The 100th Birthday of Judy Garland

Judy Garland was born Frances Ethel Gumm 100 years ago today, on June 10 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Her parentswere vaudevillians who settled down to run a movie and vaudeville theatre. The family moved to Lancaster, California where young Frances Ethel Gumm and her sisters began their career in entertainment as the Gumm Sisters. The Gumm Sisters proved relatively successful. They toured the vaudeville circuit and appeared in short films. The Gumm Sisters would eventually become the Garland Sisters, with Frances Ethel Gumm taking the first name "Judy." It was in 1935, after Suzanne Garland (born Mary Jane Gumm) got married, that the Garland Sisters broke up as an act. It was that same year that Judy Garland would be signed to MGM. Four years later she was catapulted to superstardom in The Wizard of Oz (1939).

Judy Garland remains one of the most famous stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as one of the most beloved. In their list of the Greatest Female Stars of All-Time, the American Film Institute ranked eighth, and one has to suspect many would have ranked her much higher. Indeed, she has been called "the World's Greatest Entertainer." Many of her movies, including The Wizard of Oz (1939), Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), and A Star is Born (1954), are counted among the greatest movies of all time. Many of the songs she originated in movies, including "Over the Rainbow," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," and "The Man That Got Away," have become standards. One hundred years after her birth, Judy Garland is still a superstar.

While Judy Garland made many films in her career, it seems likely that much of her continued fame is due to one film: The Wizard of Oz. Contrary to popular belief, The Wizard of Oz did do well at the box office (it was the fifth highest grossing film of 1939), it was simply a case that its production costs and other costs were so high that it did not make a profit. It certainly did well in its re-releases. More than its several re-releases to theatres, it was perhaps its annual airings on television that contributed most to Judy Garland's fame. It first aired on television on Ford Star Jubilee in 1956. Starting in 1959, The Wizard Oz would air annually on network television until 1996. Since then it still airs regularly on Turner Classic Movies, TNT, and TBS, and is available on streaming as well.

It is largely because of its annual airings on broadcast network television that many estimate The Wizard of Oz is the most viewed film in history. Indeed, it seems likely that because of the annual airings of The Wizard of Oz, not only is it the first classic film many younger Baby Boomers and the entirety of Generation X and the Millennials ever saw, making Judy Garland the first classic movie star to whom they were exposed. Of course, The Wizard of Oz was not the only Judy Garland movie that would air regularly on television. Meet Me in St. Louis would air on many stations on a regular basis, particularly at Christmas time. Easter Parade would be an annual Easter event for many local stations. It seems likely that a good swathe of Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, and Millennials were all exposed to Judy Garland well before they turned 18.

Of course, even with annual airings of The Wizard of Oz, Judy Garland would not have remained popular had it not been for her enormous talent. As an actress she was capable of displaying a wide range of emotions, not simply in her words but also in her expressions and body language. She was ideally suited to comedy and musicals, but she was capable of playing drama as well. Judy Garland was as good in Judgement at Nuremberg as she was Meet Me in St. Louis. Judy Garland was nominated for the Oscar for Best Actress for A Star is Born (an Oscar many believe she should have won) and Best Supporting Actress for Judgement at Nuremberg. Judy Garland was also a fairly good dancer, displaying her talent in many musicals. As great an actress as Judy Garland was, it can be argued that she was an even better singer. Miss Garland was blessed with a powerful contralto over which she had perfect control. What is more, while singing Judy Garland could imbue her voice with a multitude of emotions. It is little wonder that "Over the Rainbow" would be counted by the American Film Institute as the greatest movie song of all time.

When discussing Judy Garland's popularity, her status as a gay icon really cannot be ignored. It seems likely she was already a gay icon before she died. More one than writer at the time noted a disproportionate number of her fans present at her 1967 engagement at the Palace Theatre in New York City were gay. As a heterosexual cisgendered male, I am not sure I can entirely explain how or why Judy Garland became a gay icon, but I think part of the reason may also be why she remains popular with audiences in general. Both in her films and in life Judy Garland was something of an outsider. In The Wizard of Oz, she played Dorothy Gale, a young woman who longs for life beyond the confines of her aunt and uncle's Kansas farm. She played a small town girl aspiring to dreams on Broadway in Presenting Lily Mars (1943). In The Harvey Girls (1946) it is Judy Garland's character Susan who leads the fight against Judge Sam Purvis's (Preston Foster)campaign to drive the Harvey Girls away to keep the town's saloon thriving. In real life Judy Garland was a bit of an outsider as well. While there is no doubt that Judy Garland is and was a star, she never fit neatly into the categories into which the studios liked to place actresses. Although she was very attractive, Judy Garland was never counted as a great beauty and she was never counted as a glamour girl. Although she was a great actress, she was never counted among such enormous talents as Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn. In many ways Judy Garland stood apart from the Hollywood mainstream. Anyone who does not feel as if they fit into mainstream society, whether because of sexual orientation or some other reason, will probably feel some affection for Judy Garland for that reason.

