Eric Burdon Speaks at Bo Diddley's Funeral Today

Singer Eric Burdon of The Animals paid tribute to Bo Diddley at his funeral today, while George Thorogood, Tom Petty and Jerry Lee Lewis sent flowers.

"I've been a fan of his since 16, 17 years of age," Eric said. "He's always been jumping around and very aggressive; if he was onstage with the Stones, he was obviously putting Keith Richards in his place, I call it bone music, because it goes to your bone."

Bo was remembered for his music but also for his charity work.His brother,
the Rev Kenneth Haynes recalls..

"There was one thing he wouldn't give me. That's his hat"

He also recalled Diddley saying: "But this is what God gave me to feed my family. I have to keep doing it until God says it's enough."

The funeral was followed by a concert featuring Diddley's touring band and other musicians.

Image: Courtesy Chess

Mick Jagger and Robert Plant Pay Tribute to Bo Diddley R.I.P.

I walked 47 miles of barbed wire,
Used a cobra snake for a neck tie.
Got a brand new house on the roadside,
Made out of rattlesnake hide.
I got a brand new chimney made on top,
Made out of human skulls.
Now come on darling let's take a little walk, tell me,
Who do you love,
Who do you love, Who do you love, Who do you love.

It's clear that Mick Jagger and Robert plant love Bo Diddley, who died earlier this week

Mick:

"He was a wonderful, original musician who was an enormous force in music and was a big influence on the Rolling Stones"

“He was very generous to us in our early years and we learned a lot from him, we will never see his like again."

Robert Plant:

"His voice and relentless, glorious anthems echo down through my years.This royal shape-shifter continues to influence four generations of musicians on a daily basis."

Bo Diddley Dies

Bo Diddley is a key figure in the history of rock, widely seen as one of the main artists to effect the transition from blues to rock and roll.

He was well known for the "Bo Diddley beat," a rumba-like sound also known as a "shave and a haircut" beat

He took violin lessons as a youth, but was inspired to become a guitarist after seeing John Lee
Hooker.

His trademark instrument is the rectangular-bodied Gretsch, the "The Twang Machine", one he played for over 50 years.

I was lucky enough to see him at the east Coast Blues and Roots Festival in Byron Bay, Australia a few years ago, where he put on quite a show. He showed that he was young at heart, even having a go at rap !

In May 17 this year he had a massive stroke and heart attack. On June 2, he sufferred heart failure and died at his home in Archer, Florida

God Bless You Bo Diddley.