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René Berg, born Ian Bruce, (24 February 1956–28 July 2003) was an English musician, vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter, who recorded and performed in a number of bands in the late 1970's until his death in 2003. His bands included Idle Flowers, Soho Vultures, René Berg Band, along with appearances in
Hanoi Rocks Hanoi Rocks were a Finnish Rock music, rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. By 1984, the band was considered to be on the verge of an international breakthrough when ...
,
Herman Brood Hermanus "Herman" Brood (; 5 November 1946 – 11 July 2001) was a Dutch musician, painter, actor and poet. As a musician he achieved artistic and commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, and was called "the greatest and only Dutch rock 'n' r ...
Band, and Jim Penfold's The Killers (1986) (previously known as The Hollywood Killers).


Biography


1956–1985

René was born Ian Alistair Bruce in 1956, the oldest child of a GP. He grew up in
Wanstead Wanstead () is an area in East London, England, in the London Borough of Redbridge. It borders South Woodford to the north, Redbridge to the east and Manor Park to the south, with Leytonstone and Walthamstow to the west. It is located 8 m ...
, East
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
, and at the age of eight went to King's College Choir School in Cambridge as a boarder. When he was 13 the family moved to
Eastry Eastry is a village and civil parish in the Dover district, in Kent, England, around southwest of Sandwich. It was voted "Kent Village of the Year 2005". The parish includes the hamlets of Heronden and Selson. In 2011 the parish had a populatio ...
,
Kent Kent is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Essex across the Thames Estuary to the north, the Strait of Dover to the south-east, East Sussex to the south-west, Surrey to the west, and Gr ...
, and Ian transferred to day school and took up fishing, which his sister Fiona says he was completely passionate about. At about the same time he bought his first guitar with
Green Shield Stamps Green Shield Stamps was a British sales promotion scheme that rewarded shoppers with stamps that could be used to buy gifts from a catalogue or from any affiliated retailer. The scheme was introduced in 1958 by Richard Tompkins, who had no ...
, and taught himself to play in the basement of the Eastry house, which soon became a regular jam session venue. He went to school after spending three years at a catering
college A college (Latin: ''collegium'') may be a tertiary educational institution (sometimes awarding degrees), part of a collegiate university, an institution offering vocational education, a further education institution, or a secondary sc ...
. In 1979, he toured the Netherlands with Soho, a band formed by
Tim Smit Sir Timothy Bartel Smit KBE (born 25 September 1954) is a Dutch-born British businessman who jointly helped create the Lost Gardens of Heligan, and the Eden Project in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Early life Tim Smit was born in Scheveningen, ...
(now director of the
Eden Project The Eden Project () is a visitor attraction in Cornwall, England. The project is located in a reclaimed china clay clay pit, pit.Ordnance Survey (2005). ''OS Explorer Map 107 – Fowey, Looe & Lostwithiel''. . The complex is dominated by two h ...
). The band also featured Sev Lewkowicz (later to play with
Mungo Jerry Mungo Jerry (formerly known as Mungo Jerry Blues Band) are a British rock band formed by Ray Dorset in Ashford, Middlesex, in 1970. Experiencing their greatest success in the early 1970s, with a changing line-up always fronted by Dorset, the ...
and Dennis Locorriere) on keyboards. In 1981, after a stint in Amsterdam with
Herman Brood Hermanus "Herman" Brood (; 5 November 1946 – 11 July 2001) was a Dutch musician, painter, actor and poet. As a musician he achieved artistic and commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, and was called "the greatest and only Dutch rock 'n' r ...
's Wild Romance (initially on guitar, but also on lead vocals after Brood was jailed for dealing LSD), René, as he was by then known, returned to the UK and formed Idle Flowers in September 1981. The band opened up for
Hanoi Rocks Hanoi Rocks were a Finnish Rock music, rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. By 1984, the band was considered to be on the verge of an international breakthrough when ...
on 20 January 1983 at the Klub Foot, Clarendon and René also guested on guitar with Hanoi Rocks sometime in that year and joined Hanoi Rocks on stage at Birmingham Mermaid on 27 May for the encore. The Idle Flowers recorded many demos for an intended debut LP entitled ''The Leather, The Loneliness and Your Dark Eyes'' (which became the title of René's 1992 solo album) but the recordings remain unreleased. The only official Idle Flowers release was "All I Want Is You" / "Fizz Music" in 1984 on the Miles Ahead label recorded at the
Abbey Road Studios Abbey Road Studios (formerly EMI Recording Studios) is a music recording studio at 3 Abbey Road, London, Abbey Road, St John's Wood, City of Westminster, London. It was established in November 1931 by the Gramophone Company, a predecessor of ...
.


