h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ex-Megadeth drummer Nick Menza http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-36353403?SThisFB

I wondered if Wikipedia had a list of people who have died on stage

And then I checked:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_entertainers_who_died_during_a_performance

Menza's on it already.

Vultures.

fixing link:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_entertainers_who_died_during_a_performance

That is quite an amazing list. So many ironic cases, too - (A "longevity expert"!).

The only one I remember was Tommy Cooper.

As that list was very US/UK-centric, I had a look in a couple of other languages.

This takes the biscuit: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/indonesian-singer-irma-bule-dies-cobra_uk_57062b64e4b0e9cdf8df7be7

It's amazing how many great comedians die on stage: Kenneth Horne, Sid James, Eric Morecambe, Tommy Cooper.

One problem I have with that list is if you die just off stage (Eric Morecambe), you're included, but if you cop it in the dressing room (Arthur Lowe), you're not.

Didn't Les Dawson see Sid James' ghost at the theatre or something? He refused to perform there again.

Do you think they're having a good old belly laugh together now?

A very sad departure to report today.

"Not now, Cato!"

The death of Burt Kwouk, aged 85, known to many as the man servant Cato to Peter Sellers' Inspector Clouseau was announced today.

A very civil, well spoken man. I enjoyed his character in the Pink Panther films. It could not have been easy to send up the stereotypes of his Nationality.



MMF

GB

Carla Lane (can't do link, sorry)



Mol

Mol, I'll post it for you.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-36421543

Liver Birds was a classic, with Nerys Hughes and Polly James.

Our Lucien's line when answering the phone 'Everyone's out and I'm cleaning the rabbits' became a standard catchphrase in our family.

Thanks for the entertainment, Carla.

MMF

Ghibli animator Makiko Futaki: http://www.konbini.com/en/lifestyle/animator-spirited-away-akira-makiko-futaki-died/

I lived downstairs from Carla Lane for a short time in the 90s. Nice lady, bit of a curtain twitcher.

she was probably observing life to use in her writing.

I still remember a line from "The Liver Birds" - the blonde one had a new boyfriend who was a keen cyclist. She came home, exhausted and dishevelled one evening:

"Where have you been?"
"Rhyl"
"What did you do in Rhyl?"
"A U turn"

I still think it's one of the funniest lines ever - especially in that accent.

One I had hoped not to post, and didn't put on my list out of respect.

Dave Swarbrick died of emphysema today, aged 75.

An icon to many, even some of those who weren't into the folk scene or it's music.

Yet Fairport Convention created many converts and I have no doubt there is many a copy of liege and lief nestling in amongst those heavy metal albums.

I'll miss you Swarb yet you have left me such a huge collection of works to play you will never be that far from me.



https://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/jun/03/dave-swarbrick-dies-at-75-fiddler-fairport-convention

MMF

Fairport Convention was my first ever ever gig. We sat on the floor in those days. Cambridge Corn Exchange, 1971 or 1972.

Last night, I saw Martin and Eliza Carthy performing at Royal Northern College of Music. I suspect that, if they are performing again somewhere tonight, it will include some kind of tribute to Swarbrick.

I hope so JB. I saw Swarbs with Carthy a number of times, unfortunately usually after he'd drunk half a bottle of port.

Didn't affect his playing. Just his speech. Not helped by the fact he seas going deaf and wearing a hearing aid.

Wish I'd seen him with Fairport.



MMF