Monday 21 June 2010

Bard Of Timperley, R.I.P.

Dreadful news reaches me that Frank Sidebottom, "pop star, musician and author, and all-rounder on TV", passed away in the early hours of this morning, after collapsing at home.

Frank (in real life, alter ego Chris Sievey) had recently been diagnosed with cancer and had had operations to remove a tumour and insert a breathing tube. He'd said he intended to continue working, but his agent is quoted on the BBC News website as saying he may have been more ill than he let on, wanting to spare his loved ones additional worry.


He was a true genius. As well as his musical career, Chris was a gifted artist and animator, working on Pingu and developing his own "Frank's World" animated series. Truly an all-rounder. If you grew up with kids' telly in the late 80's you'd have seen him on ITV's "No. 73", he worked with Tony Wilson, recorded an epic series of EPs and covered the country performing shows and lectures.

As recently as 2007, an exhibition at Chelsea Art Space on London's Millbank entitled "Chelsea Space Is Ace" was acclaimed by Art Forum magazine as the third best exhibit globally that year.

His loss is a tragedy, and I'll miss him.

"pop star, musician and author, and all-rounder on TV" is a line from his classic "Love Poem For Kylie"

2 comments:

Paul Garrard said...

I never really got Frank but I’m prepared to accept that he was a genius.

Unknown said...

Total legend. One of those losses that really feels like it leaves a hole in the world. A large, papier mache hole, but irreplaceable nonetheless.