Intuitive Music

Pip Pyle, the reputed drummer from the Canterbury rock scene, passed away on Monday, 28th August, 2006, in Paris at the age of 56. He was known for his involvement in numerous jazz rock and progressive bands, including Gong, Hatfield and the North and National Health.

Born Philip Pyle in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire. Pip Pyle took lessons from jazz drummer Buzz Greene, but he is largely self-taught. He started drumming in his local band Bruno’s Blues Band at the age of 15, later known as Delivery and finally Chicken Shack in 1971. In February that same year, Pyle was invited by his friend Robert Wyatt from Soft Machine (with whom he had exchanged girlfriend/wife) to assist with some drum tracks for Daevid Allen’s solo album “Banana Moon”. In fact, at the moment Pyle was just about to join Steve Hillage’s band, Khan, but he finally landed in Gong. Although he only played with Gong in the band’s first album “Camembert Electrique”, he played live with the band regularly and his association with the band was long. Soon later, Pyle eventually joined singer Paul Jones’ backing band, alongside guitarist Gary Boyle of later Isotope and Roy Babbington of Delivery.

In 1972, Pip Pyle became founding member of progressive jazz rockband Hatfield and the North, along with keyboardist Dave Stewart of Egg and Richard Sinclair of Caravan, recording two seminal studio albums. Hatfield and the North eventually developed into National Health in 1977 with the addition of guitarist Phil Miller. Pyle joined the band upon Bill Bruford’s departure, recording three studio albums. National Health became one of the most acknowledged progressive jazz rockbands from the Canterbury rock scene.

In 1976, Pip Pyle got also involved into playing with several musicians from London jazz club scene, including a band formed by Elton Dean, Keith Tippett and Jim Richardson called the Weightwatchers.

During the following years, Pip Pyle gained a reputation as one of the most skilled British drummers and got involved in numerous live and studio projects, including the jazz band Soft Heap, featuring Elton Dean, Alan Gowen, Hugh Hopper. In 1980, he was also involved in the band Rapid Eye Movement, featuring Dave Stewart, Jakko Jakszyk and Rick Biddulph. This project marked his earliest use of Simmonds electric drums.

After the split of National Health in 1983, Pyle got also involved in Phil Miller’s new project, In Cahoots. This involvement lasted until 2001. At the same time, he formed the quartet Equip’Out, featuring his girlfriend French pianist Sophia Domancich plus Ann Ballester and Bernard Weber. Domancich, who later took part in the comeback of Hatfield and the North in 1990, eventually left Equip’Out after her relationship with Pyle came to an end. The band later featured Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper and Didier Malherbe. In 1985, Pyle worked with French guitarist Patrice Meyer and Hugh Hopper.

In April 1990, Pip Pyle took part of Gong’s televised reunion concert, playing with the band for the first time in 20 years. Two years later he became again a permanent member of the band live until 1996. In 1998, he recorded his first solo album “The Seven Year Itch”, which featured some of the most important artists from the Canterbury scene, such as John Greaves, Richard Sinclair, Dave Stewart, Phil Miller, Elton Dean, Hugh Hopper, Barbara Gaskin, Jakko Jakszyk, Michel Godard, Didier Malherbe, Fred Baker, François Ovide, Paul Rogers, Alain and Yvon Guillard.

In 1991, Pyle was a founding member of Short Wave, along with Hugh Hopper, Didier Malherbe and Phil Miller. He also played with several bands, including Greaves, Mimi Lorenzini, Malherbe, Faton Cahen, Claude Barthélémy, Michel Godard and Emmanuel Bex.

In 1997, Pip Pyle joined Absolute Zero, the band from Cuban bass player, Enrique Jardines. Soon later he left Gong to make way for Pierre Moerlen’s return. A year later, he was part of Brainville along with Daevid Allen, Hugh Hopper and Mark Kramer. This was followed in 2002 by a new solo project named Pip Pyle’s Bash, featuring Patrice Meyer on guitar, Fred Baker on bass and Alex Maguire on keyboards. Last year saw the return of Hatfield and the North with original members Richard Sinclair and Phil Miller plus Alex Maguire from Bash! replacing Dave Stewart.

Sadly, this has been a period of big losses for the Canterbury scene, after the death of percussionist Pierre Moerlen in May 2005, and sax player Elton Dean in February this year. Pip Pyle’s funeral will be held in Sawbridgeworth during the next week. Pip’s children have decided to decorate Pip’s coffin with the type of stickers he used to have on his drum cases. For this purpose, the family has made a call to anyone has any Hatfield and the North, National Health, Gong, Chicken Shack, L’Equipe Out, Soft Heap, Bash!, Musicians’ Union or ‘Keep Music Live’ (etc.) stickers they would like to donate. They can be sent to Funeral Directors:
Daniel Robinson & Sons
c/o Jo Setterfield
3 Bullfields
Sawbridgeworth
Herts
UK

Alternatively, bearing in mind that these stickers are often treasured possessions, they can also be scanned and sent via e-mail to Sam Ellidge at ellidge@bigfoot.com and he will make them into stickers. The family has said that all submissions are welcome, however daft or irreverent, since Pip had a wicked sense of humour and would have liked the idea of people having a bit of a laugh at his funeral.

We, Intuitive Music and Intuitive Designs, have already sent our little contribution with a commemorative sticker on Pip Pyle’s career that we have especially designed for this special occasion. We have been confirmed that it will be placed on his coffin. The copyright of this design has also been given to Pip’s family in case they want to use it for former printings. With this, we want to thank Pip Pyle for so many years of wonderful music.

Intuitive Music and Intuitive Design’s tribute sticker