clear and faithful homage to the beat.
‘I Want Candy’ by Bow Wow Wow (1982)
The song was originally recorded by the Strangeloves in 1965, but Bow Wow Wow’s New Wave cover became the best-known version, charting all over the world in 1982 and appearing in numerous commercials and movies to this day.
‘How Soon is Now?’ by The Smiths (1984)
The beat is disguised by Johnny Marr’s extraordinary guitar sound, but there’s still no doubt the Godfathers of English indie-rock adapted Diddley’s rhythmic blueprint for their early masterpiece.
‘Faith’ by George Michael (1987)
It’s not just rockers who love the Bo Diddley beat. For his first Billboard No. 1 single, the ex-Wham! star lifted the rhythm and continued his ’50s references with a rockabilly guitar solo, while the famous video saw Michael doing a pretty solid Elvis impression. The result was one of his best-ever solo singles.
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE: https://nypost.com/2015/03/10/how-the-bo-diddley-beat-influenced-decades-of-rock-music/