RIP Francis Monkman

[Sharp On Attack]

Sad to read that Francis Monkman who found unwillingly new and belated fame because of the Ice Bridge confusion passed away today at 73. RIP.

[Mr. Holland]

https://www.loudersound.com/news/curved-air-and-sky-founder-francis-monkman-has-died-aged-73

....and of course co-writer of The Ice Bridge.

[John Vehadija]

RIP Francis, thank you for all you keyboards innovation back in the day... 'the ice bridge' will surely carry on your memory

[pjt]

😢rip

[Gilly Goodness]

SKY member goes to the BIG SKY just before MIRROR TO THE SKY is released. Will play some SKY today.

[Yorkshire Square]

This or FIFO from Sky 2. A vastly under appreciated composer and an all round good egg.

[Soundwaveseeker]

Sad to hear that Francis Monkman is gone. Fine composer/player. Especially love that live Curved Air album from the 70's. He was often overlooked compared to all the Wakemans and Emersons and all. RIP Francis Monkman, the Quest wouldn't be the same without you. And I've been meaning to check out some more of his stuff.

[Gilly Goodness]

Watchin' Toccato now. Tons of notes. Not wasted. Spot on Classical inspired prog. Glorious. Francis has centre stage. Classic!!!

[Yorkshire Square]

Sky's take on the Curved Air classic.

[josuev80]

A difficult last 8 years for Yes: Squire, Virgil Howe, White, and now Monkman

[Olorin]

Sad, and far too young at 73!

[michelle johnston]

Sky were a very important part of the musical landscape in 1979 and 1980.

They were finding answers that were to elude the classic line ups of ELP & YES. How to progress musically with confidence in the wake of the nuclear winter of Punk.

I came to John Williams, the co founder of SKY, in 1975 through Steve Howe who talked about his hero Julian Bream who made two duet albums with Williams so when he cofounded Sky as a kind of latter day instrumental ELP I was in. I knew of Francis Monkman from the inaugural Curved Air picture disc so he had the credentials. I saw Francis and the Band at the Hammersmith in the late spring of 1980. Later when all the rumours were floating around about what Wakeman would do next (Not Asia as it transpired) it struck me forcibly then that SKY was the kind of environment he should have worked in. Later on Rick was a guest player for Sky on a tour many years after Francis left.

The concert in May 1980 was superb, the sound was great and they were well received by the crowd.

To begin with Francis was replaced by Steve Gray and years later Steve and Richard Harvey from Gryphon (who supported Yes in 1975 and played on Beginnings) each wrote a Guitar Concerto for John. The latter is one of my favourite pieces of music, not for its unorthodoxy, like other things I enjoy, but its lyrical romanticism.

I have always found it fascinating how one musical connection leads to another and yet somehow the inadvertent use of a Monkman riff is kind of in keeping with that connectedness. .

Francis death is a reminder of how we are all rushing to the exit.

[yamishogun]

Sky were a very important part of the musical landscape in 1979 and 1980.

Francis death is a reminder of how we are all rushing to the exit.

Medical technology is moving quickly, including longevity treatments. Some cocker spaniels at Harvard have been taking a type of anti-aging gene therapy for 5 years and are doing well. 60 Minutes reported on this in 2019. So, with some luck, I'll be sauntering to the exit, not rushing.

Anyway, it seems like Monkman had a very fulfilling life.

[josuev80]

I am surprised that there has been no tweet from Downes but he probably doesn't want to stir the pot right before the next album is released after The Quest. They had a working relationship in the late 70s working at the same studio.

[yamishogun]

I am surprised that there has been no tweet from Downes but he probably doesn't want to stir the pot right before the next album is released after The Quest. They had a working relationship in the late 70s working at the same studio.

Downes knew he was plagiarizing a song even if he didn't know it was Monkman's. Why comment more?