Posted June 4, 201015 yr Mick Karn, the bassist of influential 80s group Japan, has recently been diagnosed with terminal cancer. Information from http://www.nightporter.co.uk the biggest Japan fan site: Mick Karn Appeal "With great sadness we regret to inform you that Mick has recently been diagnosed with advanced stages of cancer. Mick is currently in positive mood and undergoing further tests and treatment. His family and friends are close with him, supporting him in practical ways, and surrounding him with their love, friendship and care. Mick has been struggling financially for some considerable time now and we are hoping that this appeal may help to raise funds for any necessary treatment and perhaps go some way towards providing a small degree of financial support whilst Mick's immediate family provide the care and comfort we would all wish for him. We are hoping that his friends, fans and musical colleagues will, over the coming months, offer any support they feel capable of giving. Quite aside from the sheer brunt of daunting medically-related costs, Mick's clear and major concern is for the security and well being of his wife and young son. If you would like to make a donation whether as an individual or as a group, you can do so via the paypal link at http://www.mickkarn.net/ which has been set up for this sole and express purpose. Any support you are able to give, no matter how small, could make a difference in helping Mick cope during this difficult period. His friends will be looking at a variety of ways to raise funds. If you would simply like to leave your kind messages of support for Mick, please do so at http://www.mickkarn.net/Pages/Message.htm We will keep you all updated as often as we can. Please do note that news is released with Mick's full approval." Very sad news :( Get well soon Mick!
June 4, 201015 yr The man responsible for not only Japan's distinctive wobbly-bass sound... but also for some of the finest Kate Bush moments. Isn't it odd that his many high profile friends and collaborators aren't helping this fund, to? The mind boggles...and this is terribly sad news... he's so young, too.
June 4, 201015 yr Author The man responsible for not only Japan's distinctive wobbly-bass sound... but also for some of the finest Kate Bush moments. Isn't it odd that his many high profile friends and collaborators aren't helping this fund, to? The mind boggles...and this is terribly sad news... he's so young, too. Indeed... bastically the sound of the 80s. The news only went public a couple of hours ago, I expect they will help as best as they can. There might be more about it in the press etc in the next few days.
June 5, 201015 yr I know that Karn thoroughly despises David Sylvian, as shown in Karn's autobiography, so I doubt he'll help much.....
June 5, 201015 yr well it appears they've set up an online donations fund for Karn's treatment and for care of his wife and son..... it just seems a little, I don't know, degrading to ask fans for money when Karn has worked with some obscenely rich stars throughout his career. Maybe that's being harsh, but it does seem a little odd...and sad... to have to do this. Karn's greatest moment, for me, was when he temporarily buried the hatchet with Sylvian in the mid to late 80s. They released a stunning single called 'Buoy'...... have a listen, it's truly beautiful..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8cb0iO8Vpg
June 5, 201015 yr well it appears they've set up an online donations fund for Karn's treatment and for care of his wife and son..... it just seems a little, I don't know, degrading to ask fans for money when Karn has worked with some obscenely rich stars throughout his career. Maybe that's being harsh, but it does seem a little odd...and sad... to have to do this. Karn's greatest moment, for me, was when he temporarily buried the hatchet with Sylvian in the mid to late 80s. They released a stunning single called 'Buoy'...... have a listen, it's truly beautiful..... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8cb0iO8Vpg fully agree, i dont think its harsh .. it is odd..