Of course, Judy Garland would have an enormous impact on many. For me, The Wizard of Oz was the first classic film I can remember watching and as a result Judy Garland was the first classic movie star of whom I was aware. Judy Garland and The Wizard of Oz could then be counted as the start of my journey as a classic movie buff. By the time I was an adult I had already seen many of her movies, including Meet Me in St, Louis and A Star is Born. Judy Garland would have an even bigger impact on my dear friend Vanessa Marquez. It was after she saw The Wizard of Oz for the first time when she was three or four that she decided she wanted to be an actress when she grew up. The list of other celebrities inspired by Miss Garland is not a short one: Bete Midler, Freddie Mercury, Donna Summer, Janelle Monae, and many others. Judy Garland has had a lasting impact on pop culture and there can be no doubt she will continue to do so for the next 100 years.

Victim (1961)

Although it may not be well known among the general public now, Victim (1961) was groundbreaking upon its release. Directed by Basil Dearden and starring Dirk Bogarde, it was pioneering in its approach to homosexuality. In fact, it was the first English language film in which the word "homosexual" was mentioned.

Victim centred on Melville Farr (Dirk Bogarde), a successful barrister who is on the verge of becoming a Queen's Counsel. Farr also happens to be gay. Jack "Boy" Barrett (Peter McEnery), a young man with whom Farr had a romantic, if platonic relationship, was being blackmailed. To play the blackmail he stole  £2,300 from his job and as a result is being pursued by the police. He wants Farr's help in leaving the country. Unfortunately for Barrett, he is picked up by the police, who wants to know why he was being blackmailed. Barrett ultimately hangs himself in a police cell to avoid revealing the reason why he was being blackmailed and compromising Farr as well. Farr then decides to take on the ring of blackmailers himself.

Victim emerged from the social and political climate in the United Kingdom at the time. The  Criminal Law Amendment Act 1885 had made homosexual acts between men illegal. It was after the end of the Second World War that arrests and prosecutions for violating for homosexual offences had increased dramatically. Following the convictions of such high profile men as John Gielgud,  Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, Peter Wildeblood and others, that the government set up a committee within  Home Office and Scottish Home Department  to examine homosexual offences and prostitution. The  Report of the Departmental Committee on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution was published on September 4 1957, and is often called the Wolfenden report after  Sir John Wolfenden, the chairman of the committee. The report ultimately recommended that "homosexual behaviour between consenting adults in private should no longer be a criminal offence."

Janet Green, the screenwriter who had written such films as Eyewitness (1956) and Sapphire (1959), read the Wolfenden report and as a result took in the reform of the laws regarding homosexuality. She and her husband John McCormick then wrote a screenplay originally titled Boy Barrett. Janet Green had previously worked with director Basil Dearden and produce Michael Relph on Sapphire, and the two men decided to forward with Victim. They decided to take an approach to Victim similar to that they took with Sapphire, which addressed racism against Afro-Caribbean immigrants in London.

Basil Dearden and Michael Relph would have some difficulty finding their leading man. Victim was offered to Jack Hawkins, but he turned it down. An offer was made to James Mason, but he turned it down as well. Even Stewart Granger was considered for the lead role. Finally, Victim was offered to Dirk Bogarde, then one of the United Kingdom's top matinee idols. He had starred in the successful Doctor series of films, as well as such movies as The Blue Lamp (1950), Cast a Dark Shadow (1955), and A Tale of Two Cities (1958). What was not well known at the time was that Dirk Bogarde was gay himself. He lived with his partner, Anthony Forward, and the two men would remain together until Mr. Forward died in 1988. Given homosexual acts were illegal in the United Kingdom at the time, as well as the possible adverse affect a revelation that he was gay could have upon his career, it should come as no surprise that Mr. Bogarde hid his sexual orientation for years.

