RIP Dave McArtney

Dave McArtney, Los Angeles, 1978. From musematic

 
Dave McArtney (of Hello Sailor/Pink Flamingos) has passed away. NZ Musician reports that it understands that " he was earlier diagnosed with cancer. Despite ongoing treatment he died unexpectedly last night at home." Gary Steel reports McArtney was 62.

Part of Ponsonby rock legends Hello Sailor (and singer/writer of their classic Gutter Black, more recently used as the theme for tv show Outrageous Fortune), after that band's demise in 1980 he led The Pink Flamingos. The band released their debut album in early 1981, and moved to Sydney in September that year. McArtney split the band up in 82 and moved to London.

He returned to NZ, released several solo records and got into production, winning Producer of the Year for Heart and Soul (The Narcs) at the Music Awards in 1984 . He later spent a spell playing guitar in Shona Laing's band when she toured America, in 1988.

In 1989 he went back to uni to complete degree in English Literature. He had worked at the music school MAINZ as a tutor for ten years. Bio from Dave McArtney's website.

2005 Q&A with Dave McArtney by Trevor Reekie

Added: Radio NZ special features on Hello Sailor - Live at the Powerstation, and Hello Sailor inducted into the NZ Music Hall of Fame, in 2011.

Added: From Hello Sailor's FB page: "... Dave had been seriously unwell and recently spent a week in hospital. He was released last Wednesday, seemed comfortable and expected to recover. His sudden death was not predicted and has come as a shock to all. His last words to his wife last night were that he was working on an arrangement for a new song..."

Added: 'Hello Sailor Story', a 2007 doco on the band, screened on Juice TV. Mentions their infamous Ponsonby part house the Mandrax Mansion. Part 2 has footage of their spell in LA, with them playing live with Ray Manzerek on keys.

Added: "A service celebrating Dave's life will be held at St Matthew- in-the-City, corner of Wellesley st and Hobson Street, Auckland on Tuesday April 23 at 2pm followed by private cremation."