RIP Rowland S Howard Loses Battle With Cancer
The news of Rowland S. Howard’s death at age 50, comes as quite a shock. I personally knew members of the Birthday Party having lived with Phil Calvert (then drummer of the Birthday Party) in the 80s in London. All the guys, at that time, Nick Cave, Tracy Pew, Rowland S. Howard, Mick Harvey and Phil Calvert were quirky and nice, if not, drug fucked and brilliant.!
It is true I hadn’t seen Rowland in many years, but was considering going to the Northcote Social Club to see a performance in line with the release of his latest album Pop Crimes. A mighty effort by all accounts and Rowland’s much anticipated musical venture after a ten year wait.
In an interview with Rolling Stone Magazine this month, Howard admitted that he had liver cancer, and was awaiting a transplant. He told the magazine, “If you’re trying to write about the human condition there is only so many things you can choose from. Being told that you’ve only got a couple of years to live without a transplant is a pretty frightening experience and certainly changes the way you feel about your life, [it] makes things so much closer.”
This except about Rowland S. Howard’s death this morn comes from Mess and Noise
Excerpt: Australia’s music scene has lost a true icon with the reported passing of Rowland S Howard today (December 30). While no official statement has been made by management, close friends of the guitarist have confirmed reports that he lost his ongoing battle with liver cancer at Melbourne’s Austin Hospital this morning.
Howard, 50, was a former member of the Young Charlatans, The Boys Next Door (who later morphed into The Birthday Party) and These Immortal Souls. He penned the underground hit ‘Shivers’ for The Boys Next Door and memorably dueted with Lydia Lunch on Lee Hazlewood’s ‘Some Velvet Morning’.
GG note: Â At least Rowland you can catch up with Tracy and have a snort! Much respect, you will be missed. rosiex