Nicholas Rodney Drake is a popular British singer in the early 1970s. He became famous for playing his own compositions with an acoustic guitar, which brought sad notes to the overall performance of songs and enveloped in mysticism. The wonderful and underrated artist Nick Drake, whose biography is sad, will forever remain in the memory of fans of his talent.
Childhood musician
Nick Drake was born in 1948, on June 19, in a well-to-do family, and from childhood had the best that fate could offer. His family moved to Burma in the early 1930s. Nick's father was an engineer in a large trading corporation, which at that time was one of the most influential commercial organizations. Nick's mother, Mary Lloyd, was the daughter of one of the managers. Immediately after meeting his parents planned to play a wedding. But, according to family values, the traditions of the Mary family, this event took place only a year after the marriage proposal. When she turned 21, young people happily married.
They could not continue their stay in Burma due to the Japanese occupation of the country in those years. The young family had no choice but to immigrate to India for three years. After two years they spent in this country, their firstborn was born. It was a long-awaited girl named Gabrielle Drake. So the older sister of Nick Drake was born.
Already in 1950, the Drake family moved to Bombay. And two years later - to England. Where they chose the luxurious two-story Far Leys mansion in the village of Tanworth-in-Aden. This house, after many years, will be both the first and last haven in the life of the British singer.
One can note the special love of Nick's parents for music. They composed the compositions themselves. Mary and Rodney loved music and everything related to it. Therefore, it is not surprising that baby Nick grew up as a talented child. Thanks to the efforts of his mother, Nick Drake owned a musical instrument such as a piano from early childhood.
School years of the singer
Eagle House boarding school in Berkshire opened its doors for Nick in 1957. In this institution, he studied for five years, after successfully entered college. Nick showed serious hopes in sports. This is evidenced by his record in the run for 100 yards, which to this day not a single student of Marlboro could not overcome. At some point, he even took part in the rugby game, where he was appointed captain of the team. In parallel, Nick Drake participated in the college orchestra, where he played the clarinet and saxophone.
Around 1965, Nick organized his first school group, consisting of his comrades. In it, he played the piano himself, but sometimes he could sing and play the saxophone. Perfumed Gardeners performed cover versions of popular songs and jazz standards, which made them famous in their time.
The musicianās studies began to lose ground. He was immersed in music, art, his own group and songs, so his academic knowledge was low. He failed miserably the next exams in chemistry and physics, but even after that the British singer did not stop performing songs. In 1965, Nick acquired his own acoustic guitar, which later became the main musical assistant and associate. With her, he traveled and attended concerts of some famous British performers.
University years
After successfully passing college exams, Nick Drake entered Fitzwilliam College, University of Cambridge, at the Department of English Literature. All these events developed in 1966. However, the British singer was in no hurry to start studying at such a prestigious institution. That is why I took an academic leave to stay in France. There he lived with friends from August to October 1966.
After returning to England in October, he first tried to smoke a jamb of marijuana, this happened in London. After he again returned to France in search of more serious narcotic drugs, but in the end went to Morocco for the best grass in the world.
The return of the singer
When Nick Drake returned home, he began to live with his sister. Her apartment was located in the suburbs of London - Hampstead. Already in October, studies began in Cambridge. The teaching staff immediately noted that Nick Drake is a bright and charismatic character who does not show much interest in learning, but has excellent basic training. We can say that the British singer was saved by a passion for sports. Since this particular occupation in Cambridge was given special attention. But after a while, even classes in their own physical preparation began to be replaced by smoking marijuana and playing the guitar. Nick did all this with his friends in the Cambridge dorm room. Therefore, with each week of study, it was increasingly difficult for him to find a common language with students and teachers.
First steps in a career
The initial venues for public performances by Nick Drake were coffee houses, pubs and small cafes in London. By a happy coincidence and at the same time thanks to a painstaking creative process, Nick had the honor to meet with one of the most famous producers of the time - Joe Boyd. This man discovered the worldās most popular rock, punk, folk, country bands and singers.
