Farewell to Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk

It is far to say that for a music fan this has been a crap week in a crap year. Today we learned of the death of Florian Schneider. With Ralf Hutter, a founder member of Kraftwerk who from the mid-'70's through to the early-'80's created music that just sounded out of this world, the blue print for electronic music and a huge inspiration to many other musicians that went on to create other forms of music from hip-hop to dance music.

I was lucky enough to see Florian with the band twice in 1991 and in 2004. It is fair to say that early on they were not prolific on the live circuit, preferring to communicate with the outside world from their studio come Headquarters, Kling Klang, in their home city of Dusseldorf.

Thanks for the music Florian!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52564281

Just saying.....

Dave Greenfield Entertains Brighton

Being from a place called Burgess Hill I am well acquainted with Brighton (my Dad being a Brightonian as well helps). 10 miles separates the towns. First gigs were at Brighton venues too. I also love local history as it relates to the towns and cities that I have lived in and this is one of of the positive sides of social media, in that it offers a fantastic platform memories of former times. One chap on a Brighton past site focuses on the town's rich musical history of which our Dave was a prominent figure long before that 'tasche was even a remote possibility.

It is entirely possible that my Dad or members of his large family, all resident in Brighton throughout the 1960's, could well have engaged with a member of the opposite sex on the dancefloor to Dave's lilting keyboard melodies. Now there's a thought!

The Ambassadors

The Mark Addam Showband

The Initials

Aquila

Freeway

Rusty Butler

The Stranglers at the Buccaneer Pub 1977

Encounters with Dave

Let's try to pool some positive memories of Dave Greenfield for a moment. Undoubtedly musically brilliant it is also fair and unoffensive to say that he marched to the beat of a different drum. An enigmatic character happy to stay in the background whilst keeping guard over his omnipresent bag of mysterious content.

That is not at all to say that he was ever aloof or unfriendly. Far from it and that is the point of this particular post. I  know that it is a bit awkward to feedback on the blogger platform but quite a few people did when I posted the band's comments on the terrible news of his death.... so it can be done with a bit of effort.

We know full well that JJ and Baz are men of the people when it comes to the public persona of the band but what of Dave?

What are your recollections of meeting the man? What did you discuss?

I'll start. I first met Dave at the stage door of the Astoria in London's Charing Cross Road after a Purple Helmets gig that ran into the small hours in April 1988. He signed  my ticket, 'To Ade with his split trousers' as this is indeed the misfortune that befell me on the evening.

The next notable encounter I recall was at the Marquee, once again in Charing Cross Road (a year or more after the famous venue had relocated from its better known site in Wardour Street). The occasion was another Purple Helmets gig, the date the 9th October 1989. Dave entered the venue with Pam. I, now considering myself to be well acquainted with the maestro of the keys, quickly introduced, then girlfriend, and since wife of 26 years, Gunta to our favourite organist. Gunta jokingly invited the Purple Helmets to put on a private gig in her bedsit room in Ealing Common. Dave considered her proposal and then entered into a detailed reply as to why this would not work, from the difficulties of getting a PA system into such a limited space as well as the challenges of accommodating Manny Elias's drum kit in the room!

Dave's Passing on BBC News

Farewell Dave Greenfield.... Strangler 1975 - 2020

Sorry, I am a bit speechless this evening as the awful news of Dave's passing sinks in. These are absolutely horrible times that we are living through right now and now this.

Those closest to Dave say it best.

“On the evening of Sunday May 3rd my great friend and longstanding colleague of 45 years, the musical genius that was Dave Greenfield, passed away as one of the victims of the Great Pandemic of 2020. All of us in the worldwide Stranglers’ family grieve and send our sincerest condolences to Pam.” – JJ Burnel

“We have just lost a dear friend and music genius, and so has the whole world. Dave was a complete natural in music. Together, we toured the globe endlessly and it was clear he was adored by millions. A huge talent, a great loss, he is dearly missed.” – Jet Black

“We lost a true innovator, musical legend, and one of my dearest friends today. The word genius is bandied around far too easily in this day and age, but Dave Greenfield certainly was one. We stood together on the same side of the stage for 20 years, laughed, joked and shared our lives in the way that only band mates can. I’ll miss him forever. Our thoughts and hearts are with his wife Pam, and to the millions of fans who worshipped at his altar, he’ll never be equalled.” – Baz Warne

“We are all in shock, Dave was a kind, generous soul who had time for anyone and everyone and it has been my privilege to have known him as both a close friend, his tech and manager for over 40 years. Our thoughts are with Pam at this sad time” – Sil Willcox

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Dave Greenfield. He was the difference between The Stranglers and every other punk band. His musical skill and gentle nature gave an interesting twist to the band. He should be remembered as the man who gave the world the music of “Golden Brown”.

 - Hugh Cornwell

There is nothing else to be said right now other than that if there is an consolation to be had it is this, Dave and his band took us on a journey that lasted for over forty years and what a ride it was!

Thank you Dave Greenfield!

'You need hands...'

(Photo: David Boni.... I hope you don't mind)

Focus The Playhouse Whitley Bay 23rd October 2019

Focus (2019)

Having spouted off in my preamble to the T. Rex/Damned post about punk's contempt for prog rock it is worth noting that in many cases for some of the musicians involved, the anti-prog stance was a sham. And The Damned were perhaps the worst offenders in this deception, especially the beret-ed one. 

Not all prog was shit. One band that stood out for me as a fan of The Stranglers and The Damned was Focus. I freely admit I only know the 'hits' but this is the muppets doing prog.... it is mental and wonderful. Listen to the guitars in Hocus Pocus and you cannot fail to be impressed by the manic energy of it all...... Thijs is coming after you with his flute!

FLAC: https://we.tl/t-HtIjiAJ0W2

01. Focus 1
02. House of the King
03. Eruption
04. Focus 6
05. Sylvia
06. Winnie
07. All Hens On Deck
08. Focus IV
09. Birds Come Fly Over (Le Tango)
10. Who’s Calling?
11. La Cathedral de Strasbourg
12. Harem Scarem Pt1
13. Menno Showcase
14. Udo Showcase
15. Harem Scarem Pt2
16. Thijs Showcase
17. Hocus Pocus Pt1
18. Pierre Showcase
19. Hocus Pocus Pt2

Focus are:
Thijs van Leer - Hammond-organ, flute and vocals
Menno Gootjes - guitar
Udo Pannekeet - bass
Pierre van der Linden - drums