COLIN EARL : 1942 – 2025
Sadly, in February 2025, we heard the sad news that Colin Earl had passed away. Here are a few memories from fans who remember Colin with much fondness. Interwoven into the piece are a few words (in italics) from Colin himself taken from the many sheets of handwritten pages that Colin provided for Derek Wadeson and John Van der Kiste’s 1990 book, Beyond The Summertime.
Below, we have an interview Colin did way back in 1971, I think on Scene and Heard.
Thanks to Juergen Keuneke, here is a link to a tribute to Colin by UK-Bob. Just click HERE and listen from minute 46 to 1.24.
Below is a film of Foghat performing a song written by Colin with a few nice words from the boys in the band.
“We created this video so that Colin could see it while he was ill. He did and he loved it, as he was very proud of this song.
“Unfortunately, we lost Colin this past Sunday, February 2nd. Colin Earl was keyboard player in Mungo Jerry of In The Summertime fame and The King Earl Boogie Band. He also played and recorded with Foghat on and off for years! In fact, he played on our top charting single, Third Time Lucky with Dave Peverett (they were good friends)!
“He wrote this song with Foghat in mind and we loved the lyrics. Colin had always been a big fan of Hank Williams, as we are, so we liked the idea of doing a ‘country’ song on our latest album!
“We hope you enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed playing it. Thank you, Colin, you will be terribly missed and thank you Hank for the inspiration!
Fans will know that Colin was one the original band members along with Ray Dorset and Joe Rush and together as The Good Earth, they performed at the legendary Oxford University gig, Christmas ’68.
Paul King said… “It is sad that I wake today to say goodbye to one of my oldest and dearest friends – Colin Earl from The King Earl Boogie Band and Mungo Jerry.
“Arguably, he had the fastest right hand on the piano since Jerry Lee Lewis.
“He was an honest guy who would never let you down and always put in a first-class performance wherever he played.
“I will miss you dearly my friend, keep ‘honky-tonking’ up there in the sky and I’m sure it won’t be too long before I join you and we can boogie-woogie once again.
“Farewell my friend, your old buddy, Paul.
Colin on the Oxford University gig…”Ray and I got together and in talking things over realised we both had a great interest in country blues and jug band music. We decided to get together with Joe Rush (washboard and traps player and double bass thumper). We started by doing a gig at the Northumberland Arms, Isleworth and it worked, so we kept at it. Some months later, we played an Oxford University Ball. We had two spots, one early evening to get everyone in and one at 3 a.m to send them home! They, however, wouldn’t go and at about 5 a.m we were still playing to a packed gyrating ballroom.”
Jeff Ward said…”Rest in peace dear Colin Earl…I was honoured to call him a friend and band member…probably one of the greatest boogie piano players you’ll ever hear…
“When you get a chance later, play In The Summertime really loud to send him on his way…
So long Mate…we’ll miss you x
Alan Taylor said…”Colin was probably the main reason that got me hooked on the band way back in 1971 when I saw them performing Baby Jump on TOTP’s. It was so exciting watching his antics at the piano.
I still remember the first time that I ever got to talk to him. It was at a Mungo Jerry gig at the West Denton Club, in Newcastle during the band’s week-long visit to the North East of England in 1976.
Feeling a little nervous, I was in the presence of my heroes after all, I stepped forward to speak to him as he stood at the bar with a fur coat/jacket on. I can’t remember what I said to him, but he asked, ‘who are you then?’ ‘Oh, I’m nobody, just a fan’ said I. ‘He replied, ‘Everybody’s somebody’ – I’ve never forgotten that.
He made you feel that he genuinely liked you but I’m pretty sure that he was like that with just about everyone. Just a really nice guy. I recall an interview in one of the music papers in 1971 where the interviewer said that Colin was just the sort of bloke (that laughed a lot) and ‘you’d love to spend time in the pub with’.
“Over the years, I got to know Colin very well, at gigs drinking and talking about his beloved Arsenal. We had some wonderful chats on the phone, and I remember the time when Colin rang to say that he was a featured artist in the UK blues magazine, Blues In Britain, and would I like a copy. When I asked, did he have a spare copy, he said, ‘I’ve got 200!’ He autographed the mag and left a special message that I treasure to this day.
When I was suffering with what turned out to be prostate problems, he sent me a nice note to say that ‘he hoped the area of concern was on the mend’.
“There was the time when Micky Rose and I travelled to Hampshire to see Mungo Jerry then had the bright idea to ‘pop’ down to Devon (another 200+ miles) after the gig to see Colin and the King Earl Boogie Band playing at a festival.
“Of course, we hadn’t planned the trip and had nowhere to stay and it was Colin who put it out over the mike that he had a couple of friends down from Newcastle who needed a bed.
“We both thought that we had no chance, but Colin went round asking members of the audience the same question.
“Unbelievably, it worked, and a family put us up for the night, and believe it or not, we ended up drip-feeding the families baby parrots all night. What a great guy he was!
