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Screaming Lord Sutch

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Screaming Lord Sutch
Sutch (centre, with top hat) c. 1967
Born
David Edward Sutch

(1940-11-10)10 November 1940
Hampstead, London, England[1]
Died16 June 1999(1999-06-16) (aged 58)
South Harrow, Greater London, England[1]
Cause of deathSuicide by hanging
Other names
  • Lord Sutch
  • Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow
Occupation(s)Musician, perennial candidate
Style
Political partyOfficial Monster Raving Loony Party
Children1

Screaming Lord Sutch (born David Edward Sutch,[5] 10 November 1940[6] – 16 June 1999) was an English musician and perennial parliamentary candidate.

He was the founder of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and served as its leader from 1983 to 1999, during which time he stood in numerous parliamentary elections. He holds the record for contesting the most Parliamentary elections: 39 between 1963 and 1997.[7] As a singer, he variously worked with Keith Moon, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, Ritchie Blackmore, Rob Jevons, Charlie Watts, John Bonham, Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell and Nicky Hopkins, and is known for his recordings with Joe Meek including "Jack the Ripper" (1963).

Early life

Sutch was born at New End Hospital in Hampstead, North London,[1] and grew up in Harrow.[8]

Musical career

In the 1960s, inspired by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, he changed his stage name to "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow", despite having no connection with the peerage. It later became customary for the UK press to refer to him as "Screaming Lord Sutch", or simply "Lord Sutch".

During the 1960s Screaming Lord Sutch was known for his horror-themed stage show, dressing as Jack the Ripper, pre-dating the shock rock antics of Arthur Brown and Alice Cooper. Accompanied by his band, the Savages, he started by coming out of a black coffin (once being trapped inside of it, an incident parodied in the film Slade in Flame). Other props included knives and daggers, skulls and "bodies". Sutch booked themed tours, such as 'Sutch and the Roman Empire', where Sutch and the band members would be dressed up as Roman soldiers. Fellow musician Chas McDevitt has claimed that he gave the idea for a Screamin' Jay Hawkins-inspired act to Sutch's manager Paul Lincoln after seeing Hawkins perform in New York in 1957, having already considered emulating Hawkins himself by starting his act by emerging from a silk-lined coffin but deciding that he "(didn't have) the personality to carry this off", stating that "no one in this country had heard of Hawkins until the mid-60s".[9]

Despite a self-confessed lack of vocal talent, Sutch released horror-themed singles during the early to mid-1960s, the most popular being "Jack the Ripper". His single "The Cheat" has been cited as a proto-psychedelic recording.[10] Early works included recordings produced by audio pioneer Joe Meek.[11]

Radio Sutch on a Shivering Sands guntower

In 1963 Sutch and his manager, Reginald Calvert, took over Shivering Sands Army Fort, a Maunsell Fort off Southend, and in 1964 started Radio Sutch, intending to compete with other pirate radio stations such as Radio Caroline. Broadcasts consisted of music and Mandy Rice-Davies reading Lady Chatterley's Lover. Sutch tired of the station, and sold it to Calvert, after which it was renamed Radio City, and lasted until 1967. In 1966 Calvert was shot dead by Oliver Smedley over a financial dispute. Smedley was acquitted on grounds of self-defence.[12] About this time Ritchie Blackmore left the band. Roger Warwick left to set up an R&B big band for Freddie Mack.

Sutch's album Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends was named in a 1998 BBC poll as the worst album of all time, a status it also held in Colin Larkin's book The Top 1000 Albums of All Time,[13] despite the fact that Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Jeff Beck, Noel Redding and Nicky Hopkins performed on it and helped write it.

For his follow-up, Hands of Jack the Ripper, Sutch assembled British rock celebrities for a concert at the Carshalton Park Rock 'n' Roll Festival. The show was recorded (though only Sutch knew), and it was released to the surprise of the musicians. Musicians on the record included Ritchie Blackmore (guitar); Matthew Fisher (keyboard); Carlo Little (drums); Keith Moon (drums); Noel Redding (bass) and Nick Simper (bass).

