Così racconta del funerale di Pip Pyle due giorni fa Aymeric Leroy, su What's Rattlin'?:
"Mainly I'd like to thank Pip for a great day spent celebrating his memory with his family and friends - the only downside, really, was the impardonable absence of the principal.
I'll try to list those present (in alphabetical order) - Rob Ayling (Voiceprint), Fred Baker, Rick Biddulph, Peter Blegvad, Doug Boyle, Graham Clark, Jonathan Coe, Jim Dvorak, Mark Fletcher, Barbara Gaskin, John Greaves, Mark Hewins, Hugh Hopper, Jakko Jakszyk, Benj Lefevre, Peter Lemer, Alex Maguire, Patrice Meyer, Phil Miller, Dave Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Dave Stewart and Henk Weltevreden. Not forgetting Pip's kids - Sam, Alice, JoJo, Kizzy and Jack (regrettably, young Tom didn't make it) -, assorted partners (including Pip's girlfriend Polly), and close friends - Ali MacLewin, Trish 'Golf Girl' Sinclair... Plus a small contingent of fans/friends including me, my good friend and Rosbif expatriate Ian Chippett, and 'retired' (in his own admission) Facelift journalist Nick Loebner (Nick, where did you 'retire' to after the ceremony ?).
Proceedings began with a very moving, but at times very funny, ceremony at the crematorium, where Pip's kids and friends took turns to share their memories of a lifetime with Pip - including Phil Miller, Mark Hewins and Henk Weltevreden (the Canterbury scene's Dutch 'cousin', promoter of countless Dutch tours in the 1970s-80s) - Henk promised to send me his text, which alluded to the fact that Pip has guested on his radio show in tribute to Elton Dean last July, and starting from there... Let's hope his story remains pure fiction. It was entitled "Conspiracy Theory", which apparently is the title of Phil Miller's new album. Phil told me it should be out by late October, and that In Cahoots will hopefully return to Japan in December (there will also be duo gigs by Phil and Fred Baker, to be recorded for their long-delayed follow-up album to 1992's "Double Up"). InCa will also be the main attraction at the October 29th Vortex gig - which obviously is no longer a tribute to just Elton, but also to Pip. In related news, Doug Boyle will sit in with Hatfield at the Canterbury Festival concert on October 20th.
The party then moved collectively to nearby Sawbridgeworth (Pip's town of birth) and its Cricket Club which proved a perfect setting, aided by great, sunny weather. Food and drinks were served, plenty of conversations, and a short musical performance by Phil Miller, Alex Maguire, Fred Baker and Mark Fletcher, who played versions of "Calyx" and "Underdub", then were joined by Richard Sinclair for "God Song", which he sang acoustically as there was no vocal mike available. A little later, Mark Hewins and Fred Baker played a duo version of"Psychic Warrior", Elton's favourite, an Alex Maguire tune to which Pip had set lyrics earlier this year in memory of Elton.
I shot a few short films with my digital camera, mostly of the musical performance; hopefully we'll have many more photos from Henk who took many, and using a much better camera than mine. The soundtrack is a combination of the camera's sound and a minidisc recording, which I find quite satisfactory. You can see the film at :
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxdIQwCVUu0>
The quality isn't as good as what I have here, but it's better than nothing I guess. The final image is of a drawing by Hugh Hopper's daughter Rosa, 10, who I think summed it all brilliantly: "We loved you Pip. We weren't ready for it. But have a happy and safe journey".
PS: At the beginning, the coffin is carried by Pip's sons Sam and Jack, Phil Miller, Alex Maguire, Mark Fletcher and Mark Hewins; during the performance, Richard is joined on vocals by Ali MacLewin and (briefly) by Jakko. The man who hands Richard a folded magazine is Laurie Lewis, who designed the Hatfield and 1st National Health album covers."
I'll try to list those present (in alphabetical order) - Rob Ayling (Voiceprint), Fred Baker, Rick Biddulph, Peter Blegvad, Doug Boyle, Graham Clark, Jonathan Coe, Jim Dvorak, Mark Fletcher, Barbara Gaskin, John Greaves, Mark Hewins, Hugh Hopper, Jakko Jakszyk, Benj Lefevre, Peter Lemer, Alex Maguire, Patrice Meyer, Phil Miller, Dave Sinclair, Richard Sinclair, Dave Stewart and Henk Weltevreden. Not forgetting Pip's kids - Sam, Alice, JoJo, Kizzy and Jack (regrettably, young Tom didn't make it) -, assorted partners (including Pip's girlfriend Polly), and close friends - Ali MacLewin, Trish 'Golf Girl' Sinclair... Plus a small contingent of fans/friends including me, my good friend and Rosbif expatriate Ian Chippett, and 'retired' (in his own admission) Facelift journalist Nick Loebner (Nick, where did you 'retire' to after the ceremony ?).
