Diz Disley - health - died 22 March 2010

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:29 AM

Had a message from Bess Powell to that effect ! See Separate Obit thread

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Jim Ward
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 06:06 AM

True I'm afraid. Diz passed away(apparently peacefully) Monday afternoon.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,harvey andrews
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 04:51 AM

I was riding in the back of the hearse with a girlfriend of the time and Diz was driving us through rainy Birmingham. The hearse was not at its best and we were doing something like fifteen miles an hour. Standing at a bus stop was a bedraggled Donovan clone with a very obviously new guitar case. As we puttered past him Diz wound down his window, lent out and said; "Give it up dear boy, before it gets too much for you."
Card on the way.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Ros Glickman
Date: 23 Mar 10 - 03:03 AM

I remember those days - Johnny van Derrick, Bobby Clarke, Denny Purssord, Johnny Watkins, Keith Cooper - a hundred others and, of course. Disley.
Dear Diz - RIP.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Jeremy Riches
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 05:26 PM

I remember Diz from his early 70s folk-comedian days. I worked at a remote farm in Buckinghamshire where a folk club was held fortnightly in one of the barns and was fortunate to have made some recordings of Diz in about 1971. I have set up a website as a tribute to the farmer who ran the club - see www.turvillefolkclub.co.uk. The club was pure atmosphere even though Diz decsribed it as a 'Monument to Rentokil'! He used to drive there in his hearse even in those days. Quite the funniest act ever, and a guitarist with a talent the was second to none.

Diz did have a heart attack a few years ago and had to give up playing guitar. Wishing you well for a full recovery, Diz!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: billybob
Date: 10 Mar 10 - 05:56 PM

Still thinking good thoughts

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Fidjit
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 03:45 AM

Quote AncientBriton
That was 1972. I was there too.

Chas

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,AncientBriton
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 08:16 PM

I have one particular fond memory Of Diz. He was appearing at Cambridge Folk Festival with Stephane Grapelli and Birelli Lagrene in the late 70s or so. Pure jazz magic. He then spent the entire night wandering round the campsite sitting in with the impromptu jams, just playing along, not doing the big star thing. I still wonder how his white shirt and trousers didn't show any trace of mud/grass/beer stains!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: billybob
Date: 04 Mar 10 - 08:05 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 03 Mar 10 - 05:22 AM

He tried to sell me that XK - for 25 quid!!

Only problem was, it was broken down in Newport Pagnell services, with a broken half shaft or something.

When I enquired about getting a trailer to pick it up, and the cost of repairing it, it was going to cost about 150 quid. Considering I was earning about 10 quid a week back then, it was well out of my reach.

Looking back, it would have been a good buy. They fetch upwards of 50 grand these days.

G

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Ron Winkle { Banjoist}
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 04:20 PM

Sad to hear DIZ is so poorly. He used to come to the Swan Hotel in Stafford {Cygnet Folk Club} in the 1960s. I also used to restore Vintage cars and had a Jag XK 140. Diz fell in love with this and talked me into exchanging this for his Mini van, plus 50 quid. On another occasion he turned up in a Rolls 20/25 and ask me to coach paint it yellow. This I did as a favour, for a mere FIVER. When finished he said, "Look dear boy I need all the money I have for petrol to get back to London, I'll pay you later" O.K. I replied. Some years later I bumped into DIZ at Hazel Slade Folk Club and remined him about the Rolls, to which he replied; " Never let it be said Dizley never pays his bills " and promptly gave me a FIVER; worth by then about ten bob. { I split my sides laughing] Good old Diz. Happy Memories.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Nigel Denver
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 02:33 PM

Sorry to hear Diz is unwell. I remember him well from my days at the Troubador. Great Jazz man. Booked him at Lincoln Folk Club when I ran it in the sixties. Well I remember be arrived in Lincoln in a battered Rolls Royce. The next day he topped up to go back to London had to put a gallon of oil in. I think he might have had to put in more oil than petrol. Great performing monologues, especially "The Battle of Hastings".

