ERIC GOUGH

Band timeline: Order unconfirmed

Earthworks

Four Wheel Drive

Goliath

Raw Deal

Paris Heights

Mandie

Demons Eye

Scarabus

Stripes

Preacher

Ransom

Worlds Apart

Obit Eric Gough 17/04/1950-18/06/2019: The local rock scene was shocked last week to hear of the passing of frontman Eric Gough. Eric, who was suffering from cancer, passed away peacefully holding the hand of his wife Maria, on the 18^th June and was cremated at a private ceremony on the 26^th. Eric’s parents separated early in his life; his father, a navy admiral, was aware Eric needed stability and consequently relocated him from Gillingham in Kent to his grandparents in Bracon Ash, Norfolk, where he also boarded at Wymondham College. It’s unknown what ignited Eric’s interest in music, although it is believed that his mother sang and also performed locally. An early performance by Eric is noted by John Dunn, another local musician who came through the Wymondham College ranks, who recalled his rendition of the Bobby Hebb song, “Sunny” at the School’s 1967 Christmas bash. John also noted that Eric briefly joined his band Earthworks around 1968/69, followed by numerous other short lived outfits. In the mid-seventies Eric joined covers band Raw Deal, bass player John Daynes recalls, “He stayed with me and the wife for a while, a lovely guy. He was not a ballads man but an out and out rock man and this allowed us to do material we had never been able to do before. It has come as a shock to hear he’s gone.”  Wife Maria said, “His music tastes were eclectic to say the least, nothing would be ruled out and if he found a band he liked he bought everything they had released in one go. His favourites though were Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Jimi Hendrix and he loved Ozric Tentacles with a passion. As well as performing, he would be equally at home attending a rock festival, a hippy fair or psych-trance event.” Eric came to the fore during the resurgence of British heavy metal in the late seventies early eighties, singing with well-known local bands like Scarabus, Stripes, Preacher and later Ransom. Stripes and Preacher drummer Carl Butty Buttifant said, “When I was a kid and starting off on the rock n roll road, I was fortunate enough to be in a couple of bands with Eric, we travelled up and down the country and he taught me how to change into that different character when we hit that stage; no matter how he felt, when he hit the stage it was time to rock. I learnt so much from him, we never ever said a bad word to each other, just lots and lots of laughs.” In 1989 Eric was a founder member of the rock covers group Worlds Apart a band that would grace the scene for around 28 years, with a small break in the middle. Drummer and friend in the band Trevor Kennedy said, “I joined Worlds Apart in 1991 and stayed to the end. Eric was so easy to get along with, a kind mild mannered soul. He was calmness personified, never seemed nervous.  His audience rapport was natural. He would go round tables speaking to the audience prior to the gig and seemed to get people on his side before we'd played a note. He had a gift for performing which you don't see often. His vocal was unique and I think he was the biggest reason that such a large crowd followed the band about in its golden years period. Bands don't survive together if you don't like who you work with. I will miss him.” Charley South landlady at The Brickmakers venue also paid tribute, “When we first took over the pub and were finding our way, Eric and Worlds Apart were a huge support to us and they helped us get established, playing only for beer money. He was a gentle soul and a free spirit, what a privilege it was to have known him.” Eric, who had retired from local government project management, is survived by wife Maria and a son from his first marriage. A party to celebrate his life is in the planning stages. KH 03/07/2019