Nick is the author of songs that he himself performed. In 1968, after Boyd's suggestion, they jointly recorded 4 songs. Later, after listening to all the hits of Drake, Joe invited him to sign a contract in order to subsequently release his debut album Five leaves left. According to Joeās recollections, Nick didnāt show much surprise, admiration or trepidation before him, but simply and calmly replied: āWell, no question. We will do it!ā
But Nick Wheeler's close friend recalls how inspired Drake was, how he enjoyed the first successes at the star Olympus and was extremely encouraged by the career prospects of the popular British singer. After this event, he even decided to abandon his studies at Cambridge, and not finish there third year.
Debut album story
At first, the album was quite difficult, because the British singer had the imprudence to call on his record musicians who played in completely different bands. Each of them was an indisputable authority in his environment. But even these moments were not the main reason for the discord, where the songwriter and producer for a long time could not find a common language. The root cause was that the album itself was recorded during breaks between recording albums of other, more popular and successful artists of that time. Numerous rearrangements between invited musicians for recording arrangements could also not positively affect the progress of work. As a result, after much effort and turmoil, the debut album was released in 1969, September 1.
Album failure
A negative role in the fate of the album was played by:
- Numerous changes of musicians.
- Delayed release of the album for several months.
- Bad advertising.
- Boring promotion.
All these points could not positively affect the quality of reviews and reviews on Nick Drake's debut album. The design of the plate left much to be desired.
After the album was released, Nick himself was so depressed that he did not even want to share the result of his long-awaited work with his sister. He was always a rather secretive guy, he didnāt talk about his plans, he showed restraint and emotions. Gabriel says that Nick went into her room, threw his debut album on the bed with the words: "Here he is!" - after which he immediately left.
The album title was given special attention. It seemed to have subtext. Everyone thought that āFive sheets leftā indicated that it was time to buy a new tissue paper. And itās not a secret to anyone that marijuana was then twisted into it. Nick himself was pleased with the name, but did not bring any special meaning. And only after five years, the phrase Five leaves left will take on a completely different, dark shade. When it becomes known that the British singer himself had only five years to live.
In September 1969, Nick acted as the opening act for a popular band at the Royal Festival Hall. He immediately bewitched the audience with his original performance, perhaps this performance of Drake was the best.
Life in london
As for studies, Drake did not have much desire to continue his journey in this direction. Already in the fall of 1969, he dropped out of Cambridge College and left for London. According to Nick, his studies distracted him from art and the process of creative implementation. Therefore, he made such a decision. The father was extremely dissatisfied with the circumstances and such a reckless decision of his son. He believed that a diploma of higher education is an additional insurance for all occasions. Not succumbing to the persuasion of his father, Nick believed that he did not need such insurance, he was quite capable of doing without it.
The first months in London, Nick did not find a place, constantly spending the night with friends, then in his sisterās apartment.
By 1970, Nick Drake began to speak with enviable regularity. He thought that a performance once a week was good. Nick opened the performances of many popular groups, acted as the opening act, which did not bother him at all.
In July 1970, Sir Elton John himself recorded cover versions of Drake's 4 hits. It was unusual and amazing. You can listen to them in John's released album in 2001, called Prologue.
The second album, titled Bryter layter, was recorded in mid-July 1970. For his recording, Nick again asked famous musicians to collaborate with him. Painstaking work has passed, which has borne fruit. It is difficult to say that the result of the recording was negative, it is easier to state the fact of the commercial unrealization of the project, organized by Nick Drake. Albums did not have the proper financial demand.
Life after another failure
Already after realizing his failure in London, Nick practically despaired. He had no desire and strength to speak, he was shy of the public. Drake got complexes after Boyd left for Los Angeles. Nick has lost a powerful figure in his life. Boyd was a mentor for him; Drake became depressed. His whole ottimistic attitude from working in London failed, he became unhappy and gloomy.