1985

In March 1985, Berg was asked by
Michael Monroe Matti Antero Kristian Fagerholm (born 17 June 1962), better known by his stage name Michael Monroe, is a Finnish rock musician who rose to fame as the vocalist and saxophonist for the glam punk band Hanoi Rocks and has served as the frontman ...
and Nasty Suicide to join Hanoi Rocks as the band's new bassist (
Sami Yaffa Sami Yaffa (born Sami Lauri Takamäki; 4 September 1963) is a Finnish bass guitarist best known for his work in New York Dolls, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, Pelle Miljoona Oy, Michael Monroe's bands, and Hanoi Rocks. He is currently the bassi ...
having left the band). Berg was an old friend of the band and had played occasionally with
Andy McCoy Antti Hulkko (born 11 October 1962), better known as Andy McCoy, is a Finnish musician. He is best known for his role as the lead guitarist and main songwriter of the rock music, rock band Hanoi Rocks, but has also played with Iggy Pop and a vari ...
. The new Hanoi Rocks line-up (which also included one time Clash drummer
Terry Chimes Terence Chimes (born 5 July 1956, Stepney, London, England) is an English musician, best known as the original drummer of punk rock group the Clash. He played with them from July 1976 to November 1976, January 1977 to April 1977, and again from ...
filling in after Razzle's death) only lasted a few months before falling apart. However Berg did record bass on the '' Rock & Roll Divorce'' (1985) live album and the final Hanoi Rocks 1985 demos. His self-penned song "Fast Car" included on his 1992 solo album, as well as Hanoi Rocks posthumous ''Lean on Me'' (1992). The rest of the 1985 demos remain unreleased. On 30 July 1985, while at a party on board celebrating the release of
The Pogues The Pogues are an English Celtic punk band founded in King's Cross, London, in 1982, by Shane MacGowan, Spider Stacy and Jem Finer. Originally named Pogue Mahone—an anglicisation of the Irish language, Irish phrase :wikt:póg mo thóin, ''p� ...
album ''Rum Sodomy & The Lash'', Berg heroically rescued Richard Fenn (a sub-editor for the ''Melody Maker'') from drowning in the Thames after Fenn leaped overboard.


1986–1990

Shortly after the demise of Hanoi Rocks in May 1985, a month later the Idle Flowers broke up in June 1985 after almost a four-year stint together. Berg kept a low profile before ending up singing lead vocals in 1986 on the Suicide Twins' (Andy McCoy and Nasty Suicide's side acoustic band) Sweet Pretending. In 1986, Berg grouped with Jim Penfold from The Hollywood Killers and started The Killers who recorded four unreleased demos, appeared on London Weekend TV, and did many shows before disbanding in early 1987. Also in 1987, he played on the Gang Bang Band's 12" EP recorded with Nasty Suicide from Hanoi Rocks,
Bernie Tormé Bernie Tormé (born Bernard Joseph Tormey; 18 March 1952 – 17 March 2019) was an Irish rock guitarist, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner. Tormé is best known for his work with Gillan, as well as his brief stint with Ozzy Os ...
, Dumpy Dunnell and members of the
Quireboys The Quireboys are an English rock band formed in 1984 in London, with strong ties to Newcastle. Originally known as The Choirboys, then The Queerboys, billed as The London Quireboys in the United States and Canada, settling at last with their ...
, Babysitters and Wolfsbane. 1987 proved a very productive year for Berg who fronted his second band (after the Idle Flowers) called West End Central which quickly evolved into the Soho Vultures with Nasty Suicide (Hanoi Rocks) on guitar. Tommy Fox soon replaced Dougie (Idle Flowers) on bass and the Soho Vultures recorded six songs in 1987 that to this day remain unreleased. The Soho Vultures songs recorded were "Head Over Heels", "Can't Get To Sleep", "The Leather", "The Loneliness and Your Dark Eyes", "Happy", "Too Late" and "London Town". "Too Late" featured Nasty Suicide on lead vocals while the other songs featured Berg's vocals. "The Leather", "The Loneliness and Your Dark Eyes", "Happy" and "Too Late" were to be re-recorded for the band's debut single on Ammunition Records that never came to be. "Head Over Heels", "Can't Get To Sleep", "The Leather" and "The Loneliness and Your Dark Eyes", were all recorded for René's 1992 solo album. Other Soho Vultures tracks played live included the old Idle Flowers songs "Down The Avenue", "Feel Your Love", "Glad I'm Not American", "Rob The Bank", "The Letter" and "Alright Alright" as well as a cover of Hanoi Rocks "Boiler". The Soho Vultures played frequently in London at the Marquee and Dingwalls, toured Finland in September of that year appearing on radio shows, a Finnish TV music programme entitled ''Rock Stop'', and made a rarely seen video for the song "Head Over Heels", before calling it a day in late 1987.


