Been listening to all the tributes on Six Music. I didn't know to much of his stuff; or at least I thought I didn't. Much of I recognised and there was a lot of quality stuff. A very talented man, RIP.
I saw him at the BBC studios many years ago,truly inventive talent.On saxophone is Lol Coxhill,he used to busk on Hungerford bridge and I think other bridges as well.
I've got a couple of Kevin's albums, Joy of A Toy and Shooting At The Moon. Probably some Soft Machine stuff somewhere too. A fine musician who put fun into his work - great loss.
Kevin Ayers should have been bigger than Bowie but he always ran away (literally) from success. For example he did not promote 'Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes' because he went off to Deya. He was a true hippy in the sense he would not tolerate the bullshit of managing a chart band. He was badly let down by his management in his Soft Machine days, who ripped off his money as the main composer. Ayers was deep spiritually, into mystic stuff like Gurdjieff. He put his awareness into his lyrics: 'Why are we Sleeping?' 'Stop this Train' etc. But then he would poke fun at himself with mad ditties like the 'Hat song.' Kevin ended up living in the South of France supported by his royalties and by ex bandmates such as Mike Oldfield who rvered him. He was a wonderful guy, my all time hero, only Eddie Firmani runs him close.
Kevin Ayers should have been bigger than Bowie but he always ran away (literally) from success. For example he did not promote 'Stranger in Blue Suede Shoes' because he went off to Deya. He was a true hippy in the sense he would not tolerate the bullshit of managing a chart band. He was badly let down by his management in his Soft Machine days, who ripped off his money as the main composer. Ayers was deep spiritually, into mystic stuff like Gurdjieff. He put his awareness into his lyrics: 'Why are we Sleeping?' 'Stop this Train' etc. But then he would poke fun at himself with mad ditties like the 'Hat song.' Kevin ended up living in the South of France supported by his royalties and by ex bandmates such as Mike Oldfield who rvered him. He was a wonderful guy, my all time hero, only Eddie Firmani runs him close.
Knew the name and the respect he was held in but didn't get Soft machine when I heard it many years ago.
Henry, listen to Soft Machine 1. Great singing/drumming by Robert Wyatt & Ayers is fab on Why are we Sleeping. Soft Machine 2 (sans Ayers) is a unique album with outstanding organ play by Mike Ratledge. Soft Machine 3 is totally different again. One of the great jazz rock albums. I would forget the rest as they became a fusion jazz rock band without much personality.
One of those guy's that should have been acknowledged more, he strived for something in music that he wanted to think was important, not the next pop single, or playing the 'tin pan alley' fixation with hit's and product points. Probably seen as a fringe musician, and self indulgent by many, but then who cares about them?. Soft machine were a very important band in the underground movement as the wolfboy gives examples of. I am not going to state all the music they produced was wonderful, Robert Wyatt a very generous musician, and toured with Hendrix on his first tour of the states, Noel Redding even played for them on a couple of night's I have been told. seehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9883347/Kevin-Ayers-founder-of-Soft-Machine-has-died-aged-68.html Thank god for artist's like Kevin,
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Fans of the late great Mr Ayers should certainly check out Canterbury band Syd Arthur modern torchbearers for this quintessentially English sound.....
This is Kevin with The Whole World I think. My favourite of all his bands
He was a wonderful guy, my all time hero, only Eddie Firmani runs him close.
RIP
Soft Machine 2 (sans Ayers) is a unique album with outstanding organ play by Mike Ratledge.
Soft Machine 3 is totally different again. One of the great jazz rock albums.
I would forget the rest as they became a fusion jazz rock band without much personality.
Soft machine were a very important band in the underground movement as the wolfboy gives examples of.
I am not going to state all the music they produced was wonderful, Robert Wyatt a very generous musician, and toured with Hendrix on his first tour of the states, Noel Redding even played for them on a couple of night's I have been told. seehttp://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/9883347/Kevin-Ayers-founder-of-Soft-Machine-has-died-aged-68.html
Thank god for artist's like Kevin,