Ken Campbell, founder (along with Chris Langham) of the Science Fiction
Theatre of Liverpool, died today. It's only just been announced - it
doesn't seem like he was ill, or anything.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2008/sep/01/theatre.comedy
Without Ken, it arguable whether Big in Japan would have been formed, and
whether we would have all been here today. He was the one who employed Bill
as set designer for the "Illuminatus!" stage show in 1976/77, through which
Bill met singer Jayne Casey. Campbell's improvisational/situationist ethos
clearly had a big effect on BD. I'm not sure if Bill worked on Campbell and
Langham's next big production - a sprawling version of "The Hitch-Hiker's
Guide to the Galaxy", which nearly bankrupted the theatre group - although
by that time Big in Japan, and possibly even Zoo Records had started.
RIP Ken.
Oh, and OT but of relevance to the Hitch-hiker's fans we have one here:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/2657112/Geoffrey-Perkins.html
Geoffrey Perkins, producer of the Hitch-hiker radio series (bits of which
occasionally turn up as samples on Orb records), and basically the Godfather
of all modern British comedy, died at the age of 55 on Friday. He fainted
in the street and was run over by a lorry, apparently.
Whew ... :-(
