Record Collector Issue 556 April 2024

Not
Forgotten
Catalytic experimentalist:
Damo Suzuki (left)
with Can in the early 70s
Damo Suzuki, died 9 February, and largely retreated from the music Billy Lee Riley’s Red Hot, Charlie Rich’s disbanded in 1973, he joined the rock
age 74. The Japanese singer’s world, becoming a Jehovah’s Witness. Lonely Weekends, as well as Johnny act Mason for a period, with whom
freewheeling creative spirit helped He returned to music in the 80s and Cash’s Guess Things Happen That he released three singles. Reuniting
provide the catalyst for legendary the following decade began his final Way. Drifting away from music in the with Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich once
experimental band Can’s creative project, Damo Suzuki’s Network, 60s, he resumed playing the following more in the mid-70s, he continued
peak. Leaving Japan as a teenager which would see him traverse the decade and was part of the lineup that to tour and record with them over the
for an itinerant life spent wandering world performing live improvised music played on the soundtrack of the 1989 following decades.
Europe, he was spotted by the German with local musicians whom he called movie about Jerry Lee Lewis, Great
group’s bassist, Holger Czukay, and “sound carriers”. With co-author Paul Balls Of Fire! Henry Fambrough, died 7
drummer, Jaki Liebezeit, busking Woods, he published the memoir I Am February, age 85. The American
outside a Munich café. Replacing Damo Suzuki in 2019. vocalist was the last surviving original
departing vocalist Malcolm Mooney in member of soul act The Spinners.
1970 he made his first appearance on He co-founded the vocal act – known
that year’s Soundtracks, a compilation in Britain as The Detroit Spinners Photos: (Jimmy Van Eaton, Tich Amey, Paul Brett, Mojo Nixon, Peter Morgan, Greg Hinz, Cynthia Strother) Facebook
of songs composed for films. But it – in 1954. Signed to label Tri-Phi
was on the following three albums in 1961, debut single That’s What
-- Tago Mago (1971), Ege Bamyasi Girls Are Made For reached the Top
(1972) and Future Days (1973) 30. After the imprint was bought by
-- that he made his biggest impact, Motown, their success was mixed
providing profoundly singular vocals over the following decade with hits
to some of the most innovative and like I’ll Always Love You and the
influential rock music of the decade. Stevie Wonder-penned It’s A Shame
An outsider even within his own interspersed with fallow commercial
band, he eschewed conventional lyrics periods. Signing to Atlantic Records in
for improvised, (often) indecipherable the early 70s, ace producer, arranger
multi-lingual utterances that he sang, and songwriter Thom Bell added
chanted, whispered or shrieked as he slick orchestral arrangements to their
saw fit, effectively creating another Ian ‘Tich’ Amey, died 15 sound, and they scored hits with I’ll
rhythmic layer that locked into the February, age 79. The guitarist was Be Around, Could It Be I’m Falling In
free-flowing, elemental grooves of Jimmy Van Eaton, died 9 a founding member of 60s pop group Love, and One Of A Kind (Love Affair).
his bandmates. It was an approach February, age 86. The American Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich. Fambrough remained in the group
that chimed perfectly with the act’s drummer was a pioneer of rock’n’roll, Formed in Salisbury in 1964, the band until his retirement in April 2023.
jazz and avant-garde-based ethos. playing on seminal records by artists gained success with a string of UK
His contributions would go on to including Jerry Lee Lewis and Billy hits penned by Ken Howard and Alan Toby Keith, died 5 February,
influence bands such as Radiohead, Lee Riley at Sun Records. Signed to Blaikley. Among their singles, Hold age 62. The US singer and
Public Image Ltd, and The Fall (who the Memphis label as a teenager, he Tight!, Hideaway, Bend It!, Save Me, songwriter was one of the biggest
paid tribute on their 1985 album This became part of its de facto house Okay!, Zabadak and Last Night In Soho country music stars of the 90s, his
Nation’s Saving Grace with the song band from 1956 to 1959. His bluesy reached the Top 10 while The Legend outspoken patriotism making him one
I Am Damo Suzuki). playing style can be heard on such Of Xanadu, a song which featured of its most divisive figures. Combining
Feeling constrained by his life hits as Jerry Lee Lewis’ Great Balls Of Tich on flamenco guitar, topped the pop-country hooks with honky-tonk
within the group, he left in 1973 Fire and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, UK charts in 1968. After the group balladry, he gained immediate
38 Record Collector

Record Collector Issue 556 April 2024

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Record Collector Issue 556 April 2024

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Record Collector Issue 556 April 2024

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Not

You might also like