Rowland S. Howard, guitarist and songwriter, died Dec. 30 of liver cancer while waiting for a transplant. (Please register as an organ donor — here are some links to get you started: U.S. / Australia / U.K.)
Howard was a founding member of The Boys Next Door, which would soon become the legendary Birthday Party. His guitar sound — aggressive, angular, yet darkly romantic — was singular, and profoundly influential. When the Birthday Party mellowed, the songs he co-wrote with Nick Cave laid the groundwork for Cave’s future work with the Bad Seeds.
After the Birthday Party, Howard would play in excellent bands such as Crime And The City Solution and These Immortal Souls, as well as record two criminally under-appreciated albums with Lydia Lunch: 1987’s Honeymoon In Red and 1991’s Shotgun Wedding.
Howard recorded and performed as a solo artist as well, and sadly had just released the excellent Pop Crimes months before his passing.
He was one of the true greats, and this all makes me very sad, so maybe three Vegetables will help.
(for more, read his obituary in The Age)
Rowland S. Howard – Shut Me Down from Pop Crimes
Rowland S. Howard & Lydia Lunch – Some Velvet Morning from Honeymoon In Red
The Birthday Party – Blast Off! from Live 1981/1982
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truly one of my all time favorite guitarists, a few tears are rolling from me on this news…