In making Victim producer Michael Relph made the decision to approach the subject of homosexuality very cautiously. It was decided that the movie would feature no discussion of sexual acts between men, let alone scenes addressing sexual relations between men. That having been said, the movie approached homosexuality with sympathy, something that was somewhat revolutionary at the time. Michael Relph ultimately said that  Victim was a story of "not glands, but of love."

Even without any mention of homosexual acts, let alone any portrayal of such, Victim ran afoul of censors on both sides of the Pond. The British Board of Film Censorship (BBFC) demanded four lines of dialogue be cut, and suggested shortening two other scenes. Even so, the BBFC would ultimately give Victim an "X" certificate, which meant no one under the age of 16 could see the film. At the time "X" certificates were generally given to only adult films and horror movies. The Production Code Administration in the Unites States would have a much stronger reaction to Victim. Quite simply the PCA refused to give Victim its seal of approval. Victim was released in the United States without the PCA's seal.

While Victim proved controversial with the censors, it did receive positive reviews in the United Kingdom and the United States. Seen today Victim seems dated. Farr and Barrett never had sex, nor does Farr ever mention having had sex with any other man. In fact, there is no mention of sexual relations between men at any point in the film. The photograph for which Barrett being blackmailed is not one of him en flagrante with another man, but a simple photo of Barrett crying on Farr's shoulder. While Victim was certainly groundbreaking at the time, today its approach to homosexuality seems prudish. Of course, as pointed out above, this approach was intentional. Producer Michael Relph knew better than to push the envelope too far with regards to the censors.

Regardless, Victim was a groundbreaking film in addressing the topic of homosexuality directly in a way that it never had before. It also proved to be a turning point in Dirk Bogarde's career. Previously and with but a few exceptions, Mr. Bogarde had been confined to roles befitting his status as a matinee idol. Afterwards he would appear in such films as The Servant (1963), Darling (1965), Death in Venice (1971), and yet others. Although Victim might appear dated today, at the time it was a positively revolutionary film.

"A Whiter Shade of Pale" by Procol Harum

It was fifty five years ago today that "A Whiter Shade of Pale"by Procol Harum hit no. 1 on the British singles chart. It would remain no. 1 on the chart for three weeks. It peaked at no. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States. Ultimately, "A Whiter Shade of Pale" would sell over 10 million copies worldwide.

A promotional film for "A Whiter Shade of Pale" was shot at the ruins of Witley Court in Worcestershire, England. It was directed by Peter Clifton, who would go onto direct the Led Zeppelin concert film The Song Remains the Same (1976). Better known than the promotional film for "A Whiter Shade of Pale" is perhaps the film made for Scopitone visual jukeboxes. The members of Procol Harum in the  Scopitone film does not reflect the actual personnel who had worked on the song "A Whiter Shade of Pale." Drums on the song were provided by session drummer Bill Evden, who did not appear in the original promotional film either. Guitarist Ray Royer had left Procol Harum and been replaced by Robin Trower by the time the Scopitone film was shot. The Scopitone film was shot in and around London.

Without further ado, here is the Scopitone film of "A Whiter Shade of Pale."

Actress Linda Lawson Passes On

Linda Lawson, an actress who had roles on the TV shows Adventures in Paradise, Don't Call Me Charlie, Ben Casey, and That's Life, died on May 18 2022 at the age of 86.

Linda Lawson was born Linda Spaziani on January 14 1936 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She was three years old when her family moved to Fontana, California. She began singing when she was still a child. After graduating from high school, she and her sister Diana moved to Las Vegas where she performed as a singer and dancer at the Sands Hotel. She later moved to Los Angeles where she worked as a studio messenger for MGM. It was while she was a studio messenger at MGM that she was discovered while in an elevator and given a screen test.

Linda Lawson made her television debut in an episode of Mike Hammer in 1958. She had a recurring role on Adventures in Paradise. In the late Fifties she also guest starred on Tales of Texas Rangers, Peter Gunn, Man with a Camera, Maverick, Five Fingers, Border Patrol, The Millionaire, Lock-Up, 77 Sunset Strip, Colt .45, Tombstone Territory, Mr. Lucky, Overland Trail, M Squad, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Richard Diamond Private Detective, The Tall Man, One Step Beyond, Wagon Train, Hawaiian Eye, Tales of Wells Fargo, and Sea Hunt. She made her feature film debut in The Threat in 1960. In 1960 she released a record album, Introducing Linda Lawson.

