I just heard the terrible news that Pat Fish has passed away this past Tuesday. His longtime friend Max Eider posted this message on Facebook:

Very sad to announce that my old friend Pat Fish died suddenly but peacefully on Tuesday evening. Pat rocked my world in every way and his death leaves a big hole in my life and in my memory, much of which was only stored in his outsized brain. Goodbye mate and thanks for everything. I’m going to miss you. Max x

It is hard to believe another indiepop legend leaves us. One that was even bigger than indiepop as you would see at the band’s gigs, social media, and mailing list. People that liked The Jazz Butcher were many. Many, many.

I don’t know if I told this story, but when I was working at the AP I had a colleague that was a big fan. He wasn’t a music fan like me. He didn’t even know what indiepop was. But growing up in the US he had heard and enjoyed The Jazz Butcher on college radio. So yeah, he was a fan. We even went to see Pat Fish play in Brooklyn once. That is the only time I actually saw him live, in a small bar/restaurant in Williamsburg. We talked a little with Pat, I think I have a photo of me and him somewhere.

But yeah, these connections, that possibility to make new friends who love music outside my indiepop peers… I think this was one of the few times it has happened! And it was thanks to The Jazz Butcher. That’s something special to me.

For me it is always strange when I meet a music hero here in NYC. I always feel I have less time to talk to them or even hang out. When I visit the UK and I am at gigs or festivals, the band members are part of the crowd and they go out to smoke in the street and so on. They seem more approachable. Whereas here in the US there is that back room for the bands and so they go in there and they just disappear! I guess I was lucky that the time Pat Fish he played in such a small place that everyone was approaching him!

I can’t remember what we talked about. He was promoting the last Jazz Butcher album “Last of Gentleman Adventurers” and I can’t recall if I bought the record that night or I had already had it. I have it signed though. My memory is blurry about that night. It was 2013 I think. Long time!

I have at home many of the records of The Jazz Butcher, original ones and reissues. They are fantastic. There are plenty of songs that have been important to me. I wrote a post ages ago when I shared the song “Girlfriend“, a true favourite of mine, one of the best pop songs if you ask me. Ever.

I am not great at writing these pieces. I know he will be missed. It is hard to believe. A few weeks ago he was playing at Preston Popfest. I wish I could have attended. The lineup was something any popkid would dream for. And sadly it was also the last Jazz Butcher gig. I know some of my Spanish friends traveled there. I wonder how it went. How did they like it. I was just very jealous. It’s been a long time since I’ve traveled in this world that feels upside down.

And it seems the band was to play Bristol on October 7th. This is heartbreaking.

This is just a small post, from a fan from far away Peru that was lucky to live in the US and work here and find the chance to see him live. Just the once. I traveled to the UK many times to see pop bands but who knows why but they weren’t ever booked at the many festivals I went. One of the first vinyl records I bought was by The Jazz Butcher, it was the “Roadrunner” 12″. Maybe not their finest, but a damn good record. Then I started getting their many records. I don’t have them all of course. There are so many.

Lately Fire Records have been putting out some fine boxsets with the band’s output. There is one coming out soon called “Dr Cholmondley Repents: A-sides, B-sides and Seasides“. Great title, With the classic humour of the band. This will be another must have. I honestly hope they continue putting out this material out. It is just fantastic to have. And now it will help remember the genius, the talent, the quality, the humour, the wittyness, the cleverness, of one of the best indie lyricist that came from the UK, the mighty Pat Fish.

Rest in peace legend. We’ll miss you The Jazz Butcher.

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Listen
The Jazz Butcher – Southern Mark Smith (Big Return)