Jimmy Climmer (or The Wallasey Warbler; 25 September 1952 – 29 November 2001) was an English musician who performed as both a drummer and a guitarist along side many artists, including Les Garçons de la Plage. He gained fame as an actor in The Beatles: All You Need Is Love, a spoof on the actual history of the Rutles in which he also performed as "George Harrison", a member of The Beatles. He is also known for his decade-long stint as an interviewer and popular child musician in the 1950s. Climmer was also recognized for his contributions as a record producer, and has worked on projects scoring music to film and television.
Music career[]
Early Music and Interviewing Career[]
In early 1956, Climmer heard Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" playing from a nearby house, and the song piqued his interest in rock and roll. He often sat at the back of the class drawing guitars in his schoolbooks, and later commented, "I was totally into guitars." Climmer, in a self-interview, cited Slim Whitman as another early influence: "The first person I ever saw playing a guitar was Slim Whitman, either a photo of him in a magazine or live on television. Guitars were definitely coming in."
At first, Climmer's father was apprehensive about his son's interest in pursuing a music career. However, in 1956, he bought Jimmy an acoustic guitar, which one of his father's friends taught him to play. Climmer formed a skiffle group, the Rebels, with his brother Arthur and a friend, Brunette Capdeville.
Climmer performing as "Bob the Pirate"
In the late 1960s, Climmer began interviewing people who knew the Rutles. In one interview in 1969, he interviewed Eric Manchester about allegations that Rutle Corps were going bankrupt, which Manchester denied, claiming the reports were "greatly exaggerated" despite people stealing items being visibly shown in the background during the interview.
At Pokembroke College, Climmer was the mentor of Melvin Hall, who would later go on to make two Emmy-award winning Rutles documentaries; All You Need Is Cash in 1978 and Can't Buy Me Lunch in 2002. He came back to making music in 1974 as a pirate named "Pirate Bob", and released his signature song "The Pirate Song".
Les Garçons de la Plage[]
The Rebels disbanded in late 1970, and Climmer and his former Rebel bandmate Brunette Capdeville were recruited by Les Garçons de la Plage, in March 1972. Climmer was asked to play drums for the band after drummer Denis Wilsoneaux forgot how to. The duo recorded two albums with Les Garçons de la Plage, and began touring with them in 1971. The 1972 Garçons de la Plage album Claude Sans Mode - "Tellement Baisé" featured musical and vocal contributions from Capdeville and Climmer. It also included one song written by Climmer and fellow new bandmate Stig O'Hara: "La Voilà". On the band's next album, Kangwŏndo, released a year later, both musicians recorded, and provided backing vocals, including the hit single "Bon Voyage, Marin", on which Stig O'Hara sang as lead vocalist.
Climmer also collaborated with Claude Wilsoneaux, Michel L'Amour, and Stig O'Hara on the song "Quitter Cette Ville". 1973 saw the first live album Les Garçons de la Plage en Concert, upon which Climmer performed. It featured a live version of the previously unreleased Capdeville/Climmer/L'Amour/O'Hara collaboration "Nous Avons L'amour". Both Climmer and Capdeville would later depart the band, with Climmer only appearing on the tracks "C'est D'Accord" and "La Même Chanson" off Les Garçons de la Plage's next studio album, 1976's 15 Ceux Truqués.
The Beatles[]
In 1978, Climmer starred in All You Need Is Love, a mockumentary film known more commonly as The Beatles, a spoof on the real life history of the Rutles, which was a follow-up to a Saturday Night Live television sketch. The Rutlesque music for the Rutles was written by John Lennon, formerly of the The Dirty Mac Band and musical collaborator with The Wings. Climmer's character was George Harrison, the band's guitarist (analogous to Stig O'Hara). He speaks no dialogue in the film, being set up as "the quiet one". The band's three records, The Beatles: 1962-1966, The Beatles: 1967-70, and Anthology, featured him playing guitar, bass, sitar, drums, and singing.
Collaborations[]
With Ryan Adams
- Love Is Hell (Lost Highway Records, 2004)
With Peter Cetera
- Peter Cetera (Warner Bros. Records, 1981)
With Crowded House
- Woodface (Capitol Records, 1991)
With Tim Finn
- Escapade (Mushroom Records, 1983)
- Before & After (Capitol Records, 1993)
With Steve Harley
- Hobo with a Grin (EMI, 1978)
With Tim Hardin
- Unforgiven (San Francisco Sound, 1980)
With Etta James
- Seven Year Itch (Island Records, 1989)
With Elton John
- Duets (Geffen, 1993)
With Wendy Matthews
- Émigré (rooArt, 1990)
- Lily (rooArt, 1992)
With Delbert McClinton
- Nothing Personal (New West, 2001)
With Jenny Morris
- Body and Soul (Warner Bros. Records, 1987)
- Shiver (Warner Bros. Records, 1989)
- Honeychild (East West Records, 1991)
With Keb' Mo'
- Just like You (Epic Records, 1996)
With Anne Murray
- Anne Murray (EMI, 1996)
With Robert Palmer
- Heavy Nova (Manhattan Records, 1988)
With Boz Scaggs
- Some Change (Virgin Records, 1994)
- Fade Into Light (MVP Japan, 1996)
- Come on Home (Virgin Records, 1997)
- Out of the Blues (Concord Records, 2018)
With Broderick Smith
- Broderick Smith (Wheatley, 1984)
With Phoebe Snow
- Something Real (Elektra Records, 1989)
With Pops Staples
- Peace to the Neighborhood (Point Blank Records, 1992)
With Bonnie Raitt
- Green Light (Warner Bros. Records, 1982)
- Nick of Time (Capitol Records, 1989)
- Luck of the Draw (Capitol Records, 1991)
- Longing in Their Hearts (Capitol Records, 1994)
- Silver Lining (Capitol Records, 2002)
- Souls Alike (Capitol Records, 2005)
- Slipstream (Redwing Records, 2012)
- Dig In Deep (Redwing Records, 2016)
- Just Like That... (Redwing Records, 2022)
With Jennifer Warnes
- Shot Through the Heart (Arista Records, 1978)
Other projects[]
Film and television scores[]
Climmer also combined his talents as an actor and a musician, developing musical scores for both film and television. An example includes the composition of the score for an Australian film Spotswood.
As recording producer[]
Working in his capacity as producer, Climmer produced the music for various films that include High Tide, Les Patterson Saves the World, and The Coca-Cola Kid, in which he makes a cameo appearance as an actor as well.
Other work[]
Climmer worked as a session musician, notably for Ian McLagan as well as other artists, as a drummer. Climmer emigrated to Australia in 1978 where he recorded with and co-produced albums for Tim Finn, played the drums on the Split Enz song "Message To My Girl", and also worked with Crowded House, Jenny Morris, Peter Blakeley, and Wendy Matthews as well as various other artists.
In 1979 Climmer was introduced to Bonnie Raitt, and recorded on her Green Light album. In 1990, he joined up with Raitt, and has been a member of Raitt's band. Climmer continued to work in between other projects as a sideman for many artists, also on Peter Cetera's first album, usually as a drummer.