R.I.P. Jimmy Carl Black

I am devestated this morning by the news of the death from cancer of Jimmy Carl Black, aged 70.

Jimmy was the self styled 'Indian of the Group' and drummer in the original Mothers of Invention. He also played with Beefheart's Magic Band and formed a painting and decorating business with Arthur Brown in Austen, Texas.

I had the great joy of meeting him a couple of years ago whilst he was touring with the Muffin Men. I was sat in Brighton's Komedia with a very drunken Robert Rankin, who hailed him over as his long lost pal. Jimmy came over, Robert introduced himself and they began a mutual love-in - it turned out that each was the other's greatest fan. At this point Arthur Brown, who now lives in Lewes, turned up. The gig was played and the party lasted long afterwards. Needless to say he was a charming and funny man who finally bore no massive grudge towards Zappa but was a more than competent musician in his own right.