Greetings Shirleyphiles and welcome to another 40 minutes or so of low-fi lovliness!
Yours truly and the manservant, mr.Kenneth have been saddened this last week to learn of the sudden passing of Iain “mr.Id” Clacher. Writer, photographer, musician, activist and all round extraordinary human being, Iain will be sadly missed by those who came to love, respect and marvel at his energy, enthusiasm, humour, drive and down to earth determination when it came to issues he cared about … and there were many.
mr.Kenneth first met Id when Id played keyboards in local bands Krank and then Spank sometime last century. Time passed and it wasn’t until early this century that paths crossed once more via blogdom, online chat, out and about at a few gigs and through radioShirley. Id would often send the manservant very kind and enthusiastic comments about the shows as they appeared online. When we moved radioShirley to this blog format a couple of months ago with the “radioShirley presents “DRAG!” show, I emailed Id a notification and he responded with “drag? Perfect! *smoochback* my place. me in a frock. with beard” with the photo of him above as “Busty Springsqueal” attached. What an eye for style!
Tributes from friends and colleagues have been flowing onto Iain’s Facebook page from far and wide. I’m linking to a couple here and here which illustrate the depth of talent, commitment and support he fostered particularly amongst the Australian LGBTQ community in his position of 8 years as editor of Queensland Pride. Read and you’ll have an idea of why he is so highly regarded.
With Id’s sudden death uppermost in my mind and reflections this week, we decided to put together a mix of low-fi lovliness to celebrate his life. mr.Kenneth and I have chosen a number of artists and musical styles that Iain had indicated a fondness for. Some instances are tracks that we just thought may be appropriate. Among these are Lovs é Blur (whose fabulous singer, Wendy Seary fronted Spank with Iain), a little rockabilly from Carl Perkins, the New York Dolls, Lydia Lunch, the Cramps, Mrs Miller (I know when Mrs. Miller first aired in a radioShirley show some time back, Iain was gobsmacked and emailed me with “Who WAS that doing Green Tambourine?”), Taylor Mead, Nina Hagen, Ike and Tina Turner, Mistress Formika with “Fight For Your Right – To be Queer”, Wanda Jackson, a beautiful song from John Water’s Hairspray by Toussaint McCall and the mainman himself, Iggy Pop.
So Shirleyphiles, join the manservant and myself in toasting the life the times of Iain “mr.Id” Clacher. As mr.Kenneth wrote on Iain’s Facebook page, “here’s to you, mr. Id. cheers my dear. x”
*be smooched*
laShirl and mr.Kenneth
View Iain’s fabulous photography on FLICKR here
DOWNLOAD .mp3 (14mb)
Well, you know I have only started to listen, as I laud you both for including, no, *leading off*! with, the fabulous Wendy, but what I can say so far is that mr. Id had exquisite taste in fellow musicians to be part of that very listenable band, Lovs é Blur. Hats off for the tribute, you guys, and RIP mr. Id.
What can I say?! I almost saw mr. Id jumping and singing up there over the clouds on that great selection! Thanks guys!
Farewell mr.Id