Jake Drake-Brockman
Encyclopedia
James Ralph "Jake" Drake-Brockman (18 November 1955 – 1 September 2009) was a Bristol
-based English musician and sound recordist. Drake-Brockman was known to fans as "the fifth Bunnyman", as he had been associated with the Liverpool group Echo & the Bunnymen
since the 1980s and became a full time member, as keyboardist, in 1989, using the professional name Jake Brockman.
in 1955. He studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
. A keen musician, he formed BOM, a dance band, with fellow Bristol-based musician Damon Reece
. Drake-Brockman toured with Echo & the Bunnymen
for several years in the eighties, and played on their 1984 single "Seven Seas
" and their 1987 Echo & the Bunnymen
album. In 1989 he joined the band as a full-time member as keyboard player. He played on the 1990 album Reverberation
.
From 2004 onwards, Drake-Brockman worked as a sound recordist, mainly for the BBC's Natural History Unit
on several projects, including Last Chance to See
, Coast
and British Isles: A Natural History. During filming of Everest: Beyond the Limit
, Drake-Brockman lost 18% of his body weight, a record among the crew members.
Drake-Brockman married photographer Sally A. Mundy in 2004. He maintained his interest in music, playing in the band The Hook 'Em Boys along with Sean Cook (Spiritualized
, Lupine Howl
), Alex Lee
(Goldfrapp
, Placebo
), Damon Reece
(Echo & the Bunnymen, Massive Attack
) and John Baggot (Portishead, Massive Attack, Robert Plant
).
Drake-Brockman was a classic motorcycle enthusiast, and died on the Isle of Man
on 1 September 2009 while visiting the island for the Manx Grand Prix
when the BSA
motorcycle he was riding was in collision with a converted ambulance. The inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on 10 September; the full inquest has been delayed until police enquiries into the accident are completed.
In November 2009 Cocteau Twins
singer Elizabeth Fraser
released her first solo single "Moses" as a tribute to Drake-Brockman, who had been a close friend.
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
-based English musician and sound recordist. Drake-Brockman was known to fans as "the fifth Bunnyman", as he had been associated with the Liverpool group Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
since the 1980s and became a full time member, as keyboardist, in 1989, using the professional name Jake Brockman.
Life
James Ralph Drake-Brockman was born in BorneoBorneo
Borneo is the third largest island in the world and is located north of Java Island, Indonesia, at the geographic centre of Maritime Southeast Asia....
in 1955. He studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
The Bristol Old Vic Theatre School, opened by Laurence Olivier in 1946, is an affiliate of the Conservatoire for Dance and Drama, an organisation securing the highest standards of training in the performing arts, and is an associate school of the Faculty of Creative Arts of the University of the...
. A keen musician, he formed BOM, a dance band, with fellow Bristol-based musician Damon Reece
Damon Reece
Damon Reece is an English drummer, who has been a member of Spiritualized, Echo & the Bunnymen and Lupine Howl.-Biography:Growing up in Croydon, Reece moved to Liverpool at the age of eighteen and played in various local bands...
. Drake-Brockman toured with Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen are an English post-punk band, formed in Liverpool in 1978. The original line-up consisted of vocalist Ian McCulloch, guitarist Will Sergeant and bass player Les Pattinson, supplemented by a drum machine. By 1980, Pete de Freitas had joined as the band's drummer, and their debut...
for several years in the eighties, and played on their 1984 single "Seven Seas
Seven Seas (song)
"Seven Seas" is a single by Echo & the Bunnymen which was released on 6 July 1984. It was the third single to be released from their 1984 album Ocean Rain. It reached number 16 on the UK Singles Chart and number 10 on the Irish Singles Chart.-Overview:...
" and their 1987 Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo & the Bunnymen (album)
Echo & the Bunnymen is the fifth studio album by the British post-punk band Echo & the Bunnymen, and the last with founding member Ian McCulloch and drummer Pete de Freitas. The album was produced by Laurie Latham who recorded the album in Germany, Belgium, London and Liverpool after an aborted...
album. In 1989 he joined the band as a full-time member as keyboard player. He played on the 1990 album Reverberation
Reverberation (album)
Reverberation is the sixth studio album by the British rock band Echo & the Bunnymen. The album was released amidst a line-up change for the group, due to the departure of vocalist Ian McCulloch and the death of drummer Pete de Freitas. The remaining members, guitarist Will Sergeant and bassist Les...
.
From 2004 onwards, Drake-Brockman worked as a sound recordist, mainly for the BBC's Natural History Unit
BBC Natural History Unit
The BBC Natural History Unit is a department of the BBC dedicated to making television and radio programmes with a natural history or wildlife theme, especially nature documentaries...
on several projects, including Last Chance to See
Last Chance to See (TV series)
Last Chance to See is a wildlife documentary first broadcast on BBC Two in the United Kingdom during September and October 2009. The series is a follow-up of the radio series, also called Last Chance to See in which Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine set out to find endangered animals...