1991–2003

After the Soho Vultures disbanded, Berg remained quiet for a few years until he scored a bigger record deal and recorded his only solo album ''The Leather, The Loneliness and Your Dark Eyes'' released in 1992 on Communique Records. When he arrived back on the scene he was revitalised by the album release, (his first in eight years since the Idle Flowers single) and promoted and played many live dates between 1992 and 1993 some with his old bandmate Nasty Suicide guesting on guitar. The album featured guitarist
Bernie Tormé Bernie Tormé (born Bernard Joseph Tormey; 18 March 1952 – 17 March 2019) was an Irish rock guitarist, songwriter, record label and recording studio owner. Tormé is best known for his work with Gillan, as well as his brief stint with Ozzy Os ...
, bassist Paul Gray and
Rat Scabies Christopher John Millar (born 30 July 1955), known by his stage name Rat Scabies, is a musician best known as the drummer for English punk rock band the Damned. Career Millar was born in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey. He played drums with Tor ...
on drums. A planned tour of Europe and Japan to promote the album was scheduled but was later cancelled. In 1993 Berg contributed to Nasty Suicide's ''Cool Talk Injection'' (1994) album singing lead vocals on the
Alvin Gibbs U.K. Subs are an English punk rock band, among the earliest in the first wave of British punk. Formed in 1976, the mainstay of the band has been vocalist Charlie Harper, originally a singer in Britain's R&B scene. One of the first hardcore pu ...
-penned song "The Trap That Venus Laid" and backing vocals on two other songs. Berg died on 28 July 2003 estranged from those who knew him. One of his proudest moments was appearing onstage in
New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...
, playing with
Chuck Berry Charles Edward Anderson Berry (October 18, 1926 – March 18, 2017) was an American singer, guitarist and songwriter who pioneered rock and roll. Nicknamed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, Father of Rock and Roll", he refined and de ...
. The Darkness' 2003 hit "
I Believe in a Thing Called Love "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" is a song by English rock band the Darkness, released as the third single from their debut studio album, '' Permission to Land''. When released as a single in September 2003, it peaked at number two on the ...
" is close in arrangement to Berg's "Rob The Bank".


Discography


Idle Flowers

*All I Want Is You b/w Fizz Music Single 7" (Mile Ahead Records, 1984) *Studio Demos (Unreleased, 1981–1984) Songs *London Town *Happy *The Letter (Smash on lead vocals) *Down The Avenue *Feel Your Love *Glad I'm Not American *Lorraine *Pleasures *Girl on the Bus


West End Central

*Live Recordings 8/4/87, London, Dingwall's (Unreleased). 16 June 1987, London Marquee Club (Unreleased),


Soho Vultures

* Studio Demos (Unreleased, 1987) Songs *London Town *Happy *Too Late (Nasty Suicide and René Berg on lead vocals) *Head Over Heels *Can't Get To Sleep *The Leather, The Loneliness And Your Dark Eyes *Live Recordings 28 August 1987, Helsinki 007 Club, Finland (Unreleased) 7/10/1987, London, Dingwall's (Unreleased) Songs *Alright Alright (Exclusive to these live recordings)


