Screaming Lord Sutch Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Screaming Lord Sutch
Sutch (centre, with top hat) c. 1967
Born	David Edward Sutch (1940-11-10)10 November 1940 Hampstead, London, England
Died	16 June 1999(1999-06-16) (aged 58) South Harrow, Greater London, England
Other names	Lord Sutch Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow
Occupation	Musician, perennial candidate
Style	Rock and roll shock rock
Office	Leader of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Predecessor	Position established
Successor	Howling Laud Hope
Political party	Official Monster Raving Loony Party
Children	1

Screaming Lord Sutch (born David Edward Sutch, 10 November 1940 – 16 June 1999) was a famous English musician and a very active political candidate. He was known for running in many elections, more than anyone else in British history!

He was also the person who started the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. He led this unique political party from 1983 until he passed away in 1999. As a singer, he worked with many well-known musicians like Keith Moon, Jeff Beck, Jimmy Page, and John Bonham.

Early Life
Musical Career
Political Activities
- The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
- Loony Party Policies That Became Law
Discography
Images for kids
See also

Early Life

David Edward Sutch was born in Hampstead, North London, in 1940. He grew up in Harrow.

Musical Career

In the 1960s, David Sutch changed his stage name to "Screaming Lord Sutch, 3rd Earl of Harrow." He was inspired by another musician called Screamin' Jay Hawkins. Even though he wasn't really an Earl, the media often called him "Screaming Lord Sutch" or "Lord Sutch."

Horror-Themed Shows

Screaming Lord Sutch was famous for his exciting and spooky stage shows. He did this even before other "shock rock" artists like Alice Cooper. He would often start his show by coming out of a black coffin! His band, called the Savages, would use props like knives and daggers. He even had tours where he and his band dressed up as Roman soldiers.

Even though he said he wasn't the best singer, Sutch released many horror-themed songs in the 1960s. Some of his early songs were produced by a famous audio expert named Joe Meek.

Radio Sutch on a Shivering Sands guntower

Pirate Radio Station

In 1963, Sutch and his manager, Reginald Calvert, took over an old military fort called Shivering Sands Army Fort. In 1964, they started their own pirate radio station called Radio Sutch. Pirate radio stations broadcast without a proper license. Radio Sutch played music and other programs. Sutch eventually sold the station, and it was renamed Radio City.

Famous Collaborations

Sutch's album Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends was once called the "worst album of all time" in a BBC poll. However, many famous musicians played on it, including Jimmy Page and John Bonham from Led Zeppelin, Jeff Beck, Noel Redding, and Nicky Hopkins. This shows that even if an album gets a bad review, it can still feature amazing talent!

Later, Sutch recorded a live concert with other British rock stars like Ritchie Blackmore and Keith Moon. In 2017, his song "Flashing Lights" was even featured in the movie Logan Lucky.

Political Activities

Screaming Lord Sutch was not just a musician; he was also a very active political candidate. In the 1960s, he first ran in elections as a representative of the National Teenage Party. His first election was in 1963, where he received 208 votes.

The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

On 16 June 1982, he started his own political party, the Official Monster Raving Loony Party. This party was known for its funny and unusual policies. Sutch ran in over 40 elections during his career. People could always spot him at election results announcements because of his bright clothes and top hat. In 1968, he even officially added "lord" to his name!

When the fee for candidates to run in elections went up from £150 to £500, it didn't stop Sutch. He just did more concerts to earn money for his campaigns. His best election result was in Rotherham in 1994, where he received 1,114 votes.

He holds the record for running in the most parliamentary elections – 39 in total. He lost his deposit in all of them, which means he didn't get enough votes to get his money back.

Loony Party Policies That Became Law

Even though the Official Monster Raving Loony Party was known for its silly ideas, some of Sutch's demands actually became real laws later on! These include:

Demands for commercial radio stations, which were introduced in 1974.
Votes for teenagers, as the voting age was lowered from 21 to 18 in 1970.
Passports for dogs, which later allowed pets to travel internationally without long quarantines.

Sutch appeared in a TV comedy show called The New Statesman and even in a Heineken beer advert where he was shown as Prime Minister. He also starred in a Coco Pops cereal advert in 1999.

He passed away on 16 June 1999. He is buried next to his mother. He is survived by his son, Tristan Lord Gwynne Sutch.

Discography

Studio albums

Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends, also known as Smoke and Fire (1970), as Lord Sutch and Heavy Friends, with Jimmy Page, John Bonham, Jeff Beck, Noel Redding and Nicky Hopkins – AUS #16, US #84
Rock & Horror (1982), Ace Records CDCHM 65

Live albums

Alive and Well (1980)
Live Manifesto (1992)
Murder in the Graveyard (1992), as Screaming Lord Sutch and the Undertakers

Compilations

Story/Screaming Lord Sutch & the Savages (1991)
Raving Loony Party Favourites (1996)

Posthumously released:

Monster Rock (2000)
Munster Rock (2001)
Screaming Lord Sutch and the Savages: 1961-1968 (2020)

Extended plays