Nightlight News

Charles Gocher, drummer for the deeply influential Sun City Girls, has passed away at 54 after a bout with cancer. The only official word out so far is here on the SCG website. He joined the Bishop brothers, Alan and Richard, in 1980, after their original drummer Kevin Hughes left Phoenix. Interestingly, the original lineup of Bishop Bros/Hughes performed as an all-cover band named Fuck You. Of course, two years later they went on to form the Sun City Girls with Charles Gocher, which, as far as bands go, are as close to representing what Nightlight strives to be and stands for as you can get short of actually living on Mars and playing accordian through your skin. I would attempt to write some kind of massive eulogy, a testament to his work, but other people are doing much better jobs than I ever could. Read Blastitude if you don't already. If you haven't listened to Sun City Girls ever, it's hard to say where to start, but I recommend a) Torch of the Mystics B) 330,003 Crossdressers from Beyond the Rig Veda 3- Carnival Folklore Resurrection Series Vol 7. - Libyan Dream. Also useful for discovering the breadth of sound that can be the Sun City Girls is Fresh Kill of a Cape Hunting Dog/Def in Italy double LP out on Eclipse.

I deeply regret his passing, for many reasons. For one, this means my dream of one day bringing the Sun City Girls as they were is gone. And that just goes to show you - if that awesome band comes around and you stay home cuz you're tired, you might get eternally screwed with that kind of thinking. If opportunity arises to see something awesome and you can enjoy the opportunity at all, take it, cuz life is fleeting and mysterious.

RIP CHARLES GOCHER

Nightlight News

2.21.2007

Charles Gocher - RIP

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