Bob Birch's Concerts With Elton

Bob Birch has played 1224 concerts with Elton John. Since 26 may 1992, with his first show, until last october in Barcelona, he's been travelling around the world and has visited so many countries. So: how many countries has he been performing? Which is the song most played live by him? Take a look!

United States


Albany - NY (4 times)
Albuquerque - NM (1 times)
Ames – IA (2 times)
Ames – IO( 1 times)
Amherst – MA (2 times)
Anaheim - CA (6 times)
Ann Arbor – MI (1 times)
Atlanta - GA (18 times)
Atlantic City - NJ (3 times)
Auburn Hills - MI (2 times)
Austin - TX (2 times)
Bakersfield - CA (2 times)
Baton Rouge – LA (1 times)
Beverly Hills – CA (2 times)
Biloxi – MS (2 times)
Birmingham - AL (3 times)
Boisc - ID (1 times)
Bonner Springs – KS (1 times)
Boston - MA (11 times)
Bozeman - MT (1 times)
Bridgeport - CT (2 times)
Bristow – VA (2 times)
Buffalo – NY (4 times)
Burgettstown – PA (1 times)
Camden – NJ (2 times)
Casper - WY (1 times)
Chapel Hill – NC (2 times)
Charleston – SC (1 times)
Charlotte - NC (6 times)
Charlottesville - VA (1 times)
Chicago - IL (14 times)
Cincinatti – OH (6 times)
Clemson – SC (1 times)
Cleveland - OH (4 times)
Columbia – MD (4 times)
Columbia - MO (1 times)
Columbia - SC (3 times)
Columbus - OH (6 times)
Cyahoga Falls – OH (1 times)
Dallas - TX (6 times)
Dayton – OH (1 times)
Denver - CO (4 times)
Detroit – MI (9 times)
Duluth – GA (1 times)
East Rutherford – NJ (3 times)
El Paso - TX (1 times)
Essex Junction. VT (1 times)
Estero - FL (1 times)
Evansville – IN (1 times)
Estero - FL (1 times)
Fargo - ND (3 times)
Fort Lauderdale - FL (5 times)
Foxboro – MA (4 times)
Fresno - CA (2 times)
Gainesville - FL (1 times)
Glendale - AZ (1 times)
Grand Rapids – MI (1 times)
Green Bay – WI (1 times)
Greensboro – NC (1 times)
Greenville - SC (3 times)
Hartford – CN (4 times)
Hartford - CT (4 times)
Hershey - PA (1 times)
Hollywood – CA (2 times)
Houston - TX (10 times)
Indianapolis - IN (5 times)
Jacksonville - FL (3 times)
Kansas City - MO (3 times)
Knoxville – TN (2 times)
Lafayette – LA (1 times)
Landover – MD (2 times)
Laredo – TX (1 times)
Las Vegas - NV (253 times)
Lexington – KY (2 times)
Little Rock – AR (1 times)
Los Angeles – CA (14 times)
Louisville – KY (2 times)
Madison - WI (3 times)
Manchester - NH (2 times)
Mansfield – MA (6 times)
Maryland Hgts – MO (1 times)
Memphis - TN (3 times)
Miami – FL (6 times)
Milwaukee - WI (7 times)
Minneapolis – MN (6 times)
Missoula - MT (2 times)
Moline - IL (2 times)
Mountain View – CA (2 times)
Nashville - TN (7 times)
New Orleans – LA (2 times)
New York City- NY (50 times)
Noblesville – IN (1 times)
Norfolk - VA (1 times)
North Charleston - SC (1 times)
Oakland – CA (4 times)
Oklahoma City - OK (3 times)
Omaha - NE (2 times)
Orlando - FL (6 times)
Pensacola - FL (2 times)
Philadelphia - PA (17 times)
Phoenix - AZ (4 times)
Pittsburgh – PA (5 times)
Portland - MA (1 times)
Portland - OR (4 times)
Providence - RI (1 times)
Pullman - WA (2 times)
Raleigh – NC (3 times)
Reading - PA (1 times)
Reno – NV (1 times)
Richmond - VA (2 times)
Roanoke – VI (1 times)
Rosemont - IL (1 times)
Sacramento - CA (4 times)
Salt Lake City - UT (4 times)
San Antonio - TA (1 times)
San Antonio – TX (3 times)
San Diego - CA (5 times)
San Francisco – CA (2 times)
San Jose – CA (3 times)
Savannah - GA (1 times)
Seattle - WA (4 times)
Silver Lake – CA (1 times)
Sioux Falls - SD (1 times)
St. Louis – MO (5 times)
St. Paul - MN (3 times)
State College – PA (3 times)
Syracuse – NY (2 times)
Tacoma – WA (3 times)
Tallahassee - FL (3 times)
Tampa - FL (5 times)
Texan – TX (1 times)
Tulsa - OK (1 times)
Tupelo – MI (1 times)
Uncasville - CT (2 times)
Uniondale – NY (6 times)
Universal City – CA (1 times)
Virginia Beach – VA (2 times)
Washington - DC (5 times)
Wilkes Barre - PA (2 times)
Winston Salem - NC (2 times)

