Billy MacKenzie & the Associates - forgotten greats of the early 80's

[financeguy]

I had forgotten that 2007 marks the 10th anniversary of Billy MacKenzie's untimely death.

http://www.billymackenzie.com/articles/qgcbrev0998.htm


Performance of 'This Party Fears Two' from Top of the Pops:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af4NydD8hTE


'Club Country', another ToTP performance:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7I7jfZxITaU&mode=related&search=


An unusual take on 'Amazing Grace' here:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8JUJ50Xe4M


Bono wrote the forward to Tom Doyle's book about Billy MacKenzie, and the Associates were a major early influence on U2.

"The Associates were a great group: we ripped them off. Billy was a great singer: I couldn't rip him off. He was Caruso on a balloon of oxygen. " - Bono

Billy MacKenzie is sadly missed, there is no-one like him in pop at the moment.

 

[financeguy]

Just noticed that the first article incorrectly states the year of Billy's death as 1996, it was in fact 1997.

Seriously, check out the above links. It's something a bit outside the mainstream, but worth a viewing.

 

[blueeyedgirl]

OMG the Associates!! I loved the Associates! There is no song like Party Fears Two, or ever will be. Nor will there ever be a voice like Billy's. Sadly, sadly missed.

Just checked out your links there and had a look around Billy Mckenzie.com - there's pics of articles from Smash Hits on the home page and I remember seeing that first pic in a copy of the Face way back when. The girl in the checked bathing suit is one of the Marthas from Martha and the Muffins, who played keyboards with the Associates for a while *useless fact file*

 

[financeguy]

Only one reply. Oh well I suppose they are an acquired taste.

'White Car in Germany' (Dutch TV, 1982)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2xjUsLQ7Ro&feature=related

 

[blueeyedgirl]

It's hard sometimes, being ahead of the pack