Tim Quy

Timothy Graham Quy ( ; 14 August 19612 February 2023) was a British musician, best known as the percussionist for the rock band Cardiacs from 1981 to 1990. Initially the band's sound engineer, Quy first gigged as reserve bass player in 1980 and joined full-time on percussion in 1981. He became a key part of the band's classic six-piece lineup, performing on all their releases from The Seaside to On Land and in the Sea (1989), and was a popular face in the UK underground. Quy's last performance with Cardiacs was documented in the live video All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992), where his marimba figures particularly high in the mix.

From 2020, several crowdfunding campaigns were created to help Quy through a series of health problems. In 2023, it was announced that Quy had died, prompting reactions from music outlets and Cardiacs members. For performances since 2024, Craig Fortnam of North Sea Radio Orchestra took over Quy's role as percussionist and covers his parts.

Career Quy began his career as Cardiacs' sound engineer, lighting technician and roadie alongside future drummer Dominic Luckman. He first gigged with Cardiacs, then called Cardiac Arrest, as reserve bass player for Jim Smith at Snoopies, Richmond in 1980. which was expanded for the latter to include strings and a brass section. The track "A Little Man and a House" features Quy's factory-like percussion. For its follow-up, On Land and in the Sea (1989), Quy's work on "The Leader of the Starry Skies" was regarded as "supportive and effective" by Benac; the album's closing track, "The Everso Closely Guarded Line", features blasts of bashing percussion. A key part of the idiosyncratic band, Quy was a popular face on the UK underground. The last concert in which the lineup was complete, alongside guitarist Christian Hayes, took place on 30 June 1990 at the Salisbury Arts Centre. As Cardiacs shared the same management with Mitch Harris' grindcore band Napalm Death, who were scheduled to shoot a performance the same day, Cardiacs took advantage of the crew's presence and recorded the live album and film All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1992). was born on 14 August 1961 in Brixton, London, England. In 1989, he married property developer Marnie Brocklehurst in Stroud. Quy later resided in Ilfracombe. His occupations included IT consultant and analyst, and property developer over four company appointments. His enthusiasm for Cardiacs never diminished, and he would tell stories about his time in the band for posterity. It was funded on 12 May 2020, having raised £6,040 of its £10,000 stretch target. Another JustGiving campaign for a collection to buy Quy grapes, flowers and body armor after he broke his pelvis and femur was funded on 31 October 2021 and raised £3,752.

On 2 February 2023, a post was published on the Cardiacs shop's Facebook page in which Mary Wren, the manager of the Alphabet Business Concern, announced that Quy had died that day. She subsequently tweeted a similar message. The news of his death was announced on the Cardiacs website by bassist Jim Smith. An image of Quy was added to the website's home page as a tribute. He was 61 years old.

The announcement of his death was reported by music outlets such as Organ, Louder Than War and Uncut, whose writers expressed their condolences and admiration for him. Cardiacs members Kavus Torabi and William D. Drake also expressed similar feelings online. Audio of Quy rehearsing "Piffol One Time" on bass was uploaded to YouTube by Michael Chapman. Quy's funeral was public for any fans to attend, being held at North Devon Crematorium on 17 March 2023. To celebrate the life of Tim Smith and Quy, the 2024 Sing to Tim gigs reunited former members of Cardiacs and friends as well as Tim Smith's Spratleys. Craig Fortnam, leader of the North Sea Radio Orchestra and other projects, joined the band as a percussionist, taking over the role originally held by Quy. With Cardiacs, Fortnam covered Quy's parts, and Quy's face was shown on the screen behind the band.

Discography

With Cardiacs According to Eric Benac, except where noted:

Albums Toy World (1981) (live sound and Barclaycard) The Seaside (1983) Big Ship (1987) A Little Man and a House and the Whole World Window (1988) Archive Cardiacs (1989) On Land and in the Sea (1989) Songs for Ships and Irons (1991)

Singles "Seaside Treats" (1985) "There's Too Many Irons in the Fire" (1987) "Is This the Life" (1988) "Susannah's Still Alive" (1988) "Night Tracks (The Janice Long Sessions)" (1988) "Baby Heart Dirt" (1989)

Live albums Rude Bootleg (1986) Cardiacs Live (1988) All That Glitters Is a Mares Nest (1995)

As featured artist The Whole World Window II (2018) (featured on "The Alphabet Business Concern" by Noel C. Storey)