Hawaii


Honolulu (2 times)

Puerto Rico


San Juan (1 time)

Canada


Calgary( 1 times)
Edmonton( 2 times)
Hamilton( 2 times)
Kelowna( 1 times)
Montreal( 6 times)
Ottawa( 3 times)
Quebec City( 2 times)
Regina( 2 times)
Saskatoon( 2 times)
Toronto( 9 times)
Vancouver( 5 times)
Winipeg( 2 times)

United Kingdom


Aberdeen( 1 times)
Berkshire( 1 times)
Birmingham( 12 times)
Bolton( 1 times)
Bournemouth( 1 times)
Bristol( 2 times)
Cardiff( 2 times)
Carlise( 1 times)
Charlton( 1 times)
County Durham( 1 times)
Coventry( 1 times)
Darlington( 1 times)
Doncaster( 1 times)
Edinburgh( 1 times)
Glasgow( 7 times)
Hove( 1 times)
Huddersfield( 1 times)
Inverness( 1 times)
Ipswich( 1 times)
Kent( 1 times)
Kilmarnock( 1 times)
Liverpool( 3 times)
London( 42 times)
Manchester( 8 times)
Newcastle( 2 times)
Newcastle Upon-Tyne( 1 times)
Norfolk( 1 times)
Norwich( 1 times)
Nottingham( 3 times)
Oxford( 1 times)
Paddock Wood( 1 times)
Perth( 1 times)
Plymouth( 1 times)
Reading( 1 times)
Sheffield( 6 times)
Somerset( 1 times)
Southampton( 1 times)
Stoke-On-Trent( 1 times)
Swansea( 1 times)
Swindon( 1 times)
Watford( 1 times)
Weybridge-Surrey( 1 times)
Worcester( 1 times)

Ireland


Belfast( 2 times)
Co.Kerry( 1 times)
Cork( 1 times)
Dublin( 4 times)
Limerick( 1 times)

Gibraltar


Gibraltar( 1 times)

Australia


Adelaide( 4 times)
Brisbane( 4 times)
Canberra( 1 times)
Canungra( 1 times)
Darwin( 1 times)
Hunter Valley( 2 times)
Launceston. Tasmania( 1 times)
Melbourne( 8 times)
Perth( 5 times)
Sydney( 15 times)
Tanunda( 1 times)
Thuringowa( 1 times)
Werribee( 2 times)

New Zealand


Auckland( 4 times)
New Plymouth( 1 times)
Wellington( 1 times)

France


Cannes( 1 times)
Divonne( 1 times)
Grenoble( 1 times)
Lievin( 1 times)
Lyon( 2 times)
Metz( 1 times)
Monte Carlo. Monaco( 1 times)
Nancy( 1 times)
Nimes( 4 times)
Paris( 14 times)
Strasbourg( 1 times)
Toulon( 1 times)

Germany


Aschaffenburg( 2 times)
Baden-Baden( 1 times)
Berlin( 6 times)
Bielefeld( 2 times)
Bonn( 1 times)
Bremen( 1 times)
Cologne( 2 times)
Dortmund( 4 times)
Dresden( 1 times)
Dusseldorf( 2 times)
Erfurtn( 2 times)
Frankfurt( 6 times)
Halle( 1 times)
Hamburg( 4 times)
Hannover( 2 times)
Kiel( 1 times)
Koblenz( 1 times)
Konstanz( 1 times)
Leipzig( 1 times)
Mannheim( 1 times)
Moenchengladback( 1 times)
Munich( 7 times)
Nuremburg( 2 times)
Oberhausen( 1 times)
Riesa( 1 times)
Stuttgart( 4 times)
Wels( 1 times)
Wiesbaden( 1 times)
Wolfsburg( 1 times)

