You don't realise what impact different people have on you throughout your life until they're not there and I was greatly saddened
when I learnt of the passing of an old band mate of mine, Richard Oxenforth, or "Rocky" as he was affectionately known to many. Although
I knew him only briefly, sharing the stage with him in two bands over a period of 3-4 years, he made a lasting impression on me and
to this day, 20 years on, I still tell people about him when we chat about local music and its characters.
His first band
was Fault 151 I believe, but I first remember seeing Rocky play with local band Duck In Fog (I think he was instrumental
in coining the band's name) as support to Hanoi Rocks at The Berkeley Hotel in Scunthorpe and being so impressed by them that I decided
I wanted to play with them if the chance ever arose. Rocky looked, to me at least, a bit of a tough guy, being of stocky build with
short cropped hair, but as I found out later, that couldn't have been further from the truth.
Before I actually knew him,
I witnessed him being persuaded to work some overtime on the blast furnace plant at the steelworks one day by some overbearing
foreman type. He had made arrangements for a band rehearsal but the foreman was having none of it and, taking advantage of Rocky's
good nature, got his way. That really annoyed me at the time.
Off stage, Rocky was a fairly quiet, softly spoken, mild
mannered character but on stage with a Strat in his hands he was totally transformed. I don't think I've ever seen such a change in
anyone and that's what I really admired about him.
Never one for lots of flashy guitar solos, Rocky played what was required
as he strode confidently around the stage but he would sometimes give himself too much to do by adding keyboards and backing
vocals which would often result in him rushing across the stage to get to his synth or microphone in time. We all laughed, it was
fun and it became part of the show in a way.
Rocky and I also played together in a DIF sideline band, Dealer, and he adapted perfectly to covers. He just loved playing and sang
a wonderful falsetto backing vocal (with raised eyebrows) on "Heatwave" - whenever I've heard that song since I've always sung Rocky's
backing vocal (but not quite as well).
Photo: Rocky (left, in white coat) on stage at The Baths with Duck In Fog circa 1985.
I have this little mind video which I can play every now and again, of Rocky stalking around the left hand side of the stage at The
Baths Hall in (what became) his trademark white coat thrashing out the opening chords to "Swordfish" on his trusty Stratocaster -
and that's how I'll remember him.
God bless mate.
