The Dave Clark Five Frontman Mike Smith Dead At 64

Posted almost 4 years ago
Mike Smith, the lead singer and keyboard player of The Dave Clark Five, one of the premier bands to emerge during the 1960’s “British Invasion”, died today from pneumonia at Stoke Mandeville Hospital outside of London. His devoted wife, Arlene, who is known as Charlie, was by his side. Smith was 64 years old.??Smith (left) with The Dave Clark Five?? Smith, who was due to be inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame with his band mates on Monday, March 10th, was admitted to the hospital’s Intensive Care Unit yesterday morning with a chestinfection, a complication from a spinal cord injury he sustained in September,2003 that left him a tetraplegic (paralyzed below the ribcage with limited use of his upper body). Smith had been in the hospital since the accident, and was just released in December 2007 when he moved into a specially-prepared home nearby hospital with his wife. Prior to his hospitalization yesterday, arrangements were being made to transport Smith to New York so he could personally attend the Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. ??Mike Smith with his wife Charlie. Smith was put in the chair after a freak accident occurred when he was trying to climb a gate at his Spanish villa??After his accident, Smith found tremendous support from his peers including Bruce Springsteen, Little Steven Van Zandt, and Peter Noone of Herman’s Hermits, who helped defray his medical costs through donations and fundraisers. Long-time fan and “Late Show” bandleader, Paul Shaffer, helped organize a benefit concert in New York in August 2005, which featured many of Smith’s fellow “British Invasion” stars, including The Zombies and Peter & Gordon. A DVD of the benefit, "Paul Shaffer and his British Invasion: A Tribute to Mike Smith" will be released in March by VDI Entertainment.??Smith performing before the accident??According to Smith’s agent, Margo Lewis of TCI in New York, “These last five years were extremely difficult for Mike. I am incredibly saddened to lose him, his energy and his humor, but I am comforted by the fact that he had the chance to spend his final months and days at home with his loving wife, Charlie, whom he adored, instead of in the hospital, and that he was able to attend a recent concert in London by his good friend, Bruce Springsteen. He was extremely excited and honored to have been inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame and I am glad that he will be remembered as a “Hall of Famer,” because he was in so many ways.”http://www.daveclarkfive.com/daveclarkfive/index2.htm

Comments (5)

  1. ivylander says So sad....
    Permalink posted 02/28/2008
  2. deadmandeadman says It is sad. Time the avenger stalks us all. In their day, the DC Five created some great music. Their earlier records ??still?? sound good.
    Permalink posted 02/28/2008
  3. dermahrk says I cursed when I saw the news. Two weeks short of his induction, he kicks off. At least he knew he was going into the Hall. Mike's gritty vocals were the main attraction of the DC5 and I was disappointed that after the group broke up his remaining musical legacy consists only of one solo CD, with remakes of 1950s rockers almost exclusively. One of my earliest posts on MOG was about Mike and his paralysis. I think Mike was right behind John Lennon as the best rock 'n' roll vocalist in the British Invasion. R.I.P. Mike.
    Permalink posted 02/29/2008
  4. Jonh Ingham says As the others say, it is sad. It's good to know that some stood by him when he needed it.
    Permalink posted 02/29/2008
  5. emscee says I played "Anyway You Want It" and "Try Too Hard" this morning on the way to work, and they still sound roaringly, thumpingly cool. When I got to the office, I checked to see if Springsteen played any DC5 songs last night in Hartford (the kick-off date of this leg of the tour); he's usually good at jumping in with the right cover. No DC5, but I still wouldn't be surprised if he and Steven pull out something like "Glad All Over" on Sunday night. I like the way Mike Smith kind of mangles the opening line of their version of "Over and Over." The line is supposed to go "I went to a dance just the other night/Everybody there was stag" (that is, solo). Mike sings, "Everybody there was there," which is kind of well, true, but ranks with America singing "The heat was hot." Those first Epic (in the U.S.) 45s were pretty much the loudest sound on Top 40 radio, and didn't Holland-Dozier-Holland cop that thump-thump drum for "Where Did Our Love Go" from "Bits and Pieces"? Salud.
    Permalink posted 02/29/2008

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