Austria


Innsbruck( 1 times)
Ischgl( 1 times)
Salzburg( 1 times)
Vienna( 5 times)

Poland


Sopot( 1 times)
Warshaw( 1 times)

Switzerland


Basel( 3 times)
Frauenfeld( 1 times)
Lausanne( 2 times)
Vevey( 1 times)
Zurich( 10 times)

Holland


Rotterdam( 5 times)

Belgium


Antwerp( 2 times)
Brussels( 2 times)
Ghent( 2 times)
Werchter( 1 times)

Italy


Bergamo( 1 times)
Bologna( 2 times)
Lucca( 1 times)
Milan( 5 times)
Monza( 1 times)
Perugia( 1 times)
Pesaro( 2 times)
Pordenone( 1 times)
Rome( 3 times)
Venice( 2 times)
Verona( 2 times)

Spain


Barcelona( 3 times)
Benidorm( 1 times)
Guadalajara( 1 times)
La Coruña( 1 times)
Madrid( 2 times)
Marbella( 1 times)
Mijas( 1 times)
Oviedo( 1 times)
Pamplona( 1 times)
Sevilla( 1 times)
Tenerife( 1 times)
Xativa( 1 times)

Norway


Fredrikstads( 1 times)
Kristiansand( 1 times)
Oslo( 12 times)

Sweden


Goteborg( 3 times)
Malmo( 1 times)
Stockholm( 6 times)

Denmark


Aarhus( 1 times)
Copenhagen( 5 times)
Odense( 1 times)

Finland


Helsinki( 4 times)
Turku( 1 times)

Russia


Moscow( 4 times)
Rostov-On-Don( 1 times)
Sochi( 1 times)
St. Petersburg( 1 times)


Israel


Tel Aviv( 1 times)

Mexico


Mexico City( 6 times)

Argentina


Buenos Aires( 3 times)

Brazil


Rio de Janeiro( 2 times)
Sao Paolo( 1 times)

Chili


Santiago( 1 times)

Azerbajan


Baku( 1 times)

Japan


Fukuoka( 1 times)
Nagoya( 1 times)
Osaka( 2 times)
Tokyo( 6 times)


China


Hong Kong( 3 times)
Shanghai( 2 times)

Taiwan


Taipei( 1 time)

South Korea


Seoul( 1 time)

Singapore


Singapore( 4 times)

Thailand


Bangkok( 1 time)


India


Bangalore( 1 times)


Southafrica


Cape Town( 1 times)
Durban( 1 times)
Johannesburg( 2 times)

And the songs on the set list:

Don't let the sun go down on me (1166 times)
I guess that's why they call it the blues (1141 times)
Rocket man (1093 times)
Saturday night's alright (1088 times)
Philadelphia freedom (1058 times)
Bennie and the jets (1043 times)
The bitch is back (1022 times)

Daniel (934 times)
Tiny dancer (920 times)
I'm still standing (878 times)
Funeral for a friend / Love lies bleeding (809 times)
Sorry seems to be the hardest word (648 times)
Take me to the pilot (633 times)
Your song (614 times)
Pinball wizard (576 times)
The one (574 times)
Someone saved my life tonight (559 times)
Crocodile rock (540 times)
Believe (512 times)

Levon (456 times)
Goodbye yellow brick road (414 times)
Sad songs (392 times)
Simple life (389 times)
I don't wanna go on with you like that (361 times)
Sacrifice (358 times)
Honky cat (318 times)
I want love (299 times)
Mona lisas and mad hatters (296 times)

Great balls of fire (234 times)
Burn down the mission (223 times)
Candle in the wind (211 times)
Can you feel the love tonight (195 times)
You may be right (177 times)
All the girls love Alice (173 times)
Something about the way you look tonight (169 times)
The show must go on (156 times)
This train don't stop there anymore (144 times)
Mona lisas and mad hatters part two (143 times)
The wasteland (137 times)
Ballad of the boy in the red shoes (131 times)
Madman across the water (130 times)
My life (126 times)
Grey seal (122 times)
Come down in time (121 times)
Are you ready for love (119 times)
Made in England (113 times)
Holiday inn (103 times)
The Bridge (103 times)

