RIP Cock de Jong

[Chris P.]

I'm sure you guys don't know the Dutch guitar player Cock de Jong. (I believe they changed his first name for UK and US releases...) Cock was a dear friend. He used to play in The Rousers, with some minor hit singles in the UK, and The Thought, with some interest in the US. They played Holland's most famous venue Paradiso about twenty times in the late seventies and early eighties and they did support slots for bands as REM and The Jam.
The last ten years he played with his brother Theo in The Shavers. Only surf guitar, heavy drums and a fat, tatood guy shouting Dutch lyrics abolut sex, booze and the bad things of low fat margerinine. Because they had no bass player he played his Fender Tele's through a couple of Fender Devilles and an Ampeg bass head + 8x10. It sounded PHAT!
I'm a good friend of this band, the singer is my whisky-drink partner, I worked with the drummer and I toured with the band as merhandise guy and roadie. And we did some support slots with my former band. Cock was a real hero for a lot of musicians around were I live.

Cock fought against cancer in his tongue and throat the last year. He did a farewell concert some months ago which was breath taking and very emotional. He died saturday, at the age of 55. I just wanted to share this.



The sleeve of this album is made by Dutch cartoon artist Joost Swarte. He's like the Dutch Hergé (Tintin). This album was the Dutch answer to the late 70s UK beat. I helped promoting the re-release of this nice album.

[ack1961]

It sucks losing a good friend.
Celebrate his life.

[Dave W]

I'm sorry for your loss.

[Droombolus]

Losing a good friend sucks .... Sterkte man !

[Pilgrim]

Not a good way to go - I'm sorry for your loss.

[Basvarken]

Sterkte Chris

[Highlander]

A loss of a friend is a terrible thing... commiserations to his family and at your loss...

[Chris P.]

I was at the condoleance (is that right in English?). Really rock 'n roll!! He was in his coffin on a stage, his pointed shoes stickin out. Nect to it was his leather jacket, a handwired Vox AC30 and two Telecasters:) His 'kids'.

[jumbodbassman]

sorry for your loss.  Try and remember the good times

Lost a good friend from same thing a few months back.  Awefull way to go.  he was only 42..

[Highlander]

I was at the condoleance (is that right in English?)...

A "wake" would be considered to be a "celebration of the life" and could even involve drinking (typical of death in Scottish and Irish cultures) in the presence of the departed, a "service" would be at a church or crematorium, with a priest/minister, a "eulogy" could be a more formal "wake" - discussing/praising the departed...

[Droombolus]

I think what Chris is referring to is more like a reception after the funeral / cremation, a get together to celebrate the life of the departed ......

I once attended such an occassion where the drum kit of the departed was carried to a stage by his friends with early ZZ Top blasting out of the speakers and after a night of much beer & booze it was smashed and burned, all according to his last wishes. It was a very emotional affair and the best send off he could've wished for.

[Highlander]

At home they'd call that a "wake"...

Definitely the way to go... celebrate the life and remember the good times...

[Dave W]

We would call that a wake here too.

[Freuds_Cat]

Sorry to hear that news Chris.