RIP

[thisbluespirit]

A salute to two Doctor Who luminaries who have died very recently:

Pioneering female director Paddy Russell (responsible for Pyramids of Mars and Horror of Fang Rock, among other serials and series).


And composer Dudley Simpson, who was the sound of Doctor Who from the mid 60s to the late 70s - pretty much the peak of its popularity the first time round.

But, of course, he also scored nearly all of Blake's 7 and the thing I'll remember the most when all the kazoos are forgotten, is its marvellous theme tune.

Comments

[ashlyme]

Aw damn damn damn. Simpson I'd heard about, not Russell - "Horror of Fang Rock" is the first one I actually remember seeing. (I was delighted to find out later they'd made a lighthouse based story in my home city!) I seem to have already forgotten the kazoos...

Not totally unrelated - what do you think of Thirteen's outfit?

[thisbluespirit]

I think Dudley Simpson and his kazoo is mainly a joke from a couple of Pertwee serials, or possibly even just Doctor Who and the Silurians. Certainly, in the early 70s he tried out some stuff that was pretty noticeable, but it was DW and fitted.

Not totally unrelated - what do you think of Thirteen's outfit?

I like it! At least, it looks pretty Doctorish and she has a swishy coat, which is naturally the important thing. I presume, like the other recent Doctors, she'll get a few changes here & there, but it seems a good look.

[liadt]

I'd heard of Russell's death but not Simpson's:( Although I did think Dudley Simpson was dead already:S

[thisbluespirit]

Ha, just to even things out?

And I know that feeling - you see and celebrity death and you're just, but haven't they been dead for years? Hurray - er, no...

[ravenskyewalker]

I had that celebrity death surprise -- I had no idea that Chuck Berry and Fats Domino (two very influential American musicians) had still been alive until they, sadly, weren't. :-/

[thisbluespirit]

Celebrity deaths, the slightly embarrassing version. *nods*

[swordznsorcery]

It's sad, isn't it. That B7 theme is a heck of a thing to be remembered for though!

And hey, here's something to hopefully cheer things up a little: http://networkonair.com/exclusives/2794-armchair-theatre-archive-volume-1-pre-buy-

[thisbluespirit]

Oh, that is cool! (I hope they're not just cherry-picking again, because that means that even if there is any James Maxwell they won't let me have him anyway, the rotters.)

But that must be the one I've seen the clip of Alfred Burke from, where he and Ian Holm are both trying to marry and murder Beryl Reid at once. Context would be good. And Clifford Evans is nice too. Clearly that one'll have to go on my list, won't it?

That B7 theme is a heck of a thing to be remembered for though!

It is! I mean, all his DW scores, but that theme has to top everything. <3

[swordznsorcery]

Even if he did nick it from "Music" by John Miles. ;)

[shannonsequitur]

While Bill Bailey's "Belgian jazz" cover of the Doctor Who theme music is pretty well-known in fandom, it seems like people forget that he led into it with his own incidental music for a typical episode, and he NAILS IT.

I can think of no better tribute to Dudley Simpson than this clip.

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, you're right, that is great. Although not as great as the B7 theme, sorry. ;-)