Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Indieobit: Benjamin Curtis

As if the terrible loss of Benjamin Curtis, at just 35, wasn't enough, insult was added to pain when someone saw fit to leak the news of his death:

Last night, Dec. 29th 2013, we lost our friend and brother Benjamin Curtis to his fight against cancer.

While we had hoped to delay this announcement until a more suitable time when his friends and family could feel better prepared and settled to greet any correspondences from folks attempting to reach out, unfortunately the news has prematurely leaked. So we felt it would be appropriate to at least offer an official acknowledgement from us, in light of all the fans who loved and supported Benjamin and his music.

We kindly ask that his immediate family, friends & bandmates' privacy be respected during this time, and that instead, any inquires, well wishes, or notes-of-consolation be sent through School of Seven Bells’ management, where it can be shared with them at the suitable time. They can be sent to a special e-mail address here: sviib@wizkidmanagement.com

If relevant, further information will be made available through the suitable channels in the near future.

We can’t thank all of you who supported him and his music through the years enough. All of you who attended or participated in the various benefits in and around New York City over the past year since his diagnosis, and of course those who contributed and gave generously to help support him throughout that journey. You made it possible for all of us, and for him, to see how truly loved he was and how many lives he had touched through his music by your gestures. We will all miss this incredibly talented and rare person every day, but we are fortunate enough that he shared with us his music, and that is something that we can keep forever.
Curtis had been a founder member of Secret Machines before moving on to form School Of Seven Bells; and School Of Seven Bells were great:

A heartbreaking note to end the year upon.


2013 Steps To Nowhere: December

Blur have started to sell flat caps with their logos on.

Courtney Love discovered that 'it's on the internet' isn't a legal defence. James Arthur apologised after discovering 'it's in a rap' it's an explanation.

Heart said no to Seaworld and Katy Perry said no to her parents.

Morrissey cut his boyfriend out of his autobiography. Kim Wilde added being a bit psychic to her CV.

Matt Goss told us he tried to get off with Princess Di once.

Beyonce dropped an album out of nowhere.

Returning: Old Tommy Vance programmes, Swervedriver
Retiring: Justin Bieber
Suspending operations: The Courteneers


2013 Steps To Nowhere: Valete

Kent Abbott, guitarist, Grade; Somehow Hollow
Christina Amphlett, singer, The DiVinyls
Patty Andrews, singer, The Andrews Sisters
Kevin Ayers
Chris Bailey, bassist, The Angels
Gary Biddles, roadie and collaborator, The Cure
Ronnie Biggs, criminal who impressed some musicians
Trevor Bolder, bassist, Uriah Heep, Spiders From Mars
Leroy Bonner, The Ohio Players
Jon Brookes, drummer, The Charlatans
JJ Cale
Chi Cheng, bassist, The Deftones
Jack "Cowboy" Clement, producer and songwriter
Tommy "Cosmo" Cosdon, singer, The Counts
Joey Covington, drummer, Jefferson Airplane
Benjamin Curtis, guitarist, School Of Seven Bells; Secret Machines
Ray Dolby, scientist and audiophile
Manolo Escobar, singer
Chet Flippo, journalist
Tompall Glaser, outsider country star
Eydie Gorme, singer
Otis 'Damon' Harris, singer, The Temptations
Jeff Hanneman, founding member, Slayer
Steve Hay, singer, Shades Of Blue, The Exploited
Michael Howells, MJ Drone, The Drones
Rick Huxley, bassist, Dave Clark Five
David Jacobs, dj in a dj
George Jones, singer
Alvin Lee, guitarist, Ten Years After
Marshall Lytle, bassist, The Comets
Ray Maznerak, keyboardist, The Doors
Mindy McCready, singer
Scott Miller, singer, Game Theory
Jason Molina, Songs:Ohia
Junior Murvin, reggae star
Patti Page, country singer
Jody Payne, guitarist, The Family
Nic Potter, bassist, Van Der Graaf Generator
Maxine Powell, artist development director, Motown
Reg Presley, singer, The Troggs
Lou Reed, Lou Reed
Deke Richards, songwriter
Mike Robinson, engineer, Radio One
Tabu Ley Rochereau, soukous pioneer
Toshi Seeger, activist and festival organiser
Tony Sheridan, singer, The Beatles, sort-of
Jay Smith, guitarist, Matt Mays
Gilbert Taylor, cinematographer
Marc Trovillion, bassist, Lambchop
Slim Whitman, yodelling singer
Norman Winter, PR man
Cecil Womack, singer, Womack And Womack


2013 Steps To Nowhere: Releases