Sean Tyla fronts the Tyla Gang – photo by Keith Morris.
In Memory of Sean Tyla 1946-2020
News has reached fans’ ears that musician Sean Tyla died on 17 May. As you may know, guitarist and singer Sean was the leader of pub rock legends Ducks Deluxe and later the Tyla Gang for whom he wrote many cracking tunes and led with aplomb.
I last heard from Sean exactly one year ago when he sent me an email saying: Hope you are well. I am not long for the knacker’s yard – chronic liver disease. Considering I haven’t had a drink in 30 years, it’s damned bad luck. I still have as much time as I can muster by eating a good diet and sleeping 10 hours so, I’m writing again. Wondered if I could send some short chapters for an honest opinion.
I read Sean’s colourful extracts but confess I was unable to advise or assist. And now it’s too late. I did however once write the foreword for Sean’s autobiography Jumpin’ In The Fire which was published by Soundcheck Books in 2010. I reprint it here by way of remembering the man.
His reputation preceded him; he was the intrepid rocker who struck fear into the hearts of lesser men when he roamed the planks with the mighty Ducks Deluxe. Twenty-five years later, when I was researching my history of the London pub rock scene No Sleep Till Canvey Island, I bottled out of seeking a face-to-face interview with Sean Tyla, simply because I was terrified! I had heard all sorts of rumours about the man they called ‘The Ballroom Bully’… he was ‘a bankrupt’, down on his luck, the feckless victim of numerous dodgy deals – allegedly. But most dramatically, he was working as a cricket coach!
My first encounter with the Blackbeard of Pub Rock – he probably won’t remember this – was in 1973 when Wilko Johnson, Lee Brilleaux and myself were dragged along by Ducks Deluxe manager Dai Davies to Hatchetts, a mirror-ball nightclub in Piccadilly, to witness Sean in full rocking mode. I believe Wilko and I ‘sat in’ with the Ducks on Route 66, but Sean was clearly in charge that night, snarling and glowering at the sparse audience, truly believing he was in the spotlight at some ice hockey venue, playing to thousands. I admired his stance.
And Sean doesn’t know this, but around 1977 I wandered into a pub in the Kings Road Chelsea, took a seat at the bar and quite by chance found myself seated next to him. He had his back to me and was talking to another chap whom I took to be an agent or A&R man. Sean was telling this guy with some considerable confidence that his new band was going to ‘take Europe by storm’. Sean was describing the Tyla Gang’s ‘electrifying’ stage act and all the moves and pyrotechnics they would unleash on some unsuspecting Germans. I didn’t make my presence known, for fear of interrupting Sean in full flight. I can honestly say I had never witnessed self-confidence of this magnitude before.
Then he disappeared off my radar, but I always held the belief that Sean was out there, in some echo-ridden Scandinavian aircraft hangar, ‘giving it some’ for the benefit of his devoted Euro fan base. Decades seemed to go by… then in 2007 Sean suddenly resurfaced with the re-formed Ducks Deluxe. I saw them at the 100 Club* and they were magnificent. With the trusty Martin Belmont on guitar, Micky Groome on bass and legendary former ‘Brinsley’ Billy Rankin on skins, they opened with the anthemic Fireball and kept me spellbound for seventy-five minutes plus.
