A founding member of rock group Electric Light Orchestra was killed when a giant bale of hay tumbled down a hill and crashed onto his van.
Cellist Mike Edwards died after the 600kg bale careered down the side of a steep Devonshire field before it smashed through a hedge and onto the road.
The 62-year-old died instantly in the accident on Friday afternoon.
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At first I thought this was a hoax but it must rank as one of the most bizarre rock deaths.
Posted on: 05 September 2010 by naim_nymph
from Wikipedia (already!)...
Mike Edwards (31 May 1948 - 3 September 2010) was an English cellist.
He played as a member of the Electric Light Orchestra from their first live gig in 1972 until he departed in January 1975 of his own choosing, to become a Buddhist. He changed his name to Deva Pramada because of his religious convictions. His eccentric cello playing (Fingering the cello strings with an orange or grapefruit) and bizarre costumes were a major ingredient of the early ELO touring band. Mike's Live 'party piece' was The Dying Swan where he would perform a cello solo and ultimately his cello would 'explode'. His cello playing contributed to the albums ELO II, On the Third Day, The Night The Light Went On (In Long Beach) and Eldorado, He was replaced as cellist by Melvyn Gale
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So, he was only with the band for 3 years, in the 70's?
I'm more familier with the sound of his cello than the man himself, but this is very tragic sad news. Those early ELO albums are amongst my all time favourites
Debs
Posted on: 06 September 2010 by Mike Hughes
Yay, fellow ELO fans
Unfortunately I've been humming "Hay, Mr. Blue Sky" all day.
Mike
Posted on: 06 September 2010 by ray davis
heard this on radio two on the way into work this morning.
Been an ELO fan since about 1976, great band.
Posted on: 06 September 2010 by Guido Fawkes
More sad news - Mike played 'cello on what I consider to be the greatest recording of the 1970s: Eldorado - an album AMG describes as every bit as good as Sgt Pepper, but not quite as influential.
I'd be hard pushed to think of a record by anybody at any time that is better than Eldorado - quite possibly because there isn't one.
The accident seems bizarre.
Posted on: 06 September 2010 by ray davis
I bought eldorado as part of the Three light years Box set. And thats a cracking video.
Posted on: 06 September 2010 by MilesSmiles
Agree with you on Eldorado. Steve Hoffman gave it the special DCC remaster treatment.
Posted on: 06 September 2010 by droodzilla
Sad news, and a bizarrely un-rock-and-roll way to go. It's ages since I listened to ELO but, watching that YouTube video, I think I prefer them to The Beatles!
