Tributes flow after death of Illawarra rocker Dave Mutton - the 'Lou Reed of Wollongong'
Music scene mourns the loss of Wollongong rocker Dave Mutton
Dave Mutton passed away this week after an 11-month battle with cancer.
"Rest easy Dave Mutton. It wasn't really a local gig if Dave wasn't front and centre. He also was one of the most unique and prolific songwriters in town across numerous projects. Thoughts are with Dave's family and many friends." Picture: Music Farmers Facebook
"It's hard to know what to say. If you looked at everyone who has been part of the Wollongong Music Scene over the years, there was no one who was more supportive than Dave. He was always keen to play at HOPE, always down the front at every gig dancing away and always prepared to heckle Ronny with his husky shouting voice (not to be confused with his husky talking voice, and now in your head, you can hear the difference). I don't recall a gig in the last 20 years where I hadn't seen Dave there in front of the stage. I have numerous FUgG gigs on video where Dave and Binni were the first two up dancing." Picture: Facebook / Pete Conran
"R.I.P Dave Mutton there is not enough time in life to fully appreciate those who become our friends, first time i meet dave 'I only wanted to steal 'wotstinks' bass player, but got so much more than i could have imagined' its been a privilege." Picture: Richard Rukus / Facebook
"Dave was what Neil Mathews and I would describe as a Total Launch but I loved him like mad. We first became mates in around 2001 and we shared many a beer together back in my drinking days. VB cans mostly. We played in an AC/DC Cover Band together and also a band called Metal Ram which would go on to become Bulldoze All Bowlos. I wish that I had some older photos from our Hey Days but these ones from this year will have to do. I'm on a Rock N Roll Mission in Melbourne to see two of my favourite bands DEF LEPPARD and SCORPIONS this week. Kind of appropriate that on Dave's last full day on the planet (some might say that he was never on the planet to start with) that we were watching the COSMIC PSYCHOS sing a song called Too Dumb To Die which Dave could almost have written himself." Picture: Facebook / Rusty Abbott
Dave Mutton and friend. Picture: Facebook
Portrait of Dave Mutton by Shane Kenning. Picture: Fairfax file
Lax Charisma (left) and Dave Mutton. Picture: Supplied
A huge supporter of the Illawarra music scene, Dave Mutton, passed away this week after battling cancer for 11 months.
Described by many as a “legend”, the musician was known to be front and centre – often with a VB in hand – supporting local bands for decades.
Music Farmers record store co-owner Jeb Taylor first met Mutton as a teenager and said he’d spot him at “basically any gig around town” ever since.
“Dave was one of the biggest supporters of local music I’ve ever known,” Taylor said. “He was always a presence on the local scene, that’s why so many people knew him.”
Before joining Wollongong’s NICE FOLK with Lax Charisma, Mutton had played in numerous other groups like The Carcinogenics and Psychotic Numbskulls – and was forever writing songs.
“When we first met ... I thought I’d found Lou Reed, he was a street poet filled with an authenticity and attention to detail you couldn’t make up,” Charisma said.
His support of Illawarra talent was so genuine, he said, Mutton’s praise would have musicians feeling like they were the “best in the world”
It’s understood Mutton did not want a funeral. On Thursday, family were still to determine if a memorial service would go ahead.