Patrick Llewellyn wrote: > I've been a subscriber to the Mod & Bomplist for some time, and I go > through > long periods of not opening the emails, but as I did today I let out a > shriek as I received my first news of Kim Gardner's passing. > > His daughter and I are very close friends, and in turn, I've spent quite > a > bit of time at their house and with Kim and his wife, Paula. Better and > nicer people I've never known. At his daughter's parties, Kim, knowing > my > interest in 60s music would take me aside, and his near unintelligible > Keith > Richards-sounding British drawl he would call me down to his studio to > show > me his artifacts, and on some occasions, to drink with his old 60s rock > buddies like Engineer Andy Johns. > > When I had a paper due on the effect of blues on the British, he was > kind > enough to let me interview him-- though I must admit I couldn't > understand > more than a word or two when I listened to the tape--- not that it > mattered-- we'd get off onto long tangents about how Long John Baldry > would > try to get you drunk and bugger you, or some funny story about Ronnie > Lane. > > He loved the parties he'd throw for his daughters, and would usually be > the > last to bed, periodically emerging at 7-8 am, Heineken in hand, to try > and > tell an anecdote or joke to the 5-6 sleep-over kids. I had known about > his > cancer for a few years now, and was very shocked when I saw him at a > party > earlier this year-- Kim, completely bald and now extremely pale, looked > incredibly old--- so much that I barely recognized him. But as I spoke > with > him, his vitality became evident, and he no longer seemed ancient or > sick, > but appeared to me to be the vivacious character that I truly loved > being > around. I will really miss him and my heart goes out to Paula and his > daughters. > > Patrick
Man Patrick, that was heart wretching! I have always wanted to vist the pub Kim owned, The Cat & Fiddle in Hollywood, but never got around to it. I was tipped off to the place about ten years ago when Ian MacLagen tipped me off about it after we were looking at books with British bands from the 60s. I moved up to the Bay Area several months later and never found my way down there. I was planning on visiting the place when I head down to LA for the Thanksgiving holiday, and I still might go and check it out while I'm there. This is pretty devistating, considering that Kim is the second member of the Creation that we've lost within a few short years. Reading of his pain and suffering, I'm sure he's at peace with himself now. A sad loss. Sean ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?aVxiMu.aVzSEg Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
