2023 has barely begun and already we have the sad news of the death of Alan Rankine at the ridicuously young age of 64.
The news began to filter through late on Tuesday and there were some lovely tributes from Adam, Khayem and Post Punk Monk posted yesterday.
He was one of those artists we all grew up with. Those in the know would have been familiar with the Associates first album The Affectionate Punch in 1980 and the compilation album Fourth Drawer Down in 1991.However it was the release of the unique and quite extraordinary single Party Fears Two in February 1982 that brought the band to the world's attention. We had never heard anything remotely like it before(or since). Whereas everyone was blown away by Billy MacKenzie's singing Alan's instrumental opening is also instantly recognizable to this day.
Equally at home on the guitar or keyboards he was to leave the band later in 1982 on the eve of the Sulk tour. He subsequently became a sought after producer working with the likes of Paul Haig, Cocteau Twins and the Pale Fountains prior to pursuing a solo career.
Latterly he was a lecturer at Glasgow's Stow College passing on his musical know how to younger generations.
My thoughts go out to his family and friends.
Rest easy Alan.
Associates -Party Fears Two (single version)
Associates -Country Club (Extended Version)
Associates - The Affectionate Punch
This is sad news to start the year with. I remember enjoying his first solo album 'The World Begins to Look Her Age' at the time of release in 1986, particularly the single 'The Sandman'.
ReplyDeleteTerribly sad news, but a wonderful tribute, CC, thank you. Party Fears Two was/is like nothing that came before or after, even 40 years on. Billy was an immense presence during that TOTP appearance but I was also struck by Alan in his fencing costume, slicked back hair with chopsticks and kabuki make up, playing the banjo.
ReplyDeleteI'm with The Swede, I really like The World Begins to Look Her Age and I immediately reached for The Sandman when thinking about a tribute selection. A cruelly premature loss, an immense legacy.
Sad news indeed. There is an epidemic of music artists/sports stars dying in their early 60s - feels very wrong and odd.
ReplyDeleteYes, after my trip to Dundee I wrote about Party Fears Two and relished revisiting that TOTP clip. Glad he had a long career in music and even ended up lecturing. Rest easy indeed.
Still not quite believing this one......
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