June 6, 201015 yr Very sad news. They mentioned the sad news on the Finale of I'm In A Rock'n'Roll Band last night. Ive always been a big fan of the Fretless bass. So I'll post a clip of Mick Karn in action (and what a backing band this British female singer has got): LzDPmvJu6eE
June 8, 201015 yr I'll post a clip of Mick Karn in action (and what a backing band this British female singer has got): LzDPmvJu6eE I've never seen that clip - thanks for posting! Kate looking pretty great (isn't that the Sat In Your Lap silk top?)..and Mr Karn, too, looking amazing, as he did in the heady days of the early 80s. I still reckon The Wedding List has one of the best outros ever..... I've not got my speakers connected at the moment so I haven't heard if this version is live or not - but the recorded version..... incredible. Kate's 'Never For Ever' album is one of her overlooked classics, I think. I got hold of the Japanese mini-LP CD release of it recently and.... wow... the attention to detail on the cover is jawdropping - even down to the EMI paper inner sleeve with the plastic inner. Anyway, off topic... after falling in love with the track 'Buoy' all over again, I oredered Mick Karn's album 'Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters'.... an album I owned on vinyl in the 80s - and it was well worth the purchase. I'd forgotten how brilliant this album is - definitely highly recommended, as it includes both Karn and Sylvian's most accessible work after the demise of Japan, I think.
June 9, 201015 yr I've never seen that clip - thanks for posting! Kate looking pretty great (isn't that the Sat In Your Lap silk top?)..and Mr Karn, too, looking amazing, as he did in the heady days of the early 80s. I still reckon The Wedding List has one of the best outros ever..... I've not got my speakers connected at the moment so I haven't heard if this version is live or not - but the recorded version..... incredible. Kate's 'Never For Ever' album is one of her overlooked classics, I think. I got hold of the Japanese mini-LP CD release of it recently and.... wow... the attention to detail on the cover is jawdropping - even down to the EMI paper inner sleeve with the plastic inner. Anyway, off topic... after falling in love with the track 'Buoy' all over again, I oredered Mick Karn's album 'Dreams of Reason Produce Monsters'.... an album I owned on vinyl in the 80s - and it was well worth the purchase. I'd forgotten how brilliant this album is - definitely highly recommended, as it includes both Karn and Sylvian's most accessible work after the demise of Japan, I think. It is sad news as I do like Japan, though to be honest it is news that has been eclipsed by the deaths of two other artists, from the bands Londonbeat and the Stereophonics. In the case of the latter, the news really shocked me, as Mark Radcliffe announced it whilst talking about the 70th Birthday of Tom Jones. This was similar to the death of Alex Chilton which was mentioned by Radcliffe whilst discussing something else random on the radio, whilst Jimmy Helm’s death I noticed in Mojo, just like lead singer of OMC [“How Bizarre”]. I like Japan but I do not actually know too much about Karn, apart from the fact that I think he is the guy with no eyebrows. Even though I am not saying that he would be a 1980s equivalent to a ‘Sleeper-guy’ [which I mention as Louise Werner was on ‘Radcliffe & Maconie’ last night], I think as somebody who would probably say he was a fan of Japan, I should know more about him. I think my last points of reference for Karn [excluding Rain Tree Crow] would date back to the 1980s and would be remembered from seeing his entries in the ‘Hit Singles & Album’ book. I do not think that I knew about Japan until “Blackwater” was released in the early 1990s. At the time when Japan split up, I think I would have been listening to Kajagoogoo, while regarding Duran Duran as being too ‘old’ and ‘girly’ for me [even though I do not have any older siblings, I regarded Duran as being a band that were only suitable for ‘older sisters’. I did not bother with the band until they were a trio and generally liked Spandau Ballet instead]. About a year after “Too Shy” hit number one, “Red Guitar” by David Sylvian was featured on my 'Now That’s What I Call Music 3' cassette. However I do not think I paid too much attention to that record until a few years later, when I bought the accompanying 'Now 3' VHS, which featured the “Red Guitar” video as directed by Anton Corbijn. As I like Joy Divison, U2 and Depeche Mode, I think I would have come to a quick conclusion that Sylvian was ‘cool’ as well and so would have started buying his albums from that point. I own many recordings by David Sylvian [‘Secrets of the Beehive’ is the best even though it is quite depressing] and actually I was thinking of buying Karn’s album a few weeks ago. In the end I decided against it as I thought it might be like Sylvian at his most experimental and instrumental. I have never actually listened to these albums and in regards to these works of Sylvian, I think that Scott Walker’s ‘Tilt’ might be more accessible, as at least ‘Tilt’ seems to have a ‘normal’ track listing, comprising of ‘proper’ songs. I am not too sure, but I think that Karn could also be a member of Porcupine Tree now, though I might be getting mixed up with Sylvian’s brother. For many years I thought that Karn was in fact Sylvian’s brother, but I know now that his sibling in the band is actually Steve Jansen. Loz