They call her the cat (97 times)
Answer in the sky (96 times)
Turn the ligths out when you leave (94 times)
Uptown girl (93 times)
Original sin (88 times)
A hard day's night (85 times)
House (83 times)
Dixie Lily (76 times)
All that I'm allowed (I'm thankful) (73 times)
Lucy in the sky with diamonds (73 times)
If the river can bend (72 times)
Have mercy on the criminal (67 times)
Circle of life (66 times)
American triangle (64 times)
Pain (63 times)
Blue avenue (56 times)
Herkules (50 times)
Recover your soul (50 times)

Captain Fantastic & Brown Dirt Cowboy (49 times)
Porch swing in Tupelo (49 times)
Freaks in love (48 times)
Empty garden (46 times)
Weight of the world (44 times)
My elusive drug (42 times)
Whitewash county (42 times)
The Captain and the Kid (36 times)
I'm going to be a teenage idol (35 times)
Love's got a lot to answer for (35 times)
Lucille (33 times)
New York state of mind (33 times)
They Say It's Your Birthday (33 times)
Back In The U.S.S.R. (32 times)
Lies (32 times)
Postcards from Richard Nixon (32 times)
Nikita (27 times)
Electricity (26 times)
Tinderbox (26 times)
Harmony (25 times)
Here comes the sun (25 times)

Healing hands (24 times)
When a woman doesn't want you (24 times)
(Gotta get) A meal ticket (23 times)
Blues never fade away (23 times)
Jumping jack flash (23 times)
Birds (22 times)
Sand and water (22 times)
Border song (20 times)
Blue eyes (19 times)
Come together (19 times)
Roy Rogers (18 times)
Stone's throw from hurtin' (18 times)
Country comfort (17 times)
Skyline Pigeon (17 times)
Better off dead (15 times)
Tell me when the whistle blows (15 times)
Blessed (14 times)
We all fall in love sometimes / Curtains (13 times)
Runaway train (12 times)
A woman's needs (10 times)
Bite your lip, get up and dance (10 times)
Just like Noah's Ark (10 times)
The king must die (10 times)

High-flying bird (8 times)
Old 67 (8 times)
Bitter fingers (6 times)
Don't go breaking my heart (5 times)
Sixty years on (5 times)
Where to now St. Peter? (5 times)
Wouldn't have you any other way (NYC) (5 times)
I must have lost it on the wind (4 times)
Mansfield (4 times)
Club at the end of the street (3 times)
I can't keep this from you (3 times)
Little Jeannie (3 times)
Long way from happiness (2 times)
Singin' in the rain (2 times)
Texan love song (2 times)
Written in the Stars (2 times)

(What the hell is wrong with) Expressing yourself (1 time)
16th Century man (1 time)
Auld Lang Syne (1 time)
Ballad of a well known-gun (1 time)
Children of the revolution (1 time)
El Dorado (1 time)
Friends never say goodbye (1 time)
Grandma's song (1 time)
Like father like son (1 time)
Salvation (1 time)
Someday out of the blue (1 time)
The trail we blaze (1 time)
Tutti frutti (1 time)
We once were kings (1 time)
Without question (1 time)

Eltonites About Bob Birch

“It is nice to see Bob Birch being highlighted here. I have to say that Bob seems to be an underrated (by the fans) bass guitarist / backing vocalist. Hard to believe but Bob has been EJ's bassist longer than anyone - even Dee Murray. When EJ and the band came to Toronto earlier this year for the "Face-to-Face" shows I thought that Bob really stood out. The sound was magnificent and Bob sounded tremendous! I don't like to compare musicians because each has their own something special...but Bob and Nigel, as a rhythm section, were pretty hard to beat that night! Bob seemes to really enjoy playing with EJ - lots of small bits of interaction between them live. Thankfully, he seems to have recovered fully (after years of pain) from that pedestrian vs. truck accident in Montreal back on the MADE IN ENGLAND tour in 1995. Thanks for all the great music Bob!” (DougS)

"Bob is a great guy. Had a chance to meet and chat with him in Gainsville, Florida." (Missy Gyms)

"Cool interview! I knew there was a reason Bob is one of my faves....Blues for Baby and Me AND Harmony in his top 5 list!!" (Harmony59)

Please, Eltonites, get up, stand up to receive one of the greatest musicians of the world... the fantastic... Bob Birch!!!!!!!!!!!