In 2017 his song "Flashing Lights" was featured in Logan Lucky, directed by Steven Soderbergh.

Political activities

In the 1960s Sutch stood in parliamentary elections, often as representative of the National Teenage Party. His first was in 1963, when he contested the Stratford by-election caused by the resignation of John Profumo.[11] He gained 208 votes. His next was at the 1966 general election when he stood in Harold Wilson's Huyton constituency. Here he received 585 votes.[11]

He founded the Official Monster Raving Loony Party on 16 June 1982 at the Golden Lion Hotel in Ashburton, Devon,[citation needed] and fought the 1983 Bermondsey by-election. In his career he contested over 40 elections. He was recognisable at election counts by his flamboyant clothes and top hat. In 1968 he officially added "lord" to his name by deed poll.[14] In the mid 1980s, the deposit paid by candidates was raised from £150 to £500.[11] This did little to deter Sutch, who increased the number of concerts he performed to pay for campaigns. He achieved his highest poll and vote share at Rotherham in 1994 with 1,114 votes and a 4.2 per cent vote share.

At the Bootle by-election in May 1990, he secured more votes than the candidate of the Continuing Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by former Foreign Secretary David Owen. Within days the SDP dissolved itself. In 1993, when the British National Party gained its first local councillor, Derek Beackon, Sutch pointed out that the Official Monster Raving Loony Party already had six. He contested 39 parliamentary elections – a record number – losing his deposit in all of them.[7]

He appeared as himself in the first episode of ITV comedy The New Statesman, coming second ahead of Labour and the SDP, in the 1987 election which saw Alan B'Stard elected to Parliament.

Adverts in the 1990s for Heineken Pilsener boasted that "Only Heineken can do this". One had Sutch at 10 Downing Street after becoming Prime Minister.

Sutch pulled out of the 1997 general election to take care of his sick mother in South Harrow.[15] Later that year he contested his last two by-elections, in Uxbridge and Winchester.

In 1999 Sutch starred in a Coco Pops advert as a returning officer announcing the results of its renaming competition.[16]

A number of Sutch's Loony Party policies were later adopted by mainstream parties and became law. Specifically:

  • His demands for commercial radio[further explanation needed] (introduced by the government in 1974)
  • Votes for teenagers (the voting age was reduced from 21 to 18 in 1970)
  • Passports for dogs (the introduction of pet passports allowed for their international travel without quarantine regimens)

Personal life

Sutch was friends with Cynthia Payne,[17] and at one time lived at her house.

Sutch had a history of depression, and killed himself by hanging on 16 June 1999 at his late mother's house.[18] At the inquest, his fiancée Yvonne Elwood said he had manic depression, now known as bipolar disorder.[17] He is buried beside his mother, who died shortly before the 1997 General Election. He is survived by a son, Tristan Lord Gwynne Sutch, born in 1975 to American model Thann Rendessy.[19]

In 1991 his autobiography, Life as Sutch: The Official Autobiography of a Raving Loony (written with Peter Chippindale), was published. In 2005 Graham Sharpe, who had known him since the late 1960s, wrote the first biography, The Man Who Was Screaming Lord Sutch.[20]

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

  • Jack the Ripper (1985), Autograph Records ASK 780
  • Story/Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages (1991)
  • Raving Loony Party Favourites (1996)

Posthumously released:

  • Monster Rock (2000)
  • Munster Rock (2001)
  • Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages: 1961-1968 (2020)

Extended plays

Posthumously released:

