PASCAL's KEVIN COYNE HOME PAGE
KEVIN COYNE, A VERY QUICK BIOGRAPHY
Fan: "Could I have your autograph? I listen to your records everyday"
Kevin: "You must lead a boring life"
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Born Jan 27 1944 in Derby, UK.
Married Lesley in 1965. Has two sons, Eugene and Robert (who both
played with him in the late 90s).
Studied Art in Derby.
Worked as a social therapist at Whittingham psychiatric Hospital near Preston, Lancashire, an experience that
would strongly influence his inspiration. *
Moved to London in 1969, working as a social worker for the Camden Accomodation Scheme (Soho Project).
Kevin Coyne first played as soon as 1969 with SIREN, a boogie-blues-ballad band who
recorded two LPs for John Peel's Dandelion Records. Says Kevin Coyne: "Kind of
a British Blues with an art twist".
He then signed under his own name with Virgin for a dozen of albums. From
1973 to 1976, with the help of famous musicians such as pianist Zoot Money
or future Police Andy Summers, his music went from blues-folk-rock ("Marjory
Razorblade" LP) to some harder, powerful rock, culminating with a double-live
album (a must for every hot artist of the 70s...). But Coyne, turning his
back on success, radically changed his style with his later Virgin records:
some of his masterpieces ("Dynamite Daze", "Millionaires and
Teddy Bears", "Babble" (1978-79), strange, moving and beautiful
records with sparse orchestration or arrangements.
Coyne then experienced a period of nervous breakdown, alcoholism and a divorce.
His early 1980's records are dark and fascinating opus, played by jazz-rock
influenced musicians (Brian Godding, Pete Kirtley...).
He moved to Germany in the eighties, playing with local musicians. His late
80s-early 90s records - only available in Germany at the time - were not at
level with his earlier work. Kevin Coyne's name got lost for most of his old
fans...
Kevin had a third son - Nico - in Germany.
The late 90s, with a new, bigger, label (Ruf Records, Germany) and a couple
of very good CDs - some of them with his sons Robert and Eugene playing - put him again under
the spotlight. He toured the US for the first time and more and more people
are now showing a growing interest in Coyne's music, painting and writing.
In the late 90s, he married Helmi, now his manager. They ran their own
label, 'Turpentine Records'.
(photo by Michael Starr)
Kevin Coyne sang, played acoustic guitar in a very personal way: "I lent
an open tuning to the guitar, which some people call 'open-E' or 'Spanish'
tuning. And... my tiny hands had trouble making proper chords so I started
using my thumb. But originally I used a metal rod to do things like 'Dust
My Broom' and Elmore James blues-type numbers. Then I started using my finger
instead of a metal slide and it developed on from there, and it's all gotten
quite complicated now..."; on another occasion, he simply said: "You
notice my guitar technique: I got it from Jimi Hendrix"...). He played occasional harmonica, keyboards and electric guitar.
He was a songwriter but also a writer and a painter
_____
* Check these beautiful photos from the derelict Whittingham Hospital where Kevin Coyne worked in the 60s: "extracts from a Kevin interview by Frank Bangay: "I was living in Preston, Lancs, working at Whittingham psychiatric hospital and joined [Siren] for some recording in 1968." - [Case History] "The album reflects my work in Whittingham hospital and as a social worker for the Soho project in London. The intensity of it all reflects my concern and passion for the problems of the underdog. It's a record, dedicated to the unfortunate amongst us." - "House on the Hill is about Whittingham hospital, about the grey atmosphere, the primitive conditions and the rest. It's a song with a glimmer of hope, but not much. My time as an out of work drunk wondering around Brixton is mentioned too. It's a very personal song." More info about this hospitel here.