From: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org (oppositeview-digest) To: oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Subject: oppositeview-digest V2 #194 Reply-To: oppositeview@smoe.org Sender: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-oppositeview-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk oppositeview-digest Wednesday, December 20 2000 Volume 02 : Number 194 Today's Subjects: ----------------- OV: Kirsty McColl [NIGELBLUES@aol.com] OV: Re: Kirsty McColl ["Jane Armstrong" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 11:17:41 EST From: NIGELBLUES@aol.com Subject: OV: Kirsty McColl While we're in a pre-Xmas sombre mood, it was terrible to hear about the tragic death of Kirsty McColl this afternoon. Can't pretend I listened to all her material but enough of it to know what a talented singer/songwriter she was and a good voice to boot. Might make Fairytale In New York, getting its usual radio airplay, a bit more poignant over the next couple of days. SINGER and songwriter Kirsty MacColl has died in an accident in Mexico, her management company said today. The 41-year-old star, whose biggest hit Fairytale of New York was with The Pogues in 1987, is believed to have died in a boating accident. MacColl - daughter of folk singer Ewan MacColl - also scored hits with The Wonder Stuff and is known for her top 20 single There's A Guy Works Down The Chipshop Swears He's Elvis. A spokeswoman for her management company, Major Minor, confirmed the singer had died and said they would be releasing further details later. The singer had recently recorded a series for BBC Radio 2, Kirsty MacColl's Cuba, which was due to begin tomorrow night. She had recorded the series in Havana, interviewing musicians from the Buena Vista Social Club and Ry Cooder. The star had developed an interest in Cuban music over the past few years, as shown on her last album Tropical Brainstorm. Once a member of punk band Drug Addix, she went solo and signed to legendary record label Stiff, taking her first crack at the charts at the age of 19 with They Don't Know in 1979. It failed to make a splash but was later a hit for Tracey Ullman. She later made it with There's A Guy in 1981, the first of a string of hits. The star, who was formerly married to record producer Steve Lillywhite who worked with acts like U2, also had hits with her version of Ray Davies song Days, Billy Bragg's New England and Perfect Day with Lemonheads mainman Evan Dando. According to one report, the singer - a mother of two boys - was swimming off the coast of Mexico when the speedboat collided with her. Radio 2 DJ Johnnie Walker, a friend of the singer, paid tribute to her today. "I was shocked to hear the news," he said. "She was one of the true, real characters of popular music and although there has been pressure on women in music to conform in the music business, she was always herself and said `I am what I am'. "We'll miss her sense of humour and her beautifully crafted songs." ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:05:47 -0000 From: "Jane Armstrong" Subject: OV: Re: Kirsty McColl I'd not heard this news. It's terrible! I really liked her stuff, and loved her voice. She was on Jools Holland recently and was promoting her new album. And I also admired the fact that she did her own thing and didn't try to conform to look or dress like other "rock chicks" - she had her own style and was big but beautiful. What a waste. My thoughts go out to her two little kids. Jane ------------------------------ End of oppositeview-digest V2 #194 **********************************