I was hugely impressed with them on The Tube early in their overnight success (after 14 years) due to introducing sequenced synths to their sound whilst still managing to sound this raw. (Their videos were also popular).
He Was Gone When The Mourning Came
Jim Steinman has bitten the dust.
Never shy of the big production he’d often throw in everything including the kitchen sink.
Rock with additional Roll
Another Man Done Gone
Chris Barber was a very important figure in British music in the 1950s and early 1960s with his own Trad Jazz band, introducing Skiffle and bringing Blues performers to the country.
Here’s a cut from one of the best live albums ever recorded, ‘Barber In Berlin’ (1959) which is considerably more rock and roll than most rock and roll.
Another Man Done Gone
Eddie Van Halen has died. I wouldn’t claim to be a fan but by popularising playing with two hands on the fret board, tapping, he did make a big difference to how guitar was played.
Bit Of A Cock-Up On the Immortality front
Another Man Done Gone
Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac seeing the funny side of a bit of a cock-up in Oh Well.
He Wrote Better Beatles Songs Than The Beatles
Bugger. Neil Innes has died.
The Hit.
"I’ve suffered for my music and now it’s your turn".
Whatever.
Frank Newby
Those of a certain age who grew up in ‘Orsham might want to know that Frank Newby the former Headmaster of Forest School for Boys has died. He was well ahead of his time particularly in being a strong advocate of lifetime education. There’s an obituary on the ad heavy West Sussex County Times
website.
In keeping with my policy of minimal engagement with education I didn’t have much to do with him; though when I was volunteered to write for the school paper he did ban one of my articles questioning the Head Boy system and related expenditure.
That’s reminded me I attempted to be a conscientious objector to being made a Prefect – but that didn’t get very far.
Despite these oldfangled terms it was actually a progressive Comprehensive school.
Charles Aznavour – Les plaisirs démodés
Charles Aznavour has died at 94. At least he got to finish his last tour before shuffling off this mortal coil.
Animator Isao Takahata Dies at 82
Cheer yourself up after the sad news by watching one of his films.. but not that one, or that, that one turns a bit grim, what about – except the whole destruction of the environment theme. Panda Kopanda it is then.