BIG news on the Beatles' Equipment Book

jim_elyea · Post by **jim_elyea** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 1:32 pm

A few years ago, while researching and writing our respective books, Brian Kehew and I discussed with Nick Thiel the idea of combining all our resources into a definitive book on the instruments used by The Beatles. We even came up with a title, ”The Beatles' Equipment Guide," a spin-off of my Vox Guidebook concept. It was seen as a natural follow up to "Recording The Beatles," "Vox Amplifiers, The JMI Years," and our preliminary work on the BeatlesGear website.

Over the course of the next year or so, we all kept the project alive with occasional planning sessions. Information would be shared between the three of us with the idea of using it in the proposed book (TBEG). Both Brian and I stressed, however, that we would not have any time (other than those occasional talks) to devote to an equipment book until some point after we had both finished our respective books and other projects.

During that time, Nick claimed to be working feverishly on the book. To this day, with the exception of the cover artwork, we have not seen one finished page, one photograph, or even any of the raw research that has allegedly been done by Nick Thiel for this project. This cover mock-up was used as the centerpiece for advance publicity for the (TBEG), and was designed and made public without either Brian's or my complete knowledge or approval.

Earlier, it was agreed among the three of us that Nick was to be considered the majority author of the book and Brian and I were to be the minority authors. Without our approval however, both Brian's and my name were placed on the book jacket, and used in advertising for the book (TBEG). Brian's name was placed first and mine was placed second, with Nick's third in an obvious attempt to capitalize on our names.

Brian and I were never comfortable with having our names used as the primary authors to publicize a work that we had yet to contribute to in any substantial way, and felt that all publicity efforts in conjunction with (TBEG) were at best, premature. Both Brian and I have repeatedly attempted to have the placement order of our names altered to reflect what our actual inputs to the finished project were likely to be once we in fact contributed to the writing and editing of (TBEG).

Eventually, after over a year of no attempt being made by Nick Thiel to share with us any of his research, writing, photography, or to involve us in the actual decision making with regards to (TBEG) in spite of our constant requests, we began to question the wisdom of having our names associated with the proposed project in any way.

For the above reasons, we feel obliged to publicly state the following:

1) We have only contributed to the alleged book "The Beatles' Equipment Guide" in the following ways-
a) The name
b) Planning sessions
c) The sharing of certain proprietary research, including details about Vox amplifiers.
d) The unauthorized use of our names for publicity.

2) We feel that any information we have shared with Nick Thiel regarding musical equipment used by The Beatles is proprietary, and no permission is granted for its use or inclusion in any work in any medium by anyone else including Nick Thiel or anyone to whom he might consign said any information or works-in-progress.

3) The use of our names, and the order of their inclusion, to advertise and/or publicize "The Beatles' Equipment Guide," was done without our express permission or full consent.

4) Any possible solicitation of research information, contact information, information of any kind, or solicitation of funds of or for "The Beatles' Equipment Guide" was done without our knowledge or permission, and against our expressed wishes.

5) We have never been involved in any way in soliciting funds of any kind relating to have no knowledge of "The Beatles' Equipment Guide." We have never seen or been aware of any funds relating to "The Beatles' Equipment Guide" such as through advance sales or of any funds of any kind relating in any way to "The Beatles' Equipment Guide."

6) We hereby dissolve any association real or implied that there may have ever been with Nick Thiel or the theoretical work known as "The Beatles' Equipment Guide" or any related project.

7) We formally request that any and all uses of our names with regards to "The Beatles' Equipment Guide," its advertising, or any related project be removed by 12:01am June 10, 2007, Pacific Standard Time. We will consider any such use after that time to be an infringement of copyright.

winston · Post by **winston** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 3:52 pm

Welcome Jim and thanks for clearing the air on this subject personally.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:06 pm

Ditto.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Fri Jun 08, 2007 6:54 pm

Jim, why did it take so many years to open your eyes?

lyle_from_minneapolis · Fri Jun 08, 2007 7:23 pm

I wonder if Jim may have just given Peter an unpleasant assignment...

qmoder · Post by **qmoder** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:27 am

Check out VT and hear the amazing stories being aired now about this and lots more. I can't believe that VT is still up running. I'm not even sure if Nick if his name is Nick will have a place left to hide.
We may see a simular statement to the above appear from John Hall too concerning Nick or who ever he is.

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 3:43 am

Link please?

fatcat · Post by **fatcat** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 5:57 am

http://www.voxtalks.com/cgi-bin/UltraBoard/UltraBoard.pl

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:38 am

Thanks!

johnhall · Post by **johnhall** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:39 am

Jim, why did it take so many years to open your eyes?

Larry, Nick was a really, really good con. He had a knack for taking grains of truth, weaving in a bit of fiction and presenting it in a plausible way but turned to his own purposes.

He got away with it with people I would call sophisticated and I certainly was just as gullible as these folks in many respects as well.

There was another dynamic going that, at least in my case, kept me from hearing what people were saying. Many of the same people dissing Nick were often dissing me in the same breath; I knew what they were saying about me was completely inaccurate, so why wouldn't they be wrong about Nick as well?

When I heard several audio recordings made of Nick where he discussed some of my personal matters- and how he took snippets of true stuff and then wrapped it in fantasy, I realized very quickly the technique. But until you hear something like that for yourself first hand, as a normal human you can't believe it.

kennyhowes · Post by **kennyhowes** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 8:53 am

To echo what JH just said, another valid reason to back up Nick was that he would use his powers of persuasion, at least from time to time, to help others out, which added to his credibility.

Until recently, anyway.

I've considered Nick a very good friend for a while, which makes this entire ordeal - which I'm not directly involved in - that much more heartbreaking.

larrywassgren · Post by **larrywassgren** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:51 am

John and Kenny, I understand what you're saying. I may have been lucky as I was on the other side of the fence, being friends with Andy Babiuk(helping him out with his book). Nick was always running the book Beatlesgear down but went out of his way to get www.Beatlesgear.com I met Nick one time and he was nice although I mostly had to listen as he was trying to overwhelm me with his Beatle knowledge which he had mainly borrowed from others. We spoke on the phone several times and it was the same thing. He even offered me one of the custom C58's if I sent him $3500 in advance. I've been burned a few times years ago and could sense a bad deal and didn't send him any money fortunately. I'll say he is an expert BS'er and had I been in your position I could have fallen for it too. It's a pretty sad affair when you think somebody is a true friend and they turn out to be a con-artist.

lyle_from_minneapolis · Sat Jun 09, 2007 11:58 am

Very harsh indeed.

I say we con HIM, write a great screenplay about it, and ensure he gets no money...

charlyg · Post by **charlyg** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 1:35 pm

A sting would be WAY cool!

musicfan37 · Post by **musicfan37** » Sat Jun 09, 2007 6:21 pm

Major bummer!!! I've been looking forward to the book's publication.