In the Sixties Linda Lawson was a regular on the short-lived sitcom Don't Call Me Charlie. She had a recurring role as social worker Laura Fremont during the fifth season of Ben  Casey. She guest starred on the shows Sea Hunt, Stagecoach West, The Aquanauts, The Rifleman, The New Bob Cummings Show, Perry Mason, Target: The Corruptors, The Real McCoys, Kraft Suspense Theatre, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bonanza, The Virginian, and It Takes a Thief. She appeared in the movies Night Tide (1961), Apache Rifles (1964), Let's Kill Uncle (1966), and Mrs. Stone's Thing (1970). In the Seventies she appeared in the movie Sometimes a Great Nation (1971).

It was in 1968 that Miss Lawson married producer John Foreman. She retired from acting resumed acting following his death in 1992. In the Nineties she guest starred on Saved By the Bell: The New Class and Arli$$. She played the recurring role of Mrs. Paganini on the drama That's Life. She appeared in the movie Sunset Strip (2000). In the Naughts she guest starred on the shows Without a Trace, Dr. Vegas, and ER.

Linda Lawson was a very talented actress. In the Bonanza episode "To Own the World" she played Maria Hackett, the wife of a millionaire intent on destroying the Cartwrights, and convincingly stood up to Telly Savalas as the aforementioned millionaire. In the Rifleman episode, "Assault," she played Vashti Croxton, a headstrong woman who falsely accuses a travelling salesman of assaulting her. In the Alfred Hitchcock Hour episode "The Oldest Motive," she played a woman involved with an older, married man who is trying to break off their relationship. In her various appearances on television and in movies Linda Lawson played a wide variety of roles and she did all of them well.

The 18th Anniversary of A Shroud of Thoughts

If A Shroud of Thoughts was a human being, it would be old enough to vote. It was 18 years ago today that I made my first post on this blog. At the time I started A Shroud of Thoughts, I did not expect that I would still be writing it eighteen years and 4264 posts later. I also did not expect the many changes to my life that A Shroud of Thoughts would make to my life. I have made many close friends through writing A Shroud of Thoughts. My first book would even largely be compiled of posts from this blog. I have never made any money writing this blog, but I do think in some ways it has become my life's work.

As to the origins of A Shroud of Thoughts, in the mid-Naughts blogs were something of a fad. I had a lady friend at the time who had her own blog and it looked like fun, so I decided to start my own. As to the title, at the time it was fashionable for blogs to have names containing the word "thoughts" or something similar like "musings" and so on. I then settled on the phrase "a shroud of thoughts" from Lord Byron's Childe Harold's Pilgrimage canto iii stanza 113 (I won't quote here, as over the years I think I have quoted it enough). I have to admit that I have since regretted it. Since the blog very quickly evolved from a general interest blog to a blog devoted to pop culture, nostalgia, classic movies, classic films, Old Time Radio, classic comic books, and pulp magazines, I think perhaps I should have chosen a  more fitting name! Unfortunately, by the time I realized I should have chosen a better name than A Shroud of Thoughts, the blog already had a readership and I thought it would confuse people if I changed the name.

If 18 years seems very old for blog, I can tell you that in many ways it is not unusual. Immortal Ephemera is older than this blog, dating to 2002. Inner Toob is about a month and a half older, starting in April 2004. Both The Stop Button and Laura's Miscellaneous Musings go back to 2005. The Rap Sheet dates to 2006. My friend Raquel started Out of the Past in 2007.And these aren't the only blogs that are well over ten years old out there. While most blogs won't last one year, it's not as unusual for a blog to last well over a decade as one might think.

Sadly, some of my fellow long time bloggers are no longer with us. Steve Bailey, who ran the blog MovieMovieBlogBlog died last fall. His death took me entirely by surprise. He was only a little older than me, although his health was not particularly good. Steve had a wonderfully twisted sense of humour and he was active in many blogathons. He was a huge fan of The Beatles and perhaps the biggest Jane Russell fan I ever knew. It was on March 7, only three days before my birthday, that beloved blogger Patricia Nolan-Hall, known to her friends as Paddy Lee, died. In the classic film and television blogging community, I don't think anyone was more loved than Paddy. She not only posted to her blog Caftan Woman often, but she read a large number of blogs and more often than not commented on them. She was participated in many blogathons. Paddy was warm and approachable, a ray of sunlight even when the world seemed dark. I miss both Steve and Paddy immensely, and thinking of both of them still brings tears to my eyes.

