Phil May (singer)
Phil May | |
|---|---|
Vocals | |
| Years active | 1965–2020 |
Philip Dennis Arthur May (born Wadey, later Kattner; 9 November 1944 – 15 May 2020S.F. Sorrow.
Biography
Early life
Born Philip Wadey in
Dartford, Kent, he was raised by his aunt and uncle, whose surname was May. In childhood he was sent back to live with his mother and stepfather, whose surname was Kattner, but later decided to change his name back to May.[2]
The Pretty Things
He formed the Pretty Things at
Don't Bring Me Down".[3]
In the late 1960s, The Pretty Things started to branch out into
Motown imprint Rare Earth, was regarded as the first rock opera album.[3] The songs and lyrics were based on stories written by May, which were often written whilst the album was being recorded.[4] May later admitted that his usage of LSD had a major impact on the album, saying "“It was like a sharpening of the imagination for me. I don’t think S.F. Sorrow would have been impossible without it, but there’s a lot of acid [in] the imagery."[4] The album was not successful at the time, only later becoming a cult favourite.[3] May remained with the Pretty Things until they retired in 2018, following a final concert with guests including David Gilmour and Van Morrison.[3]
Phil May and the Fallen Angels
In 1976 a new group called the Fallen Angels, led by guitarist
the Pretty Things, and Bob Weston from Fleetwood Mac set out to record an album and for vocals recruited May.[6] However, after they had recorded only eight partially complete songs, all except May abandoned the project.[3] May recruited some more players to complete the album Phil May and the Fallen Angels, which was only released in the Netherlands.[6]
Death
He died on 15 May 2020, aged 75, in a hospital in King's Lynn, from complications following hip surgery after a cycling accident.[3] He is survived by his partner and two children.[5]
References
- ^ ISBN 9780857125958.
- ^ ISBN 9782357797697.
- ^ a b c d e f g Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (15 May 2020). "Phil May, frontman with the Pretty Things, dies aged 75". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ a b c Hann, Michael (6 May 2019). "How The Pretty Things Made S.F. Sorrow". Louder Sound. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ a b "Pretty Things frontman Phil May dies aged 75". BBC News. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
- ^ a b Jurek, Thom. "Phil May & the Fallen Angels". Allmusic. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
External links
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