Bill Shepherd - UK Session Musician

[lili]

I wouldn't be surprised if George Martin joined these forums. Why not ?
We've been speculating about his part in all of this for a very long time. I would love to hear his version of the events !

[guitargaz]

Can I put you out of your misery?

Bill Shepherd was my father - he is now dead. He was indeed the main writer for the Billy and the Pepperpots album which was his and friends jokey attempt to cash in on the Beatlemania. He was the same man who produced the early Bee Gees records in Australia, and then came back to England with them as their musical arranger. He was English and we emigrated to Australia in the 60's - where he subsequently got a job as a recording engineer at Festival records - and took over recording the Bee Gees. He had his own radio show for a while, then a TV show called One More Time, before moving to Munich and then LA (where he eventually worked for Muzak).

He did lots of other arranging work - mostly at IBC studios in the 70's where I eventually got a job as a tape op - and did a lot of French artists.

There is no Beatles or Paul connection - although interestingly he worked with a character called Brian Chalmers who claimed to be a cousin of Paul and Mike (Paul's brother). There was some resemblance - although he was extremely camp and involved with producing an Italian singer called Little Tony, and apparently had connections with the mafia. And he was notorious for pushing the story of Paul being replaced after his death by Bill Campbell. I should not be surprised if he was the main instigator of the story - we heard it from him several times - and in those days it seemed plausible. It was supposed to have been a car crash - cover of Abbey Road 28IF and all that. Certainly there is an attraction to the theory that the man who wrote Yesterday could not be the same man who wrote The Frog Chorus.

Anyway - had to clear that up about my Dad - I had not seen the picture before so that was interesting. By the way the Bee Gees Authorised Biography has an index section just on Bill Shepherd. He was an interesting man - but he wasn't Paul or Paul's replacement I'm afraid - otherwise I'd be rich - and I'm not!

[Jai Guru Deva]

Hey Guitargaz, if you have some more photos of your dad you could post, that would be great! If you've got any of him posing with musicians, especially the Bee Gees, that would be awesome too.

[fourthousandholes]

Wow, Guitargaz. Thank you for posting that!
Please feel free to post on other topics as well.

[lili]

Welcome, Guitargaz. I have to say that I didn't think that your dad was the same Billy Shepherd who was involved with Billy Shepherd & the Pepperpots. I also didn't think that your dad was the present Paul McCartney.
You've just killed a million different birds with one stone ! [img src="http://galeon.hispavista.com/akostuff/img/Good-Post[1].gif"]

[revolver]

Greetings guitargaz! Thanks for the story about Paul's cousin. If Paul's cousin says Paul was replaced, that's another strong confirmation of the PID/PWR theory that this forum is investigating.

On a related note, a Bill Shepherd was also listed as the author of a number of books and magazine articles about the Beatles. Was that your father as well?

Thanks again for the information.

[lah' mah]

Welcome to our world!

Now tell us....how did you find us and where have you been? I mean this Bill Shepherd has been debated on many a board, not just ours and for many years now.

Looking forward to your many posts!

[guitargaz]

^{On a related note, a Bill Shepherd was also listed as the author of a number of books and magazine articles about the Beatles. Was that your father as well?}

No that wasn't him - there seems to be another Bill Shepherd who was a writer.

Thanks for all the responses so soon. I will try and think of any stories that might be of interest to this forum - but I have few pictures of him - and none with the Bee Gees - although some other family members might have some.

Its funny about Bill Pepper and the Pepperpots album (which I don't own and have only heard one track) - many years ago a friend who buys a lot of music suddenly produced this album one night and said "Look at this - its hilarious" - I had to admit that it was my Dad's - which probably made him a bit embarrassed - although my Dad always treated it as a joke anyway.

I remember Brian Chalmers made a nuisance of himself with Paul - and his office stopped accepting his calls. It was certainly his dining out story. He and my father wrote a musical together which never got produced and was based on the "Kidnapped" book - was that Robert Louis Stevenson who wrote it? Anyway - it was called "Snatch" which knowing Brian was very tongue in cheek - and certainly would never have made it to broadway with that title.