Anyway, I would like to think those of you who have continued to read this blog over the years. It truly has been a labour of love, and it is largely because of your support that I have continued to post to this blog even through my darkest days.

It is my custom on each of A Shroud of Thoughts' anniversaries to share my favourite posts from the past year. Here they are then, my favourite posts from June 5 2021 to June 4 2022.

"William Haines and Jimmie Shields: The Happiest Marraige in Hollywood" June 24 2021

"Vanessa Marquez on Culture Clash," June 26 2021

"Saturday Morning Musical Kid's Shows of the 1960s and 1970s Parts One Through Five" July 12-17 2021

"The Media and Vanessa Marquez," August 30 2021

"The 50th Anniversary of Columbo," September 15 2021

"Car 54, Where Are You? Turns 60," September 27 2021

"The 60th Anniversary of NBC Saturday Night at the Movies," September 23 2021

"Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)," October 23 2021

"The 30th Anniversary of Locked Up: A Mother's Rage," October 29 2021

"Broken Arrow the TV Series," November 19 2021

"Brute Force (1947)," November 22 2021

"Hans Conried: Scene Stealer in Radio, in Movies, & On Television" December 4 2021

"The 53rd Birthday of My Dearest Vanessa Marquez," December 21 2021

"The 50th Anniversary of Sanford and Son," January 14 2022

"Sounder (1972),"  February 20 2022

"All Lies End in Murder (1997)," February 22 2022

"Maverick: 'Hadley's Hunters,'" March 19 2022

"Wendy Goldman on ER," April 24 2022

"Perry Mason: 'The Case of the Final Fade-Out," May 6 2022

"The Resurgence of Western Comic Books in the Late 1960s and Early 1970s" Parts One, Two, and Three, May 19-21 2022

"Little Shop of Horrors (1960)," May 26 2022

They Call Me Trinity (1970)

(This post is part of the Foreign Western Blogathon hosted by Moon Over Gemini)

When people think of Spaghetti Westerns, such grim, ultraviolent movies with morally ambiguous protagonists as A Fistful of Dollars (1964) and Sabata (1969) most likely come to mind. While it is most definitely a Spaghetti Western, about the only thing They Call Me Trinity has in common with those movies are a morally ambiguous protagonist. Quite simply, They Call Me Trinity, or in its native Italian Lo chiamavano Trinità (literally "They call me Trinity") is a Spaghetti Western comedy.

They Call Me Trinity centres on the character of the title (Terence Hill), a gunfighter with preternatural skill with guns wandering the Old West. While Trinity is an excellent gunslinger and quite good at hand to hand combat, he also happens to be exceedingly lazy, so lazy that he has a litter attached to his horse on which he takes naps while his horse takes them to wherever he wants to go. Trinity finds himself in a small Western town where his brother Bambino (Bud Spencer) just happens to be impersonating the local sheriff while he waits for his gang, just escaped from prison, to arrive. Bambino is not particularly happy to see Trinity, as one of Trinity's few talents is causing trouble. As it turns out, Trinity is taken with a pair of young, single women from the local Mormon settlement. This puts him into conflict with the corrupt Major Harriman (Farley Granger), who wants to drive the Mormons from their land so he can use it for pasture for his horses. Trinity and Bambino then must form an uneasy alliance despite their differences.

For much of the Sixties, Spaghetti Westerns had proven to be very successful. The genre reached its peak in 1968 when fully one-third of all films produced in Italy were Spaghetti Westerns. The bottom would fall out of the genre by 1969, when Spaghetti Westerns comprised only one tenth of all films produced in Italy. It was perhaps for that reason that producer Italo Zingarelli asked director Enzo Barboni to write a script for a Western comedy. Given the time, Mr. Zingarelli was probably wise in doing so. In the Sixties such Western comedies produced by Hollywood as McLintock! (1963), Cat Ballou (1965), and Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969) had seen success. As to director Enzo Barboni, he had already directed a serious Western, The Unholy Four (1970).

