2015 Obit: David McNiven (Bread, Love and Dreams)

Subject: Obit: David McNiven (Bread, Love and Dreams)
From: GUEST,Paul Dover
Date: 20 Mar 16 - 04:42 PM

Some of you may have known of David McNiven, who died just before Christmas. Those who don't thing they have heard his music may well have heard the theme tune and incidental he wrote for Rab C Nesbit, but there was far more too him than that.

I never met him but I would like to remember him for three things:

Firstly, his work with the band "Bread, Love and Dreams" which was active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He formed the band with Angie Rew and Carolyn Davis (who later left) and the group made three albums of psychedelic folk, touring with groups like Tyrannosaurus Rex and Magna Carta. The eponymous first album, sold poorly. A double album was recorded with Terry Cox and Danny Thompson and this was released in two parts, "The Strange Tale of Captain Shannon and the Hunchback from Gigha" and "Amaryllis." I think that they are stand-out records but the public disagreed and so the band, ceased performing and David and Angie Rew concentrated on theatre work.

Secondly, I think its worth mentioning these days that he and Angie Rew married and were still together at the time of his death, nearly forty years later.

Lastly, despite being in his late sixties and under no pressure to work, David devoted much of his time to working with children and adults with special educational needs notably with Drake Music Scotland. He campaigned for the recognition of the Brainfingers system, which allows pupils with cerebral palsy to create music with a laptop and to interact with other musicians, as just as valid as conventional musical instruments.

Altogether an admirable character, as far as I can tell. I'm saddened by his passing.

Bread Love and Dreams -The Strange Tale of Captain Shannon

David McNiven and Emma Clark - Arctic Tern