2016 has been a pretty shoddy year for celebrities passing on but as we get older I suppose thats only to be expected as the people we grew up with age alongside us. I was shocked by Bowies passing, unexpected, start of the year and all that but not upset. I think Marc Bolan was the first of my heroes to die but I was too young to feel anything, life is for living, punk was exploding, exciting times.
I was off on an early holiday to Greece, copy of Mojo to hand for the plane journey and flicking through it noticed that Frank Tovey had died. I welled up, I didnt know why. Frank aka Fad Gadget died on 3rd April 2002, he was 45. He left a wife and two children. I wasn`t a massive fan, never saw him live, had some but not all of his output, so why did it upset me so much?
In a pre Twitter/Facebook world I found out about his death a month after it had happened. He had sort of retired from music, with a brief reappearance to support Depeche Mode, good old Frank I remember thinking but I still didnt go to see him.
I`m now nearly ten years his senior and this Christmas as his family remember a husband and father, in a small town in Lancashire I`m remembering someone who made some music that forms part of me. Bless you Frank Tovey wherever you are.
Unexpected Emotions….
Thanks for posting this tribute. Highly influential man – his music and persona basically kickstarted Mute records, allowing Depeche Mode and many others to thrive.
Underratted probably due to his unique vocal…… er “style” but “Incontinent” and “Under The Flag” are worthy of anyones attention. “Grand Union” is a masterpiece.
I live in a small town in Lancashire too. I wonder whose is smallest? 😉
We`re petite…
A year after my dad died watching Field of Dreams, broke down sobbing hopelessly at the end, I think it was the first time I had cried as an adult.