It did come as some surprise when, in the middle of 2010, Sean got in touch and asked me if I could help him pitch his autobiography to the book trade. ‘Yes,’ I said without hesitation, because for purely selfish reasons I was desperate to read Sean’s life story ahead of the pack. I’d heard all the rumours about him working for Lionel Bart in Tin Pan Alley circa 1970, but I had no idea about his father’s military background, his education at the hands of Benedictine monks, and later in life his battle with the bottle, his ensuing mental breakdown and a life-saving operation/
Sadly, Sean Tyla is not a superstar or household name, but that makes his story all the more interesting. He proudly describes himself as a ‘loud-mouthed international rock singer’ who has survived the worst excesses of rock’n’roll, but it is still his mission to keep on rocking! I salute him and urge you to read all about his incredible life in this endlessly fascinating autobiography. *promoted by Mike Halpern
Sean also showed up in Cruel To Be Kind, my biography of Nick Lowe (2019). Sean and Nick first met in the early 1960s on the Rheindahlen air base in Germany where their respective fathers were stationed. Sean was three years Nick’s senior. Together they assembled a skiffle group and named themselves ‘The Four Just Men’ and played at the ‘Teenagers Club’ on the air base. ‘Nick was technically barred from the club because he was too young,’ recalled Sean. ‘But he was tall and looked older. He donned a pair of his father’s sunglasses and we managed to sneak him in completely unnoticed. I believe we played “Michael Row The Boat Ashore” at least four times.’
I just learned that Sean Tyla passed away. Some remembrances hint at a gruff exterior. Well, he wasn’t that way to me, exactly, when I spoke with him in 2010.
I first heard Ducks Deluxe at an all-dayer at the Roundhouse, back in the day (1975?). They opened with a sneer – “We are the best rock ‘n roll band in the world” – which seemed a bit of hubris considering they were 3rd on the bill. But the set was fun and so I purchase their first album when I saw it at the US Navy Exchange in London (my Dad was in the US Navy and the manager of the Exchange mistakenly thought US sailors in London would want to buy American vinyl of groups popular in the UK but not selling in the US, vinyl which he shipped back to and stocked in the UK; they didn’t but I did). Listening to that I realized what they meant when they laid claim to being the greatest rock ‘n roll band. Sharp, short songs. Were major chords strummed on an electric guitar ever used to greater effect than at the beginning of Fireball? The perfect faux-swamp rock of Who Put the Bomp, the early-Beatles revamped of Please, Please, Please. There is a bit of video floating around on YouTube of “Coast to Coast” that gives a good idea of the raw excitement of that early incarnation. “Ducks Deluxe” had hallmarks of a one-off album. But a second album appeared with guitar-driven rock perfected in Paris 9 and a cover of Teenage Head. The directions of the band continued to expand with Rio Grande and Love’s Melody, which might have been in one too many directions.
Anyway, the band imploded a bit and some went separate ways. Others continued. But a band that had honed the virtues of simplicity had to contend with a new generation that thought they had invented that. Tyla Gang honed a slightly darker sound (and revamped the wonderful strangeness of Cannons of the Boogie Night). One night I went to the Hope & Anchor for some cheap music, only to find it was (to me) a costly benefit. I parted with some of my hard-earned cash (I was cleaning houses at the time) to see Graham Parker & the Rumour solely because they explained at the door that Martin Belmont, formerly of Ducks, was in The Rumour. OK, a powerful gig, and I had a new musical obsession.
More recently, Sean and Martin reformed Ducks with a new rhythm section. I saw them at the Half Moon and brought along a couple of friends and we loved it. I’m sure it hasn’t helped the band members’ bottom line any(I think Sean’s partner was taking money at the door); but their music works so well in the immediacy of a small venue. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak with Sean and Martin. Very nice chaps (perhaps not the public persona they were going for). I asked Sean about “Rio Grande” (his song) and noted it should have been “crossed over the Rio Grande” not “crossed over to the Rio Grande.” He smiled and said Dave Edmunds worked all night on producing that song and said in the morning that he had engineered a great chorus. So Dave, according to Sean, had added the “to” for the chorus to scan better, although it makes little sense geographically speaking. Then I asked, when he wrote or co-wrote “Coast to Coast” and their other travel songs, had he been to the USA? He said, no. But in university (or did he say college?) reading Kerouac’s On the Road was so influential. I suppose, “Ducks” were life imitating art imitating art imitating life, or some such.
