Darcy Clay
Darcy Clay (b. Daniel Robert Bolton, 5 December 1972 – 15 March 1998) was an Auckland, New Zealand singer/songwriter, who was made famous in 1997 for his Number 5 [1] hit "Jesus I Was Evil", in which he recorded all instruments in his bedroom on a 4-track recorder. He was signed to Antenna Records, and was Antenna's first real star.
Background
Darcy lived in Birkenhead while a youth, when 14 years old he spent 9 months living in Atlanta, Georgia and he later lived in the Blue Mountains in NSW, Australia for 18 months with his Aunt, Che, her husband, Peter, and his cousin, Madelaine.
Darcy Clay's favourite bands were Motley Crue, Twisted Sister, ACDC, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, and a variety of other metal bands and a broad variety of country and other western music. He very much enjoyed "The Highwaymen" and had a deep appreciation of the Beatles and Bob Dylan. He was a genius musician, with a thoroughly original style, making him one of New Zealand's most influential solo acts. All of his songs on the EP "Jesus I was Evil" were written (except "Jolene"), played (all instruments and vocals), recorded, and produced by Darcy Clay alone. This single remarkable achievement makes Darcy Clay one of the only people ever to have lived who has been able to create a rock album (EP) from start to finish, completely alone.
Music
Clay's entire career output consisted of two six track EPs, Jesus I Was Evil and (posthumously) a live EP Songs For Beethoven, recorded on DAT tape when he opened for Blur's 1997 New Zealand performance (including a solo performance of Candle in the Wind, the tribute to Marilyn Monroe written by Elton John and Bernie Taupin who later re-recorded it as a tribute to Princess Diana, who had died less than two months beforehand). The two EPs were reissued back to back as an album entitled Darcy Anthology, featuring a bonus CD of QuickTime, all Darcy Clay music videos, interview footage and press clippings created before his death in 1998.
His music has been described as "country-fried punk rock" - his Jesus I Was Evil EP featured a cover of Dolly Parton's Jolene, amongst other somewhat country-flavoured rock songs.
Clay's song "All I gotta Do" was covered by the English rock band "Hot Leg" (formerly named "The Darkness") and released on the b-side of their hit single "Cocktails".
Awards
| Awards | Year | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIANZ[2] | 1998 | Single of the Year | "Jesus I Was Evil" | Nominated |
| Most Promising Male Vocalist | Won |
Death
Darcy Clay committed suicide on 15 March 1998.[3] At the time of his suicide Clay was scheduled to perform on 9 April 1998 at the Levi's Life Festival, a suicide prevention and awareness event.[4]
External links
- Darcy Clay profile, audioculture.co.nz
- Darcy Clay, ten years on, Sunday Star Times, 2008
References
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