BassTractor Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) Another one gone. To be expected, but sad nevertheless. [url="http://www.mojo4music.com/blog/2013/02/kevin_ayers_1944_-_2013.html"]http://www.mojo4musi...944_-_2013.html[/url] . Edited February 20, 2013 by BassTractor Quote
EssentialTension Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) I remember seeing Kevin Ayers and the Whole World in about 1970. Kevin Ayers - guitar Mike Oldfield - bass David Bedford - keyboards Lol Coxhill - saxes ... and can't recall the drummer but might have been Robert Wyatt. But I was listening to some of that stuff only last week for the first time in nearly 40 years. Edited February 20, 2013 by EssentialTension Quote
discreet Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 Ah, no! Had a lot of time for Soft Machine back in the day. Bit of a shock. I think there was a [i]Gong[/i] connection somewhere along the line as well... Quote
ash Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 RIP an influential writer and performer - well worth checking out his music Quote
flyfisher Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 Caravan is my favourite of the Canterbury scene, but sad news all the same. Trouble is, you get to a certain age and the musical heroes of your youth start shuffling off one by one. At least they leave their works behind. Quote
Earbrass Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) Very sad. So many great songs. Here's one that always makes me smile. Thanks Kevin. RIP indeed. [url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkNtZXd_LTM"]http://www.youtube....h?v=TkNtZXd_LTM [/url] Edited February 20, 2013 by Earbrass Quote
BassTractor Posted February 20, 2013 Author Posted February 20, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1361387023' post='1985203'] I think there was a [i]Gong[/i] connection somewhere along the line as well... [/quote] You thinking of the man himself, maybe? Divided Alien? Though I'm sure there are more links. best, bert Quote
discreet Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1361388899' post='1985258'] Divided Alien? [/quote] [size=4] That's him. I think Steve Hillage got involved too.[/size] Quote
Wil Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 Never listened to Soft Machine or Kevin Ayres but I know he/they were an influence on Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (one of my favourite bands in my yoof). Might have to have a delve into their back catalogue... Quote
discreet Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 [quote name='Wil' timestamp='1361389564' post='1985277'] Might have to have a delve into their back catalogue... [/quote] Me too, I've never heard of 'em! Quote
yorks5stringer Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 Had one of his albums years back(whatevershebringswesing), seem to recall "This is a song from the bottom of a well" with some fondness. R.I P. Quote
BassTractor Posted February 20, 2013 Author Posted February 20, 2013 [quote name='discreet' timestamp='1361389460' post='1985273'] [size=4]I think Steve Hillage got involved too.[/size] [/quote] Probably, and Alan Holdsworth IIRC, and probably quite some others. I'm sure there's a tree on that online. I've always found it typical of that scene that Nucleus at one point consisted of the exact same members as Soft Machine had consisted of some time before. BTW and just in case, "Divided Alien" is Daevid's own invention. best, bert Quote
discreet Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 [quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1361390335' post='1985306'] BTW and just in case, "Divided Alien" is Daevid's own invention. [/quote] And there was me thinking you were clever and amusing. Quote
steve-soar Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 Davied was a member of Soft Machine but when they toured France in 1970, being Austrailian meant he couldn't visit France, didn't have the necessery papers. Quote
jezzaboy Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 Whistle test apperance. Oldfield on bass. I think there may have been some recreational drugs involved! [url="http://youtu.be/t2-7BHFIdrU"]http://youtu.be/t2-7BHFIdrU[/url] Quote
Earbrass Posted February 20, 2013 Posted February 20, 2013 (edited) [quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1361392358' post='1985362'] Davied was a member of Soft Machine but when they toured France in 1970, being Austrailian meant he couldn't visit France, didn't have the necessery papers. [/quote] Not quite, IIRC, Daevid Allen went to France with the Softs but wasn't allowed back into the UK, which led to him staying in France and forming Gong. Daevid and Kevin were both founder members of the Soft Machine, but the band changed hugely over its lifespan, morphing from their psychadelic roots in the late sixties to a jazz-rock/fusion outfit by the early to mid seventies (that's when Alan Holdsworth got involved). Kevin Ayers had left by the time Soft Machine Volume Two was made, replaced on bass by Hugh Hopper. Daevid Allen never even made it to the first "official" album, though he does play on the "demos" which were later released under the name "Jet Propelled Photographs". All of this is from memory, so apologies if any details are incorrect. EDIT: just checked by copy of Soft Machine Vol I, and Kevin Ayers is credited with lead guitar (no bass credit - I suspect he did that too). Edited February 20, 2013 by Earbrass Quote
steve-soar Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='Earbrass' timestamp='1361401481' post='1985583'] Not quite, IIRC, Daevid Allen went to France with the Softs but wasn't allowed back into the UK, which led to him staying in France and forming Gong. Daevid and Kevin were both founder members of the Soft Machine, but the band changed hugely over its lifespan, morphing from their psychadelic roots in the late sixties to a jazz-rock/fusion outfit by the early to mid seventies (that's when Alan Holdsworth got involved). Kevin Ayers had left by the time Soft Machine Volume Two was made, replaced on bass by Hugh Hopper. Daevid Allen never even made it to the first "official" album, though he does play on the "demos" which were later released under the name "Jet Propelled Photographs". All of this is from memory, so apologies if any details are incorrect. EDIT: just checked by copy of Soft Machine Vol I, and Kevin Ayers is credited with lead guitar (no bass credit - I suspect he did that too). [/quote]Quite right. Thanks for giving my memory the support it needs. Quote
xilddx Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 Another legend bites the dust. So young too. I didn't know El Alien was in Soft Machine at all, so thanks to Earbrass and Steve for the education! Quote
Stu-khag Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 [quote name='Wil' timestamp='1361389564' post='1985277'] Never listened to Soft Machine or Kevin Ayres but I know he/they were an influence on Gorky's Zygotic Mynci (one of my favourite bands in my yoof). Might have to have a delve into their back catalogue... [/quote] I discovered the wonders of Kevin Ayers and soft machine through the gorkys also (one of my favourite bands in my yoof as well- still are- named my son Euros!) big fan of the unfairground album from a few years back... Quote
Wil Posted February 21, 2013 Posted February 21, 2013 (edited) [quote name='Stu-khag' timestamp='1361468643' post='1986218'] I discovered the wonders of Kevin Ayers and soft machine through the gorkys also (one of my favourite bands in my yoof as well- still are- [b]named my son Euros[/b]!) big fan of the unfairground album from a few years back... [/quote] That's dedication! Lovely name, I've always thought That's it, I'm listening to Bwyd Time on my train home now. Edited February 21, 2013 by Wil Quote
RandomBass Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 All excellent stuff guys. That's more money for me to spend on Amazon... Quote
EssentialTension Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 [quote name='RandomBass' timestamp='1361524605' post='1986859'] All excellent stuff guys. That's more money for me to spend on Amazon... [/quote] And a little more tax avoidance by them. Quote
steve-soar Posted February 22, 2013 Posted February 22, 2013 (edited) What a great bass player Mike was/is. [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oaxPJ_V3kvE[/media] This is how bands should dress. Edited February 22, 2013 by steve-soar Quote
BassTractor Posted February 22, 2013 Author Posted February 22, 2013 [quote name='steve-soar' timestamp='1361556217' post='1987562'] What a great bass player Mike was/is. [/quote] Bah! You only wrote that because Mike was/is a great bass player! (To be honest, I had never noticed that before listening to this vid and reading your comment.) best, bert Quote
onemanband Posted February 23, 2013 Posted February 23, 2013 Didn't know him or much about him, but from these responses he was obviously highly regarded. So, to any rock n' roller who passes on i say,............. total respect for your contribution to the music scene; you will be well respected and remembered, good luck in "Rock N' ROLL HEAVEN" (let me know what's goin on, I'm not so far away myself! ;-) Quote
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