Many celebrities remember Drake in those days as very gloomy and extremely shy. For example, there was a case when Nick got up in the middle of performing his own song and left the hall. Apparently, something terrible was happening in his psyche, since he had so unceremoniously acted with the public and his reputation.
Already in 1971, Nick's family, having noticed dramatic changes in the mental state of Drake, turned to the clinic, where after examinations he was prescribed an impressive dose of antidepressants. The singer himself was worried about his reputation and could not make it public that he was in the clinic. Not even his close friends knew about it. Nick reacted painfully to any questions about his mental state. All these changes were given to him with difficulty. He was so depressed that he was embarrassed to take pills.
The last album in the life of the singer
After such a difficult 1970, Nick fenced off from the outside world. He went outside exclusively for a dose of marijuana or to play at some random concert. As for marijuana, then, according to his friends, Nick used it in unrealistic amounts. Even Drakeās sister recalls with horror his words about that time: āHe said that his life turned into a terrible course at that time. I noticed this myself.ā
But still, Nick Drake had the courage to contact John Wood to record a record, which will later become the last in his career and life. The whole process was monotonous. He came to the studio with a guitar. Spent on recording only two nights, for a total of 4 hours. During heart-to-heart conversations, Drake and Wood shared many events from their lives. Nick talked about deep depression, he shared with John these dark thoughts. He could not even clearly answer what served as the beginning of such a gloomy state of his soul. The album turned out to be strict and cold, it was called Pink moon.
In February 1972, this album was released. He even had some flattering reviews from critics. Despite the fact that Pink moon had less commercial sales than the previous two albums, he was remembered in creative circles as the best. There were proposals to rewrite the album in a new arrangement, Nick simply did not consider it necessary to do this. The producers literally tore their hair off, why is he so stubborn and indifferent?
Nick was completely disappointed in himself, he believed that he was no longer able to write texts and music. Therefore, I began to think about a career as a programmer. I even decided to go to serve in the army.
Nick's attempts to create
In 1972, Nick returned to his native home. He understood that this was a step back. In May, he suffered a nervous breakdown. He was referred for treatment to a hospital in Warwickshire.
After 2 years, Nick called John Wood. He said that he decided to record the fourth album. But in the end, only 4 songs turned out. John Wood noted that the singerās performance and performance had deteriorated sharply.
But even despite such a review, Nick was happy to be back. His mother subsequently recalled how happy and inspired her son was. Drake recorded another song in July. She was the last song in his life.
In October 1974, Nick Drake traveled to France, where he lived for several months on an abandoned farm.
Death of a musician
On November 25, 1974, Nick Drake died from an overdose of an antidepressant. All this happened in the home of a British singer.
According to pathologists, death occurred at 6 a.m. There were no suicide notes and nothing that could contain the meaning of suicide. But doctors have concluded that this is a deliberate overdose of the drug.
With this conclusion, Nick's family was extremely surprised and stunned. All unanimously claimed that he could not commit suicide.
December 2, 1974 he was buried and buried under an oak in a cemetery near the church. The funeral was attended by about 50 people.
Songs on the movie soundtracks
- The songs Black Eyed Dog, Northern Sky were released in 1998, later it was used as soundtracks for the film "Intuition". This event took place in 2001.
- The film "Pied Piper", released in 1999, contained the song Cello Song.
- Songs from the Pink Moon album sounded in the movie Driving Lessons, which premiered in 2006.
- In the famous film "Lake House", which gained its popularity in 2006, Nick Drake's song Time Has Told Me sounded.
- La Belle Personne, which was released in 2008, contained the following songs from Nick's repertoire: Way To Blue, Northern Sky, Fly, Day Is Done.
- The composition Fly was remembered in the film "Tenenbaum Family", released in 2001.
- Songs From The Morning, Which Will were known in the 2009 Phantom Pain.
- The popular composition One Of These Things First sounded immediately in two films with a high rating: "Country of Gardens" (2004) and "Seven Lives" (2008).
- The Bag Man, which was released in 2014, contained Nick's song Day is Done.