Four recent deaths in the world of rock and pop

Mark Randall Volman (19 April, 1947 – September 5, 2025) was an American vocalist, guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of the 1960s rock band the Turtles, and, along with his bandmate and friend Howard Kaylan, a member of the 1970s rock duo Flo & Eddie, where he used the pseudonym Flo (The Phlorescent Leech). Volman also became a stand-out figure upon joining Frank Zappa's band, The Mothers of Invention. I knew of him through his work with T Rex.

 

Richard "Rick" Davies (22 July 1944 – September 6, 2025) was an English musician best known as founder, vocalist and keyboardist of the rock band Supertramp. Davies was the band's only constant member and wrote or co-wrote songs including "Goodbye Stranger", "My Kind of Lady", "Cannonball", and "I'm Beggin' You". He was known for his rhythmic blues piano solos, jazz-tinged progressive rock compositions and cynical lyrics. I was not abig Supertramp fan but Breakfast in America, Dreaming, Logical Song, etc, wormed their way into my psyche.

 

Nicholas "Nicky" Dominick Ryan (14 July 1946 – September 10 2025) was an Irish music producer, recording engineer and manager best known as the longtime business and recording partner for the singer, songwriter and musician Enya alongside his wife, poet and lyricist Roma Ryan. Born and raised in Dublin, Ryan gained initial recognition in the 1970s and 1980s for his work with several artists including Gary Moore, Planxty, Christy Moore and Clannad.

Bobby Hart (born Robert Luke Harshman; 18 February 1939 – September 10, 2025) and Sidney Thomas Boyce (1939 – 1994) were an American duo of singer-songwriters. In addition to three top-40 hits as artists, the duo is well known for its songwriting for the Monkees.

365 Albums 181-195

1. Renaissance Thijs van Leer 1986* 
2. Watermark Enya 1988 
3. Ghost Kate Rusby 2014
4. New beginning Tracy Chapman 1995 
5. O my love! Thijs van Leer 1975 
6. My people were fair ... Tyrannosaurus Rex 1968 
7. Minor Details Jan Akkerman 2011 
8. Presence Chuck Loeb 2007
9. alterum Julie Fowlis 2017 
10. Meditation Tony Soctt ft Jan Akkerman 1977
11. Force Majeure Tangerine Dream 1978 
12. Albedo 0.39 Vangelis 1976 
13. Sergeant Pepper The Beatles 1967
14. A Day Without Rain Enya 2000
15. Piano Portraits Rick Wakeman 2017*

365 Albums 151-165

1. War U2 1983
2. The Yes Album Yes 1970 (M31)
3. Saved Bob Dylan 1980
4. The Chieftains 5 The Chieftains 1975
5. Tanx T Rex 1973
6. Peace Eurythmics 1999
7. Paradise Found Maddy Prior & the Carnival Band 2007 * (J5)
8. Focus X Focus 2012
9. Birds Trace 1975
10. Mind Wave Cyril Havermans 1974
11. Slow Train Coming Bob Dylan 1979
12. Let it Be The Beatles 1970
13. Introspection 3 Thijs van Leer 1977 (J10)
14. Underwater Sunlight Tangerine Dream 1986
15. Ekseption 5 Ekseption 1972

365 Albums 76-90

1. The Crossing Big Country 1983 (1996 remaster)
2. Electric Warrior T Rex 1971
3. Live at Alexanders Jan Akkerman 1999
4. Tubular Bells Mike Oldfield 1973
5. Yr Hwntws Yr Hwntws 1982
6. Passion Jan Akkerman 1999*
7. Transparental Jan Akkerman & Kaz Lux 1980
8. Under my skin Gabrielle 2018
9. Abraxas Santana 1970
10. Dylanesque Bryan Ferry 2007
11. Camel Snow Goose 1975
12. The Man Who Built America Horslips 1978
13. O Brother where art thou? Soundtrack Various Artists 2000
14. Hymns II Page CXVI 2010*
15. Beggar Julia's Timetrip Ekseption 1970

(* Suitable for Sunday playing IMHO)

