Hull poet and frontman of The Gargoyles(those around in the 80's/90's will remember) has sadly passed away. Here's an interview he did with Russ Litten last year... http://sabotagetimes.com/people/interview-eddie-smith-poet-and-frontman-of-the-gargoyles/ RIP
I saw the Gargoyles quite a lot in the 80s. To say that Eddie was a presence is an understatement. I remember that not only would you see him at gigs but everywhere you went in town he'd be there! I'm remembering across thirty years but my favourite lyric went something like: Witness you, witness me, I'm at my peak of fitness. Still think me knob's for stirring tea, Cos I'm a Jehovah's Witness. And I still find myself occasionally humming it to this day! RIP Eddie.
Dave Lee ‏@davelee1968 · Great Eddie Smith Moments no.579: When he taped the set list to a pillar opposite the stage and checked it through binoculars between songs. Dave Lee @davelee1968 · Great Eddie Smith Moments no.931: While playing a gig in front of the police station in Queen's Gardens, Eddie kept confessing to crimes. Dave Lee @davelee1968 · Great Eddie Smith Moments no.258: Mid-gig at the Duchess in Leeds, Eddie took the band's flight cases and built a car amongst the audience
I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere yet, but he had cancer, so there's a reasonable chance that was the cause.
From back in the day - The Gargoyles - Madmen From The Planet Sex... [video=youtube;c6bWJd44i-o]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6bWJd44i-o[/video]
I have that one on 7" (near mint to boot) - with the majestic "Witnessing" on the flip side. Top notch.
I've been dealing with a couple of bereavements this past couple of weeks so reading this is beginning to prove the old adage about things coming in threes. I haven't seen or spoken to Eddie since the late 90s. However, I engineered/co-produced and/or played piano all but two tracks of the Mrs. Two Dinners LP. Those sessions were amongst some of the most enjoyable of my life. The session began when I was tinkling on the piano waiting for the band to arrive, unaware that anyone had arrived Hugh's face appeared in front of mine and the purple eyebrows made me jump somewhat. Eddie was that last to roll in, and roll in he did. He actually crawled through the door on all fours and claimed it helped with his hangover. Finally, went it came to recording the vocal tracks, he faced the other way from the control room as he claimed he was 'self-conscious and shy'! Of course I was being wound up and he effectively performed his stage act with his back to us. Comedy gold. He was a lovely, genuinely funny man. The world is a poorer without him. RIP Eddie
Sad news indeed First came across Eddie and The Gargoyles when they supported Serious Drinking at Dingwalls back in the 80's Went to numerous gigs after that; Spring Street, Hole In-The-Wall, Hornsea etc...Brilliant front Man, R.I.P
RIP Eddie - you were a legend. Quiz nights at the Adelphi with Eddie as questionmaster (and the much-missed Maggie as his stooge) were something to behold, as were the "Mike and Eddie Show" evenings at the Adelphi in partnership Mike from the Velvetones. I seem to remember their theme tune went something like this: "We're Mike and Eddie, We're Mike and Eddie, We're here to have some fun with you, We hope that you are ready. Mike's the tall and handsome one, The ugly one is Eddie......" (can't remember the rest!) Behave yourself down there big man.
Totally gutted, went to school with him and used to go watch them at various venues. He was an absolute madcap nutter and a great frontman. That's now 2 of the Gargoyles gone now, after Paul Wharhust was tragically Killed getting knocked off his bike on Beverley Road. RIP Eddie (half man half Christmas Bauble)
Eddie's passing has been on my mind for a lot of today. Been thinking of a time that's long gone, yet just feels like yesterday. Spiders, Lincoln Castle, Welly Club, Cheese, Sid Scarbs, Dingwalls, Juliette's, Cross Keys and a hundred other places and people. Sad. If you want a sense of who Eddie was this is as good as I can find. [video=youtube;b16VvnLwxZs]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b16VvnLwxZs[/video]
