Kevin Coyne

Kevin Coyne - 1944 - 2004



Biography:-



British born Kevin Coyne was called, by DJ Andy Kershaw,as

variously "a National treasure who keeps getting better" and as one

of the great British Blues voices. However, it was another British DJ

who first started his recording career when John Peel released

recordings by Kevin's first band Siren in 1969 on his Dandelion label.

A comparative late starter to the recording scene Kevin spent his

early years working as a social worker and a psychiatric nurse. His 40

LPs always had a balance of tender love songs and songs of heart

breaking dispair and hope based on his life long concern with

life's casualties and songs of great humour. The music often

reflected these two extremes by one song with a glorious

melody followed by one with tortured vocals

and primeval screaming reflecting the anguish inherrent in the lyrics.

Kevin's refusal to compromise was shown early in his career when he

refused to meet Jack Holzman (Siren were on Electra in America)

to discuss replacing Jim Morrison in The Doors-"I didn't

like the leather trousers!". The compromises never stopped

even when he was one of the first artists signed to

Virgin Records and it was this that endeared him to label mates

John Lydon - who played Eatsbourne Ladies on a Desert Island Disc

type show - and The Mekons who recorded his Having A Party - a scathing

attack on Richard Branson.Another Virgin release Babble

courted controversy when Kevin said that the theatre presentation

about the two lovers the piece was about could be The Moors Murderers

in the way the relationship was so destructive.

This still didn't stop Will Oldham from claiming the LP release

"Changed my Life" and recording 2 songs from it.

Following a nervous breakdown and increasing difficulties with drink

Coyne left the UK in 1985. Settled in Nuremberg and having

given up alcohol, he never stopped recording and touring,

as well as writing books and exhibiting his paintings.

His German recordings often featured his own Paradise band but

increasingly in later years he collaborated with Brendan Croker, Jon

Langford of The Mekons, Gary Lucas of The Magic Band

and his own son Robert Coyne.

Diagnosed with lung fibrosis in 2002, Coyne died peacefully

at his home. He is survived by his wife helmi and his sons

Eugene, Robert and Nico.

For many in the UK it was with mixed pleasure we were

able to see Kevin on tour in October 2004 weeks before

his death. Sat on stage in a wheelchair and with breathing tubes

our first thoughts were of a man a mere shadow of the presence

we were used to. Then he began to sing with a voice as powerful

if not better than ever.A towering talent who deserves wider recognition.

His wife Helmi intends to continue releasing recordings

Kevin made in his last years on Kevin's own Turpentine

records available from Kevin Coyne Official Site

. The first is Underground (2006) and is a great place

to start your own Kevin Coyne collection.



Other stand out LP's

are Case History (1972), Marjory Razorblade (1973),

Millionaires and Teddybears (1978), Babble (19790

and Donut City (2004)



NEW TRIBUTE ALBUM - WHISPERS FROM THE OFFING



Frank Bangay - a great friend of Kevin's - has put together an excellent tribute album highlighting Coyne's songwriting and the esteem he was held in by many.



Buy Tribute CD Now Click Here



Babble - Live extract



Kevin Coyne and Siren 2003



An Evening With Kevin Coyne and Band (part 1)- ITV Star Rider 1977 - a lost gem - some interference at the start but this disappears



Part 2



Part 3