Anyway, Sean was generous to speak to me (and to some Norwegians who had all “Ducks” and his solo CD covers for him to sign). Well, afterwards he poked fun at me (“an American from Texas,” or some such) on Facebook for flying all the way from the USA to hear him play (well, there were other reasons I was in London already; my daughter posted “Hey, that’s my Dad,” and he was nice enough to her). But when I sent him an email containing some of this remembrance soon afterwards, he wrote back immediately and told me what he remembered of that gig back in the 1970s. So, perhaps I didn’t really know Mr. Tyla. But he was kind enough to this fan. And I remember that fondly.
I just learned that Sean Tyla passed away. Some remembrances hint at a gruff exterior. Well, he wasn’t that way to me, exactly, when I spoke with him in 2010.
I first heard Ducks Deluxe at an all-dayer at the Roundhouse, back in the day (1975?). They opened with a sneer – “We are the best rock ‘n roll band in the world” – which seemed a bit of hubris considering they were 3rd on the bill. But the set was fun and so I purchase their first album when I saw it at the US Navy Exchange in London (my Dad was in the US Navy and the manager of the Exchange mistakenly thought US sailors in London would want to buy American vinyl of groups popular in the UK but not selling in the US, vinyl which he shipped back to and stocked in the UK; they didn’t but I did). Listening to that I realized what they meant when they laid claim to being the greatest rock ‘n roll band. Sharp, short songs. Were major chords strummed on an electric guitar ever used to greater effect than at the beginning of Fireball? The perfect faux-swamp rock of Who Put the Bomp, the early-Beatles revamped of Please, Please, Please. There is a bit of video floating around on YouTube of “Coast to Coast” that gives a good idea of the raw excitement of that early incarnation. “Ducks Deluxe” had hallmarks of a one-off album. But a second album appeared with guitar-driven rock perfected in Paris 9 and a cover of Teenage Head. The directions of the band continued to expand with Rio Grande and Love’s Melody, which might have been in one too many directions.
Anyway, the band imploded a bit and some went separate ways. Others continued. But a band that had honed the virtues of simplicity had to contend with a new generation that thought they had invented that. Tyla Gang honed a slightly darker sound (and revamped the wonderful strangeness of Cannons of the Boogie Night). One night I went to the Hope & Anchor for some cheap music, only to find it was (to me) a costly benefit. I parted with some of my hard-earned cash (I was cleaning houses at the time) to see Graham Parker & the Rumour solely because they explained at the door that Martin Belmont, formerly of Ducks, was in The Rumour. OK, a powerful gig, and I had a new musical obsession.
More recently, Sean and Martin reformed Ducks with a new rhythm section. I saw them at the Half Moon and brought along a couple of friends and we loved it. I’m sure it hasn’t helped the band members’ bottom line any(I think Sean’s partner was taking money at the door); but their music works so well in the immediacy of a small venue. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak with Sean and Martin. Very nice chaps (perhaps not the public persona they were going for). I asked Sean about “Rio Grande” (his song) and noted it should have been “crossed over the Rio Grande” not “crossed over to the Rio Grande.” He smiled and said Dave Edmunds worked all night on producing that song and said in the morning that he had engineered a great chorus. So Dave, according to Sean, had added the “to” for the chorus to scan better, although it makes little sense geographically speaking. Then I asked, when he wrote or co-wrote “Coast to Coast” and their other travel songs, had he been to the USA? He said, no. But in university (or did he say college?) reading Kerouac’s On the Road was so influential. I suppose, “Ducks” were life imitating art imitating art imitating life, or some such.
Anyway, Sean was generous to speak to me (and to some Norwegians who had all “Ducks” and his solo CD covers for him to sign). Well, afterwards he poked fun at me (“an American from Texas,” or some such) on Facebook for flying all the way from the USA to hear him play (well, there were other reasons I was in London already; my daughter posted “Hey, that’s my Dad,” and he was nice enough to her). But when I sent him an email containing some of this remembrance soon afterwards, he wrote back immediately and told me what he remembered of that gig back in the 1970s. So, perhaps I didn’t really know Mr. Tyla. But he was kind enough to this fan. And I remember that fondly.