My father did die in LA in the 80's - Jimmy Fraser died a few years ago in Florida - in Jupiter not Miami. My father lived in Florida for a while till he got sick - also in Jupiter.

[fourthousandholes]

What's in a name? (Brian Chalmers)
(An old expression relating how some people with similar
names end up doing the same things....)

home.earthlink.net/~mchalmers01/teaser/bc.html

By the way, is this Little Tony here?:

www.valvori.net/arts/mus/litlton/tony.php

homepage:
www.littletony.it/

[guitargaz]

That is Little Tony as I worked on the session at IBC as tape op when Brian was producing. That is not the same Brian however - but keep searching!

[JoJo]

Hi Guitargaz, and welcome! I'll echo what Lah' mah said, and ask where the heck ya been all this time? Well, I suppose unless you get lucky, you may not stumble across this rather hidden away corner on the net.

No one has asked you this, and while you say your father was the composer for the songs on the album, was he portrayed on the cover? Further, just who are those guys exactly?

You have to understand, the character "Billy Shepherd" who wrote a column for years in the Beatle fan mag, and a little paperback bio I own was never identified, nor was a photo shown. So, while they may very well be two different people, the secrecy surrounding the "writer" Billy Shepherd is a mystery yet to be solved.

The Paul's cousin angle is very interesting, seems like he had no problem with the idea of Paul being replaced. And so what happened is the information gets dropped in the pool so to speak, but the general public is given the story we have to this day. (rumor proof, even from someone who may have the goods)

[il ras]

Can assure that's Little Tony (as many of you already know, I'm Italian...), I saw him 1 year ago, was sitting in the table next to mine in a restaurant. He made at least ten phone calls asking people if they saw him on tv... strange guy. He was on of the most famous Italian singers in the sixties (born as an Elvis emulator) now, as is natural is not at the top of his career.
Anyway, as he has a forum on his web site (that has an English version too) and as he is promising to answer personally, why someone doesn't ask him about this Brian and his PWR theory? I can do it but I think he will give more importance to a foreign admirer....

[beatlies]

guitargaz said:

Can I put you out of your misery?

Bill Shepherd was my father - he is now dead. He was indeed the main writer for the Billy and the Pepperpots album which was his and friends jokey attempt to cash in on the Beatlemania. He was the same man who produced the early Bee Gees records in Australia, and then came back to England with them as their musical arranger. He was English and we emigrated to Australia in the 60's - where he subsequently got a job as a recording engineer at Festival records - and took over recording the Bee Gees. He had his own radio show for a while, then a TV show called One More Time, before moving to Munich and then LA (where he eventually worked for Muzak).

He did lots of other arranging work - mostly at IBC studios in the 70's where I eventually got a job as a tape op - and did a lot of French artists.

There is no Beatles or Paul connection - although interestingly he worked with a character called Brian Chalmers who claimed to be a cousin of Paul and Mike (Paul's brother). There was some resemblance - although he was extremely camp and involved with producing an Italian singer called Little Tony, and apparently had connections with the mafia. And he was notorious for pushing the story of Paul being replaced after his death by Bill Campbell. I should not be surprised if he was the main instigator of the story - we heard it from him several times - and in those days it seemed plausible. It was supposed to have been a car crash - cover of Abbey Road 28IF and all that. Certainly there is an attraction to the theory that the man who wrote Yesterday could not be the same man who wrote The Frog Chorus.

Anyway - had to clear that up about my Dad - I had not seen the picture before so that was interesting. By the way the Bee Gees Authorised Biography has an index section just on Bill Shepherd. He was an interesting man - but he wasn't Paul or Paul's replacement I'm afraid - otherwise I'd be rich - and I'm not!

Hey guitar, a few questions spring to mind:

--The Pepperpots were a Beatles imitator group that released two albums, three years before Sgt. Pepper ---why did Bill Shepherd and the other Pepperpots not sue or at least make public comments about the Beatles use of a Beatles-clone band name?

