'Airstrip One' was a personal favourite at the time and is invariably the first tune that comes to mind when I think of the band, and the aptly titled 'This Fragile Life' was added to singer Steve Drewett's moving Facebook tribute to Colin.
Tuesday, 19 May 2015
The Newtown Neurotics
Steve Lamacq concluded his show on 6Music this evening with the sad news that Colin Dredd (aka Colin Masters), bassist with The Newtown Neurotics from 1978 to 1988, passed away earlier today. There are those who know the band's catalogue, and indeed the people involved, far better than I, though I was lucky enough to see the Neurotics a couple of times in the mid-80's and still own one or two of their records.
'Airstrip One' was a personal favourite at the time and is invariably the first tune that comes to mind when I think of the band, and the aptly titled 'This Fragile Life' was added to singer Steve Drewett's moving Facebook tribute to Colin.
'Airstrip One' was a personal favourite at the time and is invariably the first tune that comes to mind when I think of the band, and the aptly titled 'This Fragile Life' was added to singer Steve Drewett's moving Facebook tribute to Colin.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Greatest Hits
-
I fell for Nick Drake's music during my earliest days working behind the counter of a record shop, via the 1979 career spanning 'Fru... -
In May 1994 I flew to New York for the third time to stay with my cousin and her husband. In later years whenever a trip to the Big Apple wa... -
My abject despair, towards the end of 2024, at being informed that 'Bluffer's Guide to the Flight Deck', the debut LP by Flotati... -
In my mind, this series is a relatively recent, if not altogether regular, feature on the blog. Of course nothing has been particularly regu... -
Bob Dylan was on truly great form at the Royal Albert Hall in 2013 ( here ) and in 2015, at the same venue, the great man is still in fine f...
12 comments:
So sad.
My enduring memory of him from those very early days hanging out at Triad was that he was always smiling.
So sad he passed away. I saw them once in Munich doing an unforgetable concert. They were great in these days. Think I should play 'Living with unemployment' again.
That's sad news indeed: a great band they were!
It is indeed sad news. I've got a few of their songs up here in the music room. Straightforward no-nonsense angry lyrics. Quality.
Very sad news. Fine band.
Just seen this, sad news. Was just playing them last week. After the outcome of the election I started listening again to bands like The Neurotics and The Redskins and wondered where bands like that are today..
Well I have to admit I have never heard of them....my loss as theses tracks are pretty good!
Strummer was the first to go. The Ramones and Richard Hell followed. It's only a matter of time untl we lose a Pistol and then we really are in trouble.
Richard Hell's still with us John, unless you've heard something we haven't.
Oops! Sorry Mr.Hell. I probably meant to say Lux Interior.
Also, I hope I haven't put a hex on Messrs. Lydon, Jones, Matlock & Cook.
As Scott said, not many out there with the courage to use their voice. Perhaps this latest wave of political turmoil in the UK will spawn the next Colin Dredd. Let's hope.
Re. John's point, I always think that too; gradually we are losing more and more people whose music has been personally meaningful...
The sad loss of Colin is hitting home here particularly resonantly - the Newtown Neurotics were like the house band at our little local club Triad in '78 and '79 where we had a thriving punk scene, it felt like they played there just about every week - we all hung out together and it was brilliant. There was a reunion type gig in 2003 at which Colin was present even though he wasn't very well, it was so heartwarming to see everyone again. And back in the original days there was a handful of local punk bands who played regularly alongside them. Just a few months ago a member of one of these bands died, and a couple of years before that we lost a lovely friend from another of the bands from the scene. You start to wonder who's going to be next (especially as Mr SDS was also in one of the other bands!)
Post a Comment