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: billybob
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 08:45 AM

sorry the post code is
NW3 2QG

Wendy

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: billybob
Date: 02 Mar 10 - 08:42 AM

Card sent,

Address

Ward 7 South
Royal Free Hospital
Pond Street
Hampstead
London
NW3

Wendy

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Leadfingers
Date: 01 Mar 10 - 08:10 PM

Visited Diz at The Royal Free ! He is VERY frail , cant even get out of bed without assistance !
I am sure he would appreciate cards etc from old friends !

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Jim McLean
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 05:04 AM

Diz

Sorry, first link doesn't work!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Jim McLean
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 05:02 AM

If you scroll down to about the middle you'll see a photo of Diz at the Troubadour around 1963/4 with Nigel Denver and Bob Davenport. He normally carried a bottle of Coca Cola laced with whisky. Great memories. Diz

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,tig
Date: 26 Feb 10 - 06:15 PM

I do hope he's not feeling too rough.

Never forget the time we had booked him at the Corporation Taps. He invited the Badger on stage with him (John was semi-pro at the time so was in practice). He then proceeded to play John into the ground - not seen him so shattered after a 5 minute spot before.

Diz stayed the night with us and we have a lovely photo of a VERY young Firecat "discussing" music with Uncle Diz.:-)

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: pavane
Date: 26 Feb 10 - 04:08 AM

I might still have a cassette tape I made of him at the Valley Folk club in Pontardawe in the early 1970's.

I will have a look for it as soon as possible (Not this weekened, as my daughter is getting married on Monday). Also saw him in Hornchurch and in Stoke (c1970).

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Will Fly
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 11:38 AM

Diz's hearse was always a talking point. I played with him at the Willows Folk Club in Arundel - many years ago when Bob Hedges was running it and the venue was in the Arudendel Cricket Club pavilion. He'd come down from London on a cupful (so it seemed) of petrol and realised he had to fill up before he left the club at 11. So, before the gig started, I lent him the club's fee to pay for some petrol and guided him to the nearest petrol station in my car - just in case he ran out before he got there - with a rubber tube ready to hand... Bless him!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: johnadams
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 11:34 AM

SylviaN wrote:

The vehicle he drove at the time was a hearse (great fun to watch the reaction of other drivers as we went past - not at the expected speed a hearse travels at). Anyway, it broke down and Diz got underneath it and fixed whatever the problem was. For those of you who aren't famililar with Diz, at the time he was wearing his favorite atire - a white, shiny, long-sleeved T-shirt with a polo neck. Needless to say, it was covered in oil!

Sylvia, KeithK may remember meeting up for an expenses lunch with Diz in a posh St John's Wood luncherie during the recording of The Druids first album for Decca in West Hampstead. After the meal Diz, knowing that we were Rolls Royce engineers, went to great lengths to get us to inspect the dodgy brakes on his Rolls Royce hearse. The fact that we were aero engineers and worked on jet turbines seem to matter not one bit. A real character.

May he have some more years if he can have them in comfort.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Fleggy
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 11:24 AM

sorry to hear Diz is poorly; he was a great influence on me and was the first jazz guitarist I ever saw, back in my Troubadour days, and he introduced me to Denny Wright, another great player. There are so many stories about Diz; like when he offered my girl friend his phone number and a coin for the phone call and promised a ride in his Rolls Royce if she went out with him, not mentioning of course that his Roller was an ancient hearse.
Get better Diz.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,JonR
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 11:15 AM

I saw Diz a few times back in the 70s, and was lucky enough to play with him once. I ran a very poorly attended blues club in Mortlake in the late 90s, and invited Cliff Aungier (my original teenage guitar hero) to headline one week. He invited Diz as his special guest (along with Andy Cortez, then still a child prodigy).
Cliff was rather the worse for drink, unfortunately (as per normal at that time) and Diz took charge of the evening: backing him up, telling jokes, etc., pulling the whole evening into shape. Because I happened to know a few Django tunes, he invited me to join him for a couple. (Unfortunately I couldn't remember them as well as I thought I could...:-(.)
A really lovely guy.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: billybob
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 10:52 AM

So sorry to hear Diz is so ill, Johnny Silvo said he saw him in November when he was over on tour, he did say he was very frail and the memory was very bad.But he knew who Johnny was and had quite a chat. We have wonderful memories of Diz with Grappelli at Farningham in the 7o's and later at the Walton Festival when he was a treasure and a pleasure to have as a guest and friend,as he would say "pip pip"
get well soon Diz
Wendy and Bill Simon

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 09:38 AM

Along with Martin Carthy Diz played guitar on Swarbs first solo outing ' Rags, Reels ans Airs ' great stuff.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Roger the Skiffler
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 08:46 AM

Never managed to see him live but have fond memories of him on steam radio (Guitar Club etc) in various combos, trad jazz & Django style, with Johnny Silvo & his music lives on in my record collection. Sad he's so poorly. Too many of my my heroes seem to be dropping off the tig these days,


RtS

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: cptsnapper
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 07:55 AM

On the website it says that visiting is between 2 & 8 pm.
Years ago a group of us booked Diz, Chris Newman & Brillo for a riverboat shuffle on the Regents Park Canal. Absolutely brilliant!!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: GUEST,Tunesmith
Date: 25 Feb 10 - 03:11 AM

Diz is a treasure! He kept the Django flag flying when it seemed such music might have no future. I don't think his contribution to the gypsy jazz revival has been - anywhere near - properly recognised.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 06:15 PM

Tried to phone the hospital for visiting times = Phone just rang , NO Answer

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Andy Jackson
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 05:54 PM

Sad news of another of our greats.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Fidjit
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 04:09 PM

Keep us posted Terry

Chas

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Leadfingers
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 10:36 AM

I had a few good Jams with Diz too - I think the idea of Jazz on a Whistle appealed to him !

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 09:50 AM

In the early to late 1970s, I used to play occasionally with Diz. He lived in the flat over the pub (the "Redan" at the corner of Queensway and Westbourne Grove) where the London band I played in ("The Egbert Sousé All Stars") had a weekly residency. When I moved down to Sussex in 1976, I bumped in to Diz now and then and accompanied him on several gigs.

A true story illustrating Diz's greatness of spirit: The All Stars used to vary from 4 or 5 to 8 or 9 players, depending on who turned up each week. One week, Diz came downstairs to see just 3 of us playing. "Hang on", he said, and went upstairs to his flat to get his guitar. He sat in with us all evening and was superb. We didn't get much money but we offered him a share of the take - in those days about £2 each and free pint after hours. He shook his head and said, "No - I've got a good gig tomorrow night". Where was that, we asked... "Carnegie Hall", came the reply, "with Stephan Grappelli"...

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: SylviaN
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 09:40 AM

One of my earliest memories of Diz was when during the years that Johnny Wall was still running the Memphis Folk Club in the centre of Leeds, before it moved to the Irish Centre.

Diz and Johnny were great friends and Diz had been staying with Johnny before going on to, I think, Whitby festival. I asked if I could have a lift and he, very kindly, said yes.

The vehicle he drove at the time was a hearse (great fun to watch the reaction of other drivers as we went past - not at the expected speed a hearse travels at). Anyway, it broke down and Diz got underneath it and fixed whatever the problem was. For those of you who aren't famililar with Diz, at the time he was wearing his favorite atire - a white, shiny, long-sleeved T-shirt with a polo neck. Needless to say, it was covered in oil!

Lovely guy, great musician. Last time I saw him play live was at Cleckheaton Folk Festival with Johnny Silvo - saw them twice, as wonderful then as he ever was.

All the best to him.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Vic Smith
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 09:08 AM

Well Diz Disley and Portsmouth brings the memory of the following story that Diz told.....

Decades ago, Diz was playing the Officers' Mess at H.M.S Collingwood and after the gig his hosts broke out the Pursers' Rum. I don't know how many of you have touched that stuff but, believe me, it is lethal.

Much the worse for wear, Diz was later weaving his car up Portsdown Hill when he was stopped by the police. The following exchange took place:-

Policeman Just a check, sir, I'm not sure that you are fully in control of this car,
Diz Just a cheque? Oh! Thank goodness - I thought that you were going to book me. Who do I make it out to?

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: bubblyrat
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 08:52 AM

My enduring memories of him are of when he liked to appear in a trio with Jon Isherwood and Pat Nelson,in the Portsmouth area;they were achingly,side-splittingly ,funny together. And,of course,his TV appearances with Stefan Grappelli. And "Dill Pickle Rag" on an early LP with Swarbrick and Carthy ; they all looked so very young ! I hope he recovers.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: Will Fly
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 04:10 AM

For those who might not have heard of Diz, I thought I'd just post this link to Nils Solberg's video page. The top video - "Sweet Georgia Brown" shows off his talent as good anything. Diz is the middle guitarist, and Nils (still playing and who occasionally drops in to the monthly Bull sessions at Ditchling) is on the left.

This clip also shows off the talents of a wonderful, and comparatively little known, violinist called Johnny Van Derrick, who died some years ago.

Let's hope Diz is with us for a lot longer yet...

Subject: RE: Diz Disley - health
From: cptsnapper
Date: 24 Feb 10 - 03:18 AM

I phoned the hospital last night and was told that he's stable.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 04:31 PM

Thanks Jim ! I thought he was still in St Johns Wood !

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: GUEST,Jim Ward
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 03:52 PM

A friend sent me this last Sat- Diz is in the Royal Free (Hampstead) on ward 7 South, on the 7th floor and has been since the 2nd Feb. At first he was admitted due to dehydration, however, since then it has been revealed that he is also suffering from pneumonia. He is very ill and frail, but in true Diz style is in generally good sprits.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Leadfingers
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 12:20 PM

Diz had a really nasty heart attack - Was in Hospital for a GOOD length of time , and sadly has never recovered !
Last time I saw him was when I took him to Steve Benbow's funeral - At that time he could not walk any distance and was NOT doing well
I understand he is in a Nursing Home in St John's Wood and has a severe form of Dementia - NO short term memory at all !

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Will Fly
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 11:39 AM

I was wondering about Diz as well - I heard from Leadfingers recently that he'd had a heart attack. Best wishes to him.

Subject: Diz Disley
From: GUEST,Graham Bradshaw
Date: 23 Feb 10 - 09:49 AM

Just had an email from John James. Apparently Diz is poorly again and in hospital in Hampstead.

Quite bad by all accounts. Anybody got any more info?

Diz was 80 last year.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Flash Company
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 10:37 AM

One of the great guitarists. I'm a bit too far north to partake in this one, but if anyone gets something going I will at least contribute money.

FC

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Mick Tems
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 05:08 AM

Sorry for the literal - I should have said: "He just carried on playing!"

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Mick Tems
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 05:06 AM

I saw Diz three times about 30 years ago. A truly great performer, he would take your breath away. As pub closing time arrived, the folk club organisers had great difficulty in getting him to stop - he just on playing!

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: cptsnapper
Date: 04 Feb 07 - 04:01 AM

He lives in Middlesex.

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: JennieG
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 09:13 PM

He travelled to Oz in the 70s with Stephane Grapelli, it was a marvellous concert. Sorry to hear he's not well.

JennieG

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 06:39 PM

Where does he live? A truly great performer.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Diz Disley
From: Leadfingers
Date: 03 Feb 07 - 06:35 PM

PM Sent