Sixties pop star Dave Dee died today after a three year battle with cancer, a business associate said.
The singer continued playing gigs with his band Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich until near the end, said his record plugger Sean Cooney.
"He didn't let it get him down, he was defying it," he added.
Dave Dee, 65 - real name David Harman - came from Wiltshire and was originally a police officer.
The band's hits included Hold Tight, Bend It and The Legend of Xanadu.
In The Legend of Xanadu, a number one hit, Dee famously cracked a whip.
A spokeswoman for the family said that Dee died this morning in Kingston Hospital following "a long and courageous battle" with cancer.
JoJo
Thats sad, I remember going to see them, you forget the names of some of the bands but always could remember that one as soon as Dave Dee was sid it sort of rolled off your tongue.
Sandie Seward
Yes Joan, very sad to hear about Dave Dee. Like yourself, he was one of the many bands I saw "live" during the early sixties.
Some of the others being:
The Rolling Stones.
The Searchers.
Brian Poole & The Tremaloes.
The Undertakers.
Big Dee Irwin and Little Eva.
The Hollies. (Had a drink with them too.)
Freddie & The Dreamers,
The Dowland Brothers.
The Tornadoes.
Julie Grant.
The Springfields.
Chuck Berry.
There were others besides, but trying to cast your mind back to those heady days, mostly witnessed through a cocktail of alcohol and uppers is rather difficult.
JoJo
I saw the Dave Clark five,Cliff richard and the Shadows twice,went to Blackpool with a girl friend for a weeks holiday to see them,
Sandie Seward
I bet you two really got up to some naughty carryings-on during that week, Joan.
The artists who I "missed out" on seeing live were people like Eddie Cochran (who was killed just before I left school), Gene Vincent, and Buddy Holly.
I also never found the chance to see Roy Orbison in concert, and I would dearly have loved that experience.
janowl
[quote="JoJo"]I saw the Dave Clark five,Cliff richard and the Shadows twice,went to Blackpool with a girl friend for a weeks holiday to see them, [/quote]Oh wow. This is coming from a huge Cliff Richard fan. Got his Book,DVD, and CD for christmas.
Sad to hear about Dave Dee though. Brings back memories of my teens.
JoJo
I thought Cliff was so wonderful in my teens he was such a good looking boy, never went mad over Elvis,
And yes Sandie I had just met my Husband but the holiday had been arranged so off we went I remember meeting a couple of lads from Scotland they had scooters and clinging on for dear life on the back of them we did have a good time
