Dave Greenfield rip

sad news ,he penned Golden Brown,pne of their biggest hits.

I was a huge fan of The Stranglers , Black and White and The Raven are two of my all time favs.

His distinctive keyboard sound was integral to their sound ...... never better than on Tank imo.

RIP Mr Greenfield.

their early singles were fantatic and saw them a couple of times back in the day
must admit to not really followling them after early-mid 80s but still consider them
a very importance early influence - rip Dave

I saw Hugh a couple of years back with Hazel O Connor supporting him

Agree about the keyboards being so integral to the sound.

missed this thread .......

The Stranglers’ keyboard player Dave Greenfield has died at the age of 71 after testing positive for coronavirus.

Greenfield, originally from Brighton, died on the evening of 3 May. He contracted the virus following a prolonged stay in hospital for heart problems.

A long-standing member of the influential punk band, Greenfield, who is survived by his wife, Pam, was known for his distinctive sound and playing style, using instruments such as the harpsichord and Hammond electric organ.

He wrote the piece of music that would become Golden Brown. His bandmates initially discarded the song and did not consider it a potential single, but once released it became their biggest hit, eventually winning the band an Ivor Novello award.

The Stranglers’ bass player Jean-Jacques Burnel paid tribute to Greenfield as a “musical genius” on the band’s website.

He said: “On the evening of Sunday 3 May, my great friend and longstanding colleague of 45 years, the musical genius that was Dave Greenfield, passed away as one of the victims of the Great Pandemic of 2020. All of us in the worldwide Stranglers’ family grieve and send our sincerest condolences to [his wife] Pam.”

The band’s drummer Jet Black said: “We have just lost a dear friend and music genius, and so has the whole world. Dave was a complete natural in music. Together, we toured the globe endlessly and it was clear he was adored by millions. A huge talent, a great loss, he is dearly missed.”

The Stranglers’ vocalist and guitarist Baz Warne said: “We lost a true innovator, musical legend, and one of my dearest friends today. The word genius is bandied around far too easily in this day and age, but Dave Greenfield certainly was one.

“We stood together on the same side of the stage for 20 years, laughed, joked and shared our lives in the way that only band mates can. I’ll miss him forever. Our thoughts and hearts are with his wife, Pam, and to the millions of fans who worshipped at his altar, he’ll never be equalled.”

The band’s manager, Sil Willcox, said: “We are all in shock. Dave was a kind, generous soul who had time for anyone and everyone and it has been my privilege to have known him as both a close friend and his manager for over 40 years. Our thoughts are with his wife, Pam, at this sad time.”

The Stranglers, formed in 1974 in Guildford, recently postponed a farewell tour scheduled for this summer because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Greenfield played on hit tracks including Peaches and No More Heroes, as well as Golden Brown.

Critics have compared his sound to that of Ray Manzarek from the Doors, who also usedrapid arpeggios to create dynamism in his music.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWAsI3U2EaE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtTsky80XmQ

r.i.p. to a legend

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wB3XGrWZQlM

This is Dave at his peak...Down In The Sewer from 4:30 in - it's impossible to dislike this.

I remember listening to this for the first time as a kid and it was genuine 'got the horn' music - it grabs
you by the throat and forces you to listen to it again...and the rest of Rattus -the best album of all time.

I've just been having a few blasts of it.

Wow, didn't know until i just read this, really sad to hear of his death, a unique sound he brought to this fantastic band, saw them at Barbarellas in Brum about the time of "Peaches" and loved them ever since. What other group could have made "Nice @ Sleazy" sound so decadent and filthy, even put strippers on stage at a few giggs, notably Battersea. Was standing next to Stuart Pearce at a gig at the old "Top Rank" in Dale End about 91, there 96 tears tour, suprised my mate hasn't let me know!

Unfortunately the original video has been taken down by youtube, but you get the gist from this live version recorded in Paris 2014.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnfFXgvUVdg

Heartfelt tribute to Dave by John Robb.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKoxY2LxqK8

Always The Sun is glorious, loved that track.

when i used to compile a pub quiz i always played waltzinblack as an introduction

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9ynd2A91cXA

Hanging Around probably my favourite - with a classic intro.

And now we have lost Florian Schneider of Kraftwerk