TONY DANGERFIELDSelf-proclaimed "rock n'roll journeyman" Tony Dangerfield, who died on 20 July 2007, aged 62, played in a number of bands during a career that spanned five decades.
The rebellious bassist, vocalist and guitarist was best known for being a member of Screaming Lord Sutch's backing band, The Savages, during the 1960s, but he also played alongside legendary axemen Jimmy Page and Ritchie Blackmore.
Although he never quite found the level of recognition he deserved, Mr Dangerfield had qualities that made people notice him, such as his good looks.
Lord Sutch wrote in his 1991 autobiography Life as Sutch, "Tony was a smash hit with the girls when he was in the band. We used to make jokes about smuggling him into the hall under a blanket to stop him having his hair torn out by hysterical fans."
Anthony Stuart Dangerfield was born in Wolverhampton on 31 August, 1944. He was educated locally and started his professional life as a guitarist at the tender age of 15.
However, it was the bass that was to become his main instrument of choice throughout his career, and he was soon concentrating his efforts onto this when he transferred to a local jazz band.
He then found a more lucrative deal when he accompanied Mike Sarne, who had two hits in 1962. Shortly afterwards he joined Carter-Lewis and the Southerners with Jimmy Page, who later went on to form Led Zeppelin.
The first band Mr Dangerfield formed was Gulliver's Travellers in 1964, bringing him to the attention of record His charms were also recognised by record mogul Joe Meek, who signed him onto the Pye label as a solo artist.
But although he released two singles - a ballad called I've Seen such Things, followed by the more upbeat She's Too Way Out - his solo career was not to be, and he eventually joined Lord Sutch and the Savages.
Lord Sutch was known for his horror-themed stage shows, in which he would dress up as Jack the Ripper and start his set by coming out of a big black coffin. He would surround himself and the band with macabre props such as knives, skulls and fake bodies.
Whenever someone joined The Savages, he would give them a stage name, and Tony was known as "Tulip" whenever he performed with the band.
Mr Dangerfield left The Savages a couple of times, once giving Lord Sutch only five minutes notice before walking out with the rest of the band - but he always returned and remained loyal to the band until Lord Sutch's death in 1999.
Mr Dangerfield had a close brush with death when he was seriously injured in a car accident on 28 August, 1998. This prevented him from gigging for two years, in which he spent his time promoting other bands and managing Demented Are Go.
His last ever gig was performed in Septemeber 2006 at the Claddagh Ring pub, in Hendon. He died of heart failure.
His friend Merwin Wass paid tribute to him, and said: "He was very popular and a regular at the Greyhound pub in Hendon. His last record was The Rebel's Got Soul in 2005, and he was a rebel throughout his long career. Lord Sutch's band was one of the biggest draws on the circuit in the Sixties."
He was married and divorced twice and leaves a son, Phillip and daughter, Nicky.
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