Tim Smith
Smith performing with Cardiacs in 2007
Born
Timothy Charles Smith

(1961-07-03)3 July 1961
Carshalton, Surrey, England
Died21 July 2020(2020-07-21) (aged 59)
Other namesPhilip Pilf
Occupations
  • Musician
  • singer
  • songwriter
  • producer
  • video director
Years active1975–2008
Spouse
Sarah Cutts
​
​
(m. 1983; div. 1990)​
[1]
Partner(s)Joanne Spratley[2]
Sarah Maher[3]
RelativesJim Smith (brother)
Musical career
Genres
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • guitar
  • keyboards
LabelsAlphabet Business Concern
Formerly of
Signature

Timothy Charles Smith (3 July 1961 – 21 July 2020) was an English musician, record producer and music video director. A singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Smith rose to prominence as the frontman of the rock band Cardiacs,[4] which he co-founded with his brother Jim.[5] In addition to Cardiacs, Smith led, co-led or contributed to The Sea Nymphs, Tim Smith's Extra Special OceanLandWorld and Spratleys Japs. Recognised for the particular complexity, skill and idiosyncrasies of his songs and music, Smith was honoured with the Doctor of Music degree from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2018, two years before his death in 2020.

Smith was also a producer of records or promotional videos for acts including Oceansize, Sepultura, Dark Star, The Frank and Walters, Sidi Bou Said, Eat, The Scaramanga Six and erstwhile Wildhearts frontman Ginger.

Early years: 1961–1977

An image of a young boy
A childhood photo of Smith

Smith was born on 3 July 1961 in Carshalton, Surrey, England.[6] He and his older brother Jim acquired an interest in music around 1972 from their neighbourhood friend Geoff Shelton buying an electric guitar.[7] Jim Smith bought a bass guitar so that he and Geoff could play a blues riff together, while Smith owned a snare drum and would drum with them. The next year, Shelton lent Smith an LP on how to play the guitar, teaching him to play the G chord during a visit. Smith learnt the song "Frankie and Johnny", and played it whilst his mum sang. Around the same time, he heard a section on a record that "[made] his stomach go funny and [gave] him goosebumps". It changed his perception of music,[7] and may have inspired the sound of his compositions. After that, Jim stopped playing bass until 1977.

Some songs written by Smith at around age 13, notably "Interlude" from their debut album and "Billion" from Sing to God, would later be made into Cardiacs tracks.[8] In an interview, Smith commented about his songs written at a young age:

It depends on what year they were done, but we were really only youngsters then. A few songs have popped up on the later albums that I wrote when I was about thirteen. The one on [Sing to God] called "Billion", I did it when I was thirteen. Sometimes I put an old one on that I made when I was little, just for luck. "Interlude" on A Little Man and a House ... is another one. I just found it laying around on a bit of paper and thought "Ah, let's stick that one on it!" It's all for superstitious reasons, really.[8]

Smith attended Fleetwood Secondary School in Chessington with his friend Colvin Mayers. There, he met Mark Cawthra and Peter Tagg, who would later play in Cardiacs. In 1975, Smith and Cawthra formed an unnamed group with organist David Philpot. They played instrumentals inspired by Egg. The band never played live and Dave Philpot died a few years later. His miniKORG synthesiser was later inherited by Cardiacs.[7]

Cawthra was suspended from school and, after staying at the Kaleidoscope hotel in Kingston, moved to York. During that time, he and Smith would send each other tapes of unkind songs they had written for each other.[7] Smith played in another band at the age of 16 called Gazunder alongside the Sound frontman Adrian Borland and rock drummer Bruce Bizland,[7][9] which sounded like the rock instrumentals on David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World (1970).[10]

The Filth to Cardiacs: 1977–2008

Formation, demos and line-up changes: 1977–1984

At the age of 16, Smith formed a rock group, the Filth. Often misremembered as "Philip Pilf and the Filth", the group was established by Smith in 1977.[7] The same year, the Filth wrote the song "Icky Qualms" and played their first gig the Kaleidoscope hotel, "a hostel for misfits and that".[7] Smith arranged the group with Peter Tagg on drums, Jim on bass, himself on guitar and Michael Pugh on vocals. Mick Pugh, a friend of Jim's, was chosen due to his shouty voice.

In 1979, Smith helped record a 7", "A Bus for a Bus on the Bus", at Elephant Studios in London.[11] 1980 saw Smith recording the first and only Cardiac Arrest album, The Obvious Identity.[6] Eventually, 1000 cassettes were recorded, but only sold at concerts to save on expenditure.[12]

Smith decided to change the name of the band to Cardiacs in 1981. He helped record the band's first album, Toy World, in the same manner as the Cardiac Arrest album – on cassette tape – at a small basement studio known as Crow Studios.[7] After another line up change, Smith recruited Tim Quy (percussion), Sarah Cutts (saxophone) and Dominic Luckman (drums).[13]

Studio years, side projects and solo work: 1984–2008

Smith in 1999.