  • Midnight Man (2000)
  • The London Rock & Roll Show DVD

Singles

  • "'Til the Following Night" b/w "Good Golly Miss Molly" (1961)
  • "Jack the Ripper" b/w "Don't You Just Know It" (1963)
  • "I'm a Hog for You" b/w "Monster In Black Tights" (1963)
  • "She's Fallen In Love With The Monster Man" b/w "Bye Bye Baby" (1964)
  • "Dracula's Daughter" b/w "Come Back Baby" (1964)
  • "The Train Kept A-Rollin'" b/w "Honey Hush" (1965)
  • "The Cheat" b/w "Black And Hairy" (1965)
  • "Purple People Eater" b/w "You Don't Care" (1966)
  • "'Cause I Love You" b/w "Thumping Beat" (1970), as Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends
  • "Election Fever" b/w "Rock the Election" (1970), as Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends
  • "Gotta Keep A-Rocking" b/w "Country Club" (1972), as Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends

Elections contested

Election Type Constituency Party Vote % vote Place Candidates
15 August 1963 BE Stratford-upon-Avon National Teenage 209 0.6 5 5
31 March 1966 GE Huyton 1 National Teenage 585 0.9 3 22
18 June 1970 GE Cities of London and Westminster Young Ideas 142 0.4 5 5
10 October 1974 GE Stafford and Stone Go to Blazes 351 0.6 4 4
24 February 1983 BE Bermondsey Official Monster Raving Loony 97 0.3 6 16
23 March 1983 BE Darlington Official Monster Raving Loony 374 0.7 4 8
9 June 1983 GE Finchley 1 Official Monster Raving Loony 235 0.6 5 11
28 July 1983 BE Penrith and The Border Official Monster Raving Loony 412 1.1 4 8
1 March 1984 BE Chesterfield Official Monster Raving Loony 178 0.3 5 17
4 July 1985 BE Brecon and Radnor Official Monster Raving Loony 202 0.5 5 7
10 April 1986 BE Fulham Official Monster Raving Loony 134 0.4 5 11
17 July 1986 BE Newcastle-under-Lyme Official Monster Raving Loony 277 0.7 4 7
14 July 1988 BE Kensington Official Monster Raving Loony 61 0.3 7 15
10 November 1988 BE Glasgow Govan Official Monster Raving Loony 174 0.6 7 8
15 December 1988 BE Epping Forest Official Monster Raving Loony 208 0.6 7 9
23 February 1989 BE Richmond (Yorks) Official Monster Raving Loony 167 0.3 6 9
4 May 1989 BE Vale of Glamorgan Official Monster Raving Loony 266 0.6 8 11
15 June 1989 BE Vauxhall Official Monster Raving Loony 106 0.4 10 14
15 June 1989 EE London Central Official Monster Raving Loony 841 0.5 6 8
22 March 1990 BE Mid Staffordshire Official Monster Raving Loony 336 0.6 7 14
24 May 1990 BE Bootle 2 Official Monster Raving Loony 418 1.2 6 8
27 September 1990 BE Knowsley South Official Monster Raving Loony 197 0.9 6 7
8 November 1990 BE Bootle 3 Official Monster Raving Loony 310 1.1 5 7
7 March 1991 BE Ribble Valley 3 Official Monster Raving Loony 278 0.6 6 9
4 April 1991 BE Neath Official Monster Raving Loony 263 0.8 7 8
16 May 1991 BE Monmouth 4 Official Monster Raving Loony 314 0.7 4 7
4 July 1991 BE Liverpool Walton Official Monster Raving Loony 546 1.4 5 6
9 April 1992 GE Huntingdon 1 Official Monster Raving Loony 728 1.0 6 10
9 April 1992 GE Islwyn 5 Official Monster Raving Loony 547 1.3 5 5
9 April 1992 GE Yeovil 6 Official Monster Raving Loony 338 0.6 5 6
6 May 1993 BE Newbury Official Monster Raving Loony 432 0.7 7 19
29 July 1993 BE Christchurch Official Monster Raving Loony 404 0.8 5 6
5 May 1994 BE Rotherham Official Monster Raving Loony 1,114 4.2 4 5
9 June 1994 BE Bradford South Official Monster Raving Loony 727 2.4 4 5
9 June 1994 BE Eastleigh Official Monster Raving Loony 783 1.4 5 14
16 February 1995 BE Islwyn Official Monster Raving Loony 506 2.2 5 7
25 May 1995 BE Perth and Kinross Official Monster Raving Loony 586 1.4 5 9
27 July 1995 BE Littleborough and Saddleworth Official Monster Raving Loony 782 1.9 4 10
1 February 1996 BE Hemsworth Official Monster Raving Loony 652 3.0 5 10
11 April 1996 BE South East Staffordshire Official Monster Raving Loony 506 1.2 5 13
31 July 1997 BE Uxbridge Official Monster Raving Loony 396 1.3 4 11
20 November 1997 BE Winchester Official Monster Raving Loony 316 0.6 5 8

