Sad news. At one stage it looked as though he was destined to become a kind of north-eastern Mike Harding but I think as he matured the music took over from the comedy and he became a much more interesting artist as a result. he took a lot of stick for his Little Innocents album (on which he declared himself opposed to abortion) but I don't think the 'folk' scene ever lost its affection for him. I remember sitting in a bar session during one of the Bromyard festivals with a small group of local players. Vin wandered in, waited until they had finished a tune and then, pulled out his flageolet (sp?) and politely asked if he could join them. He was still there, playing along, when I left, several beers later.
I guess, as with pop, we're going to be losing a lot of key figures from the late 60s to early 80s folk circuit in the next few years
Last night I dreamt that I was hearing an obituary for Richard Thompson on the radio and, in my dream, thinking that I wish I'd gone to see him one more time.