Dear Eltonites. Today is a very special day. We have here a very special musician. It's our guest of the week. A current member of Elton's band. He is always on Elton's side of the stage. Allsongslist doors are all wide open to receive the giantic, the incredible and charismatic: Bob Birch!!!

Hello Bob, it's so nice to have you here. Thank you very much for being here. Let's start, then.

Which are your most beautiful memories of your childhood? How it was growing up in Detroit, Michigan?

I don't remember much of my childhood, but growing in Detroit was amazing for a musician. In those days, great music was everywhere that you went. You could see the greatest live bands any night of the week. Detroit rules.

Yeah! At what age you decide you wanted to be a musician, Bob? And what were your musical influences?

I started playing instruments at the age of 8. I was always playing music and really started making money at it when I was 15. My influences were all the great jazz artists in America. Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Bill Evans, Scotty LaFaro...just to name a few. Motown was a hugh influence. On to the 70's fusion era......... Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke, Herbie Hancock. 70's R&B...... Earth, Wind, and Fire, Rufus, Ohio Players, Sly and the Family Stone. Then to melodic 70's rock. Big influences were Chicago and Blood, Sweat, and Tears. 70's melodic rock is an education in itself. That's when I discovered Elton John and many other artists of the time that wrote and performed their own compositions.

In 1985 you collaborated in a group called “Fortune”, maybe first time you were credited as a professional musician. And in 1987, you and Guy Babylon both were part of the band Ashton, along with drummer Zak Starkey, son of Ringo Starr, I think. The band issued a critically acclaimed 'Modern Pilgrims' album through RCA Records, produced by Paul Rothschild, but they disbanded one year later. What happened?

With Fortune, we had a song in Billboard's top 100, but when it came time to tour, the record company (MCA) wouldn't give us the money, and that's what we really needed to make the thing big. With Ashton, we were a bit late. The Seattle grunge sound started to happen, and once again, the record budget was so hugh, that when it came time to tour, RCA wouldn't back it. Both of these projects were really special and we all learned a lot from them. We all remain friends and still work together at times.

Great!! How you got involved with Elton and how you ended up recording and touring with him?

I was working with Guy Babylon in different bands and recording projects since 1985. He got the gig with Elton about the same time the Ashton record came out. When Elton came off the road in 1990, I met Davey Johnstone, through Guy, and we started to work on the Warpipes record. When Elton went back on tour in 1992, he wanted to use a new bass player and Davey and Guy recommend me.

Good!! Have you been an Elton fan before? Remember the first time you heard Elton’s music and what moves you to buy his music, in that case?

Yes, what musician can't be a fan of Elton's music in one way or another. I don't remember the first music I heard of Elton's, but I was always impressed by the songwriting and piano playing. The production and string arrangements always got my ear.

When the unforgettable Guy Babylon passed away (not in our memories, not in our hearts), John Jorgenson told me “he was a very high quality person as well as being extremely focused and talented”. But if someone knew more about him, that is you. What could you say about our greatest “keyboard wizard”? We’ll miss him for the rest of our days for sure.

Guy was one of a kind. He would give 110% to everything he did. He was a true genius and I will never stop missing him, both as a band member, music partner and as a friend.

(pause) About the recording sessions. Which is the sequence since Bernie writes the lyrics until the album comes out? And how it is to work with Elton in the studio?

This is how it's done...............Elton sits down at the piano with a stack of Bernie's lyrics(or whatever lyricist he's working with) and while he's looking at the stack, decides what lyric he wants to write to, and after playing with the tune, both vocally and instrumentally for about 10 to 15 minutes, the song is done. That's the way he has always worked. As a musician and composer, you won't believe it till you witness it. It is truely one of the most amazing things that I've ever seen.

How many songs could be recorded for an album session? And remember some of the titles, from “Made In England”, “The Big Picture”, “Songs From West Coast” or “Peachtree Road” for example, that didn’t see the light?

It all depends on when Elton feels he has the writing of the record finished.

Was it difficult to replace Dee Murray in Elton’s band? Did you feel any pressure for being true to his versions?

No one could ever replace Dee. Those were his bass lines that made the songs what they were. I just wanted to try and reproduce them. I could play my own stuff, but to me, those bass lines on the record are part of the song. I don't think there was any pressure...........it's just the respect to play the right thing.