, Coast
Coast (TV series)
Coast is a BBC documentary series first broadcast on BBC Two television in 2005. A second series started on 26 October 2006, a third in early 2007 and a fourth in mid-2009...
and British Isles: A Natural History. During filming of Everest: Beyond the Limit
Everest: Beyond the Limit
Everest: Beyond the Limit is a Discovery Channel reality television series about yearly attempts to summit Mount Everest organized and led by New Zealander Russell Brice.-Plot summary:...
, Drake-Brockman lost 18% of his body weight, a record among the crew members.
Drake-Brockman married photographer Sally A. Mundy in 2004. He maintained his interest in music, playing in the band The Hook 'Em Boys along with Sean Cook (Spiritualized
Spiritualized
Spiritualized are an English space rock band formed in 1990 in Rugby, Warwickshire by Jason Pierce after the demise of his previous outfit, space-rockers Spacemen 3...
, Lupine Howl
Lupine Howl
Lupine Howl were a rock band formed in Bristol, England in 1999, by Sean Cook , Mike Mooney and Damon Reece . The three had been dismissed from their respective roles in Spiritualized by that band's frontman, Jason Pierce.The first single "Vaporizer" came out in 2000 on their own Vinyl Hiss...
), Alex Lee
Alex Lee
Alex Lee is an English musician. Lee is a multi-instrumentalist who has played guitar and keyboards for Goldfrapp, Strangelove, Suede, Placebo and The Blue Aeroplanes amongst others...
(Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp
Goldfrapp are an English electronic music duo, formed in 1999 in London, England, that consists of Alison Goldfrapp and Will Gregory ....
, Placebo
Placebo (band)
Placebo are a British rock band from London, England, formed in 1994 by singer and guitarist Brian Molko and bass guitarist Stefan Olsdal. The band was joined by drummer Robert Schultzberg, who was later replaced by Steve Hewitt after conflicts with Molko. Hewitt left the band in October 2007 and...
), Damon Reece
Damon Reece
Damon Reece is an English drummer, who has been a member of Spiritualized, Echo & the Bunnymen and Lupine Howl.-Biography:Growing up in Croydon, Reece moved to Liverpool at the age of eighteen and played in various local bands...
(Echo & the Bunnymen, Massive Attack
Massive Attack
Massive Attack are an English DJ and trip hop duo from Bristol, England consisting of Robert "3D" Del Naja and Grant "Daddy G" Marshall. Working with co-producers, as well as various session musicians and guest vocalists, they make records and tour live. The duo are considered to be of the trip...
) and John Baggot (Portishead, Massive Attack, Robert Plant
Robert Plant
Robert Anthony Plant, CBE is an English singer and songwriter best known as the vocalist and lyricist of the iconic rock band Led Zeppelin. He has also had a successful solo career...
).
Drake-Brockman was a classic motorcycle enthusiast, and died on the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
on 1 September 2009 while visiting the island for the Manx Grand Prix
Manx Grand Prix
The Manx Grand Prix motorcycle races are held on the Isle of Man TT Course every year for a two-week period usually spanning the end of August and early September. The 'MGP' or 'Manx' is considered to be the amateur riders' alternative to the Isle of Man TT Races held in May and June...
when the BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
motorcycle he was riding was in collision with a converted ambulance. The inquest into his death was opened and adjourned on 10 September; the full inquest has been delayed until police enquiries into the accident are completed.
In November 2009 Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins were a Scottish alternative rock band active from 1979 to 1997, known for innovative instrumentation and atmospheric, non-lyrical vocals...
singer Elizabeth Fraser
Elizabeth Fraser
Elizabeth Davidson Fraser is a Scottish singer best known as the vocalist for the pioneer alternative rock group Cocteau Twins...
released her first solo single "Moses" as a tribute to Drake-Brockman, who had been a close friend.
External links
- Drake-Brockman’s Facebook page
- Drake-Brockmans’ IMDB page
- BBC obituary
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/lastchancetosee/sites/about/news_sept2009.shtmlBBC Last Chance to SeeLast Chance to See (TV series)Last Chance to See is a wildlife documentary first broadcast on BBC Two in the United Kingdom during September and October 2009. The series is a follow-up of the radio series, also called Last Chance to See in which Douglas Adams and Mark Carwardine set out to find endangered animals...
obituary] - Liverpool Daily Post obituary
- Isle of Man Today obituary
- International Association of Wildlife Filmmakers obituary