“I learned of the sad news on FB then ‘something strange’ happened. In The Summertime came on over the pub music system at the very same time.”
Roel Van Ekeris said…”Very sad news to hear that Colin has passed away. I will always remember him as a Mungo-legend. His typical style is forever in my mind. You’d Better Leave That Whiskey Alone and We Shall Be Free. Colin is a legend forever. The father of the Boogie is gone.
Colin on the Hollywood Festival… “The best thing by a long, long way that the Red Bus Company ever did for Mungo Jerry.
“They even got us in in an evening spot, when not only had it stopped raining, but the sun came beaming across the horizon in silver shafts. We were also the first band to use the lights (it being dusk) and this has a galvanising effect at any all-day type show. During daylight, the stage visually is just part of the landscape but flood it with good lighting, plus the sounds and the performers come to life, like so many enchanted puppets.
“And what else are you gonna watch?
“We knew our music worked. We’d played plenty of small colleges, like Borough S.E 1, Brunel, etc and large ones like Goldsmith, Oxford University, etc and we were like any rent party band that our heroes belonged to. We were part of the whole – that’s all – but we knew our music.
“Hollywood was magical and I am proud to have been a part of something so heartwarming and good.”
Derek Wadeson said…”I first met Colin Earl at a Mungo Jerry gig at The Baileys Club, Liverpool in the mid 70’s. We got speaking at the bar (where else!) and Colin proudly told me of his classic car collection and his love of pure blues music, telling me names of artists that truthfully, I had never heard of at the time.
“Years later when I was co-writing the Mungo Jerry book Beyond The Summertime with John van der Kiste, I got Colin’s phone number from Ray Dorset and spoke to him several times and boy could Colin talk, even calling me back when he remembered something else. Sadly, I have not spoken to Colin since the Skeleton Crew CD on Prestige records which I was more than happy to say that I played a part in its release.
“Colin Earl will be remembered as a good bloke who had time for people and also one hell of a piano player, he will be sadly missed by all of us who followed his career with avid interest. Farewell Colin, you left an impression on us all.
Ray Clegg said (ex-MJ Tour Manager)… “RIP Colin!”
Rob Kamphues said…”Sad, sad news… a great loss. Pity I never had the possibility to see Colin live, but I shall always remember him as a great piano player, his contribution in Mungo Jerry helped the band to great success, and of course also the other bands he played in, The Good Earth, King Earl Boogie Band, Foghat, Skeleton Krew, The Barrelhouse Brothers and so on.
“One of my favorites Mungo Jerry songs is You Better Leave That Whisky Alone. Listen to the part Colin did on this one, brilliant! I’ve just listened to Mother *!*!*! Boogie and Daddie’s Brew with wet eyes.
“The album Frets & Keys with Dave Peabody is also one of my favourites.”
R.I.P Colin.
Tim Ogard said… “This is sad news. On the Poland tour in 1978, I was a 21-year-old saxophone player in the opening act. Everyone else was older.
Colin and I had some long and enjoyable conversations riding through the country on the tour bus. He was nothing but kind to me and fun to hang around. My sympathies to Roger, Colin’s extended family and to all of Mungo world. There is some fine boogie piano being played in the heavenly realm.
Rest in peace, friend.
Brian Cook said... “Met Colin with Dave Peabody at a gig in Bangor, North West Wales playing a gig on their way to a folk festival in Ireland – and before the gig Colin played Hello Nadine for my better half – an absolute gentleman who had all the time in the world for us. Incredibly friendly humble man – RIP my friend.
Colin on hearing that first radio play…”I remember the first play on any radio station we got was Wally Whyton’s ‘Country meets Folk’ on B.B.C’s Radio 2. He played ‘Dust Pneumonia Blues’. I was very happy about that. Somebody knew what we were about. Then it got crazy!”
John Van der Kiste said… “Although I never had the pleasure of meeting Colin, I’ll always remember him as a British answer to Jerry Lee Lewis. ‘Let me hear that piano boy!’ – and he did.
“His work on the keys was unmistakable, and a vital ingredient of the early Mungo singles and albums. I’ll never forget when someone at school bought the LP in 1970, and we were absolutely swept away by listening to Baby Let’s Play House as his contribution zoomed from one channel to the other.
“The first time I saw MJ was at a college gig at Twickenham in November 1975, and I was thrilled to see him back with the band by then (with Paul also making an appearance that night).
“His playing with Skeleton Crew and the King Earl Boogie Band was always first-rate, and some years later I opened our local paper to notice an illustrated feature on a forthcoming jazz festival in South Devon and some of the players billed to take part.
“I recognise the guy in that picture, I thought. It was one and the same. Thanks for the music and the memories, Colin – you were one helluva musician and that great band in the sky will be enriched by your presence.”
Colin on the Rotterdam Festival… “The biggest festival we did was Rotterdam in 1970 (estimated 500,000 people). The cover picture of ‘Electronically Tested’ is from that gig. Even the trees were full of people, and they swayed in time as we played.”
