Died On This Date (January 14, 2012) Robbie France / Drummer For Diamond Head, UFO, Skunk Anansie
themusicsover Robbie France
1959 – January 14, 2012
Robbie France was a respected rock drummer whose resume includes stints with Diamond Head, UFO, Wishbone Ash, and Skunk Anansie. Born in England, France moved to Australia when he was around 10 years old, and by the time he was 15, he was teaching drums at the Australia Academy of Music. He soon formed the jazz fusion group, Carnival, who built a respectable following throughout Australia. As a session player, France worked with most major Australian acts and played on over 1000 pieces for television and film. In 1982, France returned to England, and within a year, he was invited to play with Diamond Head, one of the premier bands of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. He can be heard on their third album, Canterbury, as well as one of its biggest hits, “Makin’ Music.” After leaving the group in 1985, France quickly found himself playing in UFO, but his tenure with the group was short-lived. France went on to form One Nation who put out three releases on I.R.S Records. He later played with Wishbone Ash, Skunk Anansie and Alphaville. In 2011, France released his first novel, Six Degrees South. Robbie France was 52 when he passed away on January 14, 2012. Cause of death was not immediately released.
Thanks to Paul Bearer for the assist.
What You Should Own
Steven Wells was a British music journalist whose aggressive writings appeared in respected music magazines like NME. During the late ’70s and early ’80s, he touted the greatness of such punk acts as Black Flag and Butthole Surfers and the Mekons. For a time, Wells was also a stand-up comic, supporting such acts as Gang Of Four and the Fall. In 1992, Wells co-formed a video production company, directing videos for the likes of Manic Street Preachers and Skunk Anansie. Steven Wells died of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma at the age of 48.