While rehearsing for one tour: who decides the songs to be on the set lists? How many songs you are rehearsing per tour? And which songs do you would like to include on a next to be set list? Perhaps “Into The Old Man’s Shoes”, the “B” side of “Your Song”? Just an idea.

Elton picks the songs he wants to play. Every fan has their own idea of what songs they want to hear, but the fans have to remember that 80% of the audience what to hear the hits. I would like to play "Blues For Baby and Me".

A good choice, really. Maybe we must suggest that to Davey. Oh, any experience playing live with Elton you could share with us, Bob?

It's always fun and the fans are great.

Who came up with the idea to create “Warpipes”? And why not a second album? There is genuine rock on “Rock and Roll Condition" and "Son of a loaded gun." But my favourite is “Tear Jerker”, that’s a classic: beautifully sung, great harmonies. I love that band.

Warpipes was Davey's idea. We got in some bad legal battles and lawsuits with the management and record company, so a second record was not about to happen

Other collaborations are with Rick Whitefield, Snuffy Walden, GeneralStore, The Newmastersounds. I was so surprised to see you collaborated on “Ghosts of the Open Road” debut album, back in 1995. The Ghosts were treading a path that is not very common: talented progressive rock with searing riffs and solos. In fact, I love “Red Asphalt” track. How many albums recorded that group?

The Newmastersounds is not me. There is a very talented keyboard player by the name of Bob Birch. I was just a session musician on the Ghost stuff. I think they did 2 albums. I record and write music almost everday. Some things you will see my name on, some not. I played on Keith Emerson's first solo record in 8 years, Keith Emerson Band featuring Marc Bonilla. Marc is a guitar player friend of mine and we do a lot of music together. He's probably one of the best in the world. I also wrote and played on a song on Joseph Williams solo record "This Fall". Joseph sang with Toto for a while and is an amazing composer........... his dad is John Williams. It was a real kick to have my name on a record with the Toto boys. Lukather, Paich, Pocaro, and Bobby Kimball. Those guys are some of my musical heros. Check out Steve Archer's album "Call It Grace". It's christian music that grooves. I got to play with one of my heros, Michael Omartian. He produced and played piano on some great records in the 70's and 80's.

Apart from music, which are your interests? What you like to do with your off time?

I like spending time with my beautiful wife Michele and my son Jonathan, and my 2 fab Dobermans, Ellie and Jackson.

Oh, finally, could you tell me your five favourite Elton's songs in running order, for my AllSongsList, where I tried to find the best of his songs ever?

Harmony, Blues For Baby and Me, Recover your soul, Electricity, and Little Jeannie.

Thank you very much, Bob. It was so nice for me doing this interview. I am sure eltonites loved it. Precisely, would you want to add some observation or suggestion, or something you want to say to other eltonites?

Thanks for being there. A Rock Superstar is nothing without his or her fans.

And we really need you, Bob. That's feedback: music for loyalty. Well, I would like to thank you for sharing your time with us, eltonites. It has been so amazing and it really was my pleasure. Keep well and I wish you all the best to you and your loving people. Also, I would like to thank you the fabulous Michele for collaborating too. Please, send a big kiss for her too. Thanks too Anna Montras for the pictures of Bob Birch. Oh, Bob, before you go, I have some people here who would like to tell you something:

Steve Archer, singer, songwriter and producer: "I was so glad to have Bob Birch play on my "Call It Grace" project! His chops on the track "His Way" made the groove solid. I have been blessed to work in the studio with some of the best in the world,(John Pattucci, Abe Laboriel, David Hungate and Leeland Sklar), Bob is right there!"

Jay Bolan, guitarist and vocalist: "Bob is one of my best friends, we have played together since 1985 he was one of my guys. He's an amazing musical talent, outstanding ear and sense of music in totality, and he loves to "rock" especially Zep or Van Halen. I used to play these amazing rock gigs and he laid it down, with great players like Gregg and Matt Bissonette, Danny Jacob, Rocket Ritchotte, Sergio Gonzales. We have had so many amazing times and gigs together. He produced a beautiful track he wrote with Davey called "Bring Only Love". I sang on that track. I used to go hang with the boys in Atlanta in the early and mid 90s when they were recording with Elton and we had some great laughs. It's making me remember so much..... more than happy to help say cool stuff about my friend."

