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REMEBERING
TRISH KEENAN, A YEAR ON...
A
year ago on 11th February, Birmingham lost one of its greatest creative minds.
It came as such an awful shock to music fans and musicians alike, as they learnt of Broadcast vocalist Trish Keenan's untimely death. Her highly original, breathtaking visions vibrated through sweet innocent vocals from a bygone 60s era that never was.
Trish generated an ethereal image and presence, which translated into the hearts of those who were captivated by her warmth. Surrealism, horror, fairy tales and fantasy are just some of the musical expressions felt within Trish's artistry, all accrediting to the fact that there was nobody as hauntingly beautiful as she. Ex-Broadcast guitarist and old friend Tim Felton remem-
bers, “she was very strong willed. Her life wasn't the easiest growing up........................ “We both lived in East Birmingham, Chelmsley Wood, Castle Bromwich, Castle Vale. So we had shared experiences.........
“Trish was living in a tower block in Bromford, just around the corner from my Nan's when I first got to know her............. “At that time in the 80s, looking slightly different was a lot more difficult than it is now. And living somewhere like that was a bit more dangerous”, he says.
“But she didn't take any shit and I was impressed! If you are into anything slightly different in those kind of places, you get to find out who the other people interested are very quickly.”
Both Tim and Trish obviously felt compelled to leave this side of Birmingham, and longed for somewhere to enable their creativity to shine thoroughly. “I grew up in Stechford, and I was born near The Swan [Yardley]. “Growing up in East Birmingham, it's a cultural desert. And to come to Moseley and there's people hanging out, and everybody was into music, it was like fucking hell, it's like being on holiday!”, says Tim. “People gravitate
Illustration by Sian Macfarlane
to Moseley because they feel more accepted”, he says.
Both Tim and Trish ended up moving to Moseley, which gave their talents the space to flourished accordingly. This allowed Trish's past fixations and emotive imagination to flow through unique, beathtaking, forwardthinking creations.
“Trish had a strong belief in her work ethic, and was never satisfied with the first thing that came up. She was full of contradictions and had some great insecurities”, says Tim.
With artists such as Graham Coxon and Paul Weller influenced by the pioneering world of Trish, a year on, the loss of such an original, celestial mind [at the age of 42] is still resonating through everybody who knew her.
Rumours have surfaced that Trish’s partner [remaining Broadcast member] James Cargill is planning to release a new album, containing vocals recorded by Trish before her death. If this album were to surface, it would provide the perfect tribute to Trish, allowing fans alike to keep hold of such an enchanting memory.
Trish Keenan will always be sadly missed by the music scene of Birmingham, and remains a create savour to England’s second city.
By Ross Cotton