Blaster Bates - Recordings

Recordings

Currently available CD re-releases in the UK.

• Laughter with a Bang +bonus tracks from 1001 Gelignites (CD BBCD01) (2003) Label: Topic Records
• TNT for Two +bonus tracks from Hunting and Shooting stories (CD BBSV17) (2003) Label : Big Ben / Tangent
• Watch out for the bits +bonus tracks from Gelly Babe (CD BVBSV16) (2002) Label : Big Ben
• Blastermind +bonus tracks from Lift off (CD BBSV18) (2007) Label: Big Ben / Tangent

Original LP & Cassette Releases Label - Big Ben

• Vol1 Laughter with a bang BB00.01/BBMC1 Mono 1967
• Vol2 1001 Gelignites BB00.03/BBMC3 Mono 1968
• Vol3 TNT for Two BB00.05/BBMC5 Mono 1969
• Vol4 Watch out for the bits BB00.07/BBMC7 Mono 1971
• Vol5 Lift-off BB00.09/BBMC9 Stereo 1973
• Vol6 Gelly Babe BB00.11/BBMC11 Stereo 1975
• Vol7 Blastermind BB00.13/BBMC13 Stereo 1980
• Vol8 Hunting and Shooting stories BB00.15/BBMC15 Stereo 1984

Video

• Stand Well Back (VHS Video, PAL format, UK only) - live on stage

Other known recordings

• Dunlop footwear Promo, extracts from Lift-off on Flexi-disk, given away at stand 36, Harrogate 1978.
• Blast it, (Cassette only) compilation.
• Blaster Bates with Redditch Controls, Marston Paxman and Norgren at the Stratford Hilton.

  Recorded March 1977 and given away as Christmas gift to Imperial Metal Industries staff and customers (Label - Tangent).

Bootlegs

• Blaster Bates at Huntingdon hall 4 October 2003.

Book

• The Master Blaster. Simon Schuster. 1994. ISBN 0-671-71386-8.

BBC TV Appearances or Contributions

• 24 Hours 08-March-1966 LCA7927J.

  Nelson's Pillar in Dublin blown up, after the top was blown off by the IRA. Reporter Alan Whicker. Compilation on demolition.

• It takes all sorts 13-03-1967 19SX8562.

  Blaster talks about his career. Includes many of his amusing anecdotes. Interviewer: John Hosken.

  Now aged 43. Got into demolition by accident. In RAF during the war & learned about explosives there. Now blows up all sorts of things:

  "I've got a touch like a bloody midwife".

  Art of getting chimneys to drop in exactly the right place.

  Has blown himself up - was playing about.

  Has put rockets on the back of a motorcycle.

• Look North 14-Dec-1970 A:RNL5186T.

  Blaster talks to David Seymour about his career and about how many chimneys he's blown up.

• Nationwide 25-March-1974 A:LCA3413R.

  Blaster demolishes three chimneys.

  Old factory chimney, camera pans from l to 2 others.

  Blaster arrives, Danger Demolition signs.

  Crowd watch.

  Blaster retreats.

  Blast & 1st chimney falls.

  Crowd reaction.

  Blaster & assistant run from behind stack.

  Blast & it falls neatly behind wall.

• Look Stranger - The world of Blaster Bates 06-May-1974 LGF6321T.

  Film about Derek 'Blaster Bates' one of England's leading professional destroyers, who travels the country blasting chimneys, bridges & redundant factories, clearing trenches & canals; he is also a comedian using experience as a blaster.

• The Fivepenny Piece Show 11-May-1979 NMRD805R.

  An Outside Broadcast concert from the Poco-a-Poco Theatre Club in Stockport. Fivepenny Piece sing some of their own songs with Blaster as special guest.

• Nationwide 17-March-1983 D:LCAC311E.

  Hugh Scully reports on how Blaster makes a living by blowing up chimneys.

• News 30-Sept-1983 ANBC773T.

  Blaster demolished a chimney which has been part of Sheffield skyline since 1870.

  Sheffield: ms chimney with group of people standing nearby.

  Man starts dominoes falling on model of chimney, the dominos set off some gelignite which demolished model chimney.

  Actual chimney being demolished.

• Look North 30-Sept-1983 RNLF739L,

  John Thirlwell reports from Sheffield where a former BSC chimney is being demolished for an extension to Whitbread's brewery.

  from chimney, Bridge Street, Sheffield to marquee.

  Inside of marquee with Michael Cairney preparing dominoes.

  Blaster explaining charges & spectator.

  Blaster saying he does not like dominoes.

  Dominoes falling in chair & igniting.

  Chimney falls.

• Pebble Mill at One 25-Oct-1985 E:NBMH111D.

  Josephine Buchan talks to Blaster about the 75th Anniversary of the motorbike & the present exhibition at the NEC.

• Windmill-House and home 03-Nov-1985 LCHE133D.

  Demolition montage and clip of a Blaster after dinner speech.

• Look North 25-Nov-1985 RNLH348L.

  Ken Cooper reports from Sharlston where Blaster demolished a large chimney - including interview with Blaster.

• Gosling's Ganders 15-May-1987 RNWC738D.

  Ray Gosling meets Blaster at Sandbach & explodes marsh land to make a pond. Blaster tells jokes and clip from The Fivepenny Piece Show.

• Coast to Coast - Wild boars, a shooting star and a Norman knight 27-Feb-1998 NMYK291D.