Nick Drake

[gmknobl]

From the mostly accurate Wikipedia:

In 1974, Drake felt well enough to write and record a few new songs. However, on November 25, he died of an overdose of the antidepressant Tryptizol. The coroner concluded that the cause of Drake's death was suicide, although this was disputed by friends and relatives. Antidepressants of that type (tricyclic) are lethal if ingested at doses higher than as typically prescribed. His mother recounts that he must have had difficulty sleeping and had got up in the night to have a bowl of cornflakes. It's unclear whether he took more pills to help him sleep or to take his own life.

endquote -

I won't vouch for the veracity of that but it is pretty much what I've heard.

God, that must be terribly hard having a child die before the parent. I know the reverse is something most of us go through and it isn't easy, particularly for those of us who are personally familiar with depression.

[mossy]

Yes, nobody has ever said whether it was suicide, or an accident. Both his parents are dead and his sister, who's an actress in the UK, has said nothing.

This is a cut and paste from IGUANA on the making of Pink Moon in 1972:

Nick has a lot of music running through his head, but he can't write, can't get it down. Chris Blackwell at Island Records offers him an apartment on the Spanish coast. When he returns to England in October 1971, he calls John Wood, telling him he wants to make a new album. Wood has received instructions from the company to record anything with Nick - anytime - so he tells Nick to come over. He arrives at midnight, pale faced, looking like a man who's been losing too much sleep. Nick sits down in the studio, perfectly in tune as always, and plays his songs in an unbroken suite. The record, 'Pink Moon', is recorded in two hours. Other sources claims that the songs were cut in two days, which actually sounds more reasonable.

A couple of days later, they meet to work out the arrangements. Nick puts on some piano on the title track, Pink Moon, but that's it. "I don't want them arranged", says Nick, "no frills".
The album is short, about 30 minutes, but Nick haven't got any more songs. In Robert Kirby's eyes 'Pink Moon' is the finest work Nick ever did. And an astonishing achievement: during the recording he was so depressed that he could barely speak, so confused that he would stand helplessly at an intersection, unable to cross.

Nick is now in possession of the finished tape, but one problem remains: he must bring it to Island Records. And explain why there are no arrangements. Nick drives to the office, but when he reaches the door, he can't go through with it. Without a word, he leaves the tape with the receptionist. A few days later, someone actually decides to open the package and they realize that it's the new Nick Drake album.

I suppose we all have music which reaches a place so deep inside that we ourselves can't define it, explain it, or compare it to anything else. I'll always be grateful to ND who, either in spite of or because of his emotional pain, was able to share something so profound.

Sorry to wax on. I've said my bit now.

[Hawksun]

I remember reading that article Mossy about a year ago, two tops maybe. That creeped me out. I more than ever felt that Pink Moon was a really dark album.

Thought some of you might like to see a few of the pictures I took when I visited Nick Drake's grave a while back.

It was a very emotional day out for me. Pam was very understanding and went and sat in the local pub while I paid my (huge) respects.

The Tree is an English Oak tree under which Nick was buried. I took a leaf and have it in a frame on my desk. I feel somehow that a bit of Nick's spirit is with me whenever I look at it.

The Grave stone is very simple, almost delicate, as you can see.

The Church is beautiful both inside and out. I took a photo of a plaque that is on the Church Organ which was placed there to commemorate his music.

I'm going to go and play Northern Sky now. That was the song that I sang as I sat by his grave that day.

Hope you like the pictures.