365 Albums 46-60

1. Beard of Stars Tyrannosaurus Rex 1970
2. Bach for a New Age Thijs van Leer 1999*
3. Renaissance of the Celtic Harp Alan Stivell 1972
4. The Tain Horslips 1973
5. The Chieftains 4 The Chieftains 1973
6. Me Myself I Joan Armatrading 1980
7. Guitar From the Heart Live in Raalte Thomas Blug Band 2005
8. Tracy Chapman Tracy Chapman 1988
9. In Another land Larry Norman 1976*
10. Final Straw Snow Patrol 2003
11. Six wives of Henry VIII Rick Wakeman 1973
12. Blue on Blue Leigh Nash 2006
13. Penguin Cafe Orchestra PCO 1981
14. Shot of Love Bob Dylan 1981
15. Hopes And Fears Keane 2004

(* Suitable for Sunday playing IMHO)

365 Albums 16-30

1. Graceland Paul Simon 1986
2. Laser Love After the Fire 1979
3. Book of Invasions Horslips 1976
4. The Slider T Rex 1972
5. Philosophers, poets and kings Kate Rusby 2019
6. New York City The Peter Malick Group ft Norah Jones 2003
7. Angel on the mantlepiece Charles O'Connor 1999*
8. Solitude Standing Suzanne Vega 1987
9. Shepherd Moons Enya 1991
10. Bridge Over Troubled Water Simon & Garfunkel 1969
11. Play to Win Gabrielle 2004
12. China Vangelis 1979
13. Cyril Cyril Havermans 1973
14. Hyperborea Tangerine Dream 1983
15. The Race for Space Public Service Broadcasting 2015

(* Suitable for Sunday playing IMHO)

365 Albums 1-15

I'm trying to listen to 365 albums this year. Here are 15 I've already listened to.

1. Argus Wishbone Ash 1972
2. Introspection Thijs van Leer 1972*
3. Aranjuez Jan Akkerman Claus Ogerman 1978*
4. T Rex T Rex 1970
5. Please please me The Beatles 1963
6. Guitars Mike Oldfield 1999
7. Heaven and Hell Vangelis 1975
8. Antarctica Vangelis 1983*
9. Titanium Flag Colin Harper 2017
10. Ekseption Ekseption 1969
11. Stratosfear Tangerine Dream 1976
12. American Pie Don McLean 1971
13. Hymns Page CXVI 2009*
14. Close to the Edge Yes 1972
15. Emerson Lake and Palmer Emerson Lake and Palmer 1970

(* Suitable for Sunday playing IMHO)

10 Great Acts from the Seventies

1. Focus
2. Yes
3. Horslips
4. Tangerine Dream
5. Vangelis
6. Mike Oldfield
7. Free
8. T Rex
9. Roxy Music
10. The Chieftains

Stacey Grove

Mad Marc at his best

Fist Heart Mighty Dawn Dart

Marc Bolan T Rex Ballrooms of Mars acoustic live

I was thinking of this songtoday. This is an early acoustic version.

Sunken Rags (Home demo)

10 Songs that reference Bob Dylan by T Rex and others

1. Ballrooms of Mars T Rex

the monsters call out The names of men Bob Dylan knows And I bet Alan Freed did There are things in night That are better not to behold

2. Mystic Lady T Rex Oh bobby you're a hobby With the learned ones Like a setting sun

3. Telegram Sam T rex

Bobby's alright Bobby's alright He's a natural born poet He's just outta sight

(Some say Bolan is from BOb dyLAN)

4. Fizzy Jesus and Mary Chain

Elvis lives and Bob Dylan is dead And OJ's wife's crawling back from the dead

5. Chinese Bakery The Auteurs

just somebodys past Don't blink, pinch me twice Just seen Bob Dylan on a motorbike I don't think this relationship will last

6. Flags of freedom Neil Young

Sister has her headphones on She hears the music blasting She sees her brother marchin' by Their bond is everlasting Listening to Bob Dylan singin' in 1963 Watching the flags of freedom flyin'

7. God Plastic Ono Band

I don't believe in Zimmerman I don't believe in Beatles I just believe in me Yoko and me And that's reality

8. Song for a small circle of friends Larry Norman

Dear Bobby watch your fears all hide And disappear while love inside starts growing You're older but less colder Than the jokes and folks you spent your childhood snowing

