Cult Heroes

SCOTT WALKER Singer/Songwriter: They weren't Walkers, weren't brothers, and definitely weren't British, yet The Walker Brothers…

SCOTT WALKER Singer/Songwriter: They weren't Walkers, weren't brothers, and definitely weren't British, yet The Walker Brothers were one of the most successful British-based groups of the mid-1960s. Noel Scott Engel was born on January 9th, 1943 in California, the only child of a wealthy oil tycoon. Perhaps it was his solitary upbringing that led to him later calling his band The Walker Brothers (he was by then known as Scott Walker, having briefly recorded as Scotty Engel).

Moving to Hollywood in the early 1960s he played sessions with arranger Jack Nitzsche before teaming up with singer John Maus as the Dalton Brothers, which evolved into the Walker Brothers with the addition of drummer Gary Leeds. They moved to England in February, 1965, and after a string of hits, found themselves treated as teen-idols. Just over two years and three albums later it was all over due to that old chestnut 'musical differences'.

There was more to the story, of course. Unable to handle the sudden fame and constant attention of starstruck girls and hangers-on, Scott Walker had become an alcoholic and attempted suicide.

John and Gary had some solo success before fading away. Scott, with his deep sonorous vibrato, emerged as the major talent in the band.

READ MORE

His manager, Maurice King, wanted him to pursue a straightforward showbiz career with regular TV appearances and even cabaret. Walker compromised, to a point. He appeared on BBC's chirpy Billy Cotton Band Show, but performed Jacques Brel's My Death.

John and Gary got back in touch and The Walker Brothers reformed in 1975 for the No Regrets album. The title track was an awesome six-minute version of the Tom Rush classic. It went Top 5, but further releases failed to recapture their old commercial popularity.

His singing style and demeanour became a huge influence on a generation of British singers, from Julian Cope to Morrissey to Marc Almond.

Walker rarely releases anything these days (his last album was 1995's Tilt). He was last seen curating the Meltdown Festival in London in 2000 and producing Pulp's We Love Life album. Another solo album is promised, but don't hold your breath.