RIP - Kai Davidson
When I got back from London there was a message in my inbox from Sandy McLean about an old associate of ours, Kai Davidson.
I met Kai when he belted out the truth on bass with The Cateran, a band from Inverness that was at the forefront of what would eventually catapult Nirvana into the bigtime. Their debut mini-album “Little Circles” remains to this day something way more dear to me than a truckload of Orange Juice or Josef K singles. Sandy and I, er, “produced” the band’s “Last Big Lie” single. Of course neither of us will be bothering Tony Visconti anytime soon but it was fun. I remember being a bit pished one night and doing a HDM with them for a rendition of “Search and Destroy” at Potter’s Row or someplace too. Crivvens. One day the rest of the world will rediscover that band. Kai also managed The Proclaimers in their early years and also went on to be in The Joyriders with fellow Cateran-er and amigo Murdo McLeod.
He was a very nice man. I can’t even begin to understand the turmoil he was in this past few years and my thoughts are very much with his friends and family. I’m sure they're utterly devastated and wondering what they could have done to prevent such a tragedy. I imagine the answer is nothing, which makes it all the more bloody heartbreaking.
Here’s the link provided by Sandy. I didn’t want to post it raw.
5 comments:
Fuck, really sad to hear this news. We were fans of the Cateran, and apparently they were fans of ours as well, dedicating their Bite Deeper album to our late guitarist James Darroch.
I never knew Kai had a hand in bringing the world the Proclaimers.....but we can forgive him for that. Vale.
Bill Gibson
The Eastern Dark
Thanks Bill. Those guys were big fans of you fellas. Let's hope James and Kai are kicking 'em out wherever they are.
Send me your e-mail address via the blog contact would you?
L
The Beat Poets played at the West End Festival in the peeing rain today (Sunday). We dedicated Exterminator to Kai - and kicked up a right big din. It felt appropriate.
He'll be sadly missed
Tom Rafferty
The Beat Poets
Yeah man that's real fucking sad to hear of Kai's death...I knew him since the days of The Cateran and Joyriders of course, and after used to see him and hang out a bit with him now and again as we both lived near each other in Leith. I saw The Scotsman did a half-page obituary for him on Friday there. I was at the airport on my way to play at Primitive in Holland with The Wildebeests when I spotted it. It didn't mention his fall so I was pretty choked when I read the Evening News link posted here. I knew he'd had some personal demon problems over the years but I didn't realise it had got this critical. Still the music and the stories live on. Cheers - Lenny - The Thanes
Thanks guys. We'll be organising a gig and compilation cd to raise money for a trust we're putting together in Kai's name - gonna try to provide rehearsal space etc for kids who can't afford it. Also, you will be getting approached about tracks for the compilation, by the one and only Brian Guthrie.
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