Love to see a full Ducks/Tyla story, Soundtrack of my teenage years, thanks to Luxemburg etc. Coast to Coast was a power play on good old 208. I saw them at Edinburgh health centre in the early 70’s backing the brinsleys. Never again will we see the like..
Love to see a full Ducks/Tyla story, Soundtrack of my teenage years, thanks to Luxemburg etc. Coast to Coast was a power play on good old 208. I saw them at Edinburgh health centre in the early 70’s backing the brinsleys. Never again will we see the like..
One minor correction is that Sean was educated at Blackfriars School Laxton, a Dominican establishment, not Benedictine. I know because I was at school with him.
One minor correction is that Sean was educated at Blackfriars School Laxton, a Dominican establishment, not Benedictine. I know because I was at school with him.
Sean was recording his 18th album at my studio (Ivy Arch Studios) with Bruce Irvine and over many sessions I got to know him really well. It is so sad he has left us; but what a legacy he left! I loved the guy to bits. I sang Coast to Coast to him – he said to Bruce “he knows the song better than I do!” We’d phone each other every week, and he would talk talk talk. About his law suit, about life, about the book he was writing, songs he was doing, and mainly about LIFE! He was very astute and learned. I have many many happy memories. When I last spoke to him in March, he was hopeful, always positive.
Sean was recording his 18th album at my studio (Ivy Arch Studios) with Bruce Irvine and over many sessions I got to know him really well. It is so sad he has left us; but what a legacy he left! I loved the guy to bits. I sang Coast to Coast to him – he said to Bruce “he knows the song better than I do!” We’d phone each other every week, and he would talk talk talk. About his law suit, about life, about the book he was writing, songs he was doing, and mainly about LIFE! He was very astute and learned. I have many many happy memories. When I last spoke to him in March, he was hopeful, always positive.
I’ve just seen this and wanted to add my own experience of meeting Sean outside the music industry.
In around 2006 Sean was working as an IT consultant at a north Hampshire golf club. He asked me to meet quite early one morning to discuss some help he needed on a couple of IT projects. When I arrived his office was locked up but I could see there was someone inside. I walked round to a windows and could see Sean with head phones on playing air guitar. When he finally saw me and let me in, he explained he was listening to some music he recorded in the 70s!
I met Sean on a couple more occasions where I learnt that he not only had a passion for music but golf and cricket too. He had some many anecdotes, a remarkable man.
Our paths never crossed again, but I will forever remember Sean, not as a rock legend but an all round good guy..
I’ve just seen this and wanted to add my own experience of meeting Sean outside the music industry.
In around 2006 Sean was working as an IT consultant at a north Hampshire golf club. He asked me to meet quite early one morning to discuss some help he needed on a couple of IT projects. When I arrived his office was locked up but I could see there was someone inside. I walked round to a windows and could see Sean with head phones on playing air guitar. When he finally saw me and let me in, he explained he was listening to some music he recorded in the 70s!
I met Sean on a couple more occasions where I learnt that he not only had a passion for music but golf and cricket too. He had some many anecdotes, a remarkable man.
Our paths never crossed again, but I will forever remember Sean, not as a rock legend but an all round good guy..
I was a big Ducks/Sean fan, playing Sean’s music on my FM radio show in Boulder, CO and covering “Fireball” with my band (Kenny & the Kritix) in 1981. Through the wonders of Facebook, I became “friends” ten years ago and sent him this clip. He was very appreciative and quick with a backhanded compliment. “‘Fireball’ with a synth . . . now I’ve heard EVERYTHING.”
I was a big Ducks/Sean fan, playing Sean’s music on my FM radio show in Boulder, CO and covering “Fireball” with my band (Kenny & the Kritix) in 1981. Through the wonders of Facebook, I became “friends” ten years ago and sent him this clip. He was very appreciative and quick with a backhanded compliment. “‘Fireball’ with a synth . . . now I’ve heard EVERYTHING.”
