Caithness musician hailed as an inspiration and a living legend
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THE funeral takes place tomorrow of a Caithness musician who was this week described as “the Godfather of rock music in the Highlands”. John (Fats) Sutherland, who came from Thurso but was based at the Lighthouse at Dunnet Head, died in hospital in Aberdeen on Thursday after suffering a heart attack. He was 67.
Many tributes have been paid to him since his death with one contemporary calling him “the single most influential rock musician that Caithness has produced”.
Sutherland grew up in Thurso and in his early teens was performing on stage. In the mid-1960s he was in a band called The Federals before joining The Aktual Fakts along with Stefan Kocemba, Robbie Manson and Dennis Thomson.
Over the years he also played with a number of other bands, including Zebidies Morgue, The Jam, along with Graham Walker and Johnny Gray, Gollum the Underdog and One Million People.
His first foray into Europe came with a band called Second Chance when they played in Switzerland. Sutherland later toured Germany with The Blend which comprised local musicians Andy Munro on drums and Dick Levens on bass along with vocalist Monica Rogers.
He went even further afield for his next musical venture and played in America and Canada, where he performed with Arlo Guthrie – the son of the legendary Woody Guthrie. He also toured in Morocco and Afghanistan.
When he returned to Caithness he quickly became part of the local scene again, with bands such as Snark and The Wild Geese.
Sutherland settled at Dunnet Head and set up a recording studio there but he continued to play music locally in a number of guises, including the J. Fats Band.
He and his son, Isaac, played at venues throughout the North and at the Lighthouse at Dunnet Head along with a host of guests from throughout the UK and beyond. They produced CDs for other artistes and recorded their own material. Sutherland also helped many young musicians to reach their potential.
Isaac, speaking on behalf of the family, described his father as “a multifaceted personality and character who had time for everybody and was inclined to help wherever and however possible.
“He was a strong man who spoke his mind to a fault but was always prepared to be corrected. He had a sense of humour second to none. He was deeply spiritual and left an impression on everyone that he met in life with his seemingly endless knowledge on almost any subject.”
Isaac added: “He made many friends in his life and built an enormous network of musicians, all with three things in common – the Lighthouse at Dunnet, good food and his famous wit and repartee.”
Local journalist Bill Mowat, who wrote about the music scene in his Tim Hunt column in the Caithness Courier in the 1960s, said Sutherland will be greatly missed.
“He was the Godfather of rock music in the Highlands and was the single most influential rock musician that Caithness has produced. He had his eccentricities but he really was a larger-than-life figure and a living legend,” said Mr Mowat. “His lasting legacy will be the wealth of material which is available to posterity and the many people he trained up over the years. He will be very sadly missed,” he added.
Fellow Caithness musician Ian Sinclair – another stalwart of the local scene and a contemporary of Sutherland’s – said: “I knew John since we were at school. We both started playing music in the 1950s.
“We did not perform that much together as we had slightly different musical ideas but I always admired what he was doing. He was a force for live music in the area and achieved quite a lot. He did his own thing as far as music was concerned and was keen to keep music live and keep bands playing. It was very sad to hear of his passing.”
Local photographer Fergus Mather was a teenager when he started taking photos of his friends who had formed bands in Thurso.
“John was one and even then was a major player in the band scene. Years later I was still a huge fan and was so pleased to be able to continue taking photographs of him, Isaac and their many guests at the Lighthouse,” he said. “When a national newspaper needed to illustrate an article about their concert venue and recording studio, John said, ‘No need to send a photographer we have our own’.
“He was a loyal and trusting friend, an inspiration to many who will be sadly missed.”
John’s funeral service takes place at 11am at the Ormlie Rest Rooms in Thurso. He is survived by his sons, Isaac and Edward, daughter Christina and his wife, Christine.
The Melody Lingers On
MANY tributes have been paid to John Sutherland on a special appreciation page on Facebook.
They include one from Paul Barrere, of Little Feat, who, along with Fred Tackett, played at the Lighthouse in Dunnet.
Paul described the gig as “one of the best of my life”.
He added: “I pray there is a heaven with a blues band cause you’ll fit right in with Richie Hayward and Hubert Sumlin.”
Tackett said: “Johnnie was a real stand-up guy, funky Scotsman and a great cook. One of the best meals I’ve ever enjoyed was in his kitchen at the Lighthouse. Where Do We Go From Here?, a great song with a great setting by Isaac. RIP Johnnie.”
Benny Gallagher, one half of the celebrated Gallagher and Lyle, said: “Will raise a glass in memory and in celebration of John and to the wonderful night I had with you guys on stage in Wick!”
Another musician, Don Foyle, who met John 30 years ago, recalled the great fun he had recording an album entitled On a Shoestring and touring around Scotland with “the great Bobby Murray and The Sutherland Blues Band”.
He said: “Wherever you are old friend, keep the music playing. You definitely deserve the title of music legend.”
Bob Leslie, who played with Sutherland for two years, first as bass player and vocalist in Snark and than as half of duo called Hancock and West, said: “He was a fine musician. We had our differences over the years but he taught me a lot.”
Other tributes include:
“The world – especially Dunnet Head – will be a dimmer, greyer place, without you, John. Rest in peace.”
“I’m very sorry and very sad to hear about John. He was a great man and a great musician. He’ll be missed so much, he really inspired me in music. R.I.P J. Fats.”
“A song has ended but the melody will linger on.”
