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Newsletter ( Update from Helmi Coyne ) 01/2005

Dear Friends,

Some good news to report.

Kevin's latest book "That Old Suburban Angst" has just been published and is available from www.kevincoynebooks.com
The book is a collection of short stories, glimpses of humanity and life's goings on. Kevin never saw the finished product but I know he would have been as pleased with it as I am. I hope you enjoy it.

I must also mention the proposed tribute concert for Kevin. It's likely to be later this year but no date or venue is fixed at the moment. An announcement will be made soon. I'll keep you all posted.

Thanks for your support.

Helmi

Newsletter (from Kevin’s wife, Helmi Coyne) 07/2005

Dear Friends,

It’s been quite a while since the last newsletter but I guess you’ll understand when I say how much I miss Kevin, every moment of my life.

Anyway, I do have some news for you.

In December 2002 Kevin and his son Robert were in Chicago to do some recording with Jon Langford, the Mekons and others. The recordings have resulted in a terrific new CD titled “One day in Chicago”. Kevin loved playing in Chicago and I’m sure he would have been proud of this record. Jon Langford and his colleagues have done a great job with the production and the record is now released and available. I hope you like it.

On my recent trip to the USA I visited Kevin’s former guitar player Hans Pukke, now living in Los Angeles. It was wonderful to see Hans and his lovely wife Sieglinde after so many years. Hans had many stories to tell - some funny and some sad - of the dark days when Kevin was battling against alcoholism. Although he no longer plays professionally, Hans is still never far away from a guitar - he makes them. Really fine instruments. If anybody is interested to know more, please go to www.hanspukkeguitars.com

While I was in the States I paid a visit to the cartoonist John Callahan who’s renowned for his sharp wit and dark humour. John is quadriplegic and although he and Kevin had never actually met they had talked over the telephone several times and they were planning to do some recording together. Kevin’s friend, the journalist Robert Chalmers had done an extensive interview with John Callahan and introduced them. There are similarities in their lives and their art. I think John’s work is brilliant. If you get the chance, check him out at www.callahanonline.com

Another artist and musician you might appreciate is Dan Reeder, an American living in Nuremberg. He and Kevin often exhibited their art together and very much liked one another’s work. His highly individual music can be heard on his terrific self-titled CD on Oh Boy Records, available from www.ohboy.com, www.amazon.com or, if you prefer, through me.

Turpentine Records is planning to release a new Kevin Coyne CD towards the end of this year. It’s all new material recorded during the last year of Kevin’s life when he would go to the studio and just play - that was the way he liked to record. The CD is to be titled “Underground”, which is taken from one of the tracks. It’s a work in progress at the moment.

Kevin’s website will be updated but this too is work in progress and will take some time. Please be patient, I’m not finding it easy, but with a little help from friends and the Kevin Coyne Group the update will happen.

Kevin’s eldest son, Eugene, is currently trying to organise a tribute show. He’s searching for a suitable venue where Kevin’s artwork and films could be exhibited and of course his music could be played. If anyone has an idea or knows of such a venue please feel free to contact Eugene at Dr.miaow@virgin.net

The city of Nuremberg is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the “Bardentreffen” festival. This is a festival for singer-songwriters that Kevin attended. There is a commemorative “Kevin Coyne Pin” based on the “Elvis lives” motif (which has become the Turpentine Records logo) and it’s available from www.bardentreffen.de at a cost of 3 Euros. I think it’s a marvellous gesture and I’m hoping many people will buy it as it helps the City to finance the festival.

I’m going to close now with a poem. It’s one of many written by Kevin during the final months of his life. I find this one particularly moving, sad and optimistic at the same time. The poem is dedicated to “Little Marie”, the daughter of Kevin’s bass player, Harry. For Kevin little Marie was the synonym for vitality and pure life. It’s called “New Lungs”.

New Lungs

Get in touch with little Marie
Tell her uncle Kevin needs new lungs and she has to pray for him

“As big as shopping bags?” she asks when the request comes through, “Good and strong?”

and the birds flutter from trees as she closes her eyes
celebrating the spirit that lives

making themselves into a choir
to announce a miracle.

Thank you all for your love and support. I’m sure Kevin is up there watching us, sometimes grumpy but mainly happy, walking his dog, sitting in his heavenly bungalow, waiting for the results of his Derby County Football Team…