Proceedings began with a very moving, but at times very funny, ceremony at the crematorium, where Pip's kids and friends took turns to share their memories of a lifetime with Pip - including Phil Miller, Mark Hewins and Henk Weltevreden (the Canterbury scene's Dutch 'cousin', promoter of countless Dutch tours in the 1970s-80s) - Henk promised to send me his text, which alluded to the fact that Pip has guested on his radio show in tribute to Elton Dean last July, and starting from there... Let's hope his story remains pure fiction. It was entitled "Conspiracy Theory", which apparently is the title of Phil Miller's new album. Phil told me it should be out by late October, and that In Cahoots will hopefully return to Japan in December (there will also be duo gigs by Phil and Fred Baker, to be recorded for their long-delayed follow-up album to 1992's "Double Up"). InCa will also be the main attraction at the October 29th Vortex gig - which obviously is no longer a tribute to just Elton, but also to Pip. In related news, Doug Boyle will sit in with Hatfield at the Canterbury Festival concert on October 20th.
The party then moved collectively to nearby Sawbridgeworth (Pip's town of birth) and its Cricket Club which proved a perfect setting, aided by great, sunny weather. Food and drinks were served, plenty of conversations, and a short musical performance by Phil Miller, Alex Maguire, Fred Baker and Mark Fletcher, who played versions of "Calyx" and "Underdub", then were joined by Richard Sinclair for "God Song", which he sang acoustically as there was no vocal mike available. A little later, Mark Hewins and Fred Baker played a duo version of"Psychic Warrior", Elton's favourite, an Alex Maguire tune to which Pip had set lyrics earlier this year in memory of Elton.
I shot a few short films with my digital camera, mostly of the musical performance; hopefully we'll have many more photos from Henk who took many, and using a much better camera than mine. The soundtrack is a combination of the camera's sound and a minidisc recording, which I find quite satisfactory. You can see the film at :
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxdIQwCVUu0>
The quality isn't as good as what I have here, but it's better than nothing I guess. The final image is of a drawing by Hugh Hopper's daughter Rosa, 10, who I think summed it all brilliantly: "We loved you Pip. We weren't ready for it. But have a happy and safe journey".
PS: At the beginning, the coffin is carried by Pip's sons Sam and Jack, Phil Miller, Alex Maguire, Mark Fletcher and Mark Hewins; during the performance, Richard is joined on vocals by Ali MacLewin and (briefly) by Jakko. The man who hands Richard a folded magazine is Laurie Lewis, who designed the Hatfield and 1st National Health album covers."
---
Così racconta il funerale Dave Stewart:
"The funeral (in Harlow, Essex on September 19th) was a sad and tearful occasion, but it was a beautiful sunny day and Pip's family and friends gave him a fantastic send-off, with moving and funny speeches (including some impromptu one-liners) delivered by his children, his sister Mary and numerous mates and colleagues. Pip would have approved of the music playing as his coffin was brought in - the 'Foetal Fanfare Fandango' from his solo album 'Seven Year Itch', a daft, luching brass band tune described by Pip as "a funereal 9/4 march rhythm designed to make the pallbearers fall over". Thankfully none of them actually did, but as they carried him in (once again, Pip successfully managing to avoid the load-in) you could sense Pip's spirit urging some blackly comic event to happen. It's a good job he wasn't around to stage-manage the occasion, as I don't think our nerves could have coped with an exploding coffin.
At the end of the ceremony (which was 100% non-religious), the curtains were drawn and the 'audience' spontaneously rose up and gave him a standing ovation, richly deserved for the intense, overflowing energy and love he put into his life and music. He was a unique individual who had a big effect on the lives of all who knew him, and we'll miss him terribly."
At the end of the ceremony (which was 100% non-religious), the curtains were drawn and the 'audience' spontaneously rose up and gave him a standing ovation, richly deserved for the intense, overflowing energy and love he put into his life and music. He was a unique individual who had a big effect on the lives of all who knew him, and we'll miss him terribly."