Related page: Associates
William MacArthur "Billy" MacKenzie (27 March 1957 – 22 January 1997) was a Scottish singer, with a distinctive high tenor voice; he was best known as a member of The Associates. MacKenzie was born and grew up in Dundee. He led a peripatetic lifestyle, decamping to New Zealand at the age of 16, and travelling across America aged 17. He returned to Scotland where he met Alan Rankine and in 1976 formed the Ascorbic Ones. They changed the name to Mental Torture and finally Associates in 1979. Rankine left Associates in 1982, but MacKenzie continued to work under the name for several years until he began releasing material under his own name in the 1990s. Mackenzie also collaborated with many other artists during his career.
On 22 January 1997, depression and the death of his mother are believed to have contributed to Mackenzie's suicide. He overdosed on a combination of paracetamol and prescription medication in the garden shed of his father's house in Auchterhouse. He was 39 years old. He is now a significant cult figure, with much of his musical legacy having been released in the past few years. The Smiths song William, It Was Really Nothing is said to have been written with him in mind.
Links to Peel[]
Mackenzie recorded one session under his own name while still using the Associates banner: this included a cover of Billie Holiday's God Bless The Child, possibly harking back to his time in America when he sang with the New Orleans Gospel Choir.
Following his suicide, John programmed the Associates' Dogs In the Wild in his memory, although he felt it was an inadequate tribute, and only because he had been stung into doing so by an obituary in Time Out magazine.
Festive Fifty Entries[]
- None
Sessions[]
- One session only. 'The Flame' and 'God Bless The Child' available on Associates album The Radio One Sessions Volume One 1981-1983 (Strange Fruit).
1. Recorded: 1983-09-03. First broadcast: 12 September 1983. Repeated: 27 September 1983, 21 April 1987. 'Since When Do You Make Breakfast' and 'The Flame' featured on Mostly Peel Mid Sep 1983.
- Since When Do You Make Breakfast / The Flame / God Bless The Child
Other Shows Played[]
- 14 April 1982: It's Over (v/a album - B.E.F. – Music Of Quality & Distinction (Volume One)) Virgin V2219
- 06 May 1982 (BBC World Service): The Secret Life Of Arabia (album - B.E.F. – Music Of Quality & Distinction (Volume One)) Virgin
- 24 March 1987 (& Holger Hiller): Whippets (12") Mute