Originally Peter Martell and George Eastman were to be cast as the leads in They Call Me Trinity. It was director Enzo Barboni who cast Terence Hill and Bud Spencer. The two first appeared on screen together in the movie Hannibal (1959), but not as a team. It was the Spaghetti Western God Forgives...I Don't (1967) that established Terence Hill and Bud Spencer as a team. While God Forgives...I Don't! is a serious Spaghetti Western, it has its comic moments, particularly in scenes in which Terence Hill and Bud Spencer were together. God Forgives...I Don't would prove so successful that Terence Hill and Bud Spencer would reprise their characters in Ace High (1968) and Boot Hill (1969). As in the case of God Forgives...But I Don't!, both Ace High and Boot Hill were serious films, but with a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure.  Incredibly, both Terence Hill and Bud Spencer would perform their own stunts in They Call Me Trinity, with stuntmen mostly performing the stunts for the supporting cast.

While it is a comedy, one thing that They Call Me Trinity has in common with other Spaghetti Westerns is that it was shot in Europe. In the case of They Call Me Trinity, it was shot in Italy. Interiors and towns were shot at Incir De Paolis Studios in Rome. Campo Imperatore in Gran Sasso e Monti della Laga National Park served as the Mormons' field that the Major wanted. Other locations were shot around Lazio, the province in which Rome is located.

They Call Me Trinity proved to be a hit upon its release in Italy. In fact, it was so successful that as of 2004 it was the 22nd most successful Italian film, right below fellow Spaghetti Western The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly (1966). They Call Me Trinity also did well elsewhere in the world, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

The success of They Call Me Trinity would lead to a sequel, Trinity is Still My Name (1971), which proved to be even more successful than They Call Me Trinity. Its success would also lead to several more films teaming Terence Hill and Bud Spencer, from Blackie the Pirate (1971) to Troublemakers (1994). As might be expected given the nature of Italian cinema, several derivative films were released in the wake of They Call Me Trinity, including They Call Me Hallalujah (1971), Two Sons of Trinity (1972), Cambonia! (1974), and yet others. The success of They Call Me Trinity also led to a boom in Spaghetti Western comedies that would last until Spaghetti Westerns faded from view in the mid to late Seventies.

Sadly, They Call Me Trinity has been blamed for the many inferior Spaghetti Western comedies that followed, with some even maintaining that They Call Me Trinity marked the beginning of the end for the Spaghetti Western. While They Call Me Trinity certainly did inspire a number of inferior imitators, it did so because it is a very funny movie. Indeed, Howard Thompson wrote in The New York Times "Whoever E. B. Clucher (director Enzo Barbonis's pseudonym.--Terence) is—and he is credited as writer-director of yesterday's new movie, "They Call Me Trinity"—he has a sense of humour."  They Call Me Trinity is primarily a slapstick comedy, with the emphasis on physical gags. In some respects it is not unlike an extended Laurel and Hardy short set in the Old West, given a few tropes from Spaghetti Westerns, and shot in Italy. Because of this it translates well around much of the world. Languages may vary from country to country, but physical humour remains mostly the same. It must also be pointed out that Terence Hill and Bud Spencer are perfect in their roles. At any rate, to blame They Call Me Trinity for the many inferior Spaghetti Western comedies that followed it would be something like blaming Star Wars (1977) for the many bad sci-fi movies that followed in its wake.

In the end, whether They Call Me Trinity led to the demise of the Spaghetti Western is perhaps moot. It remains one of the funniest Western comedies shot anywhere in the world.

Alan White of Yes and Andy Fletcher of Depeche Mode Pass On

Alan White

Alan White, drummer and longest serving member of Yes, died on May 29 2022 at the age of 72 following a brief illness.

Alan White was born on June 14 1949 in Pelton, County Durham. Music ran in his family. His grandfather was a pianist and his uncle was a drummer. When he was seven the family moved to Ferryhill, County, Durham. Alan White was six year old when he began taking piano lessons. His uncle noticed that young Alan White played the piano as if it were a percussion instrument, and told his parents. When Alan White was twelve, his parents then gave him an Ajax drum kit for Christmas. Eventually his parents would buy him a large Ludwig drum kit.

Alan White was only thirteen when he joined his first band, The Downbeats, who largely played covers of such beat bands as The Beatles, The Searchers, and Gerry & The Pacemakers. In 1964 The Downbeats changed their name to The Blue Chips. As The Blue Chips they went to 'London where they competed in a talent contest. They won the contest, which included a monetary award, new equipment, and a recording contract. The Blue Chips released the singles "I'm on the Right Side," "Some Kind of Lovin'," and "Tell Her" in 1965 and 1966, but none of them charted. The Blue Chips soon broke up afterwards.

