Alan Murphy
Background information
Born	November 18, 1953
Origin	Islington, London, United Kingdom
Died	October 19, 1989 (aged 35)
Genre(s)	Fusion Rock
Instrument(s)	Guitar
Years active	1977 – 1989
Label(s)	Polydor, EMI, Chrysalis
Associated acts	Level 42 Go West

Alan Murphy (November 18, 1953–October 19, 1989) was an English rock guitarist, best remembered for his collaborations with Kate Bush, Go West and Level 42.

Biography

SFX was a band of Alan's own creation, featuring fellow luminaries of the session world, Felix Krish on bass, Tony Beard on drums and Richard Cottle on keyboards. The band originated from the covers band "The Stapleton Allstars" into SFX having created a set of all original fusionesque tunes. They played the occasional interrupted residency at the Cricketers pub, near The Oval cricket ground in London. The band recorded an album which was subsequently released after Alan's death.

In 1985 Alan recorded the first Go West album, joining the band in the process.

Alan was enlisted to play on the one and only Kate Bush tour of the Europe & UK (1978). Both a live video and EP were released with material taken form this tour. He also contributed to her albums Never for Ever, The Dreaming, The Hounds of Love and the single "Rocket Man".

In 1988 Alan was asked to replace Boon Gould and recorded the "Staring at the Sun" album with funk-pop band Level 42 laying down his parts in a day. A live album was recorded during this period , "Live at Wembley". This was one of the last major projects that Alan worked on before his death.

Alan was a session man who worked with many artists, including Long John Baldry, Joan Armatrading, Mike and the Mechanics, Amii Stewart, Scritti Politti, So and Miquel Brown.

During 1989 Alan played at the British Music Fair, but it was apparent from his appearance that he was not well. On the afternoon of Thursday, 19th October, 1989, weakened by the AIDS virus, Alan died of pneumonia in Westminster City Hospital, near to his old school.

In the music video for Kate Bush's version of "Rocket Man", released as part of the 1991 Two Rooms: Celebrating the Songs of Elton John & Bernie Taupin tribute album, she performs with her band but there is an empty chair, a guitar and a candle where Murphy would have been and cross-faded footage of him playing in the closing choruses.

External link

• Alan Murphy tribute web site