Crowded House is the music of the day(if not the week), thejosiekiller - I knew you'd be here...
I woke this morning to my brother telling me that Paul "Hessler" had died. "WHAT?!" I shouted. "I'm sorry, Missy" he said and left me lying in my bed, hand over my mouth. The news this morning confirmed my worst fears - Paul WAS found dead.
For the uninitiated, Hessie was the legendary drummer for Crowded House (and Split Enz 1983-4)- the one who sometimes doubled as vocalist, keyboard player and percussionist - with the "John Lennon-esque sense of humour". If you've ever seen ANY of their filmclips, you'll understand easily what I'm talking about. Hessie wrote some incredible songs (easily identifible against Neil's... all brilliant though) including, but not limited to, "Italian Plastic" (Woodface) and the very rock-inspired "Skin Feeling" (Together Alone)
I really am stung. I've cried a few times this morning - especially when watching a collage of old news footage, photos, and filmclips on the news. I couldn't help laughing and smiling, but the tears still welled up, and I had the task of secretly wiping them from my face in silence. Paul was brilliant, incredible, charismatic. An integral part of the Australian Music Industry, and, on a much smaller scale, my life.
If you've never experienced Crowded House, your life is lesser for it...