Marc Bonilla, composer, guitarist and vocalist: "I could count the number of friends on one hand that I have that are both superior musicians and true people of character, dependable to the end and Bob Birch would top that list. Ever since the early 90's when we both had the good fortune to work together, I have probably shared some of my best musical experiences with him, both onstage and in the studio. He has the ability to play any type of music from hard rock to jazz to R&B and make it sound as though that was the only style he ever played. His sense of humor is always a joy to be around and his loyalty to myself and our bandmates as well as Elton is well-documented and altogether rare in this industry. If and when I ever leave this planet and God sees fit to have me upstairs, my band would include Jimi Hendrix, John Bonham, Freddie Mercury, and Bob Birch. But I'll wait..."

Thank you Steve. Thank you Jay. Thank you Marc. You have been so kind to help me with that surprise for Bob. You're all great musicians and I have so much fun hearing your respective albums. A must have, really. Finally, I also would like to thank Don Somerville and John Arnold for their help, without them couldn't been impossible to reach the stars.

Bob: I hope you like the surprise and I made you smile, you deserve all the best.

Bob Birch In Music Charts

United States



1985
Fortune, "Fortune"
Stacy
N. 80

1986
Luis Cardenas, "Animal Instinct"
Runaway
N. 83

1995
Elton John, " Made In England"
N. 13



1996
“The Craft”, Soundtrack Album
N. 98

Various Artists, Legacy: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac's Rumours
N. 86

1997
Elton John "The Big Picture"
N. 9

1998
Elton John and Tim Rice, "Aida"
N. 41



2000
Elton John, "The Road To El Dorado"
N. 63

Elton John, "One Night Only"
N. 65

2001
Elton John, "Songs From The West Coast"
N. 15

2004
Elton John, "Peachtree Road"
N. 17



2005
B.B. King, "80s"
N. 45

2006
Elton John, "The Captain And The Kid"
N. 18

2007
Various Artists, "Goin' Home: A Tribute to Fats Domino"
N. 104

Unforgettable People (XL): Bob Birch

Born and raised in Michigan, Detroit, Bob Birch played saxophone, bass and bassoon, throughout his school years. After graduating from the fine musical institution of Wayne State, with performance and a education degree, he moved to Los Angeles. He played in several Californian groups and also toured with Jose Feliciano. In 1986, he joined future Elton’s keyboard player Guy Babylon in a band called Ashton, and issued in 1988 the critically acclaimed 'Modern Pilgrims' album through RCA Records. Before, he was “Bobby” Birch on a male pop rock group called Fortune, then with Larry Greene on vocals, along with brothers Richard Fortune on guitar and Mick Fortune on drums, plus keyboardist Roger Scott Craig. Although the album achieved significant sales in Europe and Japan, the band itself received virtually no revenue or recognition. He did several other projects together with Babylon in the mid 80s. And he also was part of the group The Stickmen, which featured John Mahon and a drummer and vocalist.

In 1991, Guy Babylon recommended him to join “Warpipes”, a group featured some members of Elton’s band, where Davey Johnstone wrote most of the music and lyrics were provided by Steve Trudell. When Davey needed a bass player for Elton’s 1992 world tour, after Pino Palladino declined the work, he inmediatily thought about Bob Birch.

In 1995, while “Made In England Tour”, Bob Birch crushed his legs and his lower back was broken when a truck spun out of control while he was walking down a Montreal sidewalk, and forced the band urgency to find another bass player; David Paton finished the tour. And during the recent Red Piano concert in Rotterdam, Holland, Bob had to perform from a chair due to suffering a back injury. “His leg was bothering him but he is doing fine”, explained me Michele Birch, asking about this.

In 1997, he collaborated with Davey Johnstone on music for an episode of Fox TV's "King Of The Hill". And Jimmy Hunter's “Cazador” sessions bred Bob Birch recording rythm section with Rod Stewart guitarrist Paul Warren, and collaborated with them on 2005 album, "A Slender Thread," by rock singer, songwriter, and Austin, TX native Stacey Evans. Other project in 2005 found Bob Birch in Steve Archer’s reflective solo album “Call It Grace”; Steve is formerly from The Archers, an American contemporary Christian music group of the 70s.

Also he featured on the debut solo album from Emerson, Lake & Palmer member Keith Emerson. The Keith Emerson Band, with guitarist vocalist Marc Bonilla along with Bob Birch on bass and Gregg Bissonette on percussion, released “The House Of Ocean Born Mary", 2008, inspired by a romantic New England ghost story from Marion Lowndes, first published in "Ghosts that still walk" (1941). It consists of brand new compositions written by both talented Marc Bonilla and Keith Emerson, with Marc Bonilla complementing Keith with his exquisite guitar playing and superb vocals. Also he produced bands like Crush Velvet Cowboys and mastered Generalstore’s “Mountain Review” at Masterdix, Los Angeles.