--Why are there no music sheets/ASACP lyrics etc. to be found for the two album Pepperpots? Why are they unique in completely dropping out of the historical record and memory, as if there is an extensive cover-up?

---Who wrote the "Billy Shepherd" Beatles books?


---Who is "Beatle Bill" as John Lennon refers to him on film ---Could you clarify your understanding of JPM being replaced with an imposter --you do agree he was replaced, right?

Sorry to sound a bit skeptical, but I'm sure you can understand, this is the web where anyone can say or claim to be anyone and anything. Can you please provide us with more detailed bio infomration on Mr. Shepherd, and yourself? Some new photos would be very helpful.

Thanks,

beatlies

[JoJo]

beatlies said:

Hey guitar, a few questions spring to mind:

--The Pepperpots were a Beatles imitator group that released two albums, three years before Sgt. Pepper ---why did Bill Shepherd and the other Pepperpots not sue or at least make public comments about the Beatles use of a Beatles-clone band name?

--Why are there no music sheets/ASACP lyrics etc. to be found for the two album Pepperpots? Why are they unique in completely dropping out of the historical record and memory, as if there is an extensive cover-up?

---Who wrote the "Billy Shepherd" Beatles books?


---Who is "Beatle Bill" as John Lennon refers to him on film ---Could you clarify your understanding of JPM being replaced with an imposter --you do agree he was replaced, right?

Sorry to sound a bit skeptical, but I'm sure you can understand, this is the web where anyone can say or claim to be anyone and anything. Can you please provide us with more detailed bio infomration on Mr. Shepherd, and yourself? Some new photos would be very helpful.

Thanks,

beatlies

All great points Beatlies, hats off to you.

While I don't care exactly if you believe JPM was replaced or not Guitargaz, surely you formed an opinion that swings one way or the other based on having your ear a little closer to the ground than the average?

[TotalInformation]

Other questions --

Etymolgy of pepper/pepperpots?

Where and when were the albums recorded, with what musicians?

One Lou Reed biography claims Reed wrote the songs while working for Pickwick Records in NYC. Comments?

To what extent did Shepherd pere know, interact, or colaborate with JPM or George Martin?

Have you yourself been involved in music professionally?

Are you now or have you ever been employed by Sir PAUL MCARTNEY, any affiliated corporations, or any agency of any "member nation" of the British Commonwealth (including but not limited to MI5 or MI6)?

Thanks in advance for your kind help on these matters.

[fourthousandholes]

ilras said:

Can assure that's Little Tony (as many of you already know, I'm Italian...), I saw him 1 year ago, was sitting in the table next to mine in a restaurant. He made at least ten phone calls asking people if they saw him on tv... strange guy. He was on of the most famous Italian singers in the sixties (born as an Elvis emulator) now, as is natural is not at the top of his career.
Anyway, as he has a forum on his web site (that has an English version too) and as he is promising to answer personally, why someone doesn't ask him about this Brian and his PWR theory? I can do it but I think he will give more importance to a foreign admirer....

I think you would be a great person to do this.
Personal conversation always beats computer communication.

[il ras]

No wonder if he'll never come back! ;D

[il ras]

fourthousandholes said:

ilras said:

Can assure that's Little Tony (as many of you already know, I'm Italian...), I saw him 1 year ago, was sitting in the table next to mine in a restaurant. He made at least ten phone calls asking people if they saw him on tv... strange guy. He was on of the most famous Italian singers in the sixties (born as an Elvis emulator) now, as is natural is not at the top of his career.
Anyway, as he has a forum on his web site (that has an English version too) and as he is promising to answer personally, why someone doesn't ask him about this Brian and his PWR theory? I can do it but I think he will give more importance to a foreign admirer....

I think you would be a great person to do this.
Personal conversation always beats computer communication.

I'll try (especially as I've noticed that the English version of his web site doesn't work...).
Anyway, I can try to reach him just by email as I saw him personally just once and as we live in two different cities.