René Berg Band

*'' The Leather, The Loneliness and Your Dark Eyes'' Album CD (Communique Records, 1992) Songs *Secrets *Head Over Heels *Can't Get To Sleep *If I Had Wings *Get Up Get Out *Just Wanted To Dance With You *Fast Car *Ideal Woman *Rob The Bank *The Leather, The Loneliness And Your Dark Eyes *Live Recordings **30 May 1992, London, Marquee Club (Unreleased) **22 May 1993, London, The Sir George Robey (Unreleased) **14 November 1993, London, Underworld (Unreleased) Songs *Everybody Gets The Blues (exclusive to these live recordings) Band feat. Timo Kaltio, Les Darell, Nasty Suicide


René Berg appearances

Herman Brood Hermanus "Herman" Brood (; 5 November 1946 – 11 July 2001) was a Dutch musician, painter, actor and poet. As a musician he achieved artistic and commercial success in the 1970s and 1980s, and was called "the greatest and only Dutch rock 'n' r ...
Band *appears on guitar
Hanoi Rocks Hanoi Rocks were a Finnish Rock music, rock band formed in 1979. They were the first Finnish band to chart in the UK and they were also popular in Japan. By 1984, the band was considered to be on the verge of an international breakthrough when ...
*'' Rock & Roll Divorce'' live album LP (Lick Records, 1985) *''Lean on Me'' Album LP/CD (Lick Records, 1992) (Recorded 1985) *Studio demos (Unreleased, 1985) *appears on bass "songs" *Party *Running back to your Lover *Lips of Love *Playing with myself Suicide Twins *'' Silver Missiles And Nightingales'' Album LP/CD (Yahoo Records, 1986) *appears on additional lead vocals on "Sweet Pretending" ''The Killers'' aka ''Jim Penfold & The Hollywood Killers'' * Studio Demos (Unreleased, 1986) Songs *Cry *Shatter The Heart *Cactus Tongues *Lonely *appears on guitar and vocals Gangbang Band *'' S/T'' EP 12" (1987) *appears on bass and vocals Cheap And Nasty *'' Cool Talk Injection'' Album LP/CD (Pony Canyon International, 1994) *appears on lead vocals on "The Trap That Venus Laid" and backing vocals on "Healing Touch" and "End of Time".


Band members

Idle Flowers (1981–1985) *René Berg – Lead Vocals / Guitars *Smash – Drums *Froze – Bass *Dougie – Bass *Will Power (Jim Hyatt) – Drums *Anthony Thistlethwaite (Nikki Sudden solo & The Waterboys) – Saxophone (on "All I Want Is You" 1984 Single only) West End Central (1987) *René Berg – Lead Vocals / Guitars *Nasty Suicide (Hanoi Rocks) – Guitars / Vocals *Smash – Drums *Dave Tregunna (Sham 69, Lords of the New Church) – Bass *Dougie – Bass *Tommy Fox – Bass Soho Vultures (1987) *René Berg – Lead Vocals / Guitars *Nasty Suicide (Hanoi Rocks) – Guitars / Vocals *Smash – Drums *Tommy Fox – Bass René Berg Band (1992–1993) Studio line up *René Berg – Lead Vocals / Guitars *Bernie Torme (Ozzy Osbourne Band, GILLAN, Torme, Electric Gypsies, Desperado) – Guitars *Rat Scabies (Damned) – Drums *Paul Gray (Eddie and the Hot Rods, Damned, U.F.O.) – Bass Live line up (1993) *René Berg – Lead vocals / guitar *Darrel Bath (U.K. Subs, Crybabys, Dogs D'Amour) – Guitar / backing vocals *Les Riggs – Drums / Backing vocals (Cheap and Nasty) *Timo Kaltio – Guitar (Cheap and Nasty) *Danny Garcia – Bass / backing vocals (The Crybabys)


References


External links


Sleaze Grinder Website: "Flash Metal René Berg"
Retrieved 16 December 2006.
Rock Detector Website: "René Berg at MusicMight"
Retrieved 16 December 2006.
"Soho Vultures"

Flower ShopCaughtbytheriver.net
{{DEFAULTSORT:Berg, Rene 1956 births 2003 deaths Hanoi Rocks members