Sorry to report that another 70s rock star has died - drummer Dale Griffin (Buffin) of Mott The Hoople.




This from the BBC website.


Dale Griffin, drummer for rock group Mott The Hoople, has died aged 67.

He was a founder member of the group, best known for classic tracks Roll Away The Stone and All The Young Dudes.

The latter was written and produced by David Bowie, who sang backing vocals on the track.

The band, who made eight albums during their five-and-a-half year existence, reformed to mark their 40th anniversary in 2009 - but Griffin was too ill to take part.

He died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday night, said Peter Purnell from record label Angel Air records.

He called Griffin "one of the nicest, friendly and talented men I have ever known."

"All he ever wanted was for his beloved Mott The Hoople to reform and it was his determination that achieved that very feat in 2009 but sadly by then he was too ill to perform at the five sold-out dates - though he did join the band for encores."

Born in Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, the drummer played in a number of local bands before forming Silence with singer Stan Tippens, keyboard player Verden Allen, guitarist Mick Ralphs and bassist Pete Overend Watts in the late 1960s.

They got a record contract in early 1969 and went to London to record under producer Guy Stevens, who renamed the band Mott the Hoople after a 1967 novel by Willard Manus. Not long after, Tippens was ousted by vocalist Ian Hunter, although he remained as their road manager.

Although they built up a cult following (a raucous gig at the Royal Albert Hall led to the venue banning rock acts), they struggled to sell records and were on the verge of breaking up in 1972, until Bowie stepped in and persuaded them to stay together, placing them under the care of his manager Tony De Fries.

He also offered them the song Suffragette City - but they wanted Drive-In Saturday instead.

Bowie refused to give it up, but wrote them the anthemic All The Young Dudes instead (its narrative forms part of the story of Bowie's alter-ego Ziggy Stardust).

The song reached number three in the UK and the top 40 in America, giving the band a new lease of life. Later albums produced hits such as Honaloochie Boogie, All The Way From Memphis and Golden Age of Rock'n'Roll.

But the group disintegrated in 1974 when Hunter, suffering from physical exhaustion, cancelled their entire European tour. When rumours then spread that he was making a solo album with Bowie's guitarist Mick Ronson, it led to an irrevocable rift.

Griffin, Watts and Fisher continued to play and record under the name Mott, but split up two years later.

During the 80s, Griffin and Watts formed a production company and produced albums for Hanoi Rocks and The Cult. Griffin then joined the BBC and produced many of John Peel's Radio 1 sessions from 1981 to 1994, including Pulp, Smashing Pumpkins, Nirvana and Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark.

He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease just as the Mott The Hoople reunion was about to begin. His parts were played by his friend, The Pretenders drummer Martin Chambers, although he joined the band on stage for encores during their five-night stint at the Hammersmith Apollo.

Dale is survived by his long term partner Jean Smith.


[www.bbc.co.uk]



Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 2016-01-18 19:24 by Silver Dagger.

Oh, this is sad. I didn't attend any of the Hammersmith reunion shows, but recount acquaintances of mine recalling his participation in the encores.

Rest in peace, Dale Griffin

Worst week for glam rock since 1975.


Mott the Hoople was one of the greats of that era, and their work--apart from "All The Young Dudes"--has somehow slipped through the cracks in the rock n roll collective memory here in America.

They've been long overdue a place in the RnR HoF. (Hell, Ian Hunter himself should be in twice for both Mott the Hoople AND his solo career... for which he continues to write insanely great material!)

Rest in Peace, indeed.

RIP Dale.

Pleasure listening to you in Mott the Hoople (loved the albums - All The Young Dudes, Mott and The Hopple)...

Quote
loog droog
Worst week for glam rock since 1975.


Mott the Hoople was one of the greats of that era, and their work--apart from "All The Young Dudes"--has somehow slipped through the cracks in the rock n roll collective memory here in America.

They've been long overdue a place in the RnR HoF. (Hell, Ian Hunter himself should be in twice for both Mott the Hoople AND his solo career... for which he continues to write insanely great material!)

Rest in Peace, indeed.

agreed. they produced several very solid albums. never did understand why they weren't more acclaimed in the states.

Very sad news.
In December 1973 I saw my first ever concert at Hammersmith Odeon.
Mott The Hoople with support from Queen.
I went to all five re-union shows at Hammersmith in 2009 where
Dale could only manage the encore as Martin Chambers filled in.
So many rockers dying every week these days...so sad.

Buffin' lost his child-like dreams and Mick lost his guitar

-Ballad of Mott

Come on, if you're going there, finish the verse! ;-)

"And Verden grew a line or two, and Overend's just a ROCK 'N ROLL STAR!"

Sad indeed. Sadder still that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's at 58. What a sh-tty way to go.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-01-22 22:25 by ab.

Wow we seem to be losing a lot of our Rock and Roll players lately. Mott the Hoople drummed Dale Griffen just passed away too.

[www.bbc.com]



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2016-01-19 00:37 by mighty stork.

Rock'n'roll's a loser's game

It mesmerizes and I can't explain

The reasons for the sights and for the sounds

We went off somewhere on the way

And now I see we have to pay

The rock'n'roll circus is in town