This morning BBC radio announced the death of Kevin Ayers, and sad as this news was, it was also a surprising addition to the national broadcast considering he has never been a household name or even seen and heard in the UK for many years. Kevin had by no means the usual pop star image we see today.
Probably most people this day were saying "Who's Kevin Ayers? There were no shock stories or recent revelations as is usual for rock musicians or pop stars making the news. It was just probably far more likely someone at the BBC had a personal connection to him or his music. Kevin Ayers could have that effect on many.
As soon as you heard him speak you new an old fashioned grammar school student was present. He was one of the unusual characters that seemingly have only appeared in a post war generation that came to prominence in the 1960's.
Obviously well educated and speaking with an Oxford English 'posh' accent it sounded more like he would have been heard and seen in literary circles or indeed reading the news for the BBC.
It was an unusual social aspect of the sixties that well educated and what might appear as upper classes would have similar anti-establishment views and also a love for the new found freedoms embodied by the popular culture and all that it included, of which rock music played a central role. If you get the drift..
Kevin Ayers was a founding member of Soft Machine and in 1967 their debut single 'Love Makes Sweet Music'/'Feelin' Reelin' Squeelin' , was one of the first recordings from the new British psychedelic movement. In 1968 their album 'Soft Machine' is one of the seminal psychedelic recordings of the era and stands alongside Syd Barrett's Pink Floyd releases who also shared billing on many live shows.
Ayers' subsequent life as a rock musician recording with several groups and his own solo albums gathered a strong and dedicated audience that never forgot him. His resolute stance against being manipulated by the music business and his years of seclusion only served to strengthen the bond between him and his fans, even a new recent generation had begun to discover his music.
Typically civilised in manner and being a fluent French speaker he disappeared to a small village in the South of France years ago and where he has now ended his days. He surfaced briefly from seclusion in 2007 with his last album to great acclaim proving he had lost none of his skills or charm as a songwriter.
Now have a listen to Kevin talking about the late 60's in this splendid short film and you'll see and hear exactly how the man was.
Then right back to 1967 and there on French TV with Soft Machine in a very modern and artisically progressive show of the day, 'Hoepla' .
Rest in peace Kevin Ayers. Your music will live on for many people.