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I just learned that Sean Tyla passed away. Some remembrances hint at a gruff exterior. Well, he wasn’t that way to me, exactly, when I spoke with him in 2010.
I first heard Ducks Deluxe at an all-dayer at the Roundhouse, back in the day (1975?). They opened with a sneer – “We are the best rock ‘n roll band in the world” – which seemed a bit of hubris considering they were 3rd on the bill. But the set was fun and so I purchase their first album when I saw it at the US Navy Exchange in London (my Dad was in the US Navy and the manager of the Exchange mistakenly thought US sailors in London would want to buy American vinyl of groups popular in the UK but not selling in the US, vinyl which he shipped back to and stocked in the UK; they didn’t but I did). Listening to that I realized what they meant when they laid claim to being the greatest rock ‘n roll band. Sharp, short songs. Were major chords strummed on an electric guitar ever used to greater effect than at the beginning of Fireball? The perfect faux-swamp rock of Who Put the Bomp, the early-Beatles revamped of Please, Please, Please. There is a bit of video floating around on YouTube of “Coast to Coast” that gives a good idea of the raw excitement of that early incarnation. “Ducks Deluxe” had hallmarks of a one-off album. But a second album appeared with guitar-driven rock perfected in Paris 9 and a cover of Teenage Head. The directions of the band continued to expand with Rio Grande and Love’s Melody, which might have been in one too many directions.
Anyway, the band imploded a bit and some went separate ways. Others continued. But a band that had honed the virtues of simplicity had to contend with a new generation that thought they had invented that. Tyla Gang honed a slightly darker sound (and revamped the wonderful strangeness of Cannons of the Boogie Night). One night I went to the Hope & Anchor for some cheap music, only to find it was (to me) a costly benefit. I parted with some of my hard-earned cash (I was cleaning houses at the time) to see Graham Parker & the Rumour solely because they explained at the door that Martin Belmont, formerly of Ducks, was in The Rumour. OK, a powerful gig, and I had a new musical obsession.
More recently, Sean and Martin reformed Ducks with a new rhythm section. I saw them at the Half Moon and brought along a couple of friends and we loved it. I’m sure it hasn’t helped the band members’ bottom line any(I think Sean’s partner was taking money at the door); but their music works so well in the immediacy of a small venue. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak with Sean and Martin. Very nice chaps (perhaps not the public persona they were going for). I asked Sean about “Rio Grande” (his song) and noted it should have been “crossed over the Rio Grande” not “crossed over to the Rio Grande.” He smiled and said Dave Edmunds worked all night on producing that song and said in the morning that he had engineered a great chorus. So Dave, according to Sean, had added the “to” for the chorus to scan better, although it makes little sense geographically speaking. Then I asked, when he wrote or co-wrote “Coast to Coast” and their other travel songs, had he been to the USA? He said, no. But in university (or did he say college?) reading Kerouac’s On the Road was so influential. I suppose, “Ducks” were life imitating art imitating art imitating life, or some such.
Anyway, Sean was generous to speak to me (and to some Norwegians who had all “Ducks” and his solo CD covers for him to sign). Well, afterwards he poked fun at me (“an American from Texas,” or some such) on Facebook for flying all the way from the USA to hear him play (well, there were other reasons I was in London already; my daughter posted “Hey, that’s my Dad,” and he was nice enough to her). But when I sent him an email containing some of this remembrance soon afterwards, he wrote back immediately and told me what he remembered of that gig back in the 1970s. So, perhaps I didn’t really know Mr. Tyla. But he was kind enough to this fan. And I remember that fondly.
I just learned that Sean Tyla passed away. Some remembrances hint at a gruff exterior. Well, he wasn’t that way to me, exactly, when I spoke with him in 2010.