The label Alphabet Business Concern was created in 1984.[7] Smith was asked by vocalist Fish to support his band Marillion on their forthcoming tour near the end of the year. Smith agreed but was not prepared for the hostile audience that awaited them on all legs of the tour (forcing them off the final three days of the tour).[14] From then until 1999, Cardiacs released six studio albums, as well as a number of singles, EPs and live albums.[13]

During the 1990s, Smith took a break from Cardiacs to work on various other projects. During 1989 and 1991, he wrote songs for a solo album, Tim Smith's Extra Special OceanLandWorld, eventually released in 1995.[15] Smith, his ex-wife Sarah Smith, and William D. Drake were reunited as The Sea Nymphs, a "gentler" version of Cardiacs; they had recorded before in 1984 and released a cassette album, Mr and Mrs Smith and Mr Drake.[16] Smith also performed with Jo Spratley in Spratleys Japs, who released their album Pony in 1999.[17]

In March 2006, Smith toured with Ginger & The Sonic Circus as their support act, performing acoustic versions of Cardiacs' songs, along with his own material.[18] Cardiacs released their only single of the 2000s, "Ditzy Scene", in 2007.[19]

Illness: 2008–2020

On 25 June 2008,[20] Smith had a heart attack after attending a gig by My Bloody Valentine. Bandmate Kavus Torabi remembers "making up the spare room and going to bed, expecting [Smith] to arrive in a taxi, but he never came."[21]

Smith's heart attack had triggered a major stroke and an episode of cerebral anoxia[22][2] which was treated in intensive care at University College Hospital. Although there was some initial optimism[23][21] - according to Craig Fortnam, "he was sat up in bed and smiling",[21] - Smith was thought to have had had a second stroke in hospital a few days later while he recuperated. This in turn caused brain damage through hypoxia, which left him paralysed down one side of the body and unable to speak.[23] He was eventually diagnosed with the rare neurological condition dystonia, which causes muscles to contract uncontrollably.[24][25][26][27][23][22]

As an outcome of his injuries and subsequent condition, Smith was denied movement and speech, prompting him to retire from live performances.[28][29] Cardiacs went on an indefinite hiatus following his hospitalisation, leaving the "LSD" album unfinished.[30][31]

In 2013, 2015 and 2017, events dubbed The Alphabet Business Convention were held in celebration of and with all proceeds funding Smith and his ongoing recovery. Among other things, they featured live music from bands within the Cardiacs' circle.[32][33][34]

In July 2016, a special one-day concert took place in Preston, called The Whole World Window with all the funds going towards helping Smith get better. A cassette and CD album of the same name were also released via Hyena Inc containing performances by the same bands.[35] In January 2018 an appeal was launched on the crowdfunding website JustGiving with the aim of raising £40,000 to fund Smith's ongoing care. The target amount was exceeded in the first day and a new target of £100,000 was set to provide for a year's care.[36][37]

On 25 October 2018, Smith received the honorary degree of Doctor of Music from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. His brother Jim accepted the honour on his behalf.[38]

Death

Smith died on the evening of 21 July 2020 at the age of 59, following another heart attack.[9] His death was announced by his brother and bandmate Jim Smith and bandmate Kavus Torabi.[39] Musicians including Steven Wilson,[40] Mike Patton,[41] Graham Coxon[42] and Dave Rowntree[43] of Blur paid tribute to Smith.

Work as producer and video director

Smith owned and operated his own recording studio Apollo 8 (at various locations, with the final one being near Salisbury, Wiltshire) and had a long list of production credits to his name.[44] Since the early 1990s, Smith produced recordings for a variety of musicians and musical groups, many of whom belong to the so-called "Cardiacs family". These include Levitation, Sidi Bou Said, Eat, The Monsoon Bassoon, Wildhearts frontman Ginger (including his Silver Ginger 5 and Howling Willie Cunt projects), Stars in Battledress, Oceansize, William D. Drake, the Shrubbies, The Scaramanga Six and The Trudy.[45]

Smith created and/or edited pop videos for various bands including Sepultura, Dark Star, Zu and The Frank and Walters, as well as Cardiacs.[46] In 2008, Smith created a film called The Wildhearts Live in the Studio: A Film By Tim Smith, featuring The Wildhearts playing their self-titled album along with surreal interludes.[47]

Discography

Solo

With Joanne Spratley

  • Pony (All My Eye and Betty Martin Music, 1999)

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Pirates of the Panasoniks Himself Music video compilation, segment Little Man and A House
1985 Seaside Treats Himself Short film, producer, director
1992 All That Glitters Is a Mare's Nest Himself
2015 I Can See A Murder Himself Music video for The Scaramanga Six, studio footage
2017 Some Fairytales From the Rotten Shed Himself Editor, director

