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In June 1969, two iconic musicians, Nick Drake and Geezer Butler, were born within a year of each other and grew up just 13 miles apart. Despite their proximity, they were worlds apart in terms of their musical careers. Drake, a singer-songwriter with expressive acoustic songs, struggled to convert critical acclaim into sales, while Butler, a working-class bassist and lyricist, co-founded Black Sabbath, a band considered to be the inventors of heavy metal.
Richard Morton Jack’s biography, “Nick Drake: The Life,” meticulously researches the life of Nick Drake, whose association with tragedy and premature death has overshadowed his career. Drake died of an overdose in 1974 at the age of 26, ruled as suicide by the coroner. After his death, Drake gained significant posthumous fame. On the other hand, Geezer Butler’s memoir, “Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath – and Beyond,” provides an entertaining account of the wild experiences and debauchery on the road with Black Sabbath. The memoir’s title, reminiscent of the mockumentary film “This Is Spinal Tap,” sets the tone for its comedic approach. However, Butler also delves into his struggles with depression, mirroring Drake’s own battle with mental illness and the potential of self-harm or suicide.
Drake, born in 1948, grew up in the idyllic village of Tanworth-in-Arden near Birmingham. Coming from a wealthy family with a colonial background, Drake was surrounded by names associated with high society. As a first-year student at Cambridge, he invested a significant amount of money in a top-end acoustic guitar. In 1969, while ostensibly studying for an English Literature degree, Drake released his debut album, “Five Leaves Left.” Despite selling poorly, his albums gradually gained a cult following after his death.
Morton Jack’s biography delves into Drake’s uncommunicative nature, highlighting how his songs acted as reflections of his deepening depression rather than a means of solace or escape. Drake’s final recording, “Black Eyed Dog,” hauntingly portrays his tireless pursuit by a malevolent predator, represented by a claustrophobic guitar motif. One contributing factor to Drake’s lack of commercial success was his aversion to live performances, culminating in a disastrous show in 1969.
Butler, in contrast, recalls his rough upbringing in a working-class district of Birmingham with a sense of fondness and humor. Born in 1949 into a Catholic Irish family, Butler’s memoir is filled with accounts of violence and mischief, often recounted with comic cheeriness. The wild antics of Ozzy Osbourne, the band’s charismatic frontman, add to the chaotic narrative. However, beneath the lighthearted tone, Butler takes pride in the band’s distinctive sound, forged in the face of criticism from the establishment. Music provided Butler with an escape from his working-class destiny and a means to confront his depression and fascination with death. His first proper guitar offered him a sense of purpose and clarity in life.
While Drake was a virtuoso guitarist who deeply understood his instrument, he struggled to find meaning in life. In contrast, Butler, with his less expensive guitar, found a sense of purpose and direction through music.
If you’re interested in exploring the lives and experiences of these two unique musicians, Richard Morton Jack’s “Nick Drake: The Life” and Geezer Butler’s “Into the Void: From Birth to Black Sabbath – and Beyond” are highly recommended reads.
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