[noodles]

--The Pepperpots were a Beatles imitator group that released two albums, three years before Sgt. Pepper ---why did Bill Shepherd and the other Pepperpots not sue or at least make public comments about the Beatles use of a Beatles-clone band name?

What would they sue for? Using the word 'pepper'? Even if they did have a case I can't imagine Bill Shepherd would want to draw attention to his cheesy Beatles cash-in right when his career with the Bee Gees is taking off.

--Why are there no music sheets/ASACP lyrics etc. to be found for the two album Pepperpots? Why are they unique in completely dropping out of the historical record and memory, as if there is an extensive cover-up?

Music sheets aren't issued as a matter of course. They issued if there's a market for them. There's thousands of albums that have no music scores of any kind There's certainly nothing unique in it. ASCAP,BMI, etc exist to collect money from radio plays, live performances, etc. A cheapy cash in on the Beatles (or any band) would be very unlikely to receive any radio play or any live performances. It would presumably be cheaper and easier not to bother registering records like these.

Thanks for posting, guitargaz. If you can provide any evidence to back up what you're saying it would obviously be appreciated. Any pictures of Mr Shepherd especially studio stuff would be gratefully appreciated.

[guitargaz]

Sorry to sound a bit skeptical, but I'm sure you can understand, this is the web where anyone can say or claim to be anyone and anything. Can you please provide us with more detailed bio infomration on Mr. Shepherd, and yourself? Some new photos would be very helpful.

Well I didn't know my late Dad was the subject of a cultish website till yesterday. I have some photos of him with me - particularly when my wife and I visited him in Florida but from other holidays in Germany too. I don't know whether I'll scan them and put them on the web - I don't have any burden of proof that I am his son because I know I am! I was trying to help you out with this particular thread which was leading to a blind alley - so I am not too bothered if I am believed or not.

My name is Gary Shepherd and I worked as an Engineer at IBC studios from 1974-76 and frequently worked on sessions where my father was conducting the orchestra. I also worked with Queen when I was there but that's another story. I have a decent home studio in London and still play my Dad's Gibson Blue Ridge acoustic that he got for free when he visited the Gibson factory with the Bee Gees on a tour of America. And I still use his DX7 and his Linn Drum from his studio in Florida. I don't work in the music biz now - but I play and record in most of my spare time.

Bill Shepherd started out as a drummer and also had a vocal group - and moved into production, arranging, and songwriting after national service in the RAF in Egypt (where predictably he avoided any action and was in the entertainment as the drummer in the band). He wrote the Quartermaster's Store which was a B side of the Shadows (and my stepmother still gets royalties to this day). He had a radio show in the 60's in London - but decided to emigrate with the family to Australia in 1964 (or 65 - I haven't checked - I was about 7 at the time). It was here he hooked up the engineer job and eventually the Bee Gees in Sydney. My Mum and Dad split up and we came back to England - he followed later with the Bee Gees and his new girlfriend.

He wrote much of the music on the Billy Pepper albums - but that is not him pictured on the covers - I think they used models. He is not the Billy Shepherd who wrote books or Beatles reviews. The Bill that John talks about was Bill Campbell according to Brian Chalmers. Whether Little Tony would want to talk about Brian (if he is alive and still in contact) I wouldn't like to say. Little Tony would almost certainly remember Bill Shepherd.

He did the arrangements for a number one in France by Michel Delpech called Les Divorcees - he was best known for his string arrangements - and other French work came his way as they liked that sort of thing - Julien Clerc is another artist he worked with on one album.

He was born in Merstham Surrey on June 13 1927 - and died in LA in the late 80's - I haven't checked the date as I have tended to blot it out although I was there when it happened. It was the year the LA Dodgers won the World Series - as it was happening while we there and when he died. Baseball fans can check the year and month.

I could go on - but won't - I don't have anything to prove although the irony of being asked for proof by a website that perpetuates the theory of Paul being replaced amuses me somewhat.

