COVENTRY Music Museum curator Pete Chambers writes for the Observer.
Stephen Madden-Here and Gone
I was touched if a little saddened to receive a newly released CD from Coventry music stalwart Keith Fabrique.
The CD ‘Here and Gone’ by Stephen Madden is something of a voice on the wind, a song in the ether, as Steve passed away in 2019 and he is remembered by so many every day for all the superb music he made.
I knew Steve from The Spider Murphy/Murphy’s Law days in the 1980s, even then his musical abilities as a musician and a songwriter were clearly on show.
Steve fronted The Spider Murphy/Murphy’s Law who appeared at Covaid fund-raiser for Africa in October ’85 and later rebranded as Murphy’s Law, bagging a place on the Cov compilation album ‘Rhythm Method’ with the classic track ‘Day’s Gone By’.
Once the band split, Steve remained a part of the music industry, mainly part of the bigger picture in London, but often trying out new projects back in Coventry.
His last venture was playing guitar in the Danny Ansell band.
He was an incredible musician and a wonderful human being.
This CD contains a mix of original compositions written by Steve and Keith and the rest are covers.
I asked Keith about this very special album. So how did this CD come about?
He said: “It started with one or two songs that Steve had ‘Breathe For You’ and a ‘Bench In A Park’ along with Juliet Steve Eddy Danny and myself came together to work on Danny’s songs.
“I kept on at Steve to put some of his own songs down he and I then started collaborating – this was long before Steve’s illness and sad demise.
“I don’t ever remember struggling to come up with ideas for new songs when Steve Addy Danny and myself got together.”
So why now?
Keith added: “When Steve became ill, I had all these unfinished songs and it took me a long time to listen to his voice in isolation and I kept putting off final mix – the response from Steve’s extended family and his son and daughter has been the driving force for me to finish up what I considered to be a beautiful body of work.
“I am proud of what we did and I miss him terribly. Most of the recordings were between 2012 and 2016 – Steve, Eddie and myself wrote or co-wrote a lot of songs for other people.
“I’m hoping to release in the new year on a Glasslip compilation.”
This wonderful memory to such a great musician was recorded at Tinkle Studio with Keith Fabrique, along with Steve and Keith it also features Eddy Bruneau, Danny Ansell, Cathy Beech and Sam Farrelly.
Released on Glasslip Records, it’s available at Just Dropped In Records at Fargo Village and The Coventry Music Museum at The 2-Tone Village.