9. A Simple Desultory Phillipic Simon & Garfunkel 

I knew a man, his brain so small  He couldn't think of nothing at all  He's not the same as you and me  He doesn't dig poetry. He's so unhip that  When you say Dylan, he thinks you're talking about Dylan Thomas  Whoever he was  The man ain't got no culture  But it's alright, ma  Everybody must get stoned

10. Folk City Jan &Dean

I'm gonna sing all the words like Bob Dylan does 'bout where it's at and where it was

10 Songs that reference T Rex or Bolan

1. Mott the Hoople/All the young dudes
The television man is crazy Saying we're juvenile delinquent wrecks Man I need a TV when I've got T. Rex Hey brother you guessed I'm a dude
2. The Who/You better you bet
I love to hear you say my name especially when you say yes I got your body right now on my mind and I drunk myself blind to the sound of old T.Rex To the sound of old T.Rex - who's next?
3. The Ramones/Rock'n'roll radio
Will you remember Jerry Lee, John Lennon, T. Rex and Ol' Moulty? It's the end, the end of the 70's It's the end, the end of the century
4. Dada/Posters
She locked the door behind me she lit a candle Then blew it out said the moon would do just fine The lizard king and T. Rex for wall paper Above her bed hung a No-Parking sign
5. Zodiac Mindwarp/Prime Mover
Yeah yeah yeah yeah Well I love TV and I love T. Rex I can see through your skirt I've got x-ray spex
6. R.E.M./The Wake Up Bomb
Practice my T. Rex moves and make the scene get drunk and sing along to Queen
7. B A Robertson/Kool in the Kaftan
Do yourself a favour Don't you savour All that hippy thing find what's next Hey man don't you stop and pray man Go out and buy T Rex
8. Smog/Floating
Floating Hear a name From which planet Do you beckon I don't reckon It could be too far from here I'll bet you look like Marc Bolan's girlfriend
9. Kate Bush/Blow away (For Bill)
Put out the light, then, put out the light Vibes in the sky invite you to dine Dust to dust Blow to blow Bolan and Moony are heading the show tonight
10. Devendra Benhart/The Beatles Yo sí oigo a (I have listened to) Donovan. Yo sí oigo a Marc Bolan. Yo sí oigo a Ben Chasny. A Six Organs me gusta a mí.

Fortieth Anniversary of the death of Marc Bolan

Marc Bolan was an early musical hero of mine. I never saw him life (protective parents). On September 16, 1977, the T. Rex singer was killed instantly when the car, a mini, driven by his girlfriend, Gloria Jones, left the road and hit a tree in Barnes, West London. The couple were on the way to Bolan's home in Richmond after a night out at a Mayfair restaurant. A local man who witnessed the crash said, “When I arrived a girl was lying on the bonnet and a man with long dark curly hair was stretched out in the road; there was a hell of a mess”.

A very good documentary called Cosmic Dancer aired last night on BBC 4 and is worth watching. It appeared to give to me a fair and balanced account of the life. I thought it about right when someone said Bolan was not as good as he sometimes claimed but then not as bad either as others made out. Like most geniuses he was a flawed genius. To die so young was a great tragedy.See here for the next month.

One Inch Rock and Germaine Greer

Mentioning T Rex's One Inch Rock set me thinking about that strange song and what it may mean. Some time ago it crossed my mind that "I asked her name she said Germaine" was a reference to Germaine Greer. That may be the case. Quite what more we can say I know not.

In the book Ride a White Swan: The Lives and Death of Marc Bolan Lesley-Ann Jones writes

Times were a'changing on all fronts. Germaine Greer, outspoken Australian feminist and International Times and Oz magazine contributor, was now a household name, thanks to her best-selling 1970 work The Female Eunuch. Championing the cause of women's liberation beyond 'mere' equality with men, Greer became a high-profile figure on the London scene, and an unlikely friend of Marc (Bolan), (DJ) Jeff (Dexter) and June (Child). Jeff recounts outrageous nights in restaurants, when Germaine could always be relied upon to let down her hair and get up to mischief while Marc would be beside himself with mirth.

A website here refers to One Inch Rock as "a thinly veiled attack on Germaine Greer".