Mick O’Hanlon said… “Sad news indeed. Daddie’s Brew came into my mind for no discernible reason before I heard the news. I was going about in Lanzarote yesterday, ‘hearing’ it in my head, harpsichord bit and all. It was the only song that Colin wrote for MJ, apart from Good Earth ones that Ray credited him with on ‘Hard Rock and all that’. Very strange that he would pop into my thoughts before the news today. May he rest in peace.”
Chris Warnes said (ex-Mungo Jerry)… “So sad to hear this Alan he was a lovely man and a great keyboard player. Toured with him for many years with the late Joe Rush. My heart goes with his family in this sad time.”
David Hodkinson said… “Sad news! ‘Let’s hear that piano boy'”.
Michael Mellenthin said… “RIP Colin.”
Tim Reeves (ex-Mungo Jerry) said... “That’s sad.”
Kevin Irwin said… “Tragic loss. My hero!” Sad news indeed. I always had hopes for a reunion, we will miss you, Colin.
Stuart Turner said… “Colin was integral to the sound of the original Mungo Jerry and the 1971/2 band. Returning in time for Impala Saga and the early Polydor singles he left the fold again for a variety of projects, including the Skeleton Crew band. I never plucked up the courage to talk to Colin or any others of Mungo Jerry except a few short conversations with Ray Dorset but Colin was always talked about in nice terms by many fans. RIP Colin.”
Marcel Thierens said… “Very sad news for French fans.”
Colin on the Yugoslavia incident… “An example of how you’ve got to look out for each other was the tour of Yugoslavia. We’d ordered the necessary amps, P.A, piano and one particular show in Belgrade had 5,000 real fans rooting for us.
“Imagine our anger when we realised that the P.A power is about one tenth of what we’ve requested. I think the total output was about 130 watts. For 5,000 people! An audio piss in the ocean!
“Something had to be done – they loved us but were getting extremely frustrated by not being able to hear us. Desperate situations need etc, etc so I pushed the piano off the 15ft high stage followed by the mikes! Uproar!
“Massive inquests by the police, press, etc. I explained why, then the truth came out. The money for the show was given to the local organisers by the Government Arts Department, but of course, they pocketed most of it, figuring an amp’s an amp, right? There was a large inquest after we’d gone!”
Mick Rose said… “Sad news! We met a few times, nice man, great piano player!”
John Hornhaver said… “Very, very sad news, my wife and I had the pleasure to see Colin Earl together with Colin Pattenden and Paul King in Weybridge, Surrey. I asked Colin how to play In The Summertime on the piano, and he did it for me and my wife, before the gig. A really great memory of Colin.”
Kevin Bennett said (MJ Fans Facebook page)…”His piano playing was one of the things that attracted me to the band in the first place. Very sad news. Although In The Summertime was my introduction to Mungo Jerry, it was Electronically Tested that got me hooked. I was really impressed by the quirky piano playing on it. So different from anything else going on in the charts. Of course that was Colin. When the band split, the good news was we now had two bands to follow. I got the King Earl Boogie Band album Trouble At Mill with the free poster that went straight on my wall. Still got it. Happy days. So long Colin, thanks for all the music.”
Dave Rees said…”Oh no, terribly sad news. I knew Colin very well, and of course he was a member of The King Earl Boogie Band, one of the very first bands on the fledgling A New Day record label. RIP Colin.”
Colin on the solo albums… “The solo albums of Ray and Paul. I think both were most accomplished, especially when you consider our relative lack of experience in recording studios. I remember thinking at the time, and I still adhere to this opinion, that on balance, if more of these individual talents had been unselfishly channelled into Mungo Jerry, the benefit to the individuals would have multiplied enormously.”
Jean Jacques Bedrossian said…“All my thoughts to his family. Among the 4 MJ’s original members, Colin is the only one I have never talked to.“I saw him first, when MJ was in Cannes, in 1976, for a TV show, they did It’s a Secret, by the sea. Then in the afternoon, when I drove back home with my little moped, I saw Colin, driving a wonderful French car, a Citroen DS.
“Later, in 2003, I saw him, in Villiers sur Mer, when he played with the King Earl Boogie Band (without Paul). Before the show, all the group were eating in the same restaurant as my (future) wife and me. I didn’t dare disturb them and just let them eat.
“The show was a storm when they played Maggie (nice piano from Colin), and of course In the Summertime.“Before the encore, Colin Pattenden, went into to the sea, as it was so hot (the gig was just on the sea promenade). After the gig, I had some words with Colin Pattenden, who I met some years before, but again I did not dare to speak to Colin Earl.
“I will remember his wonderful piano playing.”
KOR up there !Mike Harris said… “Yes, sad news indeed. R.I.P COLIN.
Batterick Drummer said… “RIP Colin.”
Malcolm Rowe said… “Very sad to hear this. Great boogie player. R.I.P.
