The iconic rock drummer’s wild behaviour inspired Keith Moon
British drummer Viv Prince of rock band The Pretty Things in February 1965. (Photo by Ballard/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
A legendary rock bad boy who played with The Who and performed in a popular sixties band has died. Viv Prince was 84.
He is best known for his time with The Pretty Things. Their debut album reached number 6 in the album charts in the UK in 1965 and spent 10 weeks on the album charts – but despite his skills, his behaviour meant he was forced out of the band within months.
David Bowie was a fan of their music and covered some of their tracks on the covers album Pin-Ups. Yet the band was also known for its wild image, with original producer of their debut album, Jack Baverstock, the head of the label, quitting 30 minutes into the band’s recording session due to the band’s behavior and alcoholism.
Viv was well-known for his bad boy behaviour. Often drunk on stage, his antics caught the attention of The Who drummer Keith Moon – whose nickname Moon the Loon was coined by Prince.
Tributes have now poured in for Viv. Lead singer of White Stripes, Jack White, said: “I was lucky enough to meet Viv some years ago who was working on his farm in Portugal at the time.
“He was an inspired and eccentric rock and roller and maybe I’ll have to put together a team to work on a documentary about this man one day.
“Safe travels into the sweet beyond Viv, you were one of the real ones. -III” The cause of death remains unknown – but fans have been quick to pay tribute online.
One said: “So sad to hear, Viv was pretty much the only musician of my formative era that I had any personal connections with. Wonderful to hear you were familiar with his work.”
Another said: “Those early Pretty Things records were something else. Dude was a trendsetter for sure. He will be missed.”
A third said: “RIP thank you for your talent” while another said: “The Pretty Things, what a band. Rest easy Viv.”
A fifth person said: “Such an amazing drummer.” “Cheers to a legend,” said a sixth fan.
Viv was born in Loughborough in 1941 and joined The Pretty Things in 1964. But within twelve months, he was sacked.
Speaking to Classic Rock about his decision years later, Dick Taylor explained: “The final straw with Viv came at The Twisted Wheel in Manchester. He refused to play because the pub across the road wouldn’t serve him.”
He added: “What he hadn’t twigged was that it was attached to the hotel he’d been in the night before, causing mayhem with The Kinks.
“In the end, Phil [May, vocals] said ‘You’d better just go home’ He was a wonderful drummer, but….”
The band is known for hits such as Don’t Bring Me Down and Honey I Need. Viv was part of the band’s first two albums Pretty Things and Get The Picture.