AboutDave Midgley Expertise My UK pop music knowledge is broadly from 1964 through to 1976. I also have extensive
knowledge of the UK "alternative" scene, ie Canterbury bands, Krautrock & etc.
Experience A music lover and consumer for more years than I care to remember and have an extensive record collection.
Expert: Dave Midgley Date: 6/15/2008 Subject: The Kings of Collapse
Question I'm interested in this little known progressive/jazz combo formed by Lyndsay 'The Guv' Marshall and one of their members who has been missing for far too long. Your friends are worried about you.
James
Answer Ah, yes. The Kings of Collapse, erstwhile known as Lyndsay's Bifurcated Rivets.
The 'Rivets' split due to musical differences, not least due to the band leader's insistence on using a 1-3-2 formation (one drummer, three bagpipe players and two banjo 'duellists').
The Rivets one and only album, "I've never heard of them" was unusual in that it had a piece of original Grand Old Opry curtain in every copy, but was withdrawn seconds after release. No official explanation was ever issued as to why it was withdrawn, a spokesman for the record label was 'unavailable' and the band leader was tight-lipped, only venturing to explain to a reporter that he had half a dozen ipod's at home, "if that answers your question".
All copies were thought to have been pulped, but amazingly one seemed to have slipped the net and recently turned up on ebay, where it went under the hammer for £0.10.
How and when the Kings of Collapse were formed is shrouded in mystery. Some sources claim that the members met whilst at a Hootenany at King Tut's Wah Wah Club, whilst others maintain the seeds of the group were sown via The Word magazine website.
Whatever the circumstances, it is sure to remain as much a mystery as to how a key member drifted away on the eve of a major gig, almost never to be seen again. Reported sightings were few and far between. One source claimed that he had been seen busking outside the Tron Gate, another was sure he had seen him panhandling punters at Leeds' Wendy House.
A photograph appeared showing the member behind the counter at 'Druggy Dave's' cafeteria on Tottenham Court Road (full english, tea, two slices of bread and scrape - £2.50), but was later discounted as a cruel hoax.
The truth is that the member had a breakdown, brought on by circumstances in his personal life coupled with a death in the family. Echoing Syd Barrett, he has had no desire to contact people who were 'close' to him. Preferring instead to tend to his garden, paint and compose music on a strictly non-commercial basis.
