Darryl Read facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Darryl Read
Darryl Read live at the White Trash Club, Berlin (2009)
Background information
Birth name	Darryl Michael Roy Read
Born	(1951-09-19)19 September 1951 Exeter, Devon, England
Died	23 June 2013(2013-06-23) (aged 61) Pattaya, Thailand
Genres	Punk rock, hard rock, psychedelic rock
Occupation(s)	Poet, musician, singer, songwriter, writer, actor, film producer
Instruments	Vocals, guitar, drums
Years active	1963–2013
Labels	Beat Kat Records, Cherry Red, White Label Records, Madstar Records, Lemon Records, Rpm Records (UK), Rock Chix Records
Associated acts	Crushed Butler, Tiger, The Hearts of Darkness, Beat Existentialists

Darryl Michael Roy Read (born September 19, 1951 – died June 23, 2013) was a talented British artist. He was a singer, guitarist, drummer, actor, poet, and writer. In the late 1960s, Darryl was part of the band Crushed Butler. Many people see this band as an early influence on proto punk and punk rock music. He worked with famous musicians like Bill Legend, Mickey Finn, and Ray Manzarek.

Darryl Read also started acting as a child. When he was 13, he starred in the film Daylight Robbery (1964). For this role, he won a silver medal for best actor at the Venice Film Festival. He also performed in rock plays and on several TV shows. Besides music and acting, he wrote poetry and a biographical novel.

Sadly, Darryl Read passed away in a motorcycle accident in Thailand in 2013.

Early Life and Acting Career

Darryl Read was born in Exeter, England. His father was working on a play there. Darryl found school difficult because he had dyslexia. After his parents divorced, he lived with his grandparents. When he was seven, his grandmother died, and he went to Parkside Boarding School.

In 1963, Darryl auditioned for the Corona Academy for Dramatic Arts in London. He was accepted and left boarding school. Just two weeks later, he got his first professional acting job. He had a small role in the 1963 film The V.I.P.s. The next week, he was in a TV commercial. Soon after, he starred in the film The Young Detectives. He also played Dick in the 1964 film Five Have a Mystery to Solve. This movie was based on an Enid Blyton Famous Five book.

Darryl left Corona Academy in 1968. He had already earned several film and TV acting credits. He even won an award at the Venice Film Festival for his role in Daylight Robbery. At 17, he appeared in Fabulous 208, a magazine for teenagers. Darryl started playing drums and guitar when he was 14. In 1967, he formed a rock-pop band called the Orange Illusion with Michael Des Barres.

He also appeared in TV shows like Dixon of Dock Green (1967) and Z-Cars (1969). He was in the 1968 film The Lost Continent.

Music: Bands of the 1960s

In 1968, Darryl became interested in bands like the Edgar Broughton Band. His girlfriend helped him find his first manager, Robin Hemingway. Hemingway introduced Darryl to soul music. He also helped Darryl record music and even took him to a Beatles recording session. Darryl also met Jimi Hendrix through Hemingway.

Darryl kept switching between playing drums and guitar while acting. He formed a band called The Krayon Angels. They played in London and recorded a demo album. The band split up in 1969. The demo album was finally released in 2000.

Darryl then joined a soul band called the Keith Locke Band, playing drums. Later, he met Jesse Hector and Alan Butler. They started jamming together and decided to form a band. Darryl came up with the name Crushed Butler. They recorded a demo called 'It's My Life'. The band played their first show supporting Osibisa. Crushed Butler had a unique look that reminded people of the Clash years before that band formed. Jesse Hector's voice sounded like John Lydon's, even in 1969.

Crushed Butler recorded at several famous studios. However, they struggled to get a record deal. They supported big bands like Mott the Hoople and UFO. After a while, their manager left, and they lost their equipment. The band changed their name to 'Tiger'. They recorded a song called "High School Dropout". But they eventually broke up in 1971. Jesse Hector and Alan Butler later found success with their band, the Hammersmith Gorillas.

Music: 1970s to Mid-1980s

In 1971, Darryl Read worked as a songwriter for Track Records. He also wrote songs with Terry Stamp and Jim Avery from the band Third World War. Darryl continued to work with them on and off until 2000.

In 1972, Darryl joined a glam rock band called Dizzy as the drummer. The band broke up when their manager stopped supporting them. Later that year, Darryl joined a cabaret group called "Sugar and Spice." He also joined the musical tour of Hair as the drummer. He toured with the show for a year.

By 1975, Darryl wanted to be a lead singer and guitarist. He got a song publishing deal. In 1976, he recorded songs with his band. But a record company turned them down, saying their music "wasn't funky enough!" Five months later, the same company signed the Sex Pistols.

In 1977, Darryl played Keith Richards in a play called Let the Good Stones Roll. He also appeared in TV shows like Rock Follies and Minder. In 1980, Darryl got a role in a Royal Shakespeare Company play. That same year, he released his first solo single.

In 1985, Darryl moved to Spain. On his way, he stopped in Berlin and started playing in clubs. He was "rediscovered" by Dimitri Leningrad, who helped him perform as 'Darryl Read's Hearts of Darkness'. They recorded a cover of the Rolling Stones' "Play With Fire." This song became a hit in Germany. He signed a publishing deal and recorded a mini-album called No Soul Through Midnight in 1986. They also made a short film for a song from the album.

Music: California Years

In 1987, Darryl went to Los Angeles, California. He formed a new version of The Hearts of Darkness there. They started writing and recording an album called Book of the Dead. Darryl was friends with Ray Manzarek from the Doors. Ray Manzarek even played keyboards with The Hearts of Darkness at a show. He also gave advice while they made the album. Darryl also worked with Terry Stamp again on some songs.

