The Encyclopedia of Dead Rock Stars (181 page)

With Chic’s studio output laid to rest for a decade in 1982, Edwards released his own collection a year later (with the band Outloud) and remained in demand as a producer, instrumental in the success of work by ABC, Deborah Harry and Robert Palmer – and Palmer’s Duran Duran collaboration, The Power Station. A regrouping of Chic – for the poorly received
Chicism
(1992) – was followed by that of The Power Station in 1996. Edwards had to join the latter when bassist John Taylor (who has often cited Edwards as his primary influence) walked out of the group. But it became clear that Bernard Edwards was taking on too much when he fell ill while reuniting with Nile Rodgers and a host of other stars for a showcase in Tokyo. Although showing no outward signs of ill health, Edwards took to his bed, where his condition became grave: his death from pneumonia shocked fans the world over (not least in Japan, where both Chic and The Power Station were still big news).

See also
Robert Palmer (
September 2003); Raymond Jones (
June 2011). Chic session drummer Tony Thompson succumbed to cancer in November 2003.

Mike Leander

(Michael Farr - London, 30 June 1941)

That same day, a very different but nonetheless influential character passed away from cancer at his London home. Realizing he was unlikely to make the big time as a musician, Mike Leander abandoned the skiffle group of his teens to study music and law, earning himself the role of musical director at the Decca label in 1964. In this guise, Leander coaxed out the best in Marianne Faithfull, overseeing a number of hits for Mick Jagger’s girlfriend. He was also responsible for producing singles by Lulu and Billy Fury, simultaneously composing for a variety of other UK artists. Although his best work is probably the arrangement he offered The Beatles’ ‘She’s Leaving Home’ (George Martin was unavailable), Leander will be remembered by most as the man behind the overwhelming seventies success of Gary Glitter, although this might be a source of some embarrassment to his family now Leander – fascinated by African tribal rhythms – co-wrote several of the glam superstar’s massive hit singles, including ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Parts I & II’ (1972), ‘Do You Wanna Touch Me? (Oh Yeah)’ and ‘I’m the Leader of the Gang (I Am)’ (both 1973). Leander was also responsible for broader musical works, such as the London productions of the musicals
Jesus Christ Superstar
and
Matador.

Tuesday 30

Beatmaster V

(Victor Ray Wilson - Los Angeles, California, 20 February 1959)

Body Count

With all the members having attended South Central LA’s Crenshaw High during the seventies, the 1989 formation of uncompromising rap/metal crossover act Body Count appeared to be something of a school reunion. This was to be no ‘jolly’, however: Body Count – Ernie C (guitar), D-Roc (Dennis Miles, guitar), Mooseman (Lloyd Roberts, bass) and Beatmaster V (drums) – were not backward in coming forward on matters of social and political injustice. Although they were barely competent musically at the outset, with snarling rapper Ice-T fronting the onslaught, Body Count were in the public eye immediately with the song ‘Cop Killer’
(
Death Toll #6),
from the band’s self-titled debut album (1992). This notorious track was a direct attack on LA’s allegedly corrupt law unit, and had to be pulled by Warner Brothers from later pressings.

It was to be the most notable achievement of the band’s career. Later records had to be issued elsewhere when Ice-T fell out with Warners, sales suffering accordingly. From hereon, the biggest headlines created by Body Count were for a series of tragedies that began with the sad death of Beatmaster V from leukaemia. The original line-up has since seen two others pass on: Mooseman fell in yet another drive-by shooting in 2001, while D-Roc was a second victim of cancer in 2004.

MAY

Friday 17

Kevin Gilbert

(Sacramento, California, 20 November 1966)

Giraffe

(Toy Matinee)

Although a very talented musician, songwriter and producer, Kevin Gilbert’s progress was possibly blighted by the greater success of Sheryl Crow; the fact that Crow was his girlfriend filled far more column inches than the musician’s own work did. In his early career, Gilbert fronted a number of his own bands, of which the best known were progressive-rock acts Giraffe and Toy Matinee, but the shelving of the latter’s album in 1990 saw the multi-instrumentalist concentrate more on Crow’s material. Her massive 1994 breakthrough record
Tuesday Night Music Club
– the title referred to an unofficial group of musicians, of which Gilbert was one – featured no fewer than seven of Gilbert’s songs (or co-compositions), including the huge hit ‘All I Wanna Do’. By the follow-up, though, Crow had ditched Gilbert, along with pretty much all of the other musicians who helped create the first album. Gilbert went on to build his own studio and produce Keith Emerson and ex-Bangle Susanna Hoffs, and record a brace of low-key solo albums.

An upturn in Kevin Gilbert’s fortunes seemed likely after a Giraffe reunion, when Gilbert’s tapes were given to Genesis, who were looking for a new lead singer to replace Phil Collins. On 17 May, Gilbert’s manager arrived at his client’s Eagle Rock home to bring him news of an audition with the British prog giants. Spotting the musician slumped by the stairs, he broke in to discover Gilbert dead, apparently
The Encyclopedia
’s only victim of accidental auto-erotic asphyxiation (the risky practice in which thrill-seekers deprive themselves of oxygen until they reach orgasm) – which, despite rumours, was
not
the cause of INXS star Michael Hutchence’s death a year later (
October 1997).
Gilbert was also believed to have been dabbling heavily with drugs at the time.

Johnny ‘Guitar’ Watson

(Houston, Texas, 3 February 1935)

(The Mellotones)