I first heard Ducks Deluxe at an all-dayer at the Roundhouse, back in the day (1975?). They opened with a sneer – “We are the best rock ‘n roll band in the world” – which seemed a bit of hubris considering they were 3rd on the bill. But the set was fun and so I purchase their first album when I saw it at the US Navy Exchange in London (my Dad was in the US Navy and the manager of the Exchange mistakenly thought US sailors in London would want to buy American vinyl of groups popular in the UK but not selling in the US, vinyl which he shipped back to and stocked in the UK; they didn’t but I did). Listening to that I realized what they meant when they laid claim to being the greatest rock ‘n roll band. Sharp, short songs. Were major chords strummed on an electric guitar ever used to greater effect than at the beginning of Fireball? The perfect faux-swamp rock of Who Put the Bomp, the early-Beatles revamped of Please, Please, Please. There is a bit of video floating around on YouTube of “Coast to Coast” that gives a good idea of the raw excitement of that early incarnation. “Ducks Deluxe” had hallmarks of a one-off album. But a second album appeared with guitar-driven rock perfected in Paris 9 and a cover of Teenage Head. The directions of the band continued to expand with Rio Grande and Love’s Melody, which might have been in one too many directions.
Anyway, the band imploded a bit and some went separate ways. Others continued. But a band that had honed the virtues of simplicity had to contend with a new generation that thought they had invented that. Tyla Gang honed a slightly darker sound (and revamped the wonderful strangeness of Cannons of the Boogie Night). One night I went to the Hope & Anchor for some cheap music, only to find it was (to me) a costly benefit. I parted with some of my hard-earned cash (I was cleaning houses at the time) to see Graham Parker & the Rumour solely because they explained at the door that Martin Belmont, formerly of Ducks, was in The Rumour. OK, a powerful gig, and I had a new musical obsession.
More recently, Sean and Martin reformed Ducks with a new rhythm section. I saw them at the Half Moon and brought along a couple of friends and we loved it. I’m sure it hasn’t helped the band members’ bottom line any(I think Sean’s partner was taking money at the door); but their music works so well in the immediacy of a small venue. I was fortunate enough to be able to speak with Sean and Martin. Very nice chaps (perhaps not the public persona they were going for). I asked Sean about “Rio Grande” (his song) and noted it should have been “crossed over the Rio Grande” not “crossed over to the Rio Grande.” He smiled and said Dave Edmunds worked all night on producing that song and said in the morning that he had engineered a great chorus. So Dave, according to Sean, had added the “to” for the chorus to scan better, although it makes little sense geographically speaking. Then I asked, when he wrote or co-wrote “Coast to Coast” and their other travel songs, had he been to the USA? He said, no. But in university (or did he say college?) reading Kerouac’s On the Road was so influential. I suppose, “Ducks” were life imitating art imitating art imitating life, or some such.
Anyway, Sean was generous to speak to me (and to some Norwegians who had all “Ducks” and his solo CD covers for him to sign). Well, afterwards he poked fun at me (“an American from Texas,” or some such) on Facebook for flying all the way from the USA to hear him play (well, there were other reasons I was in London already; my daughter posted “Hey, that’s my Dad,” and he was nice enough to her). But when I sent him an email containing some of this remembrance soon afterwards, he wrote back immediately and told me what he remembered of that gig back in the 1970s. So, perhaps I didn’t really know Mr. Tyla. But he was kind enough to this fan. And I remember that fondly.
Love to see a full Ducks/Tyla story, Soundtrack of my teenage years, thanks to Luxemburg etc. Coast to Coast was a power play on good old 208. I saw them at Edinburgh health centre in the early 70’s backing the brinsleys. Never again will we see the like..
Love to see a full Ducks/Tyla story, Soundtrack of my teenage years, thanks to Luxemburg etc. Coast to Coast was a power play on good old 208. I saw them at Edinburgh health centre in the early 70’s backing the brinsleys. Never again will we see the like..
