Denis Payton of UK band The Dave Clark Five dies

[johnnie]

LONDON (Reuters) - Denis Payton, from rock group The Dave Clark Five which toured the United States in the 1960s and spearheaded the "great British invasion" alongside the Beatles, has died after a long illness aged 63.

Friends and relatives said in a statement that Payton, who played the saxophone, guitar and harmonica and sang backing vocals, died on Sunday.

"He had an amazing philosophy on life and will be greatly missed by me and all who knew him," said Dave Clark, one of the group's founding members. "Denis was extremely brave and not afraid of death."

The Dave Clark Five, which broke up in the 1970s, boasts record sales of more than 100 million and claims to have spearheaded the "Great British Invasion" of the United States that culminated in the Beatles' success there.

A few weeks ago the band was nominated for induction to the 2007 American Rock'n'Roll Hall Of Fame.

Their hits include "Glad All Over" and "Over and Over."

Payton is survived by Lindsay, his partner of 16 years, his two sons from his first marriage and two stepsons.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20061218/en_nm/britain_band_payton_dc_1


I don't know how well liked the Dave Clark Five are around here, but they were a pretty big force in the early days of the British Invasion. I just thought I would post this.

That's him in the middle:

[billyskank]

1. I've been in the Lounge too long

I read "Denis" and in my mind it rhymed with...you know...

[johnnie]

2. Lol, yeah.. I'd say so.

But then again, the "D" is almost a "P" but the "P" is only half the hump.

[DainBramaged]

3. Looks like the Reaper caught him (badabing)

[Bullwinkle925]

4. So sad.

I enjoyed all the British bands in the 60's. Watching them perform on the telly in that grainy black & white format was the best! I never used to be this old before. Waaaaaahhhhhh.
Thanks for your post - and for helping me in firing up the old memory factory.

[Jade Fox]

5. Those old DC5 records sound so great....

Pure, unadulterated garage rock. While the Beatles and the Stones were more "serious" bands, the DC5 remained focused on just being fun. And Dennis Payton is why I took up the saxophone as a kid. :cry:

I admire Dave Clark for refusing to do Oldies tours, and for not allowing the original DC5 records to be "remastered", or whatever you call it, so that the crude sound of the originals would be taken away, thus ruining their essence.

RIP, Dennis.

[kwassa]

6. "Glad All Over" is one of my favorite 60s singles