From:   "Dik de Heer"  
Date:  Sun Nov 10, 2002  7:24 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Screaming Lord Sutch
 
SCREAMING LORD SUTCH (By Shaun Mather)

Born David Edward Sutch, 10 November 1940, Harrow, Middlesex, England
Died 16 June 1999, London, England

When David Sutch died a few years ago it made the main national news
and all the papers. This was down to his career in politics more than his
contribution to the music industry, although some of his records have a
real charm. It's impossible to listen to the irresistable "Jack The Ripper"
without smiling.
He performed a mixture of rock & horror, and was the UK equivalent of
Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Backed by the Savages, his first record was
"Til the Following Night" / "Good Golly Miss Molly" on HMV, released
in December 1961. His early '60s singles were produced by eccentric
producer Joe Meek and included support from future hall of famers like
Jimmy Page, Jeff Beck and Ritchie Blackmore before they became famous.
In 1964, Sutch and his manager Reg Calvert launched Radio Sutch, the
second British pirate radio station (after Radio Caroline) from an abandoned
fort off the Essex Coast.
Sutch never reached the charts, perhaps because for all his showmanship
his vocal talents were somewhat limited. Too outrageous - and loud - for
public consumption, there is no question that Sutch and his group were
an influence on many future rock stars.
The novelty and inspiration had gone by the end of the decade and he
began to concentrate on politics. He fronted the National Teenage Party
followed by the Monster Raving Looney Party, the latter inspired by a
sketch by Monty Python's Flying Circus. Some of his ideas like the
European Butter Mountain are legendary, some of them are actually
insightful and make sense.
Evidently depressed, Sutch hung himself at his home on June 16, 1999.

Recommended listening:
Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages - EMI.
Book: Lord David Sutch and Peter Chippindale, Life As Sutch. London :
HarperCollins, 1991. Paperback edition : London : Flamingo, 1992.