One minor correction is that Sean was educated at Blackfriars School Laxton, a Dominican establishment, not Benedictine. I know because I was at school with him.
Antony, thanks for the correction although my comment was partly based on something Sean told me and also from his autobiography (page 11].
Will
One minor correction is that Sean was educated at Blackfriars School Laxton, a Dominican establishment, not Benedictine. I know because I was at school with him.
Antony, thanks for the correction although my comment was partly based on something Sean told me and also from his autobiography (page 11].
Will
Rave on Sean!
Rave on Sean!
Sean was recording his 18th album at my studio (Ivy Arch Studios) with Bruce Irvine and over many sessions I got to know him really well. It is so sad he has left us; but what a legacy he left! I loved the guy to bits. I sang Coast to Coast to him – he said to Bruce “he knows the song better than I do!” We’d phone each other every week, and he would talk talk talk. About his law suit, about life, about the book he was writing, songs he was doing, and mainly about LIFE! He was very astute and learned. I have many many happy memories. When I last spoke to him in March, he was hopeful, always positive.
Sean was recording his 18th album at my studio (Ivy Arch Studios) with Bruce Irvine and over many sessions I got to know him really well. It is so sad he has left us; but what a legacy he left! I loved the guy to bits. I sang Coast to Coast to him – he said to Bruce “he knows the song better than I do!” We’d phone each other every week, and he would talk talk talk. About his law suit, about life, about the book he was writing, songs he was doing, and mainly about LIFE! He was very astute and learned. I have many many happy memories. When I last spoke to him in March, he was hopeful, always positive.
I’ve just seen this and wanted to add my own experience of meeting Sean outside the music industry.
In around 2006 Sean was working as an IT consultant at a north Hampshire golf club. He asked me to meet quite early one morning to discuss some help he needed on a couple of IT projects. When I arrived his office was locked up but I could see there was someone inside. I walked round to a windows and could see Sean with head phones on playing air guitar. When he finally saw me and let me in, he explained he was listening to some music he recorded in the 70s!
I met Sean on a couple more occasions where I learnt that he not only had a passion for music but golf and cricket too. He had some many anecdotes, a remarkable man.
Our paths never crossed again, but I will forever remember Sean, not as a rock legend but an all round good guy..
I’ve just seen this and wanted to add my own experience of meeting Sean outside the music industry.
In around 2006 Sean was working as an IT consultant at a north Hampshire golf club. He asked me to meet quite early one morning to discuss some help he needed on a couple of IT projects. When I arrived his office was locked up but I could see there was someone inside. I walked round to a windows and could see Sean with head phones on playing air guitar. When he finally saw me and let me in, he explained he was listening to some music he recorded in the 70s!
I met Sean on a couple more occasions where I learnt that he not only had a passion for music but golf and cricket too. He had some many anecdotes, a remarkable man.
Our paths never crossed again, but I will forever remember Sean, not as a rock legend but an all round good guy..
I was a big Ducks/Sean fan, playing Sean’s music on my FM radio show in Boulder, CO and covering “Fireball” with my band (Kenny & the Kritix) in 1981. Through the wonders of Facebook, I became “friends” ten years ago and sent him this clip. He was very appreciative and quick with a backhanded compliment. “‘Fireball’ with a synth . . . now I’ve heard EVERYTHING.”
RIP, Sean. You were such a great rock ‘n’ roller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv8IqtuVnFM
I was a big Ducks/Sean fan, playing Sean’s music on my FM radio show in Boulder, CO and covering “Fireball” with my band (Kenny & the Kritix) in 1981. Through the wonders of Facebook, I became “friends” ten years ago and sent him this clip. He was very appreciative and quick with a backhanded compliment. “‘Fireball’ with a synth . . . now I’ve heard EVERYTHING.”
RIP, Sean. You were such a great rock ‘n’ roller.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pv8IqtuVnFM