I wanted a Rickenbacker 12 string. I can't remember
which year but mid sixties, I saw two second hand
beaten up 1993s (The first British Rickenbacker 12 strings) in a shop in Shaftsbury Avenue, London, I think it was called "Top Gear" The dealer told me that they had both belonged to Pete Townsend and had been broken and repaired. I picked the better of the two and paid £100.
The neck had been broken and repaired but it stayed unbelievably in tune, in those days having been owned by Pete Townsend didn't mean a great deal.
I kept it for around three years and during that time my band Octopus used to support YES at The Marquee
club in London before they made it really big...."
Left: Me and my rick on stage at The Marquee London.
- "..- On checking my diaries I
bought my 1993 on 12th February 1968 from a shop called PAN in Shaftsbury Avenue and the
price was actually £110. I haven't seen Steve Howe since the sixties. Another little Rickenbacker Story.
My brother Nigel Griggs (Paul David is a stage Name) had a 4001s bass when he was with me in
Octopus. In 1977 he joined New Zealand band Split Enz on the same day as Neil Finn. They lived over here in England
for a while before relocating to Australia. They were rehearsing in a village hall in Australia and left the gear overnight. During the night the hall burned down and they lost everything including my brother's Rickenbacker bass. All he could find was the tail piece which I believe he still has. Check out my website at this address: www.paulgriggs.com - Right: Shortly before we changed our name from The Cortinas to Octopus 1968. The Hippy tops that my brother and I are wearing were from the Beatles Apple Boutique.
My biggest regret is selling that guitar...."
Left: Me with my 1993 aprox 1968. Note the high fashion crushed velvet trousers.