RIP Simon Holmes (The Hummingbirds)

Shocked at the news of the untimely passing of Simon - front man of one of the great power pop bands from Australia in the 90s.

Any love here for The Hummingbirds?

 

Sad to hear that. Lovebuzz was played a lot way back when. Any news on what happened?

 

No news as yet - his son Milo just posted on FB that his Dad had passed away. No reason given.

 

RIP.

 

when i visited Sydney in the summer of 1988, i believe he was working at the Phantom Records store, along with Brett from Died Pretty....i recall speaking with them both and they couldn't believe an American knew who they were!!! RIP

 

Very sad news. I've been a fan of The Hummingbirds since the late 80's.

This song made me a fan for life.

 

I was only a kid at the time but Blush got plenty of play on radio and TV here…what a song. That combination of heavily distorted guitars playing a wonderfuly melodic chord progression and fantastic vocal harmonies got into my head and influenced my musical tastes forever. The whole LoveBuzz album is great.

Damn.

 

Early days (Simon far left).

 

Recent reunion (w/o Robyn).

 

This is terrible news. Simon used to run a record store here in Sydney and I would drop in a couple times a week, moreso to have a chat with him than to buy records. He was a generous and gentle soul with great depth and intelligence. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

 

Hi, im a newbie to this forum. I'm interested to know which record shop Simon used to own or run. You see I frequent lots of music shops around Sydney but totally oblivious to whomever was serving me behind the counter.
I only know ppl like the kool Alison Galloway of Smudge who used to be around Waterfront Records and of course Ray Ahn @utopia.
Thanks

 

Rest in peace. I have Lovebuzz and thought it was pretty good.

 

It was called 'Enthusiams' and was located on Pitt St in the Sydney CBD, just south of Goulburn St.

 

The Hummingbirds also did an excellent cover of America's Sister Golden Hair (can't find a link on the Web).

 

A wonderful tribute to Simon here:

https://inmemoryofsimon.wordpress.com/2017/07/17/my-time-with-simon-holmes/

 

very sad

heard about it earlier this week but the family confirmed it last night

very, very sad

 

He also co-founded and ran Half A Cow Records and the subsequent label.

He lived in the same street as me in Canberra when we were growing up. In my early 20s it was my ritual to come home from a big night out and blare out Alimony on the stereo, singing the harmonies.

Very sad.

 

Simon used to work in the Half A Cow shop in Glebe.

 

He was a lovelly fellow to talk to. So sad to hear this news!

 

shocked...

I knew those guys pretty well and saw them and hung out with them many times...

I even have some extremely rare tapes of live and studio stuff

RIP

 

His family must be devastated. Wish he could have gotten help.

 

"Gotten help" - ? What was the issue?

 

From reading the memorial blog it seems pretty clear it was suicide.