Alan White went onto play as part of Billy Fury's band The Gamblers. Afterwards he joined The Happy Magazine. The band released a few singles before being renamed Griffin. Grffin would record only one single before they broke up. Alan White also played with The Alan Price Set and appeared on their albums A Price on His Head and The Price is Right.

It was in 1969 that Alan White was invited by John Lennon to play with The Plastic Ono Band when performed at the Toronto Rock and Roll Revival festival.  He also appeared on John Lennon's single "Instant Karma" and on his album Imagine. He would later play on George Harrison's album All Things Must Pass and Radha Krsna Temple. He later worked with Denny Laine's band Bails and Ginger Baker's Air Force, as well as working with Steve Winwood and Terry Reid.

It was when Yes's drummer Bill Bruford left the band to join King Crimson that Alan White became Yes's drummer. He first appeared on Yes's album Yessongs and ultimately played on over forty Yes studio albums and live albums. He also co-wrote various Yes songs, including "Turn of the Century" from Going for the One; "Future Times" and "Release, Release" from Tormato; and  "Changes," "Our Song," and "Hearts" from 90125. Ultimately, Alan White would become the longest standing member of Yes and the only member besides Chris Squire to have never left the band.

Alan White released only one solo album,  Ramshackled in 1976. He appeared solo projects by fellow Yes members Chris Squire, Steve Howe, and Rick Wakeman. He also worked with Gary Wright, Jesse Davis, Donovan, Eddie Harris, and Johnny Harris.

Alan White was arguably one of the best drummers of his era. He had impeccable timing. What is more he was capable of a variety of drumming styles, insuring that he could play with artists as diverse as prog rockers Yes to jazz musician Eddie Harris. His versatility also allowed him to keep pace with Yes's changing styles over the years. When it came to drummers in progressive rock, Alan White was one of the best.

Andy Fletcher

Andy Fletcher, keyboardist and founding member of Depeche Mode, died on May 29 2022 at the age of 60.

Andy Fletcher was born on July 8 1961 in Nottingham. His first two years of life were spent in Basildon before the family moved to Nottingham. It was in 1977 that Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke formed a band called No Romance in China. It was later in 1980 that Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke formed another band, this one called Composition of Sound. Vince Clarke played guitar and sang, while Andy Fletcher played bass. It would after Vince Clarke heard the band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark that Messrs. Clarke and Fletcher decided to shift to electronic music. Martin Gore then joined the band. Still later Dave Gahan joined Composition of Sound. It was Dave Gahan who suggested a new name for the band Depeche Mode. They are believed to have first played under that name at the James Hornsby School in Basildon.

Depeche Mode's first single, "Dreaming of Me," was released on Mute Records in 1981. It would be their second single, "New Life," that would be their first hit, peaking at no. 11 on the UK singles chart. With Martin Gore and Dave Gahan, Andy Fletcher would be one the three members of Depeche Mode who remained with the band from its beginning. While Messrs Gore and Gahan both wrote songs, Andy Fletcher's precise role in the band was a bit of a running joke. He once joked in a Rolling Stone interview,  "Martin's the songwriter, Alan's the good musician, Dave's the vocalist, and I bum around." In truth, Andy Fletcher played an important role in Depeche Mode. Early on, he played bass and still later synth bass. Later he would play the synthesizer, using it both for music and sound effects. Also, since it was often the case that Depeche Mode did not have a manager, Andy Fletcher handle much of the band's business. He was also pivotal in settling disputes within the band. Quite simply, he was the glue that kept the band together.

In addition to his work with Depeche Mode, Andy Fletcher also founded his own label as an imprint of Mute Records, Toast Hawaii, in 2002. Whenever he was on hiatus from Depeche Mode, he sometimes played as a DJ at various clubs and festivals.

Many were often puzzled by Andy Fletcher's role in Depeche Mode. Some even pondered whether or not his keyboards were plugged in when he was on stage. Aside from handling the band's business, as mentioned above, Andy Fletcher was the glue that held the band together. And his bandmates adored him. In their official statement on this death, they said in part, "Fletch had a true heart of gold and was always there when you needed support, a lively conversation, a good laugh, or a cold pint." Depeche Mode's fans, many of who actually met him, loved Andy Fletcher as well. He was known for being both down to earth and very approachable. He was often known to talk to fans and even offer them a cigarette. He was a true gentlemen, one in an industry not often known for gentlemen.