Darryl and the band members appeared in a low-budget horror film. Despite their success, Darryl had disagreements with his bandmates and manager. He eventually left and returned to Europe.

Back in Europe, Darryl started playing with a rockabilly group called the Mighty Hornets. He often jammed with them. He also met John Entwistle from The Who and jammed with him. In 1992, the Mighty Hornets and Darryl recorded an album called Beat Existentialist. Ray Manzarek played on three songs on this album.

Later Career and Collaborations

Darryl Read moved back to London. In 1994, he joined Dino Dines and Miller Anderson (who were in T. Rex) to perform as X T. Rex. They played songs by Marc Bolan. After X T. Rex broke up, Darryl met Bill Legend, who was also from the original T. Rex. They formed a partnership and recorded three albums as 'Darryl Read and the Nightriders'. Mickey Finn, another original T. Rex member, also joined them for recordings and some shows.

Bernard White then managed Darryl and released his music. They made a music video for "Teenage Dream" and Darryl's own song "Hard on Love." The video was filmed at the famous the Roundhouse in London.

Crushed Butler Recordings

In 1998, a record label released Crushed Butler "Uncrushed". This album contained demo recordings from Darryl's early proto punk band. It was re-released several times with extra songs. In 1999, Darryl and Bernard White wrote a movie script. Richard Wright of Pink Floyd gave them permission to use his song "Remember a Day" for the film. The movie was based on the life of Syd Barrett from Pink Floyd.

Working with Ray Manzarek

Also in 1998, Ray Manzarek and Darryl Read released a poetry album with music called Freshly Dug. This album was re-released twice. In 1999, Darryl wrote a poetry book called Set, with illustrations by George Underwood.

Darryl continued to perform concerts in Europe as 'Darryl Read's Beat Existentialists'. In 2007, he released another poetry and music album with Ray Manzarek called Bleeding Paradise. In 2008, he filmed more scenes for a new version of Remember A Day. He also had his own radio show in Berlin. In 2009, his book Set was translated into German.

In mid-2009, Darryl recorded a song by Mick Farren. This song was part of a tribute album for the Pink Fairies and the Deviants. Other bands like the Damned and the Dead Kennedys were also on the album. In November 2009, Crushed Butler Uncrushed was re-released again on vinyl.

In August 2010, Crushed Butler's songs "It's My Life"/"My Son's Alive" were released on vinyl. On September 19, 2010, Darryl released his latest album, All the Ghosts of Rock 'n' Roll. In May 2011, he released the single "Money Number One," recorded in Thailand. In 2013, the Crushed Butler 'Uncrushed' album was re-released for a fourth time. Darryl continued to play concerts and do poetry readings worldwide. He was also involved in film production. A documentary about his career was being made when he passed away.

Death

Darryl Read died in a motorcycle accident in Pattaya, Thailand, on June 23, 2013.

Film Roles

• The Young Detectives (1963) as Moggs
• Five Have a Mystery to Solve (1964) as Dick
• Daylight Robbery (1964) as Darryl
• Son of the Sahara (1966) as Abu
• River Rivals (1967) as Ricky Holmes
• The Lost Continent (1968) as El Diablo
• Great Catherine (1968) as Young Peter
• Remember a Day (2000) as Roger Bannerman (his last film role)

Television Appearances

Stage Performances

• Hair National UK tour as Drummer (1973)
• Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat as Benjamin at the Civic Theatre, Chelmsford (1975)
• Let The Good Stones Roll as Keith Richards at the Edinburgh Festival (1977)
• Teeth 'n' Smiles as Inch at Wyndham's Theatre (1978)
• Bastard Angel as Steve, Royal Shakespeare Company production (1980)

Music Releases

Singles and EPs

• Let the Good Stones Roll (vinyl EP) (1977)
• Living on Borrowed Time/West End Girl (1980)
• Play with Fire/Trouble in the House of Love (1985)
• No Soul Through Midnight (12" vinyl EP) (1986)
• Teenage Dream Darryl Read and the Nightriders, (CD EP) (1994)
• Walking in Shadows (CD EP) (1995)
• Gods 'n' Angels (CD EP) (1996)
• Maybe It's Good If You Look at It Twice Darryl Read & The Doctors, (EP) (2006)
• Stepping Ace Roadhouse (digital download EP) (2008)
• Teenage Dream (digital download re-issue) (2009)
• It's My Life /My Son's Alive Crushed Butler, (7" vinyl) (2010)
• Razor City Terry Stamp & Darryl Read, (digital download) (2011)
• Money No 1 Darryl Read, (digital download) (2011)

Albums

• Book of the Dead (CD) (1989)
• Beat Existentialist (CD) (1993)
• Colectomatic Volume 1 (CD) (1997)
• Book of the Dead (CD reissue with bonus tracks)
• Uncrushed Crushed Butler (10" vinyl) (1998)
• Freshly Dug Ray Manzarek & Darryl Read (CD) (1999)
• Nineteen Sixty Nine Krayon Angels (12" vinyl) (2000)
• Shaved (CD) (2002)
• Freshly Dug (Freshly Re-Dug reissue) Ray Manzarek & Darryl Read (2005)
• Bleeding Paradise Ray Manzarek & Darryl Read (2007)
• Colectomatic Volume 2 (digital download) (2009)
• Crushed Butler 'Uncrushed' (12" vinyl) (2009)
• Colectomatic Volume 3 (digital download) (2010)
• All The Ghosts of Rock 'n' Roll (digital download) (2010)
• Portobello Shuffle (tribute compilation) (2010)
• Crushed Butler 'Uncrushed' (10" vinyl) (2013)