Jun
24
Peter Quaife, 1943-2010
The last time I talked to Pete Quaife he was coughing a lot, but I didn’t think all that much about it. Because every time I talked to Pete, he seemed in rough shape. “They have to cut my forearm open from wrist to elbow and re-arrange some arteries and veins,” he wrote one time when I was trying to track him down. “Sound like fun, huh?”
That was typical. He was always upfront and never mopey about his health problems. That translated into his drawings. I mean, tell me somebody else capable of making cartoons about dialysis that are actually funny.
I’ll let the music historians talk about Peter Quaife, original bass player of the Kinks. Let’s just remember for a moment that Pete played on “You Really Got Me,” “Sunny Afternoon” and, of course, he plucked out the most important bass line of my life, the descending notes marking the start of “Waterloo Sunset.” All that even though Pete, or Crutch as so many people knew him, stopped playing in the Kinks more than 40 years ago.
I first e-mailed Pete two years ago as I started work on “Do It Again.” Back then, I was naive enough at that point to think there was an actual chance of bringing together the original four members. (I still count Mick as an original member, despite Bobby Graham’s role.) What struck me the most about those early conversations is that Pete really didn’t seem to care all that much about reuniting. I’m so used to people in Pete’s position desperate for a payday and an ego stroke. Not Pete. He made it clear, early on, that he was happy where he was, overlooking the sea in Denmark.
Several times, he reminded me he wasn’t interested in strapping his bass back on. The closest he came to sounding amenable to a reunion was in December of 2008. Pete wrote about “debating heavily with myself about rejoining the Kinks. Ray certainly wants to do it and I assume that Dave, too, wants to. But the real bugger is my health. Its been pretty crappy the past few days and I am scared that it might surface again in London. If it did I wouldn’t be able to do a thing!”
In the end, Pete stated in an A & E biography that he wouldn’t want to rejoin the band. He also released a statement confirming that thought on Dave Emlen’s site.
Still, I kept in touch. Why wouldn’t I? Pete was hilarious. I recorded three interview conversations over the phone with him over the last two years. I’m glad I saved those. I was also impressed by his incredible generosity.
One example: In the quest for material for “Do It Again,” I stumbled upon a DVD labelled “Pete Quaife’s Home Movies.” An American fan had sent it my way during my search for footage. I wrote Pete about the movies. “I ‘lost’ that particular bunch of home movies whilst I was living in Canada,” he wrote. “And now they have turned up! I have been going frantic trying to find them and, at last, someone has them in his possession.”
In many cases, I’d imagine somebody in Pete’s position would demand the disc be returned and that I turn in the supplier. Perhaps a legal threat would come. That wasn’t Pete’s style. He asked nicely if I could burn him a copy and said he’d be glad to let me use the material in “Do It Again.” He said he’d appreciate I pay him to license it but he didn’t tell me how much to pay, just an amount I found fair.
So that last time we talked was around February. I had sent Pete a DVD of the film and I returned from lunch to find a voice mail on my machine. “Brilliant,” he shouted, and continued to rave. I called him back because, well, Pete Quaife had told me my movie was brilliant. I needed to hear more. We talked about my trying to get the film into the fantastic CPH:DOX festival in Copenhagen later in the year and having Pete come as the guest of honor. We talked about Dave, who had recently had to postpone his spring tour. Pete was concerned about Dave and we both talked of how we hoped Dave might feel well enough to travel soon.
Then he asked me kindly if I might send one of Dave Plunkert’s posters in the mail. Pete, an artist himself, really loved it and wanted a copy. Sometimes, I let things slide, procrastinating because there’s so much else to do. I’m glad in this case, I popped the poster in the mail along with a few “Do It Again” buttons. Even if my film never gets out into the real world, I’ll always treasure his rave review.
A final thought… Back to November of 2008. I was heading to London to attend the Kinks Konvention and in my twisted mind, I thought I might be able to manipulate the situation to create a full-scale reunion. Only a few things got in my way. Dave said he was too busy. Ray’s peeps said he’d only come into the Boston Arms if I turned off my cameras. And then Pete. I had offered to fly him in and put him up. But he told me on the phone how fearful he was of traveling and worrying about what might happen were his health to go south.
He wrote:
I am so sorry – I can’t make the trip.
It would appear that I am a living wonder (says the doc) and a trip like that would probably cost me my life.
Apparently, my chemical makeup is completely out of whack and they are very concerned about it. It makes sense when I think about how I am feeling – tired, listless and without any energy at all. I don’t think its going to be long before I will have to do all of my traveling in a wheel chair!
I hope the evening goes well for everyone – even though I don’t think either Ray or Dave will turn up! Tell the fans from me that I will always think about them and thank them for their support throughout the years. Remember, it was them, not us, that made us  what we are.
