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Arthur Lee dies at 61

Mike_Diver by Mike Diver [Edit this content] ▾ 40 comments 10:21 August 4th, 2006
arthur lee love

Arthur Lee, frontman of 1960s band Love, has died aged 61.

The singer had been battling leukaemia for some time, and passed away at the Methodist University Hospital, Memphis last night (Thursday 3 August). His wife Diane was with him.

Lee formed Love in 1965, in Los Angeles, but it wasn't until 1968's Forever Changes LP that the group became the household name it is today. Rolling Stone has previously ranked it as the 40th best album of all time (on a 500-album list).

Love toured again shortly after the turn of the millennium, after Lee was released from a six-year prison sentence for a firearms offence. Lee was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia earlier this year, and underwent bone marrow transplant treatment to no avail.

Arthur Lee Love

RIP

im pretty upset
really wanted to see him live at some point, and it seemed like he was touring a lot recently. didnt see this coming at all.

alcxxk | 4 Aug '06, 10:26 | X | Reply

Forever Changes...

is a really good album. Don't just accept that as gospel when your muso mate tells you, have a listen. Lee's voice is superb.

Good work Arthur...
X

Reckoning | 4 Aug '06, 10:28 | X | Reply

:-(

Two wayward geniuses lost within the space of a month. Forever Changes is one of my all-time favourites.

I truly regret not making the effort to see him live now :-(

RIP

Smileadelic | 4 Aug '06, 10:32 | X | Reply

Erk

R.I.P.

Damian | 4 Aug '06, 10:41 | X | Reply

:-(

is all I can say

yo_soy_welshmun | 4 Aug '06, 10:43 | X | Reply

That's a real shame

Forever changes is a very good album.

Teepee_uk @Damian | 4 Aug '06, 10:50 | X | Reply

R.I.P.

This is a real shame. i will certainly be listening to Love when i get home

pieces_of_reece | 4 Aug '06, 11:03 | X | Reply

wow

sad

fullerov @DirtyHearts | 4 Aug '06, 11:25 | X | Reply

sad sad

news !

lyle @fullerov | 4 Aug '06, 11:29 | X | Reply

OH

I saw him with Love at Benicassim a few years ago and it was the saddest car crash gig ever. Rick James had died and noone had told Arthur despite their friendship. He was off his face and could barely play and was crying. Most people left or were booing because they didn't realise what had happened. So sad and sadder that I didn't see him in true genius form.

sex-me-nader | 4 Aug '06, 11:33 | X | Reply

I'm a fool...

Love quite literally played on my door step and I missed it.
RIP :o(

jammin | 4 Aug '06, 11:34 | X | Reply

I was there too

it was really painful to watch, but it won't tarnish my memories of seeing him before. Rest in Peace Arthur, the world was a better place from you being in it...

peenko @sex-me-nader | 4 Aug '06, 11:40 | X | Reply

I didn't bother to see them at Glastonbury

in 2004 and 05 - that is next to me walking past the pyramid stage in 94 shrugging my shoulders at johnny cash - what a penis I am on occasion.

prole-art-threat @jammin | 4 Aug '06, 12:04 | X | Reply

Very sad

Alone Again Or, one of the best opening tracks on an album ever

moribund | 4 Aug '06, 12:15 | X | Reply

RIP Arthur

Forever Changes is in my top 10 albums of all time.

I thankfully got to see him in action at the Scala - thanks to a tip off from DiS about a secret gig. Thanks Arthur and thanks DiS - was one of the best gigs I've been to.

Darcy | 4 Aug '06, 12:37 | X | Reply

A shame indeed. r.i.p.

christopherknightuk | 4 Aug '06, 12:37 | X | Reply

oh bugger

I'm absolutely gutted too. I was fortunate enough to be in the front row at a Cambridge Corn exchange gig a coupla years ago, with the Forever changes tour... He stuck his hand into the crowd at the end, and obviously I grabbed it and shook it, grinning like a nutter into his perma-sunglassed eyes. It was certainly one of the best gigs i've ever seen. And we used to cover 'Alone Again Or' and 'Little Red Book'... Boo.

hopkins9000 | 4 Aug '06, 13:22 | X | Reply

I never saw them either

...but I did see that 1994 Johnny Cash set at Glastonbury. He was brilliant.

Damian @prole-art-threat | 4 Aug '06, 13:26 | X | Reply

I did exactly the same as you Prole

Missed him at Glasto 05 and 05 (except I think it was 03 and 04) I am a cunt.

Jesus_Quintana @hopkins9000 | 4 Aug '06, 13:42 | X | Reply

*04

Jesus_Quintana @Jesus_Quintana | 4 Aug '06, 13:42 | X | Reply

Seems odd that he's dead

Like his manager, I thought he could bounce back from anything. I'm taking today off. Lousy world.

seibu | 4 Aug '06, 14:19 | X | Reply

Shit...

What a terrible shame. Whilst his contempories were wallowing in the Summer of Love, Lee was astute enough to realise it wasn't all free love and flower power, and he expressed his feelings in some of the most beautiful songs ever. Rest in Peace.

Engels @seibu | 4 Aug '06, 14:55 | X | Reply

He was tops

at the mandela building and Glasto in 03,

Forever Changes is tops

and 7 & 7 is rules

GoodMourningSpider @phil_vs_owl | 4 Aug '06, 16:20 | X | Reply

gutted

but he leaves behind the tunes - cheesy but true.

shoulda pulled my finger out and seen him live :(

alone again or to be played in tribute right...now. x

adumcs @markarchibald | 5 Aug '06, 00:06 | X | Reply

WUT?? That is disgraceful

I can't believe he got booed. That makes me want to cry.
I saw LOVE play in Islington last year but Arthur was too illl to come over.

:(

Rose-Kitten @peenko | 7 Aug '06, 15:15 | X | Reply

I've just gotten back from being away at a festival

and I have to say that this news saddens me immensely. FOREVER CHANGES actually changed my life in many ways... I saw LOVE play last year in Islington. Arthur was too ill to make it.
It is a timeless album and he will be remembered by the fans for being a truly great, influential masterpiece.
I cannae believe that both Syd and Arthur are gone - two in less than a month.
RIP

Rose-Kitten | 7 Aug '06, 15:18 | X | Reply

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