Echo and the Bunnymen Keyboardist Jake Drake-Brockman Dies
- Posted on Sep 4th 2009 9:45AM by John D. Luerssen
- Comments (108)
Jake Drake-Brockman, a keyboardist for Echo and the Bunnymen, died in a motorcycle crash on the Isle of Man on Tuesday. Known as "the fifth Bunnyman," Brockman played on several of the band's hits before joining as a full-time member in 1989, and their upcoming album, 'The Fountain,' was the seventh to feature his work. He was 53.
According to the Isle of Man Today, Brockman was seriously injured after his motorcycle collided with another motorist. He was airlifted to a hospital, but died in the intensive care unit. The other driver was uninjured.
In a statement, his family and wife Sally Mundy said, "Jake was always a classic bike enthusiast, he loved sailing thought he was invariably seasick ... Music was central to Jake's life." Brockman also played in the dance band Bom and worked as a sound recordist for the BBC.
"Jake was one of the most gentle, funny and genuine men you could ask to ever meet," Peter Allen, the webmaster for the band's official site website, told IOM Today. "He played on most of the band's biggest hits and toured with the band from the early '80s. He will be hugely missed not just by the band, but by thousands of fans who met him over the years." The band's website simply says, "Our thoughts are with his wife, family and friends."
In 1989, original Bunnymen drummer Pete de Freitas, 27, was also killed in a motorcycling accident, when he was traveling en route to Liverpool from London.
According to the Isle of Man Today, Brockman was seriously injured after his motorcycle collided with another motorist. He was airlifted to a hospital, but died in the intensive care unit. The other driver was uninjured.
In a statement, his family and wife Sally Mundy said, "Jake was always a classic bike enthusiast, he loved sailing thought he was invariably seasick ... Music was central to Jake's life." Brockman also played in the dance band Bom and worked as a sound recordist for the BBC.
"Jake was one of the most gentle, funny and genuine men you could ask to ever meet," Peter Allen, the webmaster for the band's official site website, told IOM Today. "He played on most of the band's biggest hits and toured with the band from the early '80s. He will be hugely missed not just by the band, but by thousands of fans who met him over the years." The band's website simply says, "Our thoughts are with his wife, family and friends."
In 1989, original Bunnymen drummer Pete de Freitas, 27, was also killed in a motorcycling accident, when he was traveling en route to Liverpool from London.
Reader Comments(1 of 6)
franat 9-04-2009
who are the bunnymen
rickat 9-04-2009
one big hit in the 80's was "Lips like Sugar"
shannonat 9-04-2009
they are very famous in alternative music. several big hits in the 80's. played heavily on KROQ in L.A.
Dirondaat 9-05-2009
Echo and the Bunnymen were awsome 80's alterative rock band!! "Lips like sugar, sugar kisses..." I can hear the music playing at the Metro's Smart Bar in Chicago....Maris I miss you....R.I.P. Bunnymen
barryat 9-04-2009
people who have rabbits for parents..
dawnat 9-04-2009
"People Are Strange" was a hit by them (I think redone)...it was in the vampire movie The Lost Boys in 1987.
hookmrlat 9-04-2009
WHO
Johnat 9-04-2009
They had more than 1 hit. Didn't get much popular airplay. Played on a few soundtracks.
Peanut Galleryat 9-04-2009
obviously people that like to ride 'donorcycles'
rick c.at 9-08-2009
bitter? or just ignorant?
for one thing, this mentions someone's passing.
for another, you are missing out on some great music.
there's more to live than radio disney, fran.
JKat 9-04-2009
Sad, very sad
JDat 9-04-2009
I echo that question.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXat 9-04-2009
Their 'one big hit' of the '80's was NOT Lips Like Sugar. It was The Killing Moon!
rickat 9-04-2009
It was a big hit in the 80's,maybe I should have said"one of their big hits in the 80's",because it did come out in "87"
Chrisat 9-04-2009
excellent!
OccidentalAliceat 9-04-2009
Oooh...I always loved the Killing Moon...and Ocean Rain. And frankly, I always considered Ocean Rain their best album. I saw them live in '86...phenomenal show.
Serious Fanat 9-04-2009
Killing moon was mos def their jam. I bought the EP back in the day.
kssandowat 9-05-2009
'Seven Seas' was also popular, if not a U.S. hit. It's worth a listen.
Sidneyat 9-04-2009
Their numerous hits included....
"Lips like sugar"
"Bring on the dancing horses"(pretty in pink sndtrk)
"The Killing Moon"
"The Cutter"
"People are Strange" (Doors cover-Lost Boys sndtrk)
and a few more that I can't think of of the top of my head. So if you don't know em, I suggest you put down that Jonas Brothers CD and give em a listen.
Danaat 9-04-2009
LOL Sad when that is some peoples musical point of reference. As for me, I had to grab my "Songs to Learn & Sing" and give it a spin on my actual record player and take a stroll back down memory lane in light of this sad news.