Now, leave me the f#&-! alone! 
pete was a wonderful person… ill treasure his friendship always… rip pete… that summer in ameliasburgh was a life changer for me my friend and for that i will always thank you…you and hanne and annette saved my life…
Wonderful words Geoff. Thank you! Peace! Your fans in Durham are thinking of you!
We’re turning down the lamps and putting on the records for one of Muswell Hill’s finest.
“Neither should we forget the stalwart contributions of Bass-Kink Pete Quaife”
– Liner Notes, Something Else by the Kinks
Indeed.
Peace from Nye Farm in Chattanooga.
Thanks, Pete.
Thank you for the days,
Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
I’m thinking of the days,
Days I’ll remember all my life,
Days when you can’t see wrong from right.
Thank you for the days,
Those endless days, those sacred days you gave me.
Glad you got this movie in the can and on the screen. Always loved The Kinks and hopefully will be able to catch this flick ‘On a sunny afternoon’ sometime this summer if I’m lucky. Nice final write up as well, thank you.
Lovely tribute, Geoff — a tribute to the man, not just the musician. I’m sure he’d have loved it!
I knew I could find solace and humor here, Geoff, and you didn’t let me down. We share the same Kinks DNA. Today will be filled with Sunny Afternoons and Waterloo Sunsets.
Great piece, Geoff.
Geoff, thank you for your thoughtful and well-written tribute here.
I am spending some time today looking at the photos that are being posted, reading the stories, watching the video interviews and performances. I am getting a sense of who Pete was and I am admiring him. I think that Ray, Dave and Mick were lucky to “have him in the room” with them in those early, early days, creative days, youthful days. I admire that when he decided to leave that room he lived an engaged life. I admire that he seemed to have both acknowledged the loss of the person he was then and embraced the person he became. And I admire that he greeted suffering, both from ill health and from his personal upheavals, with intelligence and humor. He was not the same person at 66 that he was at 19 – who is? But he shared that person’s memories, and those collective memories, good, bad or indifferent, are shared by Ray, Dave and Mick. There are intangible connections to the people we spent those sorts of intense, early days with. His passing must certainly bring to them many feelings and reflections about who they were then and who they are now. So, I am feeling compassion for these three today who are remembering. “Yes, people often change. But memories of people can remain.”
Thanks, Geoff. I’m glad you made this film and am anxious to see it. I am also very pleased that Pete liked it. So he really was seriously ill for a while then. Too bad. Yes, thank you for the days, Pete. God bless all!
That is a lovely tribute. Thank you for writing and posting it. Cheers.
Hello Geoff, What nice memories you’ve given us of Pete. I only knew him through his music, through the media, through seeing his handsome visage in those great old Kinks vids and photos and through words like yours; and I miss him very much. Like all of us, I wish he didn’t have to leave so soon.
I hope to see Do It Again.
Thanks!
Everyone knows that the Kinks influenced other musicians. And the era that was most influential was that of Face to Face/Something Else/VGPS. The most remarkable thing about those albums is the music: it’s complex and witty and beautiful. And Pete Quaife’s bass was an intrinsic part of that sound. When I listen to songs like Fancy, Too Much on My Mind, Lazy Old Sun, Afternoon Tea, Picture Book, Big Sky, or Wicked Annabella, it’s the bass line that grabs me.
There were some great albums after Pete left the band, but they centered on Ray’s lyrics and a big sound, and they never attained the same level of musical creativity.
What a wonderful tribute to Pete. He sounds like a great guy. The Kinks up to when he left were incredible.
Sad news. I was not aware of his health issues. This was the last of the classic bands with their classic lineup alive.
I had just given a friend the Choral Ray Davies album , and I came home and saw the news. Geoff, I was one of those who wrote after you showed Do It Again in Boston. I loved the movie, and am still telling everyone (including the people on the Kinks sites) about the movie. Your memories of Pete (above) are super. Dave’s letter on his page was very moving. Thank you again for making the movie, and I can’t wait to see it again. Best wishes.
Great blog, was really sad to hear of his death today. Weirdly, while watching Ray Davies @ Glastonbury yesterday my wife asked me if all The Kinks were still alive and I said yes. Little did I know. The BBC coverage was edited and they cut out Ray’s touching dedication but I did think he looked more than a little emotional during a storming version of “Days.” Or “Daze” as Pete famously wrote on the tape. All the best to you Geoff and Kinks fans everywhere.
I can’t believe I’ve stumbled on this film, never heard of it until now. God speed to you, sir. Thanks for making it. Nothin’ in this world can stop you lovin’ The Kinks.
corner of tetherdown and fortis green, traffic lights; stop at opposite corners and there stood pete with newspapers to deliver, crossed over between the lights and asked why? he answerd ; this is just pin money but one day soon now i will be a member a very big band.
PS. PETE LOOKED TALL AND RESPLENDED IN WINKLEPICKER CROCKODILE SHINY SHOES AND DRAIN PIPE TROUSERS,
IN OTHER WORDS / HE HAD CLASS.
Geoff, Truly……God speed to you from me too.