Willy DeVille, who became an underground punk star fronting the band Mink DeVille in the '70s, has died at the age of 58. His tragic passing comes shortly after doctors discovered he had pancreatic cancer. In fact, a news update on his website dated only June 15 entitled "Keep Willy in Your Thoughts," says, "It is with a broken heart that I have to tell you that while the doctors examined Willy to prepare him for the Hep C treatment, they discovered that he has pancreatic cancer."
DeVille, who moved around to several cities to try his hand at music, including London and San Francisco, convinced his Mink DeVille bandmates to return to New York City, where he had first moved in the '60s, in 1975. The band found its time and place as a regular house act for the legendary CBGB scene and he played alongside the giants of that era, including the Ramones, Blondie, the Talking Heads and more. Drawing the attention of Capitol Records, the group released its debut album, 'Cabretta,' in 1977 and scored a top 20 hit in the UK with 'Spanish Stroll.'
The group followed 'Cabretta' with 'Le Chat Bleu,' an album that scored even better with reviewers, being named the fifth best album of the year in the Rolling Stone critics poll. Though that was kind of the way things went for Mink DeVille. Despite their impressive lineage, good critical reaction and heavyweight industry support from the likes of songwriter Doc Pomus ('Save The Last Dance For Me'), Ahmet Ertegun, who signed the band to his Atlantic label for a spell, and producer Jack Nitzsche (the arranger for Phil Spector's Wall of Sound), Mink DeVille never broke through.
DeVille summed it up saying in an interview once, "Ahmet Ertegun and I got along, but we never got anything done." He had some greater luck striking out on his own, recording his solo debut, 'Miracle,' with Mark Knopfler producing, and scoring an Oscar nomination for his song 'A Storybook Love,' from 'The Princess Bride.' Despite that impressive start to his solo career, DeVille remained more a critical and cult favorite in the US. After laying down roots in both New Orleans and Los Angeles, where he recorded four albums, DeVille returned to NYC in 2005 and released what would be his final album, 'Pistola,' in 2008. Fittingly, the album received great reviews, with NME calling it "Among the finest of his recording career."
His wife Nina told the German Press Agency of his passing, "It was very peaceful. I was by his side."
(article from Spinner.com)
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