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He’ll be in my head till I die’: Brian May pays emotional tribute to Phil Everly
DAILY MIRROR
04 January 2014 by Nick Dorman
The legendary guitarist wrote: “You’ll find echoes of their influence in a lot of our old Queen songs and perhaps that is the best tribute”
Brian May led music’s tributes today after the death aged 74 of Phil Everly, the pop legend whose sound inspired stars from the Beatles to Norah Jones.
Phil had a string of hits in the 1950s and early 60s as one half of The Everly Brothers. The US singer lost a battle with lung disease and his shattered wife Patti Arnold said: “He fought long and hard. We are absolutely heartbroken.”
Phil and his older brother Don, 76, were famed for their distinctive harmony style on unforgettable songs like Bye Bye Love, Wake Up Little Susie, Cathy’s Clown, Bird Dog and So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad).
Queen guitarist Brian May posted an emotional tribute on his website brianmay.com] minutes after learning of Phil’s death.
He wrote: “So sad. Somehow, although it might seem corny to use this song title, I can’t get it out of my mind. It’s the oddest thing. I was only just strumming the Everly Brothers hit of that name and in my head I could hear every note on the track and sing every nuance of the two parts Don and Phil sang. The music of the Everlys, which thrilled me to the core when I was a boy, will be in my head till I die. Now I hear Phil is gone. I feel like a huge piece of my youth just melted away. I loved those guys and still do. From them I learned to play rhythm guitar and how two-part harmonies work. How different emotions are evoked using different sequences of intervals, how to find the moments that chill your spine. I could probably write a book on the music of the fabulous Everly Brothers. But you’ll find echoes of their influence in a lot of our old Queen songs and perhaps that is the best tribute. I never met them. Wish I had. But they will always be my heroes. So sad. RIP Phil Everly – you were magic. I have tears in my eyes.”
US guitarist and friend Duane Eddy, once a chart-topper himself with instrumentals like Shazam and Peter Gunn, described Phil’s death as “a huge blow”.
He said: “It was the most beautiful sound of two voices you’ll ever hear. They were two great singers that came together who happened to be brothers. It just made for a beautiful sound.”
Lyricist Sir Tim Rice said: “Death of the great Phil Everly is one of the saddest musical exits of all time for me. He and Don were more influential than even they knew.”
English guitarist Albert Lee, who performed with the brothers for more than 20 years, added: “They sounded like no one else.”
Singer Nancy Sinatra, daughter of crooner Frank, tweeted: Phil Everly is gone. Touring with Phil and Don was one of the thrills of my life. I love you Phillip – Godspeed http://t.co/r7s7lGb7wS — Nancy Sinatra (@NancySinatra) January 4, 2014
Even punk star Billie Joe Armstrong, of the band Green Day, spoke of how he was influenced by Phil. He wrote on Twitter: “The Everly Brothers go way back far as I can remember hearing music. “Those harmonies live on forever. We’re gonna miss you Phil. Gratitude.” Armstrong and singer Norah Jones recorded a tribute to the Everlys last year.
The Beatles, early in their career, referred to themselves as “the English Everly Brothers” and Bob Dylan once said: “We owe these guys everything. They started it all.”
Phil and Don grew up in Iowa, the children of a couple of country singers, and began singing as children on a family radio show. Between 1957 and 1962 they notched up 19 top 40 hits with an instantly recognisable sound in which Phil took the high notes. Cathy’s Clown topped the UK charts for seven weeks and sold eight million copies worldwide. The brothers broke up after a row on stage in 1973 but reunited in 1983. Three years later they were among the first acts to be inducted into the Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
Phil married three times and had two sons, Jason and Chris, both singers and songwriters. He wed his third wife Patti in 1999. His illness was blamed on a lifetime of cigarette smoking and he had spent a fortnight in hospital before his death at a hospital in Burbank, California.
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Tributes paid to Everly Brothers singer Phil Everly
The Scotsman
Tributes have poured in today for US musician Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers who has died aged 74 in California.
Queen guitarist Brian May said he had lost “a huge piece” of his youth and described the brothers as “heroes”. In a post on his website brianmay.com, he wrote: “I could probably write a book on the music of the fabulous Everly Brothers, but you’ll find echoes of their influence in a lot of our old Queen songs, and perhaps that is the best tribute.” He added: “I never met them. Wish I had. But they will always be my heroes. I don’t think they will know who I am, but my heartfelt condolences to Phil’s wife, his family and friends, and of course to Don. I can’t imagine how that must be. So hard, So sad. RIP Phil Everly … you were magic. I have tears in my eyes.” –
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Tributes pour in as singer Phil Everly of The Everly Brothers dies, aged 74
Daily Express
PHIL Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers, has died, aged 74.
Queen guitarist Brian May added that he had lost “a huge piece” of his youth and described the brothers as “heroes”. In a post on his website brianmay.com,, he wrote:“I could probably write a book on the music of the fabulous Everly Brothers, but you’ll find echoes of their influence in a lot of our old Queen songs, and perhaps that is the best tribute.” He added: “I never met them. Wish I had. But they will always be my heroes. I don’t think they will know who I am, but my heartfelt condolences to Phil’s wife, his family and friends, and of course to Don. I can’t imagine how that must be. So hard, So sad. RIP Phil Everly … you were magic. I have tears in my eyes.”
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Tributes pour in after Everly death
Guernsey Press
Tributes have poured in today for US musician Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers who has died aged 74 in California.
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Phil Everly mourned by stars
Toronto Sun | WENN.COM
Stars including Billie Joe Armstrong, Linda Ronstadt and Brian May have paid tribute to Everly Brothers singer Phil Everly following his death on Friday
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Tributes pour in for Phil Everly | Music | theguardian.com
The Guardian
Tributes have poured in for US musician Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, who has died aged 74 in California.
Queen guitarist Brian May said he had lost a huge piece of his youth and described the brothers as heroes. In a post on his website, he wrote: “RIP Phil Everly … you were magic. I have tears in my eyes.”
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Phil Everly dies aged 74
Radio Times
Tributes pour in for the Everly Brothers singer, credited with influencing generations of rock ’n’ roll singers
Brian May, Nancy Sinatra and Questlove pay tribute to Phil Everly
NME.com
Monty Python star Eric Idle also among those paying respect to deceased Everly Brothers star.
Billie Joe Armstrong – Tributes Pour In For Late Music Legend Phil Everly
Contactmusic.com
Brian May, Nancy Sinatra And Questlove Pay Tribute To Phil Everly
www.newshour24.com/…/Brian-May-Nancy-Sinatra-Questlove-Pay-Tribute
Monty Python star Eric Idle also among those paying respect to deceased Everly Brothers star.
Phil Everly, one half of the Everly Brothers, dies aged 74 – Channel 4 …
www.channel4.com/news/everly-brother-phil-dies-74-best-songs-video As tributes pour in for Phil Everly, who produced some of the biggest hits of … Queen guitarist Brian May also cited the duo as an influence, and …
Phil Everly vom Duo “The Everly Brothers” gestorben
Die Press
Mit dem Hit “Bye Bye Love” wurde das Geschwisterpaar weltberühmt. Phil Everly ist im Alter von 74 Jahren gestorben.