Notes:-

References

  1. ^ a b c Doc Rock. "1998–1999". The Dead Rock Stars Club. Retrieved 19 June 2013.
  2. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Screaming Lord Sutch Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
  3. ^ Luerssen, John D. (September 2012). Bruce Springsteen FAQ. Backbeat. p. 65. ISBN 9781617134609.
  4. ^ "Screaming Lord Sutch, '60s Shock-Rock Pioneer, Found Dead". MTV News. 17 June 1999. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  5. ^ "David 'Screaming Lord' Sutch, Pop Star, Politician 1940–1999". NME. 17 May 1999. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
  6. ^ Talevski, Nick (2010). Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door. Omnibus Press. p. 628. ISBN 978-0-85712-117-2. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Most UK elections contested and lost". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 7 July 2020.
  8. ^ "IN BRITAIN'S CRAZY POLITICS, LORD SUTCH HAS NO PEER". Chicago Tribune. 16 April 1997. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  9. ^ "The 2i's and the birth of British rock". Record Collector. 5 October 2007. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
  10. ^ Campbell, Marc (22 November 2010). "The Wild World Of Screaming Lord Sutch". Dangerous Minds. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
  11. ^ a b c d Solly, Bob (28 March 2009). "Sutch's life". Record Collector. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
  12. ^ Stafford, David; Stafford, Caroline (2013). Cupid Stunts:The Life & Radio Times Of Kenny Everett. Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-867-6. Retrieved 28 December 2018.
  13. ^ "1994 Colin Larkin – All Time Top 1000 Albums". Timepieces.nl. 24 October 1962. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
  14. ^ "Obituaries – Screaming Lord Sutch". The Daily Telegraph. 18 June 1999. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  15. ^ "That was 1997, that was". News Shopper. 17 January 1998. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  16. ^ Crawford, Anne-Marie (13 May 1999). "Coco Pops back after vote". Campaign. Retrieved 19 February 2019.
  17. ^ a b Moynihan, Tim (1 September 1999). "Lord Sutch fought long battle with depression". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 19 June 2013 – via The Free Library. 'He suffered from manic depression for many years,' she said.
  18. ^ Millar, Stuart (1 September 1999). "Madcap maverick of politics hid his life of despair". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 4 February 2020.
  19. ^ Fountain, Nigel (19 June 1999). "Screaming Lord Sutch". The Guardian. Obituary. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024. Sutch is survived by his partner Yvonne Elwood, and his son Tristan, from his relationship with Thann Quantrill. The death of his mother, in 1997 on the eve of the last general election, greatly affected him.
  20. ^ Callow, Simon (2 July 2005). "Desperately Funny". The Guardian. Review. Archived from the original on 18 April 2024. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
General
  • Chippindale, Peter. "Sutch, David Edward (1940–1999)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/72456
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1950–1973, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1983)
  • British Parliamentary Election Results 1974–1983, compiled and edited by F. W. S. Craig (Parliamentary Research Services 1984)
Party political offices
New creation Official Monster Raving Loony Party Leader
1983–1999 		Succeeded by
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