John Walker (the original John Maus), RIP
John Maus aka John Walker
Singer-guitarist John Maus, whose L.A.-bred pop trio the Walker Brothers attained major chart success and induced hysteria in ’60s Swinging London, died May 7 in Los Angeles.
Known professionally as John Walker, he was 67, and succumbed to liver cancer.
[The Walker Brothers] soulful hits, produced in an opulent Phil Spector style by Johnny Franz and featuring lead vocalist Scott Walker’s aching baritone, flew to the top of the charts in 1965. While their remake of Jerry Butler’s “Make It Easy On Yourself” and the Bob Crewe-penned “The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine Anymore” only reached the top 20 in the U.S., they vaulted to No. 1 in Blighty.
The Walkers logged several other big singles and three albums, and staged several riotously received British tours (the last of which featured another expat, Jimi Hendrix, as the opening act) before Scott Walker’s solo ambitions broke up the band in 1967. Maus cut two solo albums, “If You Go Away” (1967) and “This is John Walker” (1969).
The trio regrouped in 1975 to record three more albums; the highly experimental “Nite Flights” (1978) ended the act for good.
Maus’ later solo discography included “You” (2000). He performed the Walkers’ hits as part of the Solid Silver Sixties Tour, and released a live album in 2004.
He is survived by his wife and four children. -[Variety]
John Maus R.I.P.
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In not related/unrelated/weird-timing news, John Maus (the one born in 1980) is in from California and plays a show at Glasslands tonight (5/9).
