Remembering Kevin Wilkinson: 26 years on

Okay, so it's a little strange to write about someone on the 26th anniversary of their passing, rather than a rounder number, like 25 or 30 - but Kevin Wilkinson's name came up when I was doing some research recently and I noted the date of his death (17 July 1999) and decided it would be good to mark it, before it slips my mind again.

Kevin was a core part of one of my favourite bands of the mid-1980s, China Crisis, whose carefully crafted pop tunes briefly toyed with the UK charts over a three or four year period. In fact, they were also my second 'proper' solo gig, as a sixteen year old in 1989, and Kevin was there for that.

That gig will live forever in my memory. Dropped off outside the venue (Surrey University), I got chatting to another solo gig goer in the queue. He had managed to get backstage for their recent London show (Astoria, if memory serves) and hang out with the band after the show, sharing a few beers with them. I was somewhat envious, to say the least.

So, imagine my surprise when a short while later, as we stood in the Uni bar, the five band members walked in. My new found friend confidently walked up to them and re-introduced himself and they said they remembered him (whether that is true or not is another story). They walked over to where I was standing, bass player Garry 'Gazza' Johnson bought everyone a drink - and for a short while I was stood there chewing the fat with the band that had written some of my favourite chart hits (King In A Catholic Style, Black Man Ray etc.) and one of the great albums of the mid-80's (Flaunt The Imperfection). Kevin was there in this huddle, although I don't recall him saying much, Gary Daly was doing most of the talking (probably not a surprise if you have ever seen them on stage or in interview).

The signed tour t-shirt has long since faded and disappeared, but the memory of that night is etched in my brain forever. Ten years later, when I opened one of the music papers to read about his death by suicide, that night came flooding back....

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Kevin Wilkinson was born in Stoke in 1958. He was a player of the Tupperware pots as a young child, before he was finally bought a drum set at the age of seven. He was entirely self-taught and became proficient enough to join a dance band in his mid-teens and get session work.

Growing up in Swindon, he joined art-punk outfit Stadium Dogs, who looked promising for a while and built a local cult following, but it seems there was only room for one band from Swindon in the wider world, and that job went to XTC.

His breakthrough came, in a slightly unusual manner, getting a job with Swedish new wave artist, Magnus Uggla. He appeared on his 1978 album Vittring, and went on tour, being exposed to huge crowds, where Uggla was considered bigger than Bowie.

Magnus Uggla: Vittring (Audio only)

The following year, he got another interesting job, teaming up with King Crimson legend Robert Fripp, for his latest adventure, the League Of Gentlemen - something Fripp himself described as being, "a second division touring new wave instrumental dance band." Wilkinson came into the short-lived band, replacing Johnny Toobad and appearing on their one eponymously title album. The group also included Sara Lee (who would soon go on to art-punk legends Gang Of Four) and Barry Andrews (of those Swindon rivals, XTC).

He was introduced to Mike Scott in 1981 and featured in several sessions over the next few years, for material that end up on the debut album for this band that was eventually named The Waterboys. A Pagan Place came out in 1983 and includes Wilkinson's drumming, and he also features in the bands early appearance on the iconic BBC Old Grey Whistle Test tv show.

The Waterboys: The Big Music (Official music video)

China Crisis had just completed the cycle of their first album, Difficult Shapes And Passive Rhythms and a tour supporting Simple Minds. Kevin was drafted in during early 1983, as they debuted three new tracks on a Peel Session for BBC Radio 1. He ended up playing on the second album, Working With Fire & Steel, although with commitments elsewhere, Gary O'Toole went on the subsequent tour on the drum stool. He recalled, "My destiny now realised, I moved to London to further my career and hang out with better looking people."

Wilkinson was with the band through their golden period. Fire & Steel had spawned a couple of hits, but the next record would prove to be the pinnacle. Getting to work with a hero in Walter Becker of Steely Dan (the influence is fairly clear), Flaunt The Imperfection, with its couple more hit singles, was well received and briefly got them the attention they deserved.

China Crisis: King In A Catholic Style (Official music video)

The 'classic' China Crisis line-up; (l-r) Wilkinson, Daly, Johnson, Lundon, McNeill

1986's What Price Paradise?, produced by Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, didn't capitalise on that success (despite the inclusion of classic single Arizona Sky), and their star faded. By the time of my gig, supporting their fifth record Diary Of A Hollow Horse, Virgin were clearly done with them. In fact, that tour in May / June 1989 would be their last with that classic five piece line up, and their last in any shape for over five years.

China Crisis: Arizona Sky (Live in Munich, 1987)

Wilkinson (and Johnson) did contribute to the much later follow up record, 1994's Warped By Success, but only as session musicians.

Wilkinson at right, with Squeeze

Gilson Lavis had left London pop legends Squeeze in 1992, he was briefly replaced by

Attractions drummer Pete Thomas, before Wilkinson got the call up in 1994. He was there for the Ridiculous album and tour in 1995 - and appears in the music video for This Summer.

Squeeze: This Summer (Official music video)

He would play with a number of other well known acts over the years. He was a part of Fish's (ex-Marillion singer) band for several albums, including his covers LP, Songs From The Mirror and Suits. He was on Hit The Highway for The Proclaimers and also toured with them, leading to an offer to work with blues icon Bonnie Raitt, which he turned down because he wanted to spend more time with his family.

Towards the end of his life, he had been working extensively with 80's synth-pop star Howard Jones, including on his US tour. And just seven weeks before his death, he had organised a fundraising gig, KosovAid, raising thousands for those impacted by the war in Kosovo. He held it at the Oasis Leisure Centre in his home town of Swindon and managed to lure many of his old friends to participate - including Midge Ure, Howard Jones, Barry Andrews and Dave Gregory (XTC) and a rare appearance by Mike Scott.

So it seems to have been somewhat out of the blue (to the outside world), when he was found to have hung himself on 17 July 1999. He was a man who was known for his humour, involvement in the usual debauchery of rock n roll, and a committed family man - loving nothing more than to spend time with wife Marilyn and three children, and using his carpentry skills to do up their home. There was some speculation of economic hardships, but nothing official was ever released and we will leave that there.

***

A year or so after his death, a compilation CD was put together by friends, called Green Indians, and included song contribution / donations from the likes of China Crisis (and Gary Daly solo), The Proclaimers, Howard Jones, Robert Fripp, Fish and Fairground Attraction.

No less than drumming legend Neil Peart of Rush, once heaped praise on Wilkinson; "There's an English pop band called China Crisis and the drummer plays very simple patterns with very few fills, but again, what he plays is so elegant, and right for the music, and you can tell he has confidence. When he plays difficult patterns he plays them with such authority that they just flow by you smoothly. Many drummers try to pull off a more difficult pattern or fill, and it comes off slightly less than smooth."

Howard Jones was still missing him in a 2005 interview, "It was just one of the saddest things ever when Kevin died. He was a great musician and a good friend. He was my drummer, he was the man. I still haven't been able to replace him."

Gary Daly, who included a tribute - Swimming With Kevin - on his solo ambient release, Luna Landings, recalled - "I always found Kevin to be easy to work with. I never once thought I couldn't show him any of my ideas. I always felt he was so much more than a drummer and it's not something I've overthought, it's just something you feel... I suppose "chemistry" is the word and that's the magical part. I always knew he could only improve whatever it was I was trying to do with a track."

But we'll leave the last words to another former bandmate, Gary Johnson - "My best friend and an irreplicable musician."