November 10th, 2003

IF THERE'S A ROCK AND ROLL HEAVEN YOU KNOW THEY GOT A HELL OF A BAND:  THE DEATH OF BOBBY HATFIELD AND THE TRAGIC END OF THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS

A few days ago the grim reaper struck again. This time he took Righteous Brother Bobby Hatfield with him. Most of you should remember the Righteous Brothers from such sixties hits as "Unchained Melody," "Hung On You,”  "Soul and Inspiration," "Rock and Roll Heaven," and, their most famous hit, "You've Lost That Loving Feeling." Anyhow, I can't really say that I am the biggest Righteous Brothers fan ever, but it's hard not to like thier music.  I like their music a lot.  In fact, one vintage film clip I have of them singing "You've Lost That Loving Feeling" on Shin-Dig is possibly one of my favourite television music performances ever, creating a new definition for the world cool.  Yeah...those two guys oozed cool.  However, when reflecting on the death of Bobby Hatfield this week I came to the conclusion that his death is truly tragic but not for him or his family as much as for his partner Bill Medley.  Medley is the one who I truly feel sad for.

Follow me on this....

The reports of Hatfield's death say that they found him in a hotel room in Kalamazoo, Michigan a half an hour before he and Bill Medley were supposed to go on stage. He died in his sleep when lying down for a nap before the show.

I can't help but think of Bill Medley sitting back stage waiting to go on and looking at his watch and wondering where the hell Bobby Hatfield was. Imagine what it would have been like for the poor bastard who had to tell Medley that Hatfield was dead, and then have to go on the stage and announce to the people in the audience who were waiting for the Righteous Brothers to give a show that there would be no show. One must wonder who would be given that job and how they would handle it and what they would say.

Yet imagine poor Bill Medley. For forty years he had been singing with Bobby Hatfield. They were a singing duo - a team - partners.  Hatfield and Medley started performing in Orange County, California in the early sixties.  The story goes is that they often showed up singing soul as the only white guys at open mics in black clubs and one night, after a number, a man in the audience yelled out at the stage "Man these white brothers sure are righteous!"   Thus was born the Righteous Brothers.  Through the mid sixties Medley's deep vocals, combined with Hatfield's tenor mixed with Phil Spector's revolutionary wall of sound created a unique sound they called "Blue Eyes Soul."  The Righteous Brothers created a new type of sophistication and a sense of cool, proving that good looking non offensive white guys could, in fact, create something magical in the rock industry.  

However, with the passing of Bobby Hatfield, the Righteous Brothers are over although it wasn't a decision that Hatfield and Medley could make together. It was a decision that fate placed upon them. Bobby Hatfield was able to slip away peacefully in his sleep, Medley is now having to wonder what his future is. He could go solo - but his name isn't exactly a household name like "the Righteous Brothers" was.  However, it wasn't just the death of his partner and his friend.  It was the death of his act, and his livelihood.

How can you be a duo when a major component of your sound passes on?  It’s like Richard Carpenter with Karen.  The Bee Gees without Maurice.  The Doors without Jim Morrison.  Nirvana without Kurt Cobain.  You just don't bounce back.  You just can't carry on.  It’s over...and it’s just not fair.

When Bobby Hatfield left this world to play in rock and roll heaven it wasn't just one death.  It was two.  It was the death of the Righteous Brothers as well.  I only hope that Bill Medley can find a way to carry on.