Nikki Sudden R.I.P.

Habe gerade von einer Freundin gehört, das Nikki Sudden wohl am Sonntag tot in seiner New Yorker Wohnung gefunden wurde. Habe es auch schon in ein paar blogs gelesen, allerdings war sich keiner völlig sicher. Auf der website steht auch noch nichts.

Habe ihn damals bei Glitterhouse erstmalig wahrgenommen. Als ich dort Anfing, kam grade die "God save us poor sinners" von den Jacobites raus. Mit den Stones konnte ich ja nie viel anfangen, aber das war sowas von, ähh, ehrlich und desinteressiert am Rest der Welt, das ich das ziemlich toll finden musste.

Habe ihn auch schon lange nicht mehr in der Ankerklause gesehen, wo er öfters mal mit seinen Verehrerinnen war.

Hier sein letzter Journal-Eintrag von Dienstag, dem 23.03., über den Geburtstag seines Bruders Epic Soundtracks:

My brother, the late Epic Soundtracks, was born Kevin Paul Godfrey on 23 March 1959 at 34 Chapel View, South Croydon. His birth is the first event of my life that I remember clearly.

Mum went through the deep pangs of birth, albeit one given at home. Dad absentmindedly dug the garden and waited for the screams of mother-birth to cease and be replaced by the yelping and howling of a newborn child taking over. The young, two 3/4 year old me was being looked after by our neighbours, 'Aunty' Vera and 'Uncle' Papworth.

The Papworths were everything that good neighbours were in those days. Their house was couched in the gentle hilt and gentle tilt of their constant cigarette smoke. They also radiated that age-old, drenched in smoke, feeling of the old earlier and better times. They passed over some years back but always stayed in touch. a lovely couple!

One of the main reasons I recall my brother's birth so strongly is that he (thinking ahead) gave me (or so 'twas claimed) a model scooter / moped with driver / rider. Around seven or eight inches tall it was given as 'a present from your new baby brother'. If this was what it was like to have a new baby brother, then I was all up for it.

For those of you who don't know my brother died on 5 November 1997. Despite what you may have read in some of the more scurrilous and also some of the more reputable magazines and websites Epic didn't die of a drug overdose, he didn't kill himself. We don't know why he died but my mother, myself and many of those who knew my brother best believe he died of a broken heart...

Since his death I have put together two albums of his music. the first, Everything Is Temporary, was a collection garnered from a few of the many tapes left behind. The second, issued last year, is called Good Things and contains the demos that Epic and his friend, Kevin Junior recorded for what would have been his fifth solo LP. Both of these sets are available from the Big Store here at: www.nikkisudden.com

Danny and I (and a bass player) are playing tonight at Fat Baby, here in NYC. the show will be for my brother. Danny is the best drummer I've played with since Epic. With their similar musical tastes the two of them would have got on great.

Epic Soundtracks, RIP!