Bob is a great reader and has an awesome feel on the bass. In the years since, he has become a centerpiece of Elton’s band, described by Elton himself as his greatest bass player. Only I hope he could fulfill one of his dreams to see Elton recording live again with a trio, like he did on Bob’s favourite album “11-17-70”. Just a suggestion.

Pictures of Bob Birch courtesy by Brigitte Jouet-Pastre's archive

1996: Love Song Chronology

January, 1

Queen Elizabeth II placed Elton John on her New Year's Honors list, he was recognized "for services to music and for charitable services," and received a CBE award, or Commander of the Order of British Empire.

February, 22

Elton announced Graham Taylor return to Watford F.C., preceding Elton's own return.

April, 1

"Give me something dangerous", Elton bet to Disney executives. The result, an update of Verdi's nineteenth century opera Aida, another Disney project slated for Broadway. A demo recording sung by Elton, and provided by Tim Rice's lyrics were premiered for Disney executives at the New Amsterdam Theatre in New York. Auditions for children to be in workshops productions were held 1 June 1996.

June, 4

"Elton's Closet" in Atlanta's Lenox Square, benefiting the AIDS Foundation.

June, 20

Star-studded event at Parco Novi Sad in Modena, Italy found Elton duetting with Luciano Pavarotti on "Live Like Horses". Concert were held for War Child, and victims of war and civil unrest in Bosnia, Guatemala, Kosovo, and Iraq. After the war in Bosnia, he financed and established the Pavarotti Music Center in the southern city of Mostar to offer Bosnia’s artists the opportunity to develop their skills. For these contributions, the city of Sarajevo named him an honorary citizen in 2006.

July, 7

"Tantrums And Tiaras" was premiered on ITV. David Furnish painted an intimate portrait of the prolific and outrageous Elton John, shot over the course of one of his most succesful years ever, 1995. With glamour everywhere, from their appearances on the Brit Awards and the Oscars to his massive 108-show world tour.

September, 24

"Love Songs" compilation was released in U.S. containing Elton's most famous ballads and two new songs, "You Can Make History (Young Again)" and "No Valentines".

December, 12

Britain's Court of Appeal sliced off most of the damages Elton had won against The Sunday Mirror for its report in 1992 that he'd been seen at a party chewing food and then spitting out. Although the offending story was false, the judges said, it hadn't hamed Elton's personal image or artistic reputation.

December, 14

Elton participated on The Balm in Gilead's Jessye Norman Benefit Concert for the healing of AIDS at Riverside Church. The show consisted on Opera Ebony Singers, the Harlem Spiritual Ensemble, and The Riverside Church Choir, a night of psalms by Maya Angelou, a night of truth by Whoopi Goldberg, a night of reality by Toni Morrison, a night of dance by Bill T. Jones, a night of characters by actress Anna Deavere Smith and a night of drum rituals by Max Roach.

1996: The Singles Music Charts

Your Song

Japan
N. 49 (4 Weeks)

---------------

Live Like Horses

United Kingdom
N. 9 (6 Weeks)

France
N. 47 (4 Weeks)

Austria
N. 35 (1 Week)

Holland
N. 74 (8 Weeks)

---------------

You Can Make History (Young Again)

United States
N. 70 (17 Weeks)

Canada
N. 19 (15 Weeks)

1996: The Albums Reachin' Charts

Love Songs:
United States
N. 24 (76 Weeks)

United Kingdom
N. 4 (48 Weeks)

Canada
N. 11 (5 Weeks)

Australia
N. 8 (35 Weeks)

New Zealand
N. 1 (17 Weeks)

France
N. 1 (21 Weeks)

Germany
N. 7 (43 Weeks)

Austria
N. 4 (34 Weeks)

Switzerland
N. 2 (31 Weeks)

Holland
N. 2 (57 Weeks)

Italy
N. 2 (33 Weeks)

Spain
N. 8 (21 Weeks)

Norway
N. 1 (25 Weeks)

Sweden
N. 2 (20 Weeks)

Japan
N. 12 (21 Weeks)