References

  1. ↑ "Tim Smith obituary". The Times. 18 August 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 Sgrignoli, Marco (20 July 2022). "Cardiacs - biografia, recensioni, streaming, discografia, foto". Ondarock (in Italian). Retrieved 1 August 2022.
  3. ↑ Marsden, Rhodri (8 January 2018). "Tim Smith, the Cardiacs singer hoping to overcome brain injury". i. Retrieved 11 August 2022.
  4. ↑ Cashmore, Pete (2 June 2015). "Cult heroes: Tim Smith led the Cardiacs in the face of hatred – and much love". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  5. ↑ "Tim Smith The Frontman Of British Rock Band Cardiacs Has Died". surgezirc.co.uk. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (1992). The Guinness encyclopedia of popular music. Vol. 1. Guinness Publishing. p. 413. ISBN 9780851129396.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Cardiacs history". cardiacs.net. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. 1 2 "Dancing About Architecture: the PIEmag Cardiacs Interview". thecorroseum.org. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 18 August 2021.
  9. 1 2 Kitching, Sean. "Remembering Tim Smith Of Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  10. ↑ Sacher, Andrew (23 July 2020). "The Essentiality of Cardiacs' 'A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window'". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  11. ↑ "A Bus for a Bus for a Bus". Album of the Year. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  12. ↑ "The Obvious Identity". ProgArchives. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  13. 1 2 Phillips, Lance (2003). "The Cardiacs". In Buckley, Peter (ed.). The Rough Guide to Rock (3rd ed.). London: Rough Guides. ISBN 978-1-85828-457-6.
  14. ↑ Cashmore, Pete (2 June 2015). "Cult heroes: Tim Smith led the Cardiacs in the face of hatred – and much love". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  15. ↑ "Time Smith's Extra Special OceanLandWorld". Alphabet Business Concern. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  16. ↑ "The Sea Nymphs". The Quietus. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  17. ↑ "Spratleys Japs". The Quietus. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  18. ↑ "Ginger & the Sonic Circus – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham, England, UK". livemusicreview.co.uk. 27 March 2006. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  19. ↑ "Kavus Torabi's Guide To Cardiacs". teamrock.com. 11 August 2014. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  20. ↑ "Cardiacs News Archive". Cardiacs Official Website. 16 July 2008. Retrieved 15 April 2014.
  21. 1 2 3 Marsden, Rhodri (8 January 2018). "Tim Smith, the Cardiacs singer hoping to overcome brain injury". i. Retrieved 9 August 2022.
  22. 1 2 Mr. Spencer (20 April 2011). "The Cardiacs - an epic overview by Mr. Spencer with help from Damon Albarn, Graham Coxon and Captain Sensible". Louder Than War. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  23. 1 2 3 Gittins, Ian (3 February 2011). "Cardiacs tribute album to raise money for paralysed singer Tim Smith". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 9 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2022.
  24. ↑ Kitching, Sean (24 July 2020). "Remembering Tim Smith Of Cardiacs". The Quietus. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  25. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (22 July 2020). "Tim Smith, frontman of cult band Cardiacs, dies aged 59". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  26. ↑ Nugent, Annabel (22 July 2020). "Tim Smith death: Cardiacs frontman dies aged 59". The Independent. Archived from the original on 7 May 2022. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  27. ↑ "Tim Smith Health Statement 2018". Cardiacs.net. 2018. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  28. ↑ Lawson, Dom (21 August 2020). "Tim Smith". Prog. Retrieved 7 August 2022 – via PressReader.
  29. ↑ Reilly, Nick (22 July 2020). "The Cardiacs' Tim Smith has died at the age of 59". NME. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  30. ↑ "Tim Smith, the lead singer of Cardiacs, has died aged 59". Far Out Magazine. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  31. ↑ Richards, Sam (22 July 2020). "Cardiacs frontman Tim Smith has died, aged 59". Uncut. Retrieved 10 August 2022.
  32. ↑ "The Alphabet Business Convention". Salisbury Arts Centre. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  33. ↑ "The Alphabet Business Convention. Salisbury Arts Centre. Saturday 2nd May 2015". williamddrake.wordpress.com. 7 April 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  34. ↑ "The Alphabet Business Convention". Knifeworld.co.uk. 16 March 2015. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  35. ↑ "The Whole World Window – A Benefit for Tim Smith". New Continental.net. Retrieved 8 December 2017.
  36. ↑ "The singer hoping to overcome brain injury to make music once more". Inews.co.uk. 8 January 2018.
  37. ↑ "Weʼre raising £100,000 to fund Tim Smith's healthcare costs for one year".
  38. ↑ "Tim Smith Interview". The Quietus. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  39. ↑ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (22 July 2020). "Tim Smith, frontman of cult band Cardiacs, dies aged 59". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  40. ↑ Wilson, Steven. "Tim Smith tribute". Facebook. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  41. ↑ Patton, Mike. "Tim Smith tribute". Facebook. Archived from the original on 26 February 2022. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  42. ↑ Coxon, Graham. "What a joyful insane stupid racket..and a huge influence.."poor soldier..."- RIP TimX". Twitter. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  43. ↑ Rowntree, Dave. "Really sorry to hear that Tim Smith, singer of @CardiacsBand died". Twitter. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  44. ↑ "Tim Smith Discography: Production Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  45. ↑ "Interview in Marden Magazine, 2001". cardiacs.net. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  46. ↑ "Tim Smith Discography: Visual Credits". Discogs. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  47. ↑ "Discography". The Wildhearts. August 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2014.
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