RIP Doc Neeson

[admin]

I have enjoyed some of the best times of my life listening to the Angels and the unmistakable voice of Doc Neeson.

Thanks for the memories Doc

The singer, who had been suffering from a brain tumour, passed away early this morning in a private Sydney hospital.

Neeson shot to fame with the Angels in the 1970s and the band went on to become one of the most popular in Aussie rock history, with hits that included Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again? And No Secrets

The band’s drummer Buzz Bidstrup said Neeson was one of the most underrated singers in Oz rock.

“At least he is at peace now,” Bidstrup said. “He was a very underestimated singer. He was such an innovator. He deserves to be up there with all the best frontmen.”

A post on the singer’s facebook page confirmed the death on this morning.

“It is with deep sadness and regret that the family of Angels singer/songwriter Bernard ‘Doc’ Neeson - loving father, family member and friend to so many - announce he has passed away in his sleep at 7.15am, today, 4th June 2014,” a post on Neeson’s Facebook page said.

“He has battled with a brain tumour for the last 17 months and sadly lost his fight this morning. He will be deeply missed by his family and partner Annie Souter who would all like to thank everyone for their support through this dark time.

“We love you Dad. You couldn’t have made any of your sons more proud of you if you tried. May your beautiful soul rest in peace sweet angel, fly high.” Dzintra, Daniel, Aidan and Kieran.

“Good Night, Sweet Prince, and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.” With love forever, Annie - borrowed from William Shakespeare - Hamlet The Angels’ frontman recently revealed on the ABC’s Australian story that he was suffering from a brain tumour.

[Bigfella237]

A sad day indeed, The Angels were one of the original Aussie super-groups back in the day and definitely one of my favorite bands growing up, I saw them perform live a number of times and Doc was always larger than life.

RIP Doc

[ol' boy]

I saw him a while ago on Rock Wiz and thought, Geeeez, you've packed it on.... and aged (as we all do)
Yep, went to an Angles concert in Geelong when i was 22, couldn't hear a thing at trade school the next day, none of us could!

I think i had the Best of the Angles double CD in my car for years on end, fantastic driving music!

[jok11n]

Yeah he didn't age well, perhaps a lot to do with being unwell, saw a photo of him a week ago and thought it was Larry Flint until I read the caption under the picture

[best4less]

I can't remember how many times I saw them live, drugs probably LOL

To this day I still can't understand why they never made it huge overseas

[gordon_s1942]

Its odd how just a few years age difference can change your music tastes.
I am just 5 years older the 'Doc Neesom' was and not many bands of that mid to late 60's era attracted my listening attention.
I sorta 'stayed' in the previous era of Rock and Roll and never migrated into the next genre the Angels were.

Like most I do know the one that is regarded as the Angel's signature tune as well at the one currently used by the Coles Store group but as to who played it, No idea !!!!
I actually had to 'search' on line to find out it was performed by Status Quo !!!

[Bigfella237]

At least Coles had the decency to pay Status Quo to destroy their own song...

[Tiny]

Doc will be missed for sure, 67 isn't a bad innings, hope I can do a bit better though.

Used to see the Angels live at the Metro (or was it the Odeon) theatre in Manly when in my late teens - early twenties.
Have most of the music on CD's, actually have some on original Vinyl records as well.

Edit: just had a memory flash of when I was a barman at a late night disco in the early 1980's, the owner of the place ended up banning the DJ from playing The Angels music due to fights braking out when played, especially Shadow Boxer.

[David071]

Loved the music from the 80's and The Angels. Doc - you were taken to soon - a brilliant musician and an icon in the music industry. RIP.

[ol' boy]

Australian Story - Doc Neeson

[warbo]

Yep, went to an Angles concert in Geelong when i was 22, couldn't hear a thing at trade school the next day, none of us could!

I saw them at the Playroom on the Gold Coast and the next night saw ACDC at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre. Couldn't hear for a week! Setting off a couple of bungers on the dance floor at the Angels probably didn't help

[Bigfella237]

SBS is running an encore screening of the Rockwiz which featured Doc Neeson performing live, it's on tonight at 22:25 AEST on SBS1

[admin]

Music Max on Foxtel have been showing a one hour show of angels clips and Rage played lots on Saturday morning, so I have been having a bit of an "angelathon".