Unfortunately he had no connection with the Beatles at all - I don't think he even met any of them. I met Mike Mc Cartney (known as Mike Mc Gear at that time) at IBC and nearly met Paul when I had to deliver a tape to his office in Soho - I could hear him playing piano in the next room but he didn't come out. And I stood some 10 feet away from him when he toured in London about three years ago - my wife managed to get second row seats - and many the time he made eye contact and smiled like he did at all the fans that close. But there was no connection with my Dad - and it was the real Paul - there is no doubt about that - and you all really know that.

Sorry - but it is a good yarn and there are some interesting theories out there. Thats enough from me.....

Gary Shepherd

[guitargaz]

Are you now or have you ever been employed by Sir PAUL MCARTNEY, any affiliated corporations, or any agency of any "member nation" of the British Commonwealth (including but not limited to MI5 or MI6)?

What's with this question? The answer is no - but not sure of the significance. My wife did a Google on Bill Shepherd yesterday which is how she discovered this site. Perhaps I should have kept quiet and let the cult grow. I may write about this as a study of how these myths start and perpetuate - interesting because I have much inside knowledge which makes it interesting to see how lack of information makes some people make connections (which may not exist). There is no basis to the Bill Shepherd connection here to the Paul myth - but it is fascinating to see what has been happening unbeknowns to the family of Bill Shepherd. The internet is great isn't it?

[fourthousandholes]

Gary, Thank you so much for your answers.
If you knew how long and hard some of us have been trying to resolve
what's behind the "Paul Is Dead" mystery, (some since 1969!),
you'd know that "every little thing"
ends up looking significant. Many of us have really put
our heart and soul into the search
for clues. If we seem a little over the top, no offense is meant.
I think I can safely say we all wish you and yours all the best.
And are extremely grateful for your help in this matter as well.
Thank you. Sincerely.
I just had a funny thought. Maybe the angels are giving you a little tap on the shoulder, GG.
Best wishes always.

[TotalInformation]

Just a standard question. There are still three outstanding, to wit:

What is the etymolgy of pepper/pepperpots?

Where and when were the albums recorded, with what musicians?

One Lou Reed biography claims Reed wrote the songs while working for Pickwick Records in NYC. Comments?

[eyesbleed]

guitargaz said:

There is no basis to the Bill Shepherd connection here to the Paul myth - but it is fascinating to see what has been happening unbeknowns to the family of Bill Shepherd. The internet is great isn't it?

There is another Bill Shepherd who is connected to the Beatles, so we're obviously talkin' about 2 Bill Shepherds.

So.... WELCOME GG! ;D
Hasn't this turned into an interesting thread.!
I guess ya checked out all the cool old LP covers posted, I guess those would all be yer dad's work, right?

The first thing to come to mind with me is the lack of response from the "mercybeat expert" concerning The Pepperpots.
Why wouldn't they want to discuss The Pepperpots like all the rest of the Mercybeat bands if The Pepperpots were just a joke Fab 4 ripoff? Why be so mysterious? Who knows.

hey GG, were you aware the 2nd Pepperpots album was released on cd in Estonia? It sounds pretty good (sonically). It's not ripped from a record as far as I can tell.

[JoJo]

my wife managed to get second row seats - and many the time he made eye contact and smiled like he did at all the fans that close. But there was no connection with my Dad - and it was the real Paul - there is no doubt about that - and you all really know that.

No, we know quite differently. I saw him front row last September, and it was a great time, don't get me wrong. Many of us are here are simultaneously fans of his while accepting he's not "Paul". Others can't stand him, but to each their own. But anyway, my close view made me wonder what the "brown eyed Paul" (or hazel if you wish) was doing with blue eyes?

Please.. it isn't a cult. (or even leaning in that direction) No one is going to drink any funny Kool Aid over this, ok? If you perceive suspicion aimed at you, please understand that after doing this for a while, it's a natural defense mechanism, many have tried to amuse themselves at our expense. (I'm not saying you are, just trying to paint the picture)

One Lou Reed biography claims Reed wrote the songs while working for Pickwick Records in NYC.

Really?