The lyrics are

Met a woman she's spouting prose She's got luggage eyes and a roman nose

Her body is slung from side to side Need a lift she said much obliged

I'm riding piggy-back Then I came to her shack

We go inside the place it's a mess She said my name's the liquid poetess

She unties her mouth And her buckskin dress

She drinks from a bottle labelled tenderness I'm in one hand in the other's a can

She puts me in the can And smiles through the wall

I got the horrors 'cause I'm one inch tall Next thing I know's a girl by my side

Dressed in a bayleaf she's trying to hide I asked her name she said Germaine

Do the rock do the one inch rock.

Deboraarobed

In case you are wondering what I am talking about. In the second recording the song is played backwards from the halfway point

.

A new film and a musical memory

As soon as I heard there was a new film Baby Driver I spotted the reference to the Simon and Garfunkel song. We then learn that the film is full of  songs from the past and they form an integral part of the plot and characterisation. This website lists over 70 songs in the film.

Of most interest to me is another use of Hocus Pocus by Focus, always a good move. Not sure how long that plays for. Hocus Pocus came out in 1971 but we were not aware of it in the UK until 1973. (Given that they also have Radar Love by Golden Earring in there too (also 1973), Dutch rock is not really under represented.)

The other track that caught my eye (I have only read about the film, not seen it) is Debora by T Rex. I think the song goes back to 1968. There is an alternative version on the album Prophets seers, and sages called Deboraarobed, which is a fascinating exercise in palindromy. I bought my copy back in 1972 when it was re-released as a single on the back of Marc Bolan's electric pop success. I bought it from Woolworths in Cwmbran if I remember correctly. It was one of those rare occasions in those days when a single had an interesting cover. Being an acoustic effort from four years before it immediately sounded dated but with the help of the three tracks on the B side from the same era (One inch rock, Woodland Bop and Seal of Seasons) I was convinced it had been worth my pennies. From then I was on the look out for the four Tyrannosaurus Rex albums that came before the T Rex album that launched the pop career.

It must have been that same year that I came across a copy of Best of T Rex in David Evans department store, a collection of old singles, etc, that included Debora.

Another cassette

Another cassette I found is Volume 1 of a two volume collection of 28 classic rock numbers. I don't think I ever owned Volume 2. I bought it in a sale and Volume 2 was missing then.

Volume 2 contained T Rex/Ride a white swan, The Who/My generation, Peter Frampton/Show me the way. Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel/Make Me Smile, Canned Heat/Let's Work Together, Fleetwood Mac/Albatross – which I would have loved (the rest are okay - Julie Driscoll, Brian Auger & The Trinity/This Wheel's On Fire, Pink Floyd/Money, Dire Straits/Lady Writer, Lou Reed/ Walk On The Wild Side, Lynyrd Skynyrd/Freebird. Meatloaf/Dead Ringer For Love, Far Corporation/Stairway To Heaven, Deep Purple/Smoke On The Water).

If I remember rightly I bought the cassette for Free/My Brother Jake plus Derek And The Dominos/Layla, Thin Lizzy/Waiting For An Alibi, Status Quo/Caroline, Santana She's Not There, Electric Light Orchestra/Roll Over Beethoven, Jethro Tull/Living In The Past, Rod Stewart/Maggie May, Black Sabbath/Paranoid. I'm alsop happy enough with Mott The Hoople/All The Young Dudes, The Jimi Hendrix Experience/Voodoo Chile, Cream/Strange Brew , Rainbow/Since You Been Gone/Traffic/Paper Sun.

In some ways this is a broad range of rock and shows what good stuff was going down back in the late sixties and early seventies. I currently have on my ipod and listen to exactly half (ie 14) of these tracks.

Recent Purchase

As a sort of pre-Christmas present to myself I recently bought an album I only discovered a few years ago. Tales from the Book of Time, like its predecessor Beltane, is a reworking of some of the music of Marc Bolan by the French Canadien singer Catherine Lambert. The treatment is a baroque one with lots of harpsichord, recorders and strings. The main CD contains 15 songs from the period from Unicorn to the T Rex album, a golden era for Bolan and beautifully presented on this excellently produced album. I was familiar with most of the tracks through Youtube (see above for example). (I've not explored the second CD yet, an audiobook).
I had almost despaired of getting hold of the 2004 album. I saw one advertised somewhere for over a thousand pounds. I got this one from discogs and it was very reasonably priced although I had to pay the same price again more or less to get it from Switzerland. It really is worth having, however.