Dont forget that good old youtube is also a good source of any clip in particular you might want to have a look at.

You can also pickup their legendary Latrobe Uni concert on ebay


I picked up this bargain for $14.95

Australia's legendary hard rock band finally make it to DVD with Wasted Sleepless Nights - The Definitive Greatest Hits. A companion piece to 2006's Wasted Sleepless Nights CD, this is the ultimate Angels DVD collection. Featuring 39 (count them, 39) of the band's classic clips all on one DVD, Wasted Sleepless Nights rocks relentlessly. Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again, Comin' Down, Take A Long Line, Shadow Boxer, Mr Damage, No Secrets, Fashion and Fame, Dogs Are Talking...the list goes on and on. The DVD includes never before released footage of The Angels at The Melbourne Music Show in 1988, and a number of tracks recorded live for ABC's Studio 22 in 1999.

Tracklisting:
1 AM I EVER GONNA SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN
2 COMIN' DOWN
3 TAKE A LONG LINE
4 BE WITH YOU
5 MARSEILLES
6 AFTER THE RAIN
7 WHO RINGS THE BELL - LIVE
8 SHADOW BOXER
9 MR DAMAGE
10 NO SECRETS
11 FACE THE DAY
12 NIGHT ATTACK
13 FASHION & FAME
14 LIVING ON THE OUTSIDE
15 STAND UP
16 EAT CITY
17 LIVE LADY LIVE
18 EASY PREY
19 IS THAT YOU
20 BETWEEN THE EYES
21 UNDERGROUND
22 STICKY LITTLE BITCH
23 LOOK THE OTHER WAY
24 DON'T WASTE MY TIME
25 WE'VE GOTTA GET OUT OF THIS PLACE
26 CAN'T TAKE ANY MORE
27 WHEN THE TIME COMES
28 FINGER ON THE TRIGGER
29 LET THE NIGHT ROLL ON
30 DOGS ARE TALKING
31 BACKSTREET PICK UP
32 BLEEDING WITH THE TIMES
33 RHYTHM RUDE GIRL
34 SOME OF THAT LOVE
35 ONCE BITTEN TWICE SHY
36 TEAR ME APART
37 DON'T NEED MERCY
38 CAUGHT IN THE NIGHT
39 CALL THE LIVING

[ssrattus]

Pretty sure The Angels played at my local high school hall at lunch time way back when they were called the Keystone Angels, I think one of the members went to school there or something.

[Tiny]

For anyone interested Max Ch805 on Foxtel are running a 1 hr doco on the Angels at 9pm Thurs 10th July.
Called "Max The artists Story: Angels"

[admin]

For anyone interested Max Ch805 on Foxtel are running a 1 hr doco on the Angels at 9pm Thurs 10th July.
Called "Max The artists Story: Angels"

They had it on when he died, definitely worth watching. I will record it this time for sure.

[admin]

Thursday, 10 PM on MusicMax.

The Angels Live at LaTrobe University.

Worth watching or recording.

[Tiny]

I take it you mean next Thursday the 10th which would make it straight after the doco on them at 9pm, cool.

The Fox online guide just lists it as artist special. Duh! Pfft!

I'll record it anyway, thanks for the tip.

[admin]

Only saw the add out of the corner of my eye, will double check when I see it again but yeah, makes sense.

[Tiny]

Well me & the missus watched the doco & concert last night, volume up, excellent.

Learnt some things in the doco, phew, 57 sides to every story. Was good to get all of the angles/Angels.

That Latrobe Uni concert was just like being there for me & the missus; just like we were seeing them live at the Flicks in Manly NSW not long after we first met, in 1979. Was going to suggest some Angels YT's for the Thru the years thread, however it's already in danger of turning into a music thread. Good though.

Only bummer was I set it to record my standard 15mins offset on the end, so missed some of the encore. Blame it on the programmers for the channel & myself for expecting them to get it right.