June 11, 201015 yr Why are other artists getting together to raise money for him and his family? :rolleyes: He must have made millions with Japan. If he frittered it away then tough. The NHS will treat his cancer and his wife will just have to get a job like everyone else. Hardly rocket science is it? :rolleyes: Edited June 11, 201015 yr by Victor Meldrew
June 11, 201015 yr Author Why are other artists getting together to raise money for him and his family? :rolleyes: He must have made millions with Japan. If he frittered it away then tough. The NHS will treat his cancer and his wife will just have to get a job like everyone else. Hardly rocket science is it? :rolleyes: He did not make millions with Japan. David Sylvian was the major songwriter of the group, and they were always more critically acclaimed than commercially successful. When they split in 1982, he was 23 years old. Since that time, he has just worked as a session musician, and never became a major song writer. So he has just had to use his own money to fund his own solo recordings. He has been living abroad, and his coming back to the UK for his treatment. He has done many big charity gigs himself with Midge Ure and other major world artists, all the Princes Trust gigs etc. Let's be honest, he's a musician, and they don't get company pensions, they're lucky to have a pot to p*** in once they leave a record deal.
June 11, 201015 yr This heorrendous cancer is just taking over the world, its almost becming petrifying, it sterrible news for him and his fanily and friends to get so i hope everthing goes aswell it can do for him at this stage.
June 12, 201015 yr Why are other artists getting together to raise money for him and his family? :rolleyes: He must have made millions with Japan. If he frittered it away then tough. The NHS will treat his cancer and his wife will just have to get a job like everyone else. Hardly rocket science is it? :rolleyes: ive got a good mind to increase your warning level again, for making such an offensive post.
June 12, 201015 yr ive got a good mind to increase your warning level again, for making such an offensive post. It's not offensive in any way. It's just an OPINION. I have every sympathy for him having cancer. :) Edited June 12, 201015 yr by Victor Meldrew
June 12, 201015 yr Why are other artists getting together to raise money for him and his family? :rolleyes: He must have made millions with Japan. If he frittered it away then tough. The NHS will treat his cancer and his wife will just have to get a job like everyone else. Hardly rocket science is it? :rolleyes: I'd be shocked to the core if you'd ever even heard of Japan...... so quite how you can stste he 'made millions' from them is beyond me.... and this post is offensive in the extreme - not an opinion, just a message posted to antagonise, annoy and upset. Again.
June 12, 201015 yr I'd be shocked to the core if you'd ever even heard of Japan...... so quite how you can stste he 'made millions' from them is beyond me.... and this post is offensive in the extreme - not an opinion, just a message posted to antagonise, annoy and upset. Again. Of course I've heard of Japan, from the 80's. I am 50 you know. Quiet Life off the top of my head was one hit. I apologise for the post then but honestly still can't see it as being offensive as it breaks no board rules and merely states my opinion. Edited June 12, 201015 yr by Victor Meldrew
June 12, 201015 yr Of course I've heard of Japan, from the 80's. I am 50 you know. Quiet Life off the top of my head was one hit. I apologise for the post then but honestly still can't see it as being offensive as it breaks no board rules and merely states my opinion. you are under the impression that you can post whatever you want to do, under the guise of 'i have a right to voice my opinion', yes you have, but when it is offensive, inflamitory, inaccurate, then it does break the board rules and you will be warned. -the guy ISNT rich, -he HASNT squandered his money -the nhs doesnt spend money on cancer treatment, in many cases they ease it, not cure it. he needs specialist help and after hes worked with and help many musicians make money, they want to repay him. - suggesting his wife get a job coming from a vile professional scrounger like YOU really takes the p***. if you cannot see how offensive that is then i suggest you LEAVE BUZZJACK.
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