A Requiem for Kevin Coyne

[tom.d.stiller]

Dear Friends,

Kevin died on Thursday morning,
2nd December 2004.

The divine service - last party - takes place on Monday, 13th December 2004, at 12.30 h,
Friedenskirche, Am Palmplatz, Nürnberg, Germany

The funeral takes place on Monday,
13th December 2004, at 14.00 h,
St. Johannis Friedhof, Nürnberg, Germany

Kevin's homepage

This is not really a poem, it's a farewell to someone I never met, but who has filled the greater part of my life with music (not for the masses, not for everyone, though for every one).

Requiem for Kevin Coyne

From early days
I knew your voice
and from your voice I learned
to find the beauty in extremes
and in a madman's weird smile
the real world, a pretty park.

The cold clay is now
depressing your body
in Nuremberg. I feel
a different cold inside. The dogs
are barking strangely
tonight on Pretty Park.

I know if ever I come
to Nuremberg I'll try
to see your grave.
If I should find it
I will cry, if not
I'll put some roses in your room.


Pretty Park and Roses in your room are songs written and inimitably performed by Kevin.

A very sad
Tom

[lizzytysh]

Dear Tom ~

The quote was you 'quoting' your own writing? I'm sorry but I don't know who Kevin Coyne was. I know that a rather famous, hard rocker was very recently gunned down onstage during the playing of his group's first song at a concert. However, that was in the U.S. and they were from here, as well. How did Kevin die, and what was the nature of his music?

~ Elizabeth

[tom.d.stiller]

Dear Elizabeth,

I can't describe Kevin's music, but on his homepage (follow this link!) some of his records (and pictures and more information than I can give) will be available, though not my favourite ones.

He was an uncompromising British musician. I think in the beginning he was a social worker in Greater London. In the late sixties he was part of the band "Siren" (or should I say: he was "Siren").

He didn't have big commercial successes, but he got along. Probably his best sold single was "I'll go too" from "Millionaires and Teddybears"

At times he was almost destroyed by alcohol, but then he found a refuge in Germany, stopped drinking, and went on making music and painting.

Rumours say that after Jim Morrisson's death he'd been offered to be the new lead singer of "The Doors" - but he refused.

I don't know any details about his death, but it's said that he had troubles with his lungs, and that he died. aged 60, from those about the time he intended to go on tour again.

Some of our British friends might still remember him. I mentioned Kevin once, some 19 months ago, and glyn could relate to the name...

I always liked his music, strange and uncompromising as it was. (Right now I'm listening to his album "Case History"...)

Tom

PS: Yes it was me quoting the first verses that came to my mind after learning about his death. I made it more transparent now.

[Teratogen]

i always hate when musicians die... especially when some are murdered. *remembering lennon*

lizzy... i am of the younger ilk and i am familiar with the souther heavy metal guitarist, darrel abbot, who was shot to death. he was a member of a famous heavy metal band, pantera, but he was shot to death coming onstage for his new band, damageplan. i heard the fan who shot him (and a few others) was upset because "dimebag" darrel, as he was known, disbanded his favorite band, pantera. i was never a fan of their music, but i knew him as a great heavy metal guitarist. i was truly shocked.

so here's to hoping there will be no more "heavy metal massacres" anytime soon (aka musician murders). *raises glass*

[Critic2]

Tom, thanks for your words about Kevin. I saw him in concert twice. He stood out. I am glad he had success in Germany, a lot of British singers I like are appreciated there much more than at home. Peter Hammill is another.

[tom.d.stiller]

Glad boy you are. You saw him in concert twice. I missed him twice, but I saw him on TV. He was a treat.

I'd suggest that everyone who cared for him and his works go to late Kevin's homepage and express her or his feelings in the guestbook there.

This, of course, won't lessen the pain, but I'm sure it will help his family and his close friends to know that many people across all continents are - in a way - with them...

Go to http://www.publixa.de/kevin/Guest.htm to do so.

Tom

[Critic2]

Tom, I just entered my respects in the guest book, immediately after yours as it happens.

I am thinking of two particular tracks of his from the late 70's The World is Full of Fools,and Juliet and Mark. I love them.

[lizzytysh]

Thanks for the information, Tom. I'll follow the link later and read/see. Ironic that with Germany being so acclaimed for its drinking, that he would find sobriety there. Good on him! Has having been a social worker really intrigues me. Perhaps, I can listen to an excerpt of one/a couple of his songs and get a feeling for what you mean when you say "uncompromising musician."

Hi Teratogen ~ The segment I heard said that he'd already started playing their first song. It's a minor and moot point, in the scheme of things, howerver. At that time [report], despite investigators' multiple interviews with bystanders, they still really had no idea why the murderer chose to do what he did. So shocking to think that people get so distorted in their thinking over a musical group as to take these kinds of actions. Just so tragic.

~ Lizzy

[tom.d.stiller]

Lizzy,

there are a few (10) downloadable songs on http://www.kevincoyne.de/Music.htm. Just pick "MP3 Music" from the menu.

Coyne's first job was a social therapist at Whittingham Hospital, Lancashire (1965-1968). In late 1968 he moved to London, starting work for the Soho project as a counsellor for drug addicts in 1969. This work was a source for many of his early songs and remains a major influence today.

Tom

[Henning]

I've lived in Nuremberg in the eighties - since that days the name Kevin Coyne is familiar to me. I never saw his show but had him on my schedule for 2005. Now this will not be. Same thing happened to me with TVZ. Some things are just not meant to be. We have to accept that as hard as it is.

[lizzytysh]

Thanks, Tom. I doubt I'll be downloading any songs. I've never done that and haven't a clue how. However, I'll certainly listen to him as soon as I'm able. The inspiration for his early work sounds as though the songs may be ones I'll like. He sounds to have been a very interesting personality/being, beyond the norm for many rock stars.

[tom.d.stiller]

For everything there is a first time. If you go there you will find very comprehensive "how to" instructions meant for those who are "where you are hanging".

Babble, the 1979 collaboration of the songwriter Kevin Coyne (Obituary, December 6) with singer Dagmar Krause, a daring and provocative meditation on the love affair between Myra Hindley and Ian Brady, is one of the most extraordinary recordings I have heard in more than a quarter century as a music journalist. Wedded to his melancholia, Coyne deserves to be ranked alongside Robert Wyatt and classic Randy Newman; maybe even Ian Curtis of Joy Division.

This is from "The Guardian"

[lizzytysh]

HI Tom ~

I listened from work yesterday, to about 6 songs. It is difficult to describe his voice. A very strong and on-the-edge blues comes to mind, but I'm leaving out many colours, hues, and shadings ~ and a whole lot more ~ with that. Thanks for the link.

~ Lizzy