Obit: Les Gray

Subject: Obit: Les Gray
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 12:50 PM

Just heard on the Radio on the way home from work. Les Gray, front man and lead singer for 70's rockers Mud has died of a heart attack in Hospital in Portugal. He had been suffereng from throat cancer for some time.

Prior to founding Mud he had been involved in Skiffle and Trad Jazz groups. More recently he had some sucess in songwriting.

Another one goes to that great concert in the sky:-(

Dave the Gnome
(Who wasn't averse to bopping around to Tiger Feet 30 years ago)

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: Rasener
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 01:13 PM

Yep, just heard it on Radio Lincolnshire.

"Who wasn't averse to bopping around to Tiger Feet 30 years ago"

Same here M8 :-)

Only decent thing I can say, is that he at least won't have to go through the aweful cancer process.

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: Skipjack K8
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:18 PM

It'll be lonely this Christmas.

Great band, and didn't take themselves too seriously.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 02:29 PM

Lest not forget.....The Cat Crept in and Then He Crept Out again. I have his autograph still, was too young to go to TOTP at the time, but a benevolent friend of older sister managed to get it. Along with somone from Candlewick Green?

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: RolyH
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 03:56 PM

I knew of Les from his days in South London when he sang in the 'Mourners',(I think his brother Pete was the drummer at the time)
The 'Mourners ' went on to become 'Mud'.There was a lot of very hard work put in before they achieved stardom.

A sad loss.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: alanabit
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 04:14 PM

I never liked those Chinn-Chapman, Mickey Most produced bands at all. There was Suzy Quatro, Smokie, New World and probably a couple of others whom I have forgotten.
A few years back I bumped into Alan and Terry (guitarist and bassist of Smokie) in my local Irish Pub in Cologne. Smokie were very big over here and they were still making albums and doing revival tours. They were likeable blokes and I have every reason to believe, very good musicians. They explained how they had worked very hard for years - barely able to feed their families - when the record deal came along. Alan told me that when he got back to Bradford he would invariably ring up a few mates and set about playing a couple of blues gigs. It's not exactly what you associate with the Smokie image! I am sure all those guys were probably good players and nice blokes under it all and I am as saddened by the death of Les Gray as I would be by any other decent bloke.

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 04:58 PM

Was it really 30 years ago? Another one gone.

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 23 Feb 04 - 07:30 PM

Aye 'twas indeed, Liz. I realised I was 21 at the time. That makes me, oh... at least 27 now.

Cheers

:D

Subject: RE: Obit: Les Gray
From: alison
Date: 24 Feb 04 - 02:39 AM

well I was at primary school but I remember dancing to Tiger Feet too...

I saw Ralph McTell a few years back and he was reminiscing that "Streets of London" was tipped to be the Christmas number 1 record..... but was pipped to the